Companion Bird Care

Common Disorders Two species of African grey of African Grey Parrots parrots, native to Africa, are commonly • Feather destructive behavior, such as feather picking found in captivity: the Congo (Psittacus GREYS • Respiratory diseases erithacus erithacus) with • Oral abscesses a bright red tail and the timneh AFRICAN • Malnutrition, including hypocalcemia syndrome (Psittacus erithacus timneh) with • Choanal atresia duller coloration. Most free-ranging • Cardiovascular disease (enlarged heart, atherosclerosis) species are considered threatened or • Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) endangered, and efforts to protect these • Chlamydiosis birds have resulted in a ban on • Reproductive disorders (egg binding, cloacal importation for pet purposes in the protrusion) United States. Outside of the United • Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) States, importation and smuggling • Other bacterial, viral and fungal infections remain major conservation issues and continue to result in disease and Many common disease conditions in African grey parrots are the result of malnutrition. Visiting your avian veterinarian inhumane treatment. High quality for routine health checks will help prevent many of the above companion birds are available from diseases and support you in having a long, satisfying relation- reputable breeders, rescue organizations ship with your African grey parrot. Veterinary attention and avian sanctuaries. Research has should be sought for any feather destructive behavior because shown that African greys are capable of increasingly, medical causes have been associated with this actual reasoning and verbal disorder. For help in finding an avian veterinarian in your communication (beyond just mimicking). area, contact the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) There is speculation that an imprinted by visiting www.AAV.org. male may have difficulty relating to a female bird. The current aviculture trend is to allow chicks to remain with the parents for the first few weeks of life and then be removed for hand-feeding until weaning. This parental influence may also help reduce the incidence of behavioral problems later in life.

Companion Bird Care SERIES What Your Veterinarian Looks for in a Healthy African Grey What to Expect from Your African Grey Parrot Dry, open nares Clear, bright eyes frican grey parrots are extremely intelligent and What Do African Greys Do All Day? How to Keep Your (no discharge) alert; some may be considered high-strung. Because of their high intelligence, African greys require a African Grey Selective breeding for calmness is being initiated by stimulating and enriching environment. Toys should be Healthy, Happy some aviculturists. Like many parrots, these birds may rotated frequently and include puzzle-types and toys and Safe! form an inappropriate pair designed to be shredded or destroyed. Toys should be Smooth ✓ Provide stimulating environmental beak with bond with individual family “bird safe” and free of toxic metals, hooks, sharp objects enrichment by offering toys, social V ital Statistics powder Alert, erect members, which may lead or small easily consumed components. Most parrots can be interaction, and foraging and posture Body length: 13 inches (33 cm) problem-solving opportunities. coating to a variety of undesirable taught to enjoy foraging, where food and treats are hid- Body weight ✓ Feed a fresh, high quality, toxin-free Congo: 300-550 g behaviors, including aggres- den in puzzle toys or other objects, such as paper cups or formulated diet with daily supple- Timneh: 275-375 g sion towards others. This may paper. This is an excellent way to prevent boredom. mentation of chopped vegetables Body free of and fruit and whole grains. Age of sexual maturity: 3-6 years become exacerbated during Socialized African greys benefit from inclusion in a busy lumps and bumps Maximum life span: 80 years ✓ Provide clean, fresh uncontami the breeding season. They are family’s activities in a variety of situations. nated drinking water (try using believed to be emotionally water bottles) and replace Smooth, bright feathers Are African Greys Tame? twice daily. sensitive and may be prone to remember negative expe- without color breaks, Young, hand-tamed African greys adapt readily to new ✓ Provide occasional opportunity for transparency or ragged edges riences and associate these with certain people and surroundings and handling procedures. They should be bath, shower, or misting (at least objects. African grey parrots have the greatest potential weekly). exposed early in life to novel situations (car travel, among common pet bird species for a range of vocaliza- ✓ Avoid spraying the house with hospital visits, multiple visitors in the household, other tions and an increasing vocabulary throughout their insecticides. household pets) so that they are well-adjusted to these lives. This mimicking ability can include sounds like events. Non-socialized adult birds are less inclined to Housing for your African grey dripping water, flushing toilets, squeaky doors, coughs parrot should: Even scaling pattern accept environmental changes. on the feet, and nails of or sneezes and answering machines. ✓ be as large as possible (minimum: 2’ x 3’ x 2’ appropriate length Should the Wings Be Clipped? Is Your African Grey a Male or a Female? [60 x 90 x 60 cm]). The decision to clip wings or allow free flight should In most African greys, it is difficult to distinguish a male ✓ be clean, secure and safe. be made carefully. Birds that are allowed unrestricted from a female based on physical characteristics; there- ✓ be constructed of durable, freedom in the home can encounter numerous physical nontoxic material. fore, endoscopy or laboratory methods must be used for African greys are very curious and  chocolate, avocado, salt, alcohol dangers or toxins. Wing clipping is a personal decision ✓ may investigate anything new in sex determination in pet birds and those in breeding contain variable-sized perches  toxic houseplants made for each bird and decided between the client and made of clean, nontoxic, their environment. That is why it is facilities. African greys prefer to choose their own mates pesticide-free tree branches. important to prevent their access to:  pesticides veterinarian. With careful planning and training, some  toxic fumes and bond for life. Once initiated, African greys are pro- ✓ avoid having perches located  ceiling fans birds may be allowed free flight in a safe area. The  easily dismantled toys lific breeders, and the offspring are easy to hand feed. directly over food containers.  hot cooking oil goal of clipping the wings is not to make the bird inca-  ✓ offer occasional opportunity for  overheated nonstick-coated dogs, cats and young children What Should You Feed Your Grey? pable of flight but to prevent it from developing rapid protected outdoor exposure to fresh cookware  cedar, redwood and pressure- air, sunlight and exercise. For a long, healthy life, African greys should be fed a and sustained flight and to prevent escape. Because  leg chains treated wood shavings  high quality, toxin-free formulated diet. African greys are particularly heavy-bodied birds, falls  sandpaper-covered perches sources of lead or zinc  plug-in air fresheners Supplementation may include small amounts of chopped from overtrimmed wings may result in severe damage  tobacco and cigarette smoke  heavily-scented candles organic vegetables and fruit and whole grains. to the chest.

Text updated by AAV 2015 Photography by Miriam B. Walling/We Shoot Birds