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The grey parrot comes from central Africa and West Africa and is a sedentary bird in his whole area. The spreading reflects rather exactly the occurrence of tropical rain forests and reaches into the area of the humid savannas in the area borders. The Congo-grey parrot spreads northward to south Nigeria, Cameroon and in the Central African Republic, to the east to west Kenya and northwest Tanzania. Core areas of the spreading are Gabon, the republic Congo as well as the north and the central parts of the Democratic Republic Congo. Western area outside posts lie in south Ghana and in the southeast of Côte d'Ivoire, as well as a "Príncipe-grey parrot" on the islands Bioko (Fernando Poo), page ă o Tomé and Príncipe. The Timneh-grey parrot seems in the southwest of Côte d'Ivoire, in Sierra Leone, Liberia and in the southeast of Guinea.
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General The grey parrot is a typical tree inhabitant. His living space encloses tropical rain forests, mangroves and humid savannas. He stays with pleasure in the edge area of the woods to the open scenery, visits there also civilized country and gardens, however, avoids human settlements Weight about. 450 g Puberty The female lays 2-5 eggs and incubates them during about 4 weeks, while it is guarded by the little man and is supplied with food. The young birds after which both parents look need nearly 3 months, until they become fully-fledged. Age The grey parrot can become up to 60 years old in good home care. It is known that Grey parrot as pet:
Food: The grey parrot prefers vegetarian food like fruits (nuts, berries), seeds, blossoms and buds. In the civilised country he also accepts field products like maize or millet. He has a predilection for the fruits of the oil palm. Long it was supposed that the grey parrot lives predominantly on the oil palm fruit what is questioned, however, in the meantime. The shy birds stay during the day in pairs or in small groups. In the dusk they often meet too absolutely to bigger dreams and visit collectively her food reasons. The flight is quick and straight. Often they fly by big height and communicate together loudly. Fresh vegetables and fruits are the foundation-stone of a healthy food. The choice is almost limitless and they contain many vitamins and minerals, inevitably for the bird. In the wilderness the birds spend the biggest part of the day with the food search. Hence, fruits and vegetables with her different colours, forms and tastes offer not only psychological entertainment (importantly for parrots in the cage or aviaries posture), but also healthy food. Besides, dark green leafy vegetables, yellow vegetables and fruits offer most vitamins and minerals. One distinguishes two groups from vitamins: The fat-dissolvable (vitamin A, D, E, fa and K) and the water-dissolvable (B vitamins and vitamin C). Water-dissolvable vitamins are stored in short time in the body fabric, the fat-dissolvable vitamins against it in the liver and the fatty tissue and remain stored longer. The vitamin need with the different kinds and also with every single bird is different, according to digestion and absorption of the vitamin. A certified veterinarian can recommend you the best combination for your bird. The most frequent reason for a food lack in the USA is the lack of calcium and vitamin A. Vitamin A is necessary for good seeing, defensive strength and against infections, normal growth and development, preservation of the mucous membranes in the respiratory apparatus, gender organs, digestive tract as well as a healthy skin. If Vitamin A is taken up, it reaches about the goiter in the muscle stomach and via the glandular stomach in the bowel into which it is converted. Then from the bowel it reaches about the blood system and lymphatic system in the liver into which it is converted again and is stored in the body fabric. To reach a right digestion of this vitamin, it requires to the right interest of proteins. One finds vitamin A in eggs, cheese, meat and as a precursor, beta carotene, in plants. Beta carotene (dark green, yellow-orange fruits and vegetables) is converted by the body in vitamin A. In the following a choice of the food which contains vitamin A or beta carotene: Pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, yam, yolk, Alfalpha rungs, endive, gigantic cabbage, broccoli, Chiccorie, green and red paprika, Chillies, mango, apricots, papaya, asparagus, courgette, peas, Chedar cheese, maize, dandelion sheets and sugar peas. The more darkly the flesh and vegetable meat, the higher the contents in vitamin A. Synthetic forms of vitamin A can be highly toxic for the bird. The profit deposits in the liver and can lead to heavy liver illnesses and osseous illnesses. With the precursor of vitamin A, beta carotene, however, the change happens in vitamin A very slowly, according to demand, and there is no danger of a over dosing. A lack of vitamin A can sneeze to allergies, sine problems, lead infection susceptibility, dry skin and hormonal disturbances. Calcium is a dominating mineral in the bird's body and is required for the skeleton, egg production, blood coagulation, muscles, nerves and heart functions. Most body processes depend on the availability of this mineral. Calcium must be accompanied by the right composition of phosphorus and vitamin D3. The hormones of the sign gland and the parathyroid play with the absorption of calcium an important role. This process and the right composition is complicated very much. Another article " calcium need of the grey parrots " will treat this subject more detailed. Among the rest, empire in calcium are: Eggshells, cheese, low-fat Yoghurt, mineral stones, sepia bowls, dandelion and broccoli. A good calcium and phosphorus relation is found in water cress, carrots and cheese. Further sources of phosphorus are: Grapes, cauliflower, apples, maize, almonds and sunflower cores. However, vitamin D3 is produced in the skin if the bird is put out to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light. By windowpanes incoming sunlight is not actual. Yolk is likewise a spring of vitamin D3. The grey parrots who receive a food poor in calcium often have a low calcium mirror in the blood and, hence, are susceptible for cramps, osseous decrease and bad egg education. In addition, an unbalanced relation of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D 3 can cause even other health problems. Also search here council of a certified