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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 prevent behavior problems. If they aren't stimulated, they could become destructive or start screaming. Highly intelligent, they are arguably the most accurate mimics of all species of parrots. They can understand human speech. They face threats from the trade in pet animals and habitat loss. Feeding The dietary requirements of African greys are different from the other psittacine species. Although they are omnivores in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds to fruit and vegetables. In captivity, they are more likely than not to consume fruits and seeds. It is also important to monitor the quality and quantity of their food intakes since they are at risk of overweight and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to comprise 75% or a parrot's daily diet. Ideal diets should include a mixture of pellets and freshly prepared foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh food. Silverbeet, spinach, and kale are among the best choices. Sprouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, okra and okra are also beneficial. However, avoid cruciferous veggies like cabbage and cauliflower as they are high in oxalic acids, which can block the absorption of calcium by the body. Nuts are a rich source of nutrients to the diet, but they should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They are a source of protein as well as healthy fats, and a few minerals and vitamins. The rest of the diet should be made up of a mix of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is poisonous to Psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include chocolate, alcohol and raw potatoes and coffee. If a parrot eats too many fruits, they may develop yeast problems in the gastrointestinal tract. A well-balanced diet is an excellent way to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. It is crucial to keep an eye on the bird's weight and introduce new foods in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will allow you to quickly identify any changes and rectify them. Offering the bird regularly water is an excellent idea too. This will help prevent dehydration and bacterial infection. It is also essential to remove any food that is not eaten from the cage or play area since it will spoil and can cause health issues for your pet. 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 well can also do simple tricks and respond to cues. These activities keep a bird's mind active and stop them from becoming bored. Boredom can lead to unwelcome behaviors such as feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional. It is crucial to stop the signs of bonding early, because if a parrot becomes completely attached to one member of the family, it can become territorial and threatening to other people. This could be extremely dangerous for elderly people, children or those with allergies. To prevent this from happening, everyone in a household must spend time each day playing with the parrot and engaging with it in various ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being handled by members of the family and lessen the possibility that it could develop an overprotective behaviour. When a parrot is bonded to a single person it will peck and bite at other family members or guests who attempt to pet or handle it. To avoid this, each family member should be able to alternate petting the bird before putting it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggressive behavior 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 referred to as “blood feathers” or “pinfeathers.” These feathers have a blood supply and may be bleed if they are touched. If a bloody feather pinfeather becomes exposed to the elements, it should be removed immediately and replaced by an entirely new one. In addition to petting, members of the family should be taught how to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. The bird should also be taught to label toys or food. This will make it easier to train the bird to speak and will also allow it to communicate with family members without being physically near them. Health While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can become bored and resort to destructive behavior when it is not provided with enough toys or other methods to stimulate its mind. It also requires lots of mental stimulation in order to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks and excessive screaming. Parrots are not inexpensive pets to own – the initial costs are costly and they require constant new toys that can be destroyed quickly, and food. They are also prone to infections and are costly to treat. These highly social birds require lots of interaction with humans, which includes hours of playing games, solving puzzles, and learning lessons. To remain strong and healthy they must exercise for hours a day and escaping their cage. The cage should be large enough to allow them to move freely and spread their wings. It should be constructed of non-toxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should be equipped with a variety of perches, with different sizes and textures to allow birds to switch between them. A roost is likewise required and is typically a wooden post or concrete perch at the corner of the cage. The parrots should have fresh water available and it should be changed every day. They should be fed a variety dark leafy vegetables and dark greens, with treats being limited to 10% of their diet. They should be served various nuts and seeds as well. Around 75% of their food should be made up of high-quality crumbles or pellets. The majority of parrot-related problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as slow growth and development, low quality plumage, or breeding performance. However, more significant changes will manifest as distinct disease entities. Many of these can be prevented with regular well-checks by an avian veterinarian and proper diet management. Care Like any other bird, African greys require lots of focus and stimulation to be content. If a parrot is bored it will become depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation and feather grabbing. To ensure your pet's health, it is important to regularly undergo veterinary exams, fecal testing and vaccinations. African greys are monogamous and form dedicated pair bonds that incubate eggs for 21 to 30 days, and caring for the young until they reach 10 weeks of age. They are able to fly, and are considered to be one of the most intelligent species of avian. They live long and are often able to outlive their human owners, making them popular pets around the world. They are highly adaptable and can be adapted to different environments however, they prefer a natural setting with plenty of perches and trees to explore. They are able to use their feet – two facing back and two facing front on each foot – to aid in perch and balance, just like humans use their hands. Their beaks, which are short, are curved and have an upper mandible that fits over the lower. This helps them crack open nuts, seeds and wood. In the wild, African greys will eat fruits, nuts, seeds and dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. However, seeds should only make up no more than 5percent of the total diet. grey african parrot should be supplemented with high-quality formulated pellets or crumbles that reduce pickiness. They should also be provided with an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked legumes and beans. Fresh water must always be available, and cages should be cleaned daily. If grey african parrot is not sufficient, supplements such as vitamin D or calcium may 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 level of protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Learn more about these fascinating birds in our parrot encyclopedia!