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Talking
ability: Excellent Description:
Overall color is varying shades gray; bare skin
patch around eyes; eyes of young birds are gray,
but change to grayish-yellow in
adulthood. Characteristics:
African Greys are extremely bright and charming
companions. These parrots are often very good
talkers. We recommend DNA sexing by three years of
age. Behavior:Temperament
The African Grey is extremely intelligent, perhaps
topping all other parrots in it's ability to learn
new things throughout a lifetime. Adult greys are
considered shy and introverted, and usually bond
with only one person, being aloof with everyone
else. They are also one of the most rigid and
pattern oriented of all parrots, being keenly
observant and sensitive to the slightest change in
routine. Excellent talkers and mimics, these birds
can accurately imitate specific human voices and
household noises such as the doorbell, telephone,
or microwave. As very empathetic and emotional
birds, greys have distinct personalities and can be
demanding of their owner's time and attention.
Diet:
African Greys are very susceptible to calcium
deficiencies, due to their unique physiology.
Parrot "mixes" are not balanced diets. These seed
blends are loaded with fat, deficient in vitamins,
minerals and proteins. Factory enrichment of these
seed mixes doesn't lead to a balanced diet.
Recommendation: Feed 80% of caloric intake with a
formulated diet pellets, crumbles), such as
Harrison's or Roudybush. Other national brands
available include: Zupreme, Exact, Pretty Bird,
Hagen. Feed 20% of the caloric intake with: scant
amount of seed, fresh leafy or orange-colored
vegetables, starches (rice, bread, pasta, banana),
small quantities of people food items (food groups
from the kitchen). Emphasize calcium rich treats
including almonds, cheese, kale, collards. Pretty
Bird now markets an "African Grey" formulated
diet. Home
Environment:
African Greys enjoy toys; stick to safe, sturdy
commercial products. Free flying in the house for
exercise is hazardous. Uncaged African Greys should
be closely supervised because they can be very
destructive to home furnishings. We recommend
newspaper or equivalent for cage bottoms. Good room
ventilation is very important. Health:
Young African Greys are very susceptible to
psittacine circovirus (PBFD). Avoid exposure to
other Old World birds, particularly lovebirds.
Young and mature African Greys are sometimes
susceptible to chlamydia, bacteria, or fungal
infections. African Greys should be closely
monitored for proper calcium metabolism, by diet
monitoring and testing. Low blood calciums can
result in fatal seizures. Interesting
facts:
There is still some controversy over whether
the African Grey parrot is merely a superb mimic,
or truly understands some of what it says. These
birds possess an uncanny knack for using words in a
situationally appropriate manner, leading some
people to believe they have the mentality of a
three year old human child. This belief is
supported by an ability to problem-solve, as
demonstrated by the famous grey parrot,
Alex.
Hyacinth
Macaws
Greenwing
Macaws
Blue
& Gold Macaws
Hybrid
Macaws
Yellow-Nape
Amazons
Blue
Front Amazons
Yellow
Crown Amazons
Congo African Greys
Rosebreasted
Cockatoos
Umbrella
Cockatoos
Moluccan
Cockatoos
Lesser
Sulfer Creasted
Cockatoos
Eclectus
Senegals
Psittacus
erithacus
Noise
level:
Moderate
Cage
requirements:
24 x 24 inches; bar spacing 3/4" Or 1"
Length:
14 inches
Life
span:
40-50 years
Incubation:
28 days
Age
at weaning:
14-16 weeks
Age
at maturity:
3-4 years
Country
of origin:
Equatorial Africa
Natural
habitat Forested
plains:
Birds go on foraging excursions to sparsely wooded
savannas and to open country. Their distribution is
largely identical to the range of the African oil
palm, the fruit of which forms the bulk of the
bird's diet.
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© 2003 Look Who's Talking Aviaries |
Drayton Valley, Alberta Canada Phone: 780.542.4822 Email Todd |
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