African Grey parrots are incredibly intelligent and require stimulation to keep them occupied. They can be destructive and need plenty of attention. They are very affectionate, and will only love one person. This can be a problem in households with a lot of people.
The exploitation of Grey Parrots has led to the Endangered status of these birds (IUCN 2019). Wild populations are also rapidly declining in Benin, Togo and other countries in Africa.
Cost of Care
Parrots can be expensive, but they can be a great companion. The initial purchase can cost thousands of dollars, but the ongoing costs can quickly add up. This includes toys and food, as well as veterinary treatment. It is also crucial to have an emergency fund in case your parrot is injured or sick. It is recommended to purchase pet insurance for your bird.
Food is the most frequent regular expense. This includes food items, fresh fruits and vegetables, seed mixes, and desserts. Making use of cheaper foods like supermarket brands or pre-made meals can help reduce the cost. However the best way to save money on food is to shop for sales and coupons.
Grooming is another significant recurring cost. Parrots require their wings and nails trimmed often. This can be done by yourself or by professional groomers. To keep your bird's feathers and nails in great condition, you'll need a high-quality brush and trimmers. You can also make use of a comb for clipping your bird's wings. This method is more time-consuming however, it is less effective.
Toys and a travel carrier are also recurring costs. Some birds require an telescopic litter box. They can be costly especially if you require a special kind of litter. It is also recommended to purchase an enclosure cover that will protect your bird when you're not home.
Take into consideration all costs when thinking about buying a African Grey Parrot. Many potential bird owners abandon their pets due to the cost of taking care of them. Do your research and create your budget prior to buying.
Veterinary Care
Parrots have a long life-span and can be extremely loyal companions. They also have specific needs which must be met for them to thrive. It is crucial to know about the dietary, environmental and veterinary needs of your bird, whether you are thinking of buying one or already have one. There are more than 350 parrot species, and each one has particular dietary, social and medical requirements.
Parrots are prey animals and possess strong survival instincts, which makes them excellent in hiding any illness or injury. Therefore, a regular 6-month to one year avian vet visit is recommended for all pets with parrots. This visit will help you ensure that your bird is healthy, happy and secure. This will allow you to stay in control of the health of your bird and prevent any issues from becoming out of control.
When feeding your pet it is essential to ensure that you are giving them the correct proportion of vegetables to fruit in their diet. Fruits that are too much can lead to overweight parrots since it is high in sugar. It is recommended to feed your parrot 70 percent vegetables and 30 percent fruits.
In addition to having a balanced diet, it is also important to provide your pet with enrichment. This will help them stay mentally stimulated and happy within their cage. It is possible to do this by placing a leaf of an edible vegetable in various parts of their cage. You can also place the leaf in a foraging toy or chop the leaf and put it in their dish.
Allowing your bird to spend time outside of its cage can aid in keeping it active and content. This should only happen under supervision in a bird-safe enclosure, or room. A parrot that is active and engaged will not only help to keep their mind sharp, but it will also prevent boredom or destructive behavior from forming.
Food
A bird's owner should be prepared to spend around a thousand dollars per year on toys, cages and food, as well as vitamins, and boarding for when they go away. These expenses are in addition to the hours of care required to feed your bird and to interact with them. This is a significant amount of money particularly for a bird that can live for 50 years in captivity.
These birds are extremely intelligent well-known for their clear speaking ability and engaging personalities. They're also known for a ability to learn complex tricks and behaviors. They can mimic human speech.
One study revealed that African greys are surprisingly philanthropic. When a partner breaks their walnut exchange hole the birds transfer tokens of metal from their own rooms to their partners' to get them some nutty goodness. This wasn't a random thing, either--the more the donors had invested in their relationships with their partners and their families, the more they shared.
Irene Pepperberg is an animal cognition specialist who studies African grays at Harvard, but was not part of this study. Pepperberg says that the birds are haphazardly grouped and may benefit by developing a reputation for generosity.
Pepperberg states that the results should not be generalized across all species of parrots. Ravens, for example, don't show this same attitude towards their fellow birds, nor do gorillas or chimpanzees. In these instances, it's not clear whether the animals are acting to show the kindness of others or if they just want to have what their fellow birds have.
Toys
Parrots require toys for entertainment and enrichment. To stop your pet from getting bored, rotate toys frequently so that they are always fresh and exciting. This keeps a parrot’s sharp beak from becoming dull and allows the bird to think. This gives the parrot an opportunity to interact with the environment in a variety of ways. This feedback can be a reward for dedication to a foraging project, or your reaction when she screams for toys.
When a parrot receives toys to enrich her life it is not likely that she will play with them. This is because she is scared of all things that are that are unfamiliar. It takes some time to make a parrot less receptive to a toy, but it is generally feasible. The trick is to introduce the toy slowly and play with it before her. This will help her feel at ease with the toy.
You can enrich your pet's lives by bringing in a variety of toys such as cardboard, shredded paper sisal, cotton or leather, wooden clothes pegs (without springs made of metal) pine cones and beads small branches, wooden rings, plastic bottles, popsicle stick dried fruits such as ginger, garlic, dried vegetables, and hot peppers. These are all great for enriching but make sure to take away any items that are not safe for your pet. This includes items that the pet could ingest or chew on, or even get trapped in.
Enjoy the Entertainment
Parrots are extremely intelligent, and they have been observed to form emotional bonds with their owners. This is why African greys are known as "Einsteins" of the bird kingdom. Parrots can live for up to 80 years if kept in captivity. If not, your parrot will probably end in a rescue center or in a different home.
Several factors can lead to the decline of wild parrots in their natural habitats as well as habitat destruction and illegal capture for the pet trade. These factors are contributing towards the decline of many species of psittacines, including the beloved African grey parrot. It's also important to note that females and males of the majority of parrot species appear identical, and it may take a keen eye (or the aid of a laboratory test) to tell them apart.
In addition to providing your bird companion with the highest high-quality food, it's important to provide them with fun. This is as simple as giving them a wide variety of toys to play with. There are plenty of options on the internet and at in-store pet shops, with specialists parrot stores offering an even wider selection.
Woodstock, an African Grey in the movie "Aladdin," loved to watch tv. It's recommended you have a flat-screen tv at home so that your pet can enjoy the pictures. You can get an DVD that contains 20 minutes of footage showcasing African Greys in their natural habitat. Parrots for Parties claims no rights or affiliation with Twentieth Century Fox or Jerry Bruckheimer or any trademarked, copyrighted, or licensed characters, such as Captain Jack Sparrow, who appears in the motion film/s Rio and Rio2, and the original film/s Pirates of the Caribbean.