Taking Care of an African Gray Parrot

<

To most breeders and pet lovers out there, the African Gray parrot has got to be one of the most charming parrots out there. Known for its wonderful character, the parrot is also one of the most preferred species for possessing an admirable combination of high intelligence and extraordinary charm.

If you are one of those who were instantly drawn to the beauty, it is a must that you supply yourself with enough information about these wonderful birds.

According to taxonomy, there are basically two subspecies or types that can be found in today’s pet trade: the Congo and the Timneh. The former type is characterized for being slightly larger than latter with bright, red tail feathers. The Timneh, on the other hand, is overall darker than the Congo African.

When it comes to temperament, there are significant differences between the two. Timnehs are believed to be more laid back and less prone to feather picking and other neurotic behaviors compared to the Congo species.

Generally, these parrots live from 25 to 50 years depending on the history of the bird, lifestyle, stress factors, diseases, and other aspect that may affect its lifespan. When it comes to intelligence, this parrot specie is considered as an extremely intelligent bird because of its ability to talk or mimic different sounds and noises and for having a unique capacity for putting their words and sounds into the right context.

Despite its admirable traits, there are some behavior issues you have to deal with when you possess one such parrot. Because of their intelligence, this bird is quite demanding because you need to spend a lot of time in giving social contact and for mental stimulation. A lot of patience and attention should be given to these birds. These birds are also known for biting and feather picking when they get bored or depressed.

Here are some dos and don’ts in taking care of your parrot:

1. Make sure that you know the specie of your parrot because having a good knowledge the will provide you better guidelines in taking care of it.

2. Make sure that you provide it 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.

3. If possible, 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.

4. Make sure that you objectively assess if the African Grey Parrot is compatible to your living space and lifestyle. Since these birds are quite demanding pets, attention and clean environment will keep them healthy and happy.

5. Because of its quite demanding nature, an African Grey parrot is not suitable for everyone. Make sure that you think a thousand times before purchasing it and have a written guarantee of its age if possible.

6. Never, ever buy on impulse because it can be quite stressful.

7. Don’t keep questions to yourself if you want to know something about the bird.

8. Don’t forget to make a list before you go to the breeder so you won’t miss out on important information you need to know in taking care of your pet.

By: Low Jeremy

About the Author:

Low Jeremy has been a hobbyist writer for a number of years now. During this free time, he contributes informative articles on various topics like health, electronics and product reviews for websites. Visit his latest contribution where he talks about drum lamp shades and reviewed different types of black lamp shades [http://www.drumlampshades.org/Black-Lamp-Shades.html] and other lamp accessories.

Water Filters – Reverse Osmosis – Whole House Water Filters

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.