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The African Grey Parrot comes
from a broad area of Central Africa. P.e. Erithacus
being the nominate race, the Congo African Grey.
P.e. Timneh more commonly called Timneh African
Grey. Given the appropriate nutritional requirements
in a nurturing home, African Grey's can have a
lifespan of 50-70 years.
Greys from Nigeria usually
have dark grey wings. CAG's from the Congo region
are, on average, larger in size. On occasion you
might see a Grey with red feathering throughout the
body - they are known as "Red Factor Greys".
The Timneh African Grey Parrot
is a dark grey bird with shades of light grey on the
body. The eye area is of bare white skin. They have
a "bone" colored upper mandible and a dark maroon
tail. The Timneh is smaller in size ranging from
9-11 inches beak to tail. Also TAG's can vary in
weight from 275-400 grams.
African Grey's have the most
extraordinary flair for speech. But do not think
that they are limited to speech only! They can
mimic almost any sound in your home. Although most
greys do not start talking until a year in age,
there are many cases where they will speak earlier.
Some greys do not start speaking until 2 years, so
never give up hope! They have the capacity to have
a vocabulary of over 2000 words. I would like to
add this "food for thought"... there is no guarantee
that a Grey will speak. This should never be the
sole reason for buying a grey. There is so much more
to an african grey than just speech. a They are
more human than some will admit. They feel our
emotions and act accordingly. They do not mimic,
they learn from us. Speaking in sentences,
responding appropriately to questions, the physical
motions to comfort us when we are sad, the list goes
on and on.
African Grey's have the
intellectual capacity of a 5 year old child with the
emotions of a 2 year old. Because of this higher
intelligence, they can be demanding pets and rightly
so. They require constant attention along with a
stimulating environment that includes various types
of toys, a large cage, a play-stand.
Generally speaking, Greys are
cautious birds. They have a tendency to sit back and
watch you before giving themselves up freely. They
tend to not be very outgoing towards strangers. Then
are very intuitive to your feelings and it is always
best to approach them with a calm demeanor. Once you
win the trust of an African Grey, he/she will be
your best friend for life. They are very dedicated
and loyal birds.
In sum... although African
Greys are the most popular pet parrot, they are not
for everyone. They stand apart from the rest. It is
not easy being a caretaker of an African Grey or any
parrot for that matter. Lots of love, time, patience
and effort goes into the relationship we have with
our avian companions. They give us so much more than
we can ever return.... Are you ready to take the
African Grey challenge?
Feeding your birds a
nutritious diet provides longevity. A Bird that is
on a healthy diet has the potential to heal itself,
as well as prevent ailments. It is our decision on
what we choose to feed our birds. A varied diet
that is consistently fed and well-balanced is the
key to optimum health!
It is beneficial to share
healthy human foods with your birds. Birds are flock
animals. They enjoy partaking in family activities.
When eating dinner be sure you give your birds a
small portion of your meal. Note: Never change your
bird's diet if he/she is not healthy to begin with.
It could be detrimental; see your Avian Veterinarian
first.
Purchase only enough fresh
vegetables and fruits to last a few days so that it
is always fresh. Offering as much organic produce as
possible. But sometimes that is not always as
readily available as regular fruits and vegetables.
For optimal health, a large
variety of of fresh fruits and vegetables is
crucial. Think if you were to eat the same food day
in and out, we all would get bored. Elaborating on
the exact types of foods we offer our flock is
stated later in this article. By giving your birds a
variety of foods, will ensure they are getting the
proper essential vitamins and minerals from these
fresh foods. Preparing a batch of fresh fruits and
vegetables every two days so that it is always
fresh, changing the variety every time.
Did You Know... In some
situations, diet plays a role in behavioral
problems. Birds that lack certain vitamins &
minerals in their diet can resort to biting,
plucking, etc. When we think of humans who are
nutritionally deficient they can suffer from
depression, anxiety, etc. The same can apply with
parrots but they will resort to different behavioral
problems |
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FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Here are some of the fruits and
vegetables we offer our flock. Note they are not given this
every day, but I make sure to give about 10-12 fruits and
vegetables daily, changing the variety every other day. We
do not offer any canned vegetables. The nutritional content
is minimal and the sodium is very high. Frozen vegetables is
rarely offered.
The Fresh Food Mix:
Always ensure 1 fruit and
vegetable has a high vitamin A content in it (papaya, sweet
potatoes, yam, cantaloupe, acorn squash, pumpkin). Vitamin A
aids in Calcium absorption. Offering 5 or 6 fruits and 5 or
6 vegetables daily. Several leafy green vegetables which
have a high Calcium content (either Swiss Chard, Mustard
Greens, Dandelion Greens, etc) are always mandatory in the
mix.
Fresh Fruit:
Apples (cored), Papaya , Mango
(pitted), Oranges (seeded), Cantaloupe, Melon , Star fruit,
Pineapple, Pomegranate, Berries (Strawberries, Raspberries,
Blackberries, Blueberries), Pears (cored), Peaches (pitted),
Plums (pitted), Kiwi (peeled), Banana (peeled), Cherries
(pitted), Cranberries, Grapes (with seeds), Grapefruit
(seeded), Tangerines (seeded), Cactus Pear (peeled), Banana
(peeled) - Note Banana is only served fresh.
Note: Citrus fruits
should never be given more than 4 to 5 days a week.
Fresh Vegetables:
Red Beets (peeled), Radishes,
Turnips, Carrots, Cooked Sweet Potatoes, Radicchio, Endive,
Mustard Greens, Beet & Turnip Greens, Dandelion Greens,
Swiss Chard, Kale, Parsley, Basil, Cooked Red Potatoes,
Peeled and Steamed Squash (Acorn, Spaghetti, Butternut,
Summer, Pumpkin, etc. Note: the seeds are a favorite of my
flock), Green Beans, Tomato, Sweet Red & Green Peppers, Hot
Peppers, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Broccoli Rabe, Turnip
Greens, Eggplant, Snow Peas, Tofu, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Sugar
Snap Peas. |
