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Caring For an African Grey Parrot Like toddlers, African grey parrots can become bored quickly and require lots of mental stimulation to avoid behavioral issues. They may become destructive or shout if they don't get enough stimulation. They are extremely intelligent and are able to mimic human speech. The trade in pets and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them. Feeding The diet requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. While they are omnivorous in the wild, they prefer seeds over fruits and vegetables. In captivity, they are more likely to eat fruits and leafy greens rather than seeds. It is also important to observe the quality and quantity of their diets as they are prone to overweight and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles should comprise 75% of a bird's diet and it is recommended that they be purchased from reputable brands such as Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm. Ideal diets should comprise pellets as well as freshly prepared food items. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh food. The best choices are spinach, kale silverbeets, pak choi sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and more. Also native plants and spurgeoning grasses such as dandelion leaves sweetcorn and endive are both beneficial. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower as they are rich in oxalic acid, which could hinder the absorption of calcium into the body. Nuts are an excellent source of nutrients to a diet, but they should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats, as well as vitamins and minerals. The rest of your diet should consist of the combination of fruits and veggies. Avocado is toxic to psittacines. Other common toxic foods include chocolate, alcohol and raw potatoes and coffee. If a parrot eats excessive amounts of berries, they may develop yeast problems in the gastrointestinal tract. A well-balanced diet is a great way to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. It is important to monitor the bird's weight, and introduce new foods in small quantities. It is recommended to weigh the bird daily to ensure that any changes can be easily observed and corrected. It's also a great idea to offer the bird fresh water on a regular basis. This will prevent the onset of dehydration as well as bacterial infections. Food that is not consumed in the cage or in the play area may ruin the food and cause health issues for your bird. Training Parrots are very intelligent creatures and are able to easily learn to speak, although they may take days or even weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that is trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to cues. These activities keep the bird's brain active and stop them from getting bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behaviors like feather picking or destructive chewing. These issues require the intervention of a professional. It is important to stop the bonding process early as if a bird becomes totally attached to a single member of a family, it may become territorial and threatening to other people. This could be dangerous for children, the elderly or those with allergies. To avoid this, everyone in the household should spend time each day playing with the bird and playing with it in various ways. This will make the bird more comfortable with being loved by the family and lessen the chance that it will develop an overprotective behavior. If a parrot is in a relationship to a single person it may bite and peck at other family members or guests who try to handle or pet it. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that each family member take turns petting the bird before putting it in its cage. If a bird is showing aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for a short time and not handled until it is calmed down. During pet-loving sessions Be aware of areas that are considered “blood feathers” or “pinfeathers.” These feathers have a blood supply and may bleed when they are touched. If a blood or pinfeather feather is exposed, it should be immediately clipped and replaced with a fresh feather. Family members should also be taught how to greet and say goodbye to the bird. The bird should also be taught to label toys or food. This will make it easier for the bird to learn to speak and it will also enable it to communicate with other family members without having to be physically present. Health The African grey parrot is one of most intelligent in the world. However, it is prone to get bored and resort to destructive behavior if it is not provided with enough toys or methods to exercise their minds. It also requires a large amount of mental stimulation to avoid self mutilation, excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots aren't cheap to own as the initial costs are expensive and they need constant new toys that are destroyed quickly, as well as food. They can also be prone to infections that can be expensive to treat. These highly social birds require a lot of interaction with humans, which includes hours of playing games, solving puzzles, and learning lessons. They also require hours of exercise and out-of-cage time every day to build strength and remain healthy. The cage should be big enough for them to move around freely and spread their wings. It should be constructed of non-toxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should include a variety of kinds of perches that have different dimensions and heights, so that they can change them. A roost is also required, which is usually an iron or wood perch at the corner of the cage. The parrots should always have clean water and this should be changed daily. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy vegetables and dark greens, with treats being limited to 10% of their diet. Also, you should provide different seeds and nuts. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should constitute about 75% of a diet. The majority of parrot health problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor irregularities can manifest as poor growth, poor plumage quality or breeding performance. More significant changes may be a sign of specific disease entities. Many of these issues can be avoided through regular check-ups by an avian veterinarian and appropriate diet management. parrots african grey for sale Charming African Grey Parrot For Sale require mental stimulation and plenty of attention to be happy. If a bird is bored, it will be depressed and show negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation, or feather-picking. To ensure your pet's health, it is important to regularly undergo veterinary exams including fecal testing, vaccinations and feces. African greys are monogamous. They form dedicated pair bonds, incubating eggs for 21 to 30 days. They care for the young until they fledge at about 10 weeks old. They can fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They live long and often outlive their human owners, making them popular pets across the world. They are extremely adaptable and are able to adapt to different environments. However they prefer a natural setting with lots of trees and perches. They can also use their feet – two facing back and two facing forward on each foot – to aid in perch and balance, just as humans use their hands. Their short beaks have an upper mandible with a curvature that fits neatly over the lower one to help them crack open seeds and nuts, and their strong grip can rip through wood and bark. In the wild, African greys will eat fruits, nuts seeds, dark leafy greens as a part of their balanced diet. Seeds should not constitute more than 5% and be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent the possibility of picking. They should also be served with various fresh fruits, vegetables and cooked beans and legumes. Fresh water should always be available and cage cleaning is essential on a regular basis. Supplements such as vitamin D and calcium may be required if the diet is not nutritionally complete. The World Parrot Trust is working tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their numbers are declining due to illegal trade. 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. Learn more about these amazing birds in our parrot Encyclopedia!