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African grey parrots, much like toddlers, can get bored easily and require mental stimulation to avoid behavior problems. If they aren't stimulated, they could be destructive or start screaming.

Highly intelligent, they are the best mimics among all parrot species and can understand human speech. The trade in pets and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.

Feeding

The diet requirements of African greys are a little different from the other psittacine species. They are omnivores, but prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.

In captivity, they are more likely to consume fruits and leafy greens rather than seeds. It is also essential to check the quality and quantity of their diets since they are at risk of overweight and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to comprise 75% or a parrot's daily diet.

Ideally, the diet should contain a mixture of pellets and fresh foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10% seed and 30% fresh foods. Kale, spinach and silverbeet are among the best options. The spouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, endive and okra are also beneficial. Avoid cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower, since they are high in levels of oxalic acids, which can prevent calcium absorption by the body.

Nuts provide a lot of nutrients however they should be consumed in moderation because of their high fat content. They are a source of protein, healthy fats and some minerals and vitamins.

The rest of your diet should consist of a mixture of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is poisonous to Psittacines. Other common toxic foods include alcohol, chocolate, coffee and raw potatoes. Similar to parrots, if a bird eats too many berries they may suffer from yeast-related issues in their gastrointestinal tract.

A well-balanced diet is a great way to keep an African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight and introduce new food in small amounts. It is beneficial to weigh the bird on a daily basis so that any changes could be easily observed and be rectified. It's also a great idea to give the bird fresh water on a regular basis. This will prevent dehydration and bacterial infections. It is also essential to take away any food items that are not consumed from the cage or play area since it will spoil and can lead to health problems for your parrot.

Training

Parrots can easily learn how to speak. However, it might take them days or weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that has been trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep the bird's mind stimulated and keep them from becoming bored. Boredom can cause undesirable behaviors like feather-picking or destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.

It's important to avoid bonding too strongly, as a parrot who becomes too attached to one may become territorial and aggressive towards others. This can be dangerous for children, the elderly or those who suffer from allergies. To prevent this from happening everyone in the household should spend time each day playing with and engaging with the parrot in different ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being loved by the family and reduce the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behavior.

A bird that is tied to a single person will usually start biting and pecking at other family members or visitors when they attempt to pet or touch it. To avoid this family members should take turns rubbing the bird or placing it into its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggressive behavior it should be returned to its cage for a period of time and not handled until it is calmed down.

Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply, and can bleeding when they are touched. If a blood feather or pinfeather is exposed to the elements, it should be clipped immediately and replaced by another one.

Family members should also be taught how to greet and say goodbye to the bird. They should also be taught to teach the bird to identify items, like toys or food items. This will make it easier for the bird to develop the ability to speak, and it will also enable it to communicate with family members without having to be physically present.

Health

While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can become bored and use destructive behaviors when it is not provided with enough toys or other ways to exercise its brain. It also requires lots of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screaming. Parrots are expensive pets to own. The initial costs are expensive, and they require constant new toys that get destroyed quickly. They can also be susceptible to infections that can be costly to treat.

These social birds require lots of interaction with humans, including hours of playtime with games, puzzles and lessons. To stay strong and healthy they must be active for hours every day and out of their cage. The cage should be large enough for them to move around freely and spread their wings. It should be constructed of non-toxic, non-toxic substances and clean. It should come with a variety of kinds of perches that have different dimensions and heights, so that they can change them. They also require an roost, typically a wooden post that is tall or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.

The parrots should have clean water available and this should be changed daily. They should be offered an assortment of dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables and should be restricted to no more than about 10% of the diet. They should be offered an array of nuts and seeds as well. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should constitute about 75% of the food.

The majority of parrot health problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor problems will manifest as slow growth and development, poor quality plumage or breeding performance while more severe changes can manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these are preventable through regular check-ups by an avian veterinarian and proper diet management.

Care

As with all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be happy. If a bird is bored, it could exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather picking. To ensure your pet's health it is vital to get routine veterinary examinations, fecal testing and vaccinations.

African greys are monogamous and form a dedicated pair bond, incubating eggs for 21 to 30 days, and caring for an grey parrot for the infants until they fledge at about 10 weeks old. They are able to fly, and are considered to be one of the most intelligent avian species. They live for a long time and often outlive their owners, which makes them a beloved pet in the world.

They are extremely adaptive and can adapt to many different environments. However they prefer a natural environment with plenty of trees and perches. They can use their feet to balance and caring For an grey parrot perch - with two faces back on each foot, and two facing forward on each foot, just like humans do. Their short beaks are curved and have an upper mandible which fits over the lower. This allows them to break open seeds, nuts and wood.

In the wild, African greys will eat fruits, nuts seeds, dark leafy greens as a part of their balanced diet. But, seeds should make only five percent of the diet total and should be supplemented by high-quality formulated pellets and crumbles that avoid the emergence of pickiness. They should also be provided with a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked legumes and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available and cage cleaning is essential on a regular basis. If the diet isn't complete, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D may be required.

The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh parrots as well as their habitats, but their populations are in decline due to illegal trade and captive breeding. Fortunately, they are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Wild Bird Conservation Act in the United States and receive the highest level of protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Discover more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!