The 10 Most Scariest Things About Caring For An Grey Parrot

Caring For an African Grey Parrot

African grey parrots, just like toddlers, can get bored easily and need mental stimulation to avoid behavior problems. Without it, they may become destructive or even start screaming.

They are highly intelligent and are able to mimic human speech. They are threatened by the trade in pet animals and habitat loss.

Feeding

The dietary requirements of African greys are slightly different from the other large psittacine species. They are omnivores but prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.

In captivity, they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy vegetables than seeds. They are also susceptible to calcium deficiencies and obesity so it is important for owners to keep an eye on the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles should make up 75% of a bird's diet, and it is recommended that they be sourced from quality brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.

Ideally your diet should include a mix of pellets and fresh foods. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10% seed and 30% fresh foods. Silverbeet, spinach, and kale are among the best choices. The spouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, endive and okra are also beneficial. Avoid cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower as they contain high levels of oxalic acid, which can prevent calcium absorption in the body.

Nuts are rich in nutrients however, they should be eaten in moderation due to their high fat content. They are high in protein, healthy fats and minerals and vitamins.

The rest of your diet should comprise a mixture of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is harmful to psittacines. Other common toxic foods include chocolate, alcohol and raw potatoes and coffee. Similar to parrots, if a bird eats too many berries they may be suffering from yeast issues in their gastrointestinal tract.

A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is crucial to keep track of the bird's weight and introduce new food in small quantities. Doing a daily weigh-in will enable you to swiftly observe any changes and then correct them. It is also a good idea to provide the bird with fresh water on a regular basis. This will prevent dehydration and bacterial infections. It is also important to take away any food items that are not consumed from the cage or play area because it will spoil and can lead to health problems for your pet.

Training

Parrots are very intelligent creatures and are able to easily learn to speak, however it might take days or weeks to repeat words they hear. A highly-trained parrot can also respond to cues and perform simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's brain stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. Boredom can lead to unwelcome behavior like feather picking and destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.

It is essential to avoid over-bonding, as a parrot who becomes too attached to a person may become territorial and aggressive towards other animals. This can be very risky for people with disabilities, children or those with allergies. To avoid this everyone in the household should spend time each day with the parrot in different ways. This will allow the bird to feel more comfortable being touched by everyone in the family and decrease the possibility that it could develop a protective behavior.

A parrot that is attached to one person is likely to start biting and pecking at other family members or visitors when they try to pet or touch it. To prevent this from happening the entire family should take turns rubbing the bird and putting it in its cage. If a bird exhibits aggression then it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a period of time.

During pet-loving sessions be aware of the areas that are considered "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers have a blood supply, and can bleed when they are touched. If a bloody feather or pinfeather becomes exposed, it must be clipped immediately and replaced by another one.

In addition to a petting session, family members should be taught to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. The bird should be taught to identify food items and toys. This will allow you to train 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 the most intelligent animals in the world. However, it is prone to get bored and turn to destructive behaviors if not provided with enough toys or methods to exercise their minds. It also needs a great amount of mental stimulation in order to avoid self mutilation, feather picking and excessive screaming. Parrots can be costly pets to own. The initial costs are expensive, and they need constant new toys which are destroyed quickly. They are also susceptible to infections that can be expensive to treat.

These social birds require a lot of interaction humans, such as hours spent playing games, solving puzzles and learning lessons. To stay strong and healthy, they need to spend hours each day exercising and out of their cage. The cage should be large enough for them to move around freely and spread their wings. It must be clean, safe and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should have several perches with different heights and textures to allow birds to change between them. A roost is likewise required typically an iron or wood perch that is placed at the corner of the cage.

Parrots need access to clean water at all times, and it must be replenished every day. They should be offered an assortment of dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits, with treats limited to no more than about 10% of the diet. They should be provided with an array of nuts and seeds as well. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should comprise around 75% of a diet.

The majority of parrot disease problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as poor growth and development, low quality plumage, or breeding performance. However, more significant changes will manifest as distinct diseases. Many of these can be avoided by regular check-ups from an avian vet and proper diet management.

You can also learn how to take care of yourself.

Like any other bird, blue african grey parrot greys require lots of focus and stimulation to be content. If a bird is bored, it could display negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation, or feather picking. It is crucial to conduct regular veterinary examinations including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces done to ensure that your pet is healthy.

baby african grey parrot for sale greys are monogamous and form a dedicated pair bond which incubate eggs for up 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 can live for a long time and often outlive their owners, which makes them a sought-after pet across the globe.

They are extremely adaptive and are able to adapt to different environments. However they prefer a natural setting with lots of trees and perches. They can use their feet to balance and perch - with two faces back on each foot, and two facing forward on each foot, just as humans do. Their beaks are short and have a curved upper mandible that fits neatly over the lower to help them crack open seeds and nuts, and their strong grip can tear through bark and wood.

In the wild, african grey birds for sale greys will eat nuts, fruits seeds, dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. Seeds should not comprise more than 5% and be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to avoid pickiness. Also, they should be offered a variety fresh vegetables, fruits, and cooked beans and lentils. Fresh water must always be available, and cages must be cleaned daily. If the diet isn't sufficient, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D could be required.

The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to protect Grey and Timneh parrots and their habitats, but their populations are declining due to illegal trade and captive breeding. They are, however, protected by the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also receive the highest protection under CITES. Discover more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!