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Behavior/Aviculture -
African Greys
are highly intelligent and have excellent abilities for
mimicry. Some highly trained individuals are also capable of
reasoning and verbal communication. Young african greys
adapt readily to new surroundings and should be well adapted
to many novel experiences at a young age. Adult birds are
less adaptabe to unfamiliar environments, dietary changes,
etc and may feather pick in response. Poicephalus are not so
likely to speak and are often nervous or aggressive.
African
parrots, especially African greys are highly playful and
easily become bored, so enviromental enrichment is
important. They should always be provided with toys,
especially wooden blocks which can be chewed and branches
from non-toxic trees. In order to ensure safety, companion
birds should not be allowed unsupervised freedom in the home
as they often encounter toxins or dangerous items. Young
birds should be socialized to many people and exposed to a
variety of situations such as; new cages, toys, visits to
the veterinarian, handling by friends, and wing and
nail,clippings to avoid fear of novel situations.
Routine
bathing or showering is vital to maintaining good plumage
and skin condition. Birds can be misted and allowed to dry
in a warm room or in the sun, or dried with a blow drier.
Care should be taken not to clip the wing feathers
excessively as African Greys often fall and injure
themselves often requiring surgical repair. Clip only enough
so the bird will glide to the floor.
All
companion and breeding birds should be individually
identified to assist in recovery if lost and assist in
maintenance of medical and geneological records. Many
breeders apply closed leg bands when chicks are young. While
they present a slight risk of entrapment, closed bands are
preferable to no identification, especially for breeding
birds. Microchips which can be implanted into the muscle or
under the skin are a reliable means of identification but
require electronic readers to verify identification. Tattoos
may be used but often fade or become illegable with time.
Foot prints may have some application in identification.
African
parrots are very active and should be provided with as large
a cage as possible. The cage
should have two perches so the birds can move between them.
Toy and activities should be provided.
Life Span: Up to 50 years, the average being 20 years
Age at maturity:
3-5
years.
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