African Gray Parrot
Characteristics
Length: 36 cm (about 14 inches). Dove gray with a white-grayish, naked face. Red tail and under coverts. Eyes yellow, beak black, legs dark gray. Head, beak, and body of female smaller; underside whitish-gray. Iris of male round; the female’s elliptical. Iris of young black, changing to gray after a few months. A subspecies, the Timneh Gray Parrot, is occasionally seen, this bird is dark-gray with less red.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies. A talented imitator and usually very affectionate with it’s owner if kept as a pet, but must be housed in a large cage (65 x 50 x 80 cm). Can learn to speak. Agitated birds oscillate their pupils and raise their nape feathers. They love to take showers in the rain. Diet All parakeets and parrots need a large variety of fresh, healthy foods, whether on a pellet or a seed diet. Beneficial foods include dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, dandelions, and chard, as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. Healthy table foods like cooked eggs, corn, beans, pasta, and rice can also be offered. Remove perishable foods after a few hours and at bedtime. Grit, gravel, and oyster shells should never be given. A seed-only diet will result in malnutrition. Eventually, a parakeet or parrot should become acclimated to a diet containing specially formulated pellets. An AVIAN vet can help with more information.
Cleaning
Tray liners should be replaced every day and the cage bottom, fittings and dishes regularly washed with hot water and soap. Once a month, disinfect the cage with diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly. Line the tray with black and white newspaper or paper towels. It is unsafe to use pine/cedar shavings, corn cob or walnut bedding.
Fertility
Breeding is possible in large aviaries. The female lays 2-4 eggs, which she incubates for about 29 days. The male feeds her on the nest. After 10-11 weeks the young leave the nest, but will be foraged for by both parents for another 4 months. Nest box should be 55 x 35 x 35 cm with a 12 cm diameter entrance. Although birds engage in courtship behavior in their second or third year, females don’t start breeding until they are in their sixth year.
Health
All parakeets and parrots should be examined by a qualified AVIAN vet at least once a year or ASAP if any bleeding, injuries, or other signs are noted. It can be hard to tell when a bird is ill, and by the time you notice a problem, the sickness is usually well-advanced. Delaying a visit with an AVIAN vet or using over-the-counter or human medicines may be fatal.
Warnings
All parakeet s and parrots have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes.
