The 10 Scariest Things About Caring For An Grey Parrot

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African grey parrots, just like toddlers, can become bored easily and need mental stimulation to prevent behavior problems. They may become destructive or cry if they don't receive enough stimulation.

They are highly intelligent and can mimic human speech. They face threats from the pet trade and habitat loss.

Feeding

The dietary requirements of African greys differ from those of other large psittacines. While they are omnivorous in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds to fruit and vegetables.

In captivity they are more likely to consume fruit and leafy greens than seeds. They are also prone to calcium deficiencies and obesity therefore it is crucial for owners to monitor the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to make up 75% or a parrot's daily diet.

Ideal diets should include a mixture of pellets and freshly prepared meals. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10% seed and 30% fresh foods. Some of the best options are spinach, kale, silverbeet, pakchoi, sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and more. Also native plants and spurgeoning grasses such as dandelion leaves sweetcorn and endive are good choices. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cabbage and cauliflower as they contain high levels of oxalic acids, which may hinder calcium absorption in the body.

Nuts are a rich source of nutrients to your diet, but should be eaten sparingly due to their fat content. They are rich in proteins, healthy fats and vitamins and minerals.

The rest of your diet should be a mixture of fruits and veggies. It is recommended to stay clear of avocado because it is toxic to the psittacines. Other common toxic foods include chocolate, alcohol and coffee and raw potatoes. In the same way, if a parrot eats too many berries they can suffer from yeast problems in their digestive tract.

A well-balanced diet is a great option to keep an African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is important to monitor the bird's weight, and introduce new food in small quantities. It is beneficial to weigh the bird every day so that any changes could be observed and quickly be rectified. It's also a good idea to provide the bird with fresh water on a regular basis. This will prevent the onset of dehydration as well as bacterial infections. Unfinished food in the cage or in the play area can spoil and cause health problems for your bird.

Training

Parrots are able to quickly learn to speak. However, it could take them days or weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A highly-trained parrot can also respond to cues and do simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's brain stimulated and stop them from getting bored. Boredom can lead to unwelcome behavior like feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.

It's crucial to prevent over-bonding, as a parrot that is too attached to one may become territorial and aggressive toward others. This could be extremely dangerous for elderly people, children or those suffering from allergies. To avoid this everyone in the household should spend some time every day with the parrot in different ways. This will make the bird more at ease being loved by the family and lessen the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behavior.

When a parrot is bonded to a single person it may bite and peck at other family members or guests who attempt to handle or pet it. To prevent this from happening, family members should each take turns rubbing the bird or placing it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggression, it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a while.

Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during pet-loving sessions. These feathers have a blood supply and may bleeding when they are touched. If a bloody feather pinfeather is found to be exposed, it must be clipped immediately and replaced with an entirely new one.

In addition to a petting session, family members should be taught how to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. The bird should be taught how to identify food items and toys. This will help the bird to develop the ability to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with family members without needing to be physically present.

Health

While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it is bored and resort to destructive behavior if not given enough toys or other ways to exercise its mind. It also requires lots of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks and excessive screaming. Parrots aren't cheap to have as the initial costs are high and they require a constant supply of toys that can be destroyed quickly, as well as food. They are also susceptible to infections and can be expensive to treat.

These social birds require lots of interaction with human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime involving games, puzzles and lessons. To stay healthy and strong, they need to spend hours each day exercising and escaping their cage. The cage should be large enough for them to move around freely and spread their wings. It should be made of non-toxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should include several perches with different heights and styles so that birds can change between them. They also need a roost, usually an elevated wooden post or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.

Parrots must have access to clean water at all times and it must be replenished daily. They should be offered an assortment of dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits, with treats limited to no more than about 10% of their diet. It is also recommended to provide a variety of nuts and seeds. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should comprise approximately 75% of the food.

The majority of parrot-related diseases are the result of long-term food inconsistencies. Minor issues can result in poor growth, bad plumage quality or poor breeding performance. More severe changes could be a sign of specific disease entities. Many of these issues can be avoided by regular checks with an avian veterinarian and appropriate diet management.

You can also learn how to care for yourself.

african grey parrots for adoption greys require mental stimulation and lots of attention in order to be content. If a parrot is bored, it could exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation or even feather picking. It is important to have regular veterinary examinations, fecal screening and vaccinations carried out to ensure your pet is healthy.

African greys form monogamous groups and incubate eggs for between 21 and 30 days. They take care of their young until they are approximately 10 weeks old. They are able to fly, and are considered to be one of the most intelligent avian species. They can live for a long time, and often outlive their owners, which makes them a sought-after pet across the globe.

They are highly adaptive and can adapt to many different environments. However they prefer a natural habitat with plenty of trees and perches. They are able to utilize their feet that are facing backwards and two facing forward on each foot - to aid in to balance and perch, just as humans use their hands. Their beaks are short and have an upper mandible that fits over the lower. This helps them 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. Seeds should not comprise more than 5% of the diet and should be supplemented by high-quality pellets or crumbles to prevent excessive pickiness. They should also be served with a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked legumes and beans. Fresh water should always be available and cage cleaning is essential every day. 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 & Timneh parrots and their habitats, but their populations are in decline due to illegal trade and captive breeding. 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 fascinating birds in our parrot encyclopedia!