caring For an grey parrot For an African Grey Parrot

Similar to toddlers, african grey parrots sale grey parrots can become bored quickly and require plenty of stimulation to prevent behavior problems. If they don't get enough stimulation, they could become destructive or even start screaming.

Highly intelligent, they are the best mimics of all species of parrots. They can understand human speech. The pet trade and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.

Feeding

The dietary needs of African greys are a little different from the other psittacine species. While they are omnivorous in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds over fruits and vegetables.

In captivity, they are more likely to consume fruit and leafy greens than seeds. They are also susceptible to obesity and calcium deficiencies so it is important for pet owners to check the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to make up 75% of a bird's daily diet.

Ideal diets should include pellets as well as freshly prepared meals. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh foods. Silverbeet, kale and spinach are among the best options. Also native plants and sprouting grasses such as dandelion leaves sweetcorn and endive are good choices. However, avoid cruciferous veggies like cauliflower and cabbage as they are rich in oxalic acids, which could hinder the absorption of calcium 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. Avocado is toxic to Psittacines. Other common toxic food includes alcohol, coffee, caring for an grey parrot chocolate and raw potatoes. If a parrot eats too many fruits, they may develop yeast problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

A well-balanced diet is a great option to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. It is important to watch the bird's weight, and to offer new foods in small amounts. It is a good idea to weigh the bird every day to ensure that any changes can be spotted and swiftly rectified. Offering the bird regularly water is also a good idea. This will stop dehydration and bacterial infection. It is also essential to remove any uneaten food from the cage or play area since it will spoil and could lead to health problems for your parrot.

Training

Parrots are able to quickly learn to speak. However, it could take them a few days or weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A parrot that is trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep the bird's brain active and stop them from getting bored. The effects of boredom can be detrimental to behavior, such as feather picking or destructive chewing. These problems require the intervention of a professional.

It's important to avoid bonding too strongly because a parrot who becomes too attached to a person may become territorial and aggressive towards others. This could be harmful for children and the elderly, as well as those who suffer from allergies. To avoid this everyone in the household should spend time each day playing and interacting with the parrot in different ways. This will make the bird more at ease being handled by members of the family and reduce the chance that it will develop an overprotective behavior.

When a parrot is bonded to a single person, it will peck and bite at other family members or guests who try to pet or handle it. To prevent this from happening, each family member should take turns petting the bird and putting it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggression, it should be returned to its cage for some time and not handled until it calms down.

During pet-loving sessions Be aware of areas that are thought to be "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers contain a blood supply and may bleed when they are brushed against. If a pinfeather or blood feather is exposed, it should be promptly clipped and replaced with a fresh feather.

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

Health

While the female african grey parrot grey is among the most intelligent parrots in the world, it is bored easily and will use destructive behaviors if not given enough toys or other opportunities to exercise its brain. It also requires lots of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screams. Parrots aren't cheap pets to have - the initial costs are expensive and they need constant new toys that will be destroyed quickly, plus food. They can also be susceptible to infections, which could be expensive to treat.

These highly social birds require lots of interaction with their human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime involving games, puzzles and lessons. To stay strong and healthy they must be active for hours every day and escaping their cage. The cage should be large enough to allow them to move freely and spread their wings. It should be clean, safe and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should include various perches with different heights and styles so that the birds can switch between them. They also need the roost, which is usually a tall wooden post or a concrete perch at the corner of the cage.

The parrots should have clean water available and this should be refilled daily. They should be provided with various dark leafy greens, Caring for an grey parrot fruits and vegetables, with treats limited to no more than about 10% of their diet. They should be offered a wide range of nuts and seeds, as well. High-quality formulated pellets or crumble should comprise approximately 75% of the food.

The majority of parrot health problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor issues can result in poor growth, poor plumage quality or breeding performance. More marked changes will manifest themselves as specific disease-related entities. Many of these issues can be prevented by regular checks from an avian vet, and proper diet management.

Care

Like all birds, female african grey parrot greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation to be happy. If a parrot is bored, it could exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation, or feather picking. It is important to have regular veterinary examinations including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces done to ensure that your pet stays healthy.

African greys are monogamous and form exclusive pair bonds which incubate eggs for up to 30 days, and caring for the young until they are about 10 weeks of age. They can fly, and are one of the most intelligent avian species. They can live for a long time and often outlive their owners, making them a popular pet worldwide.

They are highly adaptable and will adjust well to many different environments, but they prefer a natural environment with lots of perches and trees to explore. They can also utilize their feet with two faces facing back and two facing front on each foot - to aid in to balance and perch, just as humans do with their hands. Their beaks are short and have a curved upper mandible that can be easily positioned over the lower mandible to help them crack open seeds and nuts, and their powerful grip can tear through bark and wood.

In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits seeds and nuts as a part of healthy diet. But, seeds should make up no more than 5percent of the diet total and should be supplemented by high-quality, formulated pellets or crumbles that prevent pickiness. They should also be offered an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables as well as cooked legumes and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available, and cages should be cleaned every day. If the diet is not complete, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D may be required.

The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their numbers are declining due to illegal trade. Fortunately, they are protected by the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also enjoy the highest level of protection under CITES. Discover more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!