Caring For an African Grey Parrot

congo african grey parrot grey parrots, just like toddlers, caring for an grey parrot can become bored easily and require mental stimulation to avoid behavioral problems. If they aren't stimulated, they could become destructive or start screaming.

Highly intelligent, they are arguably the most accurate mimics of all species of parrots and recognize human speech. The trade in pets and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them.

Feeding

The diet requirements of Gizmo newborn african grey parrot greys are slightly different from the other psittacine species. They are omnivorous, however, they prefer seeds over fruits and vegetables.

In captivity they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy greens than seeds. They are also susceptible to obesity and calcium deficiencies which is why it is essential for owners to monitor the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles should make up 75% of a parrot's diet and it is recommended that they are sourced from quality brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.

Ideally your diet should include a mixture of pellets and fresh food. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh foods. The best choices are kale, spinach, silverbeet, pak choi, sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and more. Sprouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, endive and okra are also beneficial. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cabbage and cauliflower since they are high in levels of oxalic acid, which hinder calcium absorption in the body.

Nuts are an excellent source of nutrients to the diet, but should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats and some minerals and vitamins.

The rest of your diet should consist of a mixture of vegetables and fruits. It is best to stay clear of avocado because it is toxic to Psittacines. Other common toxic food includes chocolate, coffee, alcohol and raw potatoes. In the same way, if a parrot eats too many berries they may be suffering from yeast issues in their digestive tract.

A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is important to watch the bird's weight and to introduce new foods in small quantities. Weighing the bird every day will allow you to quickly observe any changes and then correct them. Offering the bird regularly water is also a good idea. This will help prevent dehydration and bacteria-related infections. It is also essential to take away any food items that are not consumed from the cage or play area as it can spoil and lead to health problems for your pet.

Training

Parrots can easily learn how to speak. However, it might take them days or weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot who has been trained well can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep a bird's brain engaged and keep them from becoming bored. The boredom of birds can trigger unwelcome behaviors such as feather picking and destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.

It's important to nip over bonding in the bud in the event that a parrot becomes totally attached to a single member of a family, it may become territorial and aggressive to other members of the family. This can be very dangerous for children, elderly people or people with allergies. To avoid this it is recommended that all members of the household should spend some time every day with the parrot in different ways. This will allow the bird become more comfortable with being touched by all members of the family and decrease the chance that it will develop over protective behavior.

A parrot that is attached to one person will typically start biting and pecking at visitors or family members when they attempt to pet or touch it. To avoid this the entire family should be able to alternate petting the bird before putting it in its cage. If a parrot is displaying aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for a period of time and not handled until it calms down.

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

In addition to petting, family members should be taught how to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. The bird should also be taught to identify food items or toys. This will make it easier to teach the bird to speak, and will also enable it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically close to them.

Health

The African grey parrot is considered to be one of most intelligent in the world. However, it is prone to become bored and engage in destructive behaviors if not provided with enough toys or opportunities to exercise their mind. It also requires lots of mental stimulation in order to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screaming. Parrots can be expensive pets to have. The initial costs are high, and they need constant new toys that get destroyed quickly. They can also be susceptible to infections that can be expensive to treat.

These birds are extremely social and require a lot of interaction humans, which includes hours of playing games, solving puzzles and learning lessons. To stay healthy and strong they must be active for hours every day and escaping their cage. Their cage must be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It should be made of non-toxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should come with a variety of types of perches with varying dimensions and heights and be able to switch between them. A roost is also required typically an iron or wood perch at the corner of the cage.

Parrots need access to fresh water at all times and it should be replaced daily. They should be offered a variety of dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits and should be restricted to a maximum of 10% of the diet. You should also offer a variety of nuts and seeds. Around 75% of their food should consist of high-quality crumbles or pellets.

The majority of parrot-related diseases are the result of long-term dietary imbalance. Minor irregularities can manifest as poor growth, bad plumage quality or poor breeding performance. More marked changes will manifest themselves as specific disease-related entities. A lot of these can be prevented with regular well-checks from an avian vet and appropriate diet management.

You can also learn how to care for yourself.

African greys require mental stimulation and plenty of attention in order to be content. If a bird is bored, it can become depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation, or feather-picking. It is crucial to conduct routine veterinary exams including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces done to ensure that your pet is healthy.

African greys are monogamous. They form exclusive pair bonds, incubating eggs for 21 to 30 days, and caring for an grey parrot for the infants until they are about 10 weeks of age. They fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They live for a long time, and often outlive their owners, making them a popular pet worldwide.

They are extremely adaptive and can adapt to many different environments. However they prefer a natural habitat with lots of trees and perches. They are able to utilize their feet with two faces facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to help perch and balance, just as humans use their hands. Their short beaks have an upper mandible with a curvature that can be easily positioned over the lower one to aid in cracking open seeds and nuts, and their strong grip can tear through bark and wood.

In the wild, African greys will eat nuts, fruits seeds, dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. But, seeds should make only 5% of the diet total and should be supplemented with high-quality formulated pellets and crumbles that reduce the emergence of pickiness. Also it is recommended to provide an assortment of fresh vegetables, fruits, and cooked lentils and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available, and cage cleaning is essential every day. If the diet is not sufficient, supplements such as vitamin D or calcium may be required.

The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to safeguard grey african parrot and timneh african grey parrot parrots as well as their habitats, however, their populations are declining due to illegal trade and captive breeding. Luckily, they are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Wild Bird Conservation Act in the United States and receive the highest protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Learn more about these incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!