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Caring For an African Grey Parrot African grey parrots, like toddlers, can get bored easily and require mental stimulation to avoid behavioral problems. If they aren't stimulated, they could become destructive or even start screaming. They are highly intelligent and can mimic human speech. The trade in pets and habitat destruction are the main threats to them. Feeding The dietary requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. While they are omnivores in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds over vegetables and fruits. In captivity, they are more likely than not to eat fruits and seeds. It is also essential to monitor the quality and quantity of their diets since they are prone to obesity and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles are recommended to comprise 75% of a bird's daily diet. Ideally, the diet should contain a mixture of pellets and fresh foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh food. The best choices are spinach, kale, silverbeet, pak choi, broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn. Sprouting grasses and native plants such as dandelion-like greens, endive and okra can also be beneficial. However, avoid cruciferous veggies like cabbage and cauliflower as they are rich in oxalic acid, which could hinder the absorption of calcium by the body. Nuts provide a lot of nutrients, but they should be eaten in moderation due to their high fat content. They are rich in protein as well as healthy fats, and a few minerals and vitamins. The rest of your diet should be made up of a mixture of fruits and vegetables. Avocado is harmful to the psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include alcohol, chocolate, coffee and raw potatoes. Similarly, if a parrot eats too many berries they may be suffering from yeast issues in their gastrointestinal tract. A balanced diet is the best way to keep your African grey parrot healthy and content. It is essential to monitor the bird's weight and introduce new foods in small quantities. It is a good idea to weigh the bird on a daily basis so that any changes can be easily observed and rectified. Giving the bird water regularly is an excellent idea too. This will help prevent dehydration and infections caused by bacteria. It is also essential to remove any food that is not eaten from the cage or play area since it can spoil and lead to health problems for your pet. Training Parrots are able to quickly learn to speak. However, it could take them a few days or weeks to repeat the words they hear. Get More -trained parrot can also respond to cues and do simple tricks. These activities keep a bird's mind active and stop them from becoming bored. The boredom of birds can trigger unwelcome behaviors such as feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional. It is crucial to stop the bonding process early as if a bird becomes a devoted member of a family, it could become territorial and aggressive towards other members of the family. This could be extremely dangerous for children, elderly people or people with allergies. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that all members of the household should spend time every day playing with and engaging with the parrot in different ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being loved by the family and reduce the chance that it will develop an overprotective behaviour. A bird that is tied to one person will typically begin pecking and biting at other family members or visitors when they try to pet it or even touch it. To avoid this family members should take turns in petting the bird or placing it into its cage. If a bird is showing aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for a period of time and not handled until it has calmed down. During petting sessions be aware of the areas that are thought to be “blood feathers” or “pinfeathers.” These feathers have a blood supply and can bleed when they are they are brushed against. If a bloody feather pinfeather becomes exposed and bleeds, it should be removed immediately and replaced with a new one. In addition to petting, members of the family should be taught to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. The bird should be taught to identify food items and toys. This will allow you to teach the bird to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with family members without being physically close to them. Health The African grey parrot is one of the smartest animals in the world. However, it is prone to get bored and resort to destructive behavior if it is not provided with enough toys or ways to exercise their minds. It also needs a great amount of mental stimulation in order to prevent self-mutilation feather-picking and loud screams. Parrots aren't cheap pets to have as the initial costs are costly and they require a constant supply of toys that can be destroyed quickly, plus food. They are also susceptible to infections, and are expensive to treat. These social birds require plenty of interaction with their humans, including hours of playtime with games, puzzles and lessons. They also require a lot of exercise and out-of-cage time each day to build strength and stay healthy. The cage should be large enough for them to move freely and spread their wings. It should be constructed of nontoxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should come with a variety of kinds of perches that have different dimensions and heights in order to switch between them. They also require a roost, usually an elevated wooden post or a concrete perch at the corner of the cage. Parrots should have access to fresh water throughout the day and is recommended to replenish it daily. They should be offered a variety of dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, with treats limited to not more than 10% of the diet. They should be provided with various nuts and seeds, as well. High-quality formulated pellets or crumble should constitute approximately 75% of a diet. The majority of parrot health 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 diseases. Many of these issues can be avoided by regular checks with an avian veterinarian and proper diet management. Care Like any other bird, African greys require lots of focus and stimulation to be happy. If a bird is bored, it will become depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation, or feather grabbing. To ensure your pet's health it is essential to get routine veterinary examinations, 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 infants until they fledge at about 10 weeks old. They can fly and are one of the most intelligent species of avian. They have long lives and often outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets across the world. They are highly adaptable and can easily adjust to different environments however, they prefer a natural environment with plenty of trees and perches to explore. They can also utilize their feet – two facing back and two facing front on each foot – to aid in to balance and perch, just as humans do with their hands. Their beaks, which are short, are curved and have an upper mandible that fits over the lower. This makes it easier for them to crack open nuts, seeds and wood. In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits, nuts and seeds as part of a balanced diet. Seeds should not comprise more than 5% of the total and be supplemented by high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent the possibility of picking. They should also be offered a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked beans and legumes. Fresh water should be available, and cage cleaning is required daily. If the diet isn't complete, supplements such as vitamin D or calcium may be required. The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to safeguard Grey and Timneh parrots as well as their habitats, but their population is declining due to illegal trade and captive breeding. Fortunately, they are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Wild Bird Conservation Act in the United States and receive the highest protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Learn more about these incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!