What a African Grey Parrot should eat changes across its life more than most owners expect. Portion size, not brand, is where most first-year problems start.
Changing food
Phase any change over a week. An abrupt switch upsets the gut and tells you nothing about whether the new food suits a tiny bird.
What “highly intelligent” means day to day
The African Grey Parrot is described as highly intelligent, talkative, sensitive. Of those, highly intelligent is the one that shapes an ordinary day most. It is easy to read as a selling point and harder to live with than the word suggests, because it does not switch off when you are busy.
A breed from Global / Various, living in India
The African Grey Parrot was developed in Global / Various. The part that travels badly is rarely temperament - it is the coat and the tolerance for heat. Plan the year around that and most of the rest follows.
Balancing highly intelligent against talkative
Breeds described as both highly intelligent and talkative need the two managed together rather than separately. With a tiny bird that usually means a predictable routine first and training second - the routine is what makes the training stick.
Planning for about 50 years
A African Grey Parrot is with you for about 50 years. Budget and routine both need to survive that, including the last quarter of it when a tiny bird needs more veterinary attention than it did young.
What the diet should be
For a African Grey Parrot: a seed-heavy diet is the commonest cause of illness; pellets and fresh veg instead. An all-seed bowl is the commonest cause of illness in pet birds.
Never feed
Avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and salt are toxic to birds.
