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Caring For an African Grey Parrot Like toddlers, African grey parrots can be bored quickly and require plenty of stimulation to prevent behavior problems. They may be destructive or shout if they don't get enough stimulation. They are highly intelligent and can mimic human speech. They are at risk from the trade in pets 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 other vegetables. In captivity they are more likely to consume fruits and leafy greens rather than seeds. They are also susceptible to calcium deficiencies and obesity therefore it is crucial for owners to keep an eye on the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to comprise 75% of a parrot's daily diet. Ideally, the diet should contain pellets as well as fresh foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh food. The best choices are kale, spinach, silverbeets, pak choi sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and more. Also, native plants and sprouting grasses such as dandelion leaf, sweetcorn and endive are both beneficial. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cabbage and cauliflower, since they are high in levels of oxalic acids, which hinder calcium absorption in the body. Nuts are rich in nutrients, but they should be eaten in moderation due to their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats, and minerals and vitamins. The rest of your diet should consist of the combination of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is poisonous to psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include alcohol, chocolate, coffee and raw potatoes. In the same way, if a parrot eats too many berries they could suffer from yeast-related issues in their digestive tract. A balanced diet is the best way to keep your African grey parrot healthy and content. It is important to watch the bird's weight, and to provide new food items in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will allow you to quickly observe any changes and then correct them. It's also a good idea to provide the bird with fresh water on a regular basis. This will help to avoid dehydration and bacteria-related 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 parrot. Training Parrots can easily learn how to speak. However, it may take them a few days or weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that is well-trained can respond to signals and perform simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's brain active and keep them from becoming bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behaviors like feather-picking or destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional. It is important to stop the signs of bonding early in the event that a parrot becomes totally attached to a single member of a family, it can become territorial and aggressive to other members of the family. This could be dangerous for children as well as the elderly or people with allergies. To prevent this from happening everyone in the household should spend time each day playing and interacting with the parrot in different ways. This will help the bird become more comfortable with being touched by all members of the family and decrease the chance that it will develop an overprotective behavior. A parrot that is bonded to a single person will usually start biting and pecking at visitors or family members when they attempt to pet it or even touch it. To avoid this it is recommended that each family member take turns rubbing the bird and putting it in its cage. If a bird exhibits aggressive behavior and is threatening to harm another bird, it should be placed back in its cage and not handled for a while. Be aware of “pinfeathers” or “blood feathers” during pet-loving sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply, and can be bleed if they are touched. If a bloody feather or pinfeather becomes exposed to the elements, it should be clipped immediately and replaced with another one. In addition to petting, family members should be taught to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. The bird should be taught how to identify food items and toys. This will help teach the bird to speak and will also enable it to communicate with family members without being physically near them. Health While the African grey is one of the most intelligent parrots in the world, it can become bored easily and will engage in destructive behavior when it is not provided with enough toys or other opportunities to stimulate its mind. It also requires a large amount of mental stimulation to avoid self mutilation, excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots are expensive pets to own. The initial costs are high, and they require a constant supply of toys that are quickly destroyed. They can also be susceptible to infections, which could be costly to treat. These social birds require lots of interaction with their human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime involving games and puzzles as well as lessons. To stay strong and healthy they should exercise for hours a day and being outside of 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 substances and clean. It should have many different types of perches with varying sizes and textures, so that they can change between them. They also require an roost, typically an elevated wooden post or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage. Parrots should have access to clean water at all times and it is recommended to replenish it every day. They should be fed a variety dark leafy greens and vegetables, with treats being limited to 10% of their diet. They should be served various nuts and seeds, as well. High-quality, formulated pellets or granules should constitute about 75% of a diet. Most disease problems in parrots are the result of long-term dietary imbalance. Minor problems will manifest as poor growth and development, poor quality plumage or breeding performance while more significant changes can manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these can be prevented by regular checks with an avian veterinarian and appropriate diet management. You can also learn how to care for yourself. As with all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be content. If a bird is bored, it could display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather grabbing. It is essential to conduct regular veterinary exams as well as fecal screening and vaccinations carried out to ensure your pet stays healthy. African greys are monogamous and form exclusive pair bonds that incubate eggs for 21 to 30 days. They care for the infants until they are about 10 weeks of age. They are able to fly, and are one of the most intelligent avian species. They live long and can often outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets across the world. 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, exactly like humans do. Their short beaks are curved 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. However, seeds should make less than 5% of the total diet and should be supplemented by high-quality formulated pellets and crumbles that avoid pickiness. Additionally they should be served with various fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked beans and lentils. Fresh water should always be available, and cage cleaning is essential on a regular basis. If blue african grey parrot charmingafricangreyparrotforsale is not sufficient, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D could be required. The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their populations are decreasing 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 of protection under CITES. Learn more about these incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!