Should You Buy a Grey Parrot?
African grey parrots are intelligent birds that are capable of building a strong bond with their human companion. These birds are not recommended for pet owners who are not experienced, as they need a lot attention and exercise to prevent behavioral or health issues.
In the wild African Greys are in groups of friends and work with each other to accomplish complicated daily tasks. If they are left alone, they could become destructive or even feather pluck.
Health
African grey parrots are known to live up to 80 years in captivity and are among the world's most intelligent creatures. They can be extremely social and can learn to speak a variety of words and phrases. However, they can be quite loud birds and require lots of mental stimulation. It's important to think about whether you're able to deal with the level of noise before purchasing one.
If you choose to purchase an African gray, make sure that your lifestyle is compatible with their requirements. If you work for long hours and spend much of your time away from home, you should be aware of whether an African gray is the best choice for you. They're unlikely to be content in a quiet setting and could become bored.
Take a look at whether you and your family are able to cope with the level of noise from an African gray. They are vocal birds that emit a lot of calls, whistles and loud screeches. This is a part of their instinctual nature and helps them communicate with other flock members in the wild. If they are experiencing boredom or sadness, this could lead to screaming and biting.
If you can manage these noises, and give your African grey plenty of interaction with humans you'll find that they are very loving and sweet. They're also a delight to be around. They're also extremely loyal birds and will stay with you for the duration of their lives.
Sadly due to the growing popularity of African gray parrots, their numbers in the wild are declining. This is due to the excessive trapping of these birds for the pet market as well as the destruction of forests in several parts of the range. If you're still determined to own an African Grey, it is best to make sure you purchase from a reputable breeder. They can provide you with a Certificate of Annex A (or Article 10 Certificate) that must accompany any Annex A bird when it is offered for sale or purchase.
Training
A parrot is a great companion. It can have a profound understanding. It will form an emotional bond with you that will last for a lifetime. They are smart and learn to whistle, mimic and speak. They can also learn your voice and respond to certain instructions and questions. This is an amazing and special bond that can be both satisfying and frustrating.
Parrots need constant interaction and attention to stay happy and healthy. They will eventually fall in love with you and will become a part of your company. They will begin to recognize your voice and greet you with chirps whenever you return from school or work. They will also become very connected to their favourite foods, toys and music.
Many people fear that their pet will become so enthralled with them that they'll act aggressively towards other members of the family or strangers. It is possible that this could occur, but you must train your parrot to accept everyone in the family from the very beginning. This will prevent the parrot becoming too attached to a single person, and will help to train the bird to be able to interact with others.
The training should start as early as possible so that the bird has time to learn the commands. If you begin training too late, your parrot will have a tough time learning to trust and will become more anxious. The first thing you should do is to train your pet to recall on foot and then begin teaching the bird to do simple tricks.
When training your parrot it is recommended to employ positive reinforcement. You should reward your pet with a small reward after it obeys each command. This will entice the bird to repeat the command, and it will encourage good behavior as well in reprimanding any bad behavior.
The African grey bird is an intriguing bird with an unmatched intelligence and vocabulary. This gorgeous and playful bird will steal your heart and become part of your family for life. Keep in mind that the wild population is in danger because of the demand for these birds' beauty and talents. They are often taken from the wild by poachers, and also impacted by the loss of forests.
You can also read about how to care for yourself.
African grey parrots are intelligent and develop strong bonds with humans. They can master up to 1,000 words and speak in sentences if they are correctly taught. In reality, they are regarded as one of the smartest birds in the world. Since thousands of years they have been kept as pet birds. They are extremely sensitive to their handlers. In the wild, they are pounced upon by snakes as well as large cats. They also face loss of habitat in several regions of their range.
The bird is a very popular pet in Europe and the United States, and the Middle East because of its long life span and ability to imitate human speech. Their population is declining due to the over-tight trapping of birds for the pet industry and habitat destruction in Africa.
These parrots need a high-quality pellet diet as well as fresh vegetables and fruits. It is also important that they have access to clean and fresh water throughout the day. Some veterinarians suggest adding dietary supplements to the diet, however, they should be used cautiously.
They need a lot of mental stimulation to prevent them from becoming bored. If they don't get enough stimulation, they might begin to act out in inappropriate ways, such as self-mutilation and screaming. If you are thinking of buying an African grey, it's important to talk to your veterinarian who specializes in avian medicine before making a purchase.
They love to play and will love games, toys and playing with their owners. They also need to spend at least several hours a day out of their cages, so a medium-sized or a large cage is required to give them the space they require.
In an ideal situation in a perfect environment, an African gray is best kept with other birds. They are not a good choice for children who aren't yet of five, as they can be destructive and bite. They can also be territorial and will retaliate aggressively when they feel that their territory is being threatened.
They can live up to 80 years in captivity, and they can be very sensitive to changes in their environment. They might become jealous of a new addition in the family, or might be irritated due to the arrival of a new partner or spouse. If they're unhappy they often shout and chew their own feathers.
Diet
In their natural environment, African greys live as multi-family groups. They show altruistic behavior like grooming other birds and eating food. The requirement for companionship in captivity can be met by social interaction using different toys and chewable branches. You can also satisfy this need by providing a nutritious diet that includes pellets fruit and vegetables.
Pellets are an essential component of a parrot's diet. They should make up 75-80% of its total food intake. They are highly digestible and textured food, and an excellent way to add flavour to the diet. Seeds, nuts and a wide range of vegetables should also be offered. The diets for African grays are balanced and lower the chance of deficiency in nutrition.
In the wild, African grays are natural foragers. They are able to travel for miles in search of grubs or insects on tree bark or a variety of fruit. It is therefore possible they will eat some meat and animal protein, although I have never seen mine exhibit any interest. A small amount of cooked drumstick flesh could be a good option but it should not be eaten by young birds because it may cause gastric upsets.
Captive parrots should be fed a varied diet because the nutritional content of fresh food varies over time. This will allow the parrots to experience the entire range and variety of the rainforest's wild counterparts without having to pay for non-seasonal, special products.
Vegetables are particularly important to healthy parrots. A well-balanced diet should include plenty of dark greens, e.g. Kale, water-grass and cress are all excellent choices. The high levels of calcium found in these items are essential to the health of a parrot. Deficiency in calcium can lead to seizures and feather plucking in some species.
Fruits should be served in smaller amounts than vegetables, as sugars may cause yeast infections (a common problem for parrots with compromised immune systems) and weight gain. Fruits may differ in nutritional value, based on the region in which they originate. blue african grey parrot like mangos, papayas and pomegranates have more nutrients than apples and bananas.