| Grey Parrot |
Tips and Local Breeders
Česky |
Francais |
| Tips and Local Breeders |
The grey parrot represents one of the most inteligent and long living animal friends of man. Although the parrots do not communicate much, the grey parrot is an exeption. First, his life expectancy is almost seventy years, which means that his owner is tied to him for the whole life and sometimes even next generation are engaged. Second, within a very short period the parrot can speak and communicate with man. He can repeat sounds, words and the whole phrases and even create new phrases on the base of the previously learnt words. The very special of this extremely inteligent parrot is the fact that he can relate spoken words to the reality: for example if he wants being cuddled, he says: "Cuddle me".
Besides, the grey parrot is extremely social as he prefers being with people usually with family members. He seeks solitude only occassionally. He loves cuddling as well as showing off and playing the fool. Being tame, social and able to communicate are not innate qualities but results of a proper treatment.
Above all, the grey parrot, to be a valuable family member and have the above mentioned qualities, must be born in the domestic environment. Within a short period after birth an experienced breeder weans him from parents, cares for him and feeds him by himself and by that he creates a tight relationship between them. Such a young bird requires open space as well as a human contact several hours a day.
On the other hand, the parrots born on farms or caught in Africa and destined for sale in Europe will never reach the required qualities. They are usually treated with antibiotics that poisson their kidneys and livers. They feel scared and frightend of man and prefer own cages to open space. These parrots are rather cheaper, but their domestication takes much longer than the one of those born and breeded at home. Some parrot salesmen misuse the ignorance of potential buyers and offer them the parrots imported from Africa for favorable prices. Some of the salesmen go so far that they leave the parrots until starving to be tamer and fly onto the man's hand for food. Anyway, the parrots are due to hunger stressed and discomforted. The imported parrots are more easily available, however unpationed buyers often purchase the imported one and later regret it.
Each parrot is liable to a lawful registration where he obtains a tight unremovable ring and the CITES certificate, where is stated either he was home born or imported.
There are not many breeders who can bring up grey parrots in the domestic environment as creating special conditions for their nidation requires a lot of experience. Besides, these inteligent parrots seek their lifetime partners for long time.
If you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me on e-mail address: GreyParrot@lukasbeck.net
Lukas Beck
Some tips for bringing up the
grey parrot:
Above all, one should realize that
the parot cannot be closed in the cage the whole day. The parrot needs open
space and a human contact almost all day through. If closed in the cage for
long time he might be agressive, tear his feathers or some kinds of psychical
disorders may occur.
The most suitable cage for the grey parrot is the largest one, which could be opened from the top with a wooden stick on it. In the cage there should be placed wooden sticks of various sizes as well as branches of fruit trees, bushes and conifers so that the parrot could brush his bleak by nibbling the bark off it. The parrot likes to see what is going on in the room, so that his cage should be placed, but not in draught. It is strongly advised to get the parrot used to retting, which maight be performed by a flower sprayer. Until he gets used to it, one maight spray water above his head several times.
For feeding a mixture of various seeds as corn and sunflower, all sorts of fruit and vegetables except avocado and herbs such as: dandelion, nettle, chickweed and rowanberry are roccommended. Some seeds might be sprouted. Be carefull about poissonous crop-spraying!!! the parrot needs a big proportion of fat in his diet for instance: peanuts, biscottis or cheese, what he moreover adores, and minerals for example: mineral bones or roasted poultry bones. Be careful about salty and spiced meals!!! When balanced diet, any additive vitamines are not reccommended.