Taking Care of an African Gray Parrot
Because of its superior qualities, the African Gray parrot is one of the most in demand parrots in any pet shop or store in the world. Since it possesses an amazing combination of intelligence and charm, more and more pet lovers are interested in having one.
If you plan to have an African Grey parrot as a pet, it is best to conduct some research about this bird first. This research will help you lot in understanding the bird’s traits, characteristics, and personality. It can help you understand how you should take care of the bird and its essential needs.
Your research can also help you decide if you are fit to own thus kind of bird because they can be neurotic and aggressive at times especially if not given proper attention.
One of the things that you should consider before buying an African Grey parrot for a pet is its subspecies. Experts say that there are two primary sub-types of African gray parrots including the Congo African gray, which is characterized for being slightly larger compared to the other type and with bright and red tail feathers and the and the Timneh African gray which is darker and smaller compared to the other one. In pet stores and trades, two other sub-species are considered including the Ghana African Grey and the Cameroon African Grey which basically have the same characteristic as the first two only with slight differences in terms of color and size.
In taking care of an African Grey parrot, it is best to understand that they are the most neurotic, nippy and shy ones compared to other types. If they are not taken care of properly on a daily basis, they have greater tendency for feather picking which can greatly affect their overall appearance and health.
The following are just some of the things that you should and should not do when taking care of African Grey parrots properly:
- Be specie-conscious. Make sure that you are aware of the African Grey parrot specie you have brought so you can get some knowledge and guidelines on how to take care of it.
- Provide the essentials. Make sure that you provide your African Gray with the basics it needs like large and safe cage, good and healthy diet, a wide range of toys, a dependable T-stand, as well as a gym or play stand, scale, and a commercial carrier.
- Know the bird’s background. If time permits, take time off to talk to the breeder and pet shop assistants who have dealt with your parrot. Talking to them will give you an idea how the bird has been treated in the past.
- Access the compatibility of having an African Grey parrot in your home. Since this pet bird can be quite demanding when it comes to attention, check if your living space and lifestyle can match the needs of the bird to keep them happy and healthy.
- Don’t buy on impulse. It is very important that you never buy an African Gray parrot on impulse because it can be quite stressful because of its quite demanding nature. Make sure that you think a thousand times before purchasing it and have a written guarantee of its age if possible.