If youll raise a young African grey by yourself and feed him, youll be able to develop a stronger bond. So, you may wonder, how much does an African grey cost? An African greys nutritional requirements are varied. Birds aged 2 to 5 are most commonly affected. African Greys are the best talking breed of parrots. It almost looks like there is some type of curved wear marks on the edge as well? The eye region is a dazzling white skin patch without any feathers. If they cant do this, theyre at risk of overgrowth. Blushing refers to the white patch of skin turning pink on grey parrots. African Greys with red feathers scattered throughout the plumage are occasionally seen. However, raising African greys require lots of time, effort, and money. The nerves that control the gastrointestinal tract are affected. You may also give them treats like Nutri Berries, which offers a quality blend of grains, and seeds in the form of a berry. Mar 31, 2012. Now that you understand how to provide the optimum environment for your African grey, its time to learn about other aspects of their care needs. Your email address will not be published. Can African grey parrots fly? On common they weigh round four hundred to 650 grams and are about 12 to fourteen inches long from tail to beak. They record their data and compare their . However, African greys are: African grey parrots have specific requirements, including: If you have the time and patience to look after an African grey, itll make a rewarding pet. Its the smaller subspecies of the two, ranging from 9-11 inches from beak to tail. In the wild, it lives in flocks of 100 to 200 (and sometimes more) individuals and remains in groups even during the breeding season. Place one perch at the bottom, giving it easy access to food and water. In winter, the installation of Neon-like Vita-Lite or Verilux Tru-bloom will play the same role. So, they usually start screeching to get your attention and check up on you. When frightened, the Gabon gray emits an impressive growl. You may be wondering, how much does an African grey parrot cost?. Taking care of an African grey parrot with Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) can be challenging for loving pet owners. Did you know that vitamin A is critical for an avians healthy immune system? These will be his favorite places to be comfortable in order to give his best vocal performances (speaking, singing). The best way to deal with an overgrown parrot beak is to find the causes of the problem and make the necessary changes to your bird's environment and . This disease is also contagious for humans (and is, therefore, a zoonosis). We do not change a gray of Africa, we will say that it adapts to us, and again, only if we deserve it. For his balance, both psychic and physiological, he needs a companion of his kind. ). During molting season, the dust disperses into the environment when the birds shed off their feathers. The disease can also present symptoms such as an . However, African greys also need to spend time out of their cages. Unfortunately, psittacine beak and feather disease can't be cured, but your vet can prescribe medication and recommend supplements to help manage secondary infections. The absence of this powder may indicate a physiological problem. Theyre similar parrots in many ways, but they have subtle differences. Up to you. The disease is fatal, but it is possible to manage your birds discomfort and keep it comfortable. It has always been like that and I thought that was normal. If the lower beak grows too fast the beak can't close properly and there will be a gap. African Grey food list is a good-to-go list to see what is included in African Grey food. 1.11 1 - The general attitude. Horizontal bars are recommended for African greys, as they allow them to climb up and down the sides, which they love. The mites cause a mange-like condition on the face or legs of affected birds. And a dust cover can trap the dust in the cage and cause respiratory issues. Jeanne Smith, DVM. If your bird loses appetite, has difficulty breathing or is breathing rapidly, sneezes and coughs, is inactive, and has a bluish tint on the skin and mucous membranes, its best to bring him to the vet immediately. You can save a considerable amount if youre going to adopt one. In the early 21st century, estimates of the entire wild population went as high as 13 million. What can I say, I was a dumb kid and avian vets were unheard of where I lived. Parrot eat eggs that have vitamin A, D3, calcium, and proteins in them. They are also slightly smaller in size. Not too happy about it as he has to get general ansthesia. Is he overly attached to that cage or could you get him a new one? "Blushing" refers to the white patch of skin turning pink on grey parrots. But sadly, theres no treatment for the disease, and it can be fatal. Theyre working with Dr. Pepperberg to reach and hopefully transcend Alexs level. Merlin, my Grey, also likes a bit of Golden Feast thrown in, which you can buy at My Safe Bird Store, along with the pellets. Disinfect the cage. And when they finally find their pair, theyll look for pre-existing tree cavities where theyll make a nest and lay their eggs. When you are away, the parrot should