veterinarian. A grey parrot who is nourished exclusively with grain feed has luck if he becomes 10 years old. However, one which receives well-balanced food can become years old from 40 to 60 +. Seeds like pumpkin seed, sesame and sunflower cores are extensive in B vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, proteins and other nutrients. If the bird is nourished, nevertheless, exclusively with punches, a one-sided admission can prevent other, important nutrients and cause a calcium and vitamin A lack. Some seeds contain only few amino acids, calcium and vitamins and, hence, form only one part of a well-balanced food. It is a problem that parrots seeds find very tasteful. So tastefully that in the USA a rumour originated after which sunflower cores contained a drug. One says that this rumour of a company, the Kadi sowing covered with vitamins wanted to sell, as an advertising trick was spread. Fact is, sunflower cores contain NO drug. seeds are an important component in the food of a grey parrot, as long as they do not put out more than 20-30% of the food. The grey parrots need from all food stones, i.e. egg white, coal hydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The specific claims are different from kind to kind and individual bird. It is a science for itself to identify the right relations of the single components, because themselves some nutrients support mutually, however, other exclude. That's why were developed peeled and extruded feeds. A peeling originates from under steam from compressed food against which extrudierte food as bread is baked. peeled/extruded food is according to manufacturer differently in taste, appearance and contents. A product which is so organically as possible should be chosen. There still are not enough results from the research about the artificial additions like food colours etc. on our grey parrots who dispose only of 500 Gramm of body weight. Consider it that's why well which product you feed to your grey parrot. It is not easy to move a grey parrot on pelletierte feed, because this not like feed looks. Accustom him slowly around, while they mix the peeling with the usual feed (10% to 90%) and the interest in peeling slowly increase. This method can last months, but which method you also choose always, do not take away from him "overnight" all usual food. The peeling can be passed at the beginning also ground and with other feed like maize, or with water / fruit juice mixed. As soon as your grey parrot eats this mixture, add to the feed slowly whole peeling. The volume and the colour of the removals of your bird will change, with Peel feeding you will accept a brown colour. If the removals decrease noticeably, they continue with the usual food and try the rearrangement at a later time once again. Most manufacturers recommend that you give no additional vitamins or minerals to your bird if you feed Peeling, because these all necessary vitamins / minerals already contain. A over dosing can cause a hardening of the internal organs. Nourish your bird, nevertheless, not with peeling, I advise you that you strew an addition about the humid feed. use the additions economically and make sure that the product is not older than 6 months. After you have found out about the offer of peeling, find out which kind your bird eats. There rules a divided view whether one should mix different products or should feed only one specific brand. The manufacturers recommend of course that only her product is used. Some manufacturers recommend to increase the interest of peeling on 90%. Nevertheless, there exists no study after which a pelletierte/extrudierte food covers 100% of the food needs. A breeder in the USA, Alicia McWatters compares a pure food of a bird to Pellets of an exclusive vitamin and minerals tablet food of the person, without admission of fresh fruit and vegetables for a healthy digestion. peeled/extruded feed does not dispose of the enzymes of fresh fruit and vegetables which are necessary for a healthy digestion. A healthy composition for your parrot would be able to z B. of 40% of vegetables and fruit, 40% of pelletierte/extrudierte feed and 20% of punch mixture exist. use for the feeding best of all 3 bowls, one for the drinking water, one for fruit and vegetables and third for the punch mixture and Peeling. About the kind of the feeding there are many different opinions. Some breeders are of the view that only to too completely certain times should be fed (e.g., one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening) .e Other believe that during the whole time the feed should be available, because the birds can search her feed in the wilderness also throughout the day. There are several methods to serve vegetables and fruits. Freshness, organic vegetables in the raw state are the best, because they contain most nutrients and enzymes for a good digestion. A lot of vitamin A (beta carotene vegetables} should be easily offered steamed (like carrots), so that they can be lighter digested. The food which contains oxalic acid, how z B. Spinach, should not be passed more often than twice the week, because they can prevent the admission of calcium in the body. It is often very difficult to persuade your bird to the admission of fruit and vegetables. Experiment by different dimensions, temperature and texture (hard versus softy). Try it also to too different time of day. At night grey parrot Sammy, e.g., eats his vegetables. He does till the small hours countless excursions of his sleeping branch the vegetable bowl. This can be also done with other vitamin A (beta carotene) to food, like carrots or pumpkins, subdued or baked. In addition, the hand feeding also strengthened the connection between Merlin and me. Although you can feed almost everything to her grey parrot, there is some food which must be avoided because of her poisonousness for the parrot absolutely: Avocado, rhubarb, caffeine, fizzy drinks, chocolate, alcohol, sweets, cores and seeds of different fruits as for example cherries and peaches, adipose and roasted food to call only some. The number 1 cause of illnesses of our birds is a wrong food. Most of these illnesses can be led back on a vitamin, mineral lack or other nutrient deficiency. Hence, the key to a good health is a good food. Offer to your grey parrot a diverse feed and you never become tired to try out something new. The physical and psychological well-being of the bird depends to a big part on his food!
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