Caring For an African Grey Parrot

African grey parrots, much like toddlers, can get bored quickly and require mental stimulation to prevent behavioral problems. If they don't get enough stimulation, they could be destructive or start screaming.

They are highly intelligent and can imitate human speech. They are at risk from the trade in pets and habitat loss.

Feeding

The diet requirements of african grey parrot birds for sale greys differ from those of other large psittacines. They are omnivores but prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.

In captivity, they are more likely than not to consume seeds and fruit. They are also susceptible to calcium deficiencies and obesity so it is important for owners to monitor the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles should comprise 75% of a bird's diet and it is recommended that they are procured from top brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.

Ideal diets should include pellets, seeds and freshly prepared foods. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh foods. The best choices are spinach, kale silverbeets, pak choi sweetcorn, carrots, and broccoli. Also native plants and sprouting grasses like dandelion leaves, sweetcorn and endive are good choices. However, you should avoid cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower because they are high in oxalic acids, which could hinder the absorption of calcium by the body.

Nuts are a nutrient-dense addition to a diet, but they should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats and vitamins and minerals.

The rest of your diet should be an assortment of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is toxic to Psittacines. Other food items that are toxic include alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. Similar to parrots, if a bird eats too many berries they may suffer from yeast problems in their gastrointestinal tract.

A balanced diet is a great option to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. It is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight, and introduce new foods in small quantities. It is recommended to weigh the bird on a daily basis so that any changes can be easily observed and be rectified. Offering the bird regularly water is an excellent idea too. This will stop the onset of dehydration as well as bacterial infections. It is also important to remove any food that is not eaten from the cage or play area since it will spoil and could cause health issues for your pet.

Training

Parrots are easily taught to speak. However, it may take them days or weeks to repeat the 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 keep them from becoming bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behavior like feather picking and destructive chewing. These tunities to exercise its brain. It also requires a amount of mental stimulation to avoid self mutilation, feather-picking and loud screams. Parrots aren't cheap to have - the initial costs are costly and they require constant new toys that are destroyed quickly, and food. They also are susceptible to infections and are expensive to treat.

These social birds require a lot of interaction with humans, caring for an grey parrot such as hours spent playing games, solving puzzles and learning lessons. They also require hours of exercise and time out of cage every day to build up strength and remain healthy. Their cage must be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move from perch to perch. It must be safe, clean and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should have many different kinds of perches, with different dimensions and heights, so that they can change them. A roost is also required and is typically an iron or wood perch in the corner of the cage.

Parrots should have access to water that is fresh at all times and it should be replaced daily. They should be fed a variety dark leafy greens and vegetables and treats should be limited to 10% of their diet. Also, you should provide various seeds and nuts. About 75% of their food should consist of high-quality pellets or granules.

The majority of the problems with parrots are the result of long-term diet imbalances. Minor issues can result in poor growth, bad plumage quality, or poor breeding performance. More marked changes will appear as distinct disease entities. Many of these issues can be prevented with regular well-checks by an avian vet and appropriate diet management.

You can also read about how to care for yourself.

african greys for adoption greys need mental stimulation and plenty of attention to be happy. If a bird is bored, it could display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or even feather picking. It is crucial to conduct routine veterinary exams including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces carried out to ensure your pet stays healthy.

African greys are monogamous. They form dedicated pair bonds, incubating eggs for 21 to 30 days and caring for an grey parrot (Get Source) for the infants until they are about 10 weeks of age. They can fly, and are one of the most intelligent avian species. They have long lives and are often able to outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets around the world.

They are highly adaptable and can easily adjust to different environments, but they prefer a natural environment with lots of perches and caring for an grey parrot trees to explore. They can even use their feet - two facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to help perch and balance, just like humans use their hands. Their beaks are short and have a curved upper mandible that is a perfect fit over the lower mandible to aid in cracking open nuts and seeds, and their strong grip can rip through wood and bark.

In the wild, african grey birds for sale greys will eat fruits, nuts seeds, dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. But, seeds should make up no more than 5% of the diet total and should be supplemented with high-quality, formulated pellets or crumbles that prevent pickinginess. Also it is recommended to provide an assortment of 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 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 population is declining due to illegal trade and captive breeding. They are, however, protected under the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also enjoy the highest level protection under CITES. Find out more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!