be in its cage or in a dedicated room adapted to its needs. thank you in advance. The Congo is a bigger hen with a lighter shade with a dark beak and a crimson tail. Intestinal infections can result from intestinal parasites, fungi, or bacteria. It is easy enough to differentiate that depending on whether an African Grey developed these red feathers over time (which would be an indication of health problems), or whether they were born with it, which would point towards genetics / mutation. Newspaper is the safest material for lining your parrots cage, as its easy to replace. A mature bird has pale yellow iris or corn. She was more scared than angry. Appearance: 'Congo' sub-species, from the western coast, are silver-grey with a bright red tail and a dark beak. Apply a disinfectant to all surfaces of the bird cage as well as everything inside of it, and leave it on for five to ten minutes. All our babies are very well socialized, tame and sweet. Parrots are messy period, just like every other being, including humans, lol. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. I know I will have to stay on top of it because it grows fast. Itd be best if youll get your African grey from rescues or adoption organizations and quality breeders like: African greys reach their full maturity at 4 to 6 years old, but most experts recommend adopting this kind of bird when theyre 2 to 6 months old. Join More Than 15,000 Chicken Enthusiasts Who Have Already Subscribed. So, youd have to clean their cage daily, replace their food and water and provide durable toys and perches. Related Post: The body language of African Grey parrot, ABOUT US Contrary to popular belief, the African gray is a very affectionate bird. Since the visit to the vet, the lower beak has regrown. Less fearful and more rebellious. Add toys and climbing frames to prevent boredom. Avg. Its not a whim its a need. Most parrots die within six months to two years after being diagnosed with PBFD. The timneh African grey parrot (Psittacus Erithacus timneh) lives in Central Africa, including Liberia, the Ivory Coast, and western Africa. As the name suggests, African greys are native to the West and Central Africa range. They are currently being hand-fed and will be fully trained. Psittacine beak and feather disease is a common disease that affects all types of parrots, including the African Grey. Congos are less expensive than Timnehs. Because of the density of the rainforest, the gray must fly above the trees, sometimes up to an altitude of 700 meters. African Greys are a family of 2 types: Timnah African Grey, Congo African Grey. % of people told us that this article helped them. You are doing the correct thing by trying to keep him quiet and as calm as possible. Beak abnormalities and possibly nail abnormalities also occur. Dr. Pepperberg studied the bird for 30 years at Brandeis University and trained him using positive behavioral reinforcement. He just doesnt like extravagance, exuberance, and turbulence (from others). he is about 32 years old and i have noticed he has a weird discoloring on the tip and side of his beak he doesn't seem to be in any pain and it doesn't seem to bother him I'm just wondering if its something to worry about or if its normal? [Understanding Canker in Parrots]. So, lets get a close-up look at African Greys world. The symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include sneezing, nasal discharge, poor feather quality, polyuria and polydipsia, feather picking, and anorexia. Timneh: smaller body, darker-grey coloration, flesh-colored top half of beak, and dark maroon tail feathers. He's a beautiful bird! This lab allows students to test five different beak shapes with different types of "foods". But on the brighter side, they usually offer free shipping, travel cages, and toys. They are slightly darker than those from the Congo. Known as the Einsteins of the bird world, they have speaking abilities comparable to young children. #3. Most African greys can talk. The toenails and beaks are also black. It's important to watch them as they age for things like foot problems, eye problems, and calcium issues (as others have told you). Africa greys arent loud screamers. Considerations include the following: Bar spacing is another essential consideration. Hypocalcemia is a very complex condition in birds, in part, because of the role of secretion of the uropygial gland, a gland unique in many birds, not found in any other group of animals. You must never surprise an African gray. document.write(CurrentYear) By using our site, you agree to our. 9.7-13.2 oz (275-375 gm) Color. A bigger cage helps a little as the poop doesnt congregate in one spot, hehe. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Treat-Psittacine-Beak-and-Feather-Disease-in-African-Grey-Parrots-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-Psittacine-Beak-and-Feather-Disease-in-African-Grey-Parrots-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Treat-Psittacine-Beak-and-Feather-Disease-in-African-Grey-Parrots-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9073696-v4-728px-Treat-Psittacine-Beak-and-Feather-Disease-in-African-Grey-Parrots-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"