African Grey vs Cockatiel: Which One Will Be The Best?

African greys aren’t “cuddle bugs,” but they are social parrots who require a lot of human interaction. Although some people don’t mind a little cuddling, they do not enjoy excessive physical contact and will only tolerate light head scratches and light stroking. Every bird has unique preferences and tastes. Even if the grey is socialized with from the beginning by every member of the household, it still has the potential to become a “one-person bird.”

Although cockatiels are often peaceful, an untrained bird has the potential to bite. Moreover, by ignoring inappropriate behavior, as these birds seek to please, you can stop negative habits from developing at a young age. However, never scold an African Grey, as doing so could make it fearful of people. Hence, reward positive behavior and ignore negative behavior.

These chirping tiny creatures are pleasant and warmhearted, and they love to be petted and cuddled. However, I t ‘s possible that they’re not always in the mood for a hug. But usually, they can’t help but be attracted to you and will be delighted to actually meet you in person.

You can feed fresh fruits and vegetables as well.

An African grey parrot requires a high-quality, nutritionally sound diet. Pick Psittacidae-specific mixes that are sold by breeders and specialty shops. Commercial seed mixtures may work for short periods of time, but they frequently include too much fat.

 African Greys will probably choose the seeds he likes, so over time, they may gain weight and develop nutritional deficiencies.

Add a mineral stone to his diet to complement it. This will provide your bird with a source of calcium and other minerals that are necessary for its overall health and well-being.

Additionally, be sure to wash the eating bowls with fresh water every day. Then, once a week, you have to add a vitamin supplement to the bird’s water in order to prevent the bird from developing any deficiencies and to keep its feathers looking beautiful.

Obesity and fatty liver syndrome are triggered in cockatiels when they are fed a diet high in seeds.

For cockatiels, a variety of pellets is essential. The pellets, however, must be selected based on the bird’s age.

Pellets should make up 75–80 percent of their diet, ideally. Fresh fruits and vegetables can make up the remainder of the diet. Additionally, seeds make up 1% to 2% of the daily diet.

Moreover, Cockatiels need to drink a lot of water all day long. However, the liquid from food left in their mouths may become contaminated by their saliva. As a precaution, the water should be changed at least twice daily.

Captive African grey parrots have been observed expressing conversational skills, which include the precise and properly understood use of human language.

A Grey parrot can be taught to talk by having regular conversations with its owner using the same words. 

Your pet can learn your language and start mimicking you with ease if you do this.

Always treat others with kindness, gentleness, and care. 

Never rush or try to push something. When your bird is ready and feels secure doing so, he will begin communicating with you.

If you continue to put too much pressure, on the Grey parrot will stop responding properly, which will have a negative impact on your relationship.

But if all they do is make noises and whistle at you, it’s possible that you won’t understand what they’re trying to say to you. The following is a list of sound and vocalization patterns that you should be familiar with:

The Scream Whistle –  is a type of noise made by cockatiels that resemble a combination of a shriek and a whistle. 

The majority of cockatiel owners do not find this call to be entertaining or enjoyable, yet it is a crucial communication technique that the cockatiel uses when they are feeling lonely, terrified, or thrilled.

The Unusual Whistle – Cockatiels who enjoy whistling will pick up a variety of whistles to imitate, including the catcall and melodies from popular TV shows.

The Hissing Sound – Any cockatiels, when they become frightened or feel threatened for some reason, may emit a hissing sound that warns others around them that they are ready to strike with a bite or nip. This sound can be heard while the cockatiel is making eye contact with another creature.

It’s important to provide a continuous supply of toys for these birds, as boredom can lead to aggressive behavior.

You should do what you can to ensure they have a restful night. Always make sure the light source within their cage is blocked. Their environment is dark and quiet, making it perfect for sleeping at night.

These parrots keep getting bigger beaks in most cases. In order to prevent overgrowth, it is necessary for them to chew on material that is fibrous and coarse. In the wild, this is not a problem, but domesticated pets require artificially-produced roughage to satisfy their natural chewing needs. Beak-wearing should be encouraged in a natural way, so provide plenty of wooden chew toys and perches for your pet.

In addition to the previously mentioned requirements, they have to undergo a comprehensive checkup at the veterinary clinic as soon as they are adopted.

Even if your cockatiel has previously been vaccinated, it is still important to take it in for a checkup at the veterinarian once a year. There is a possibility that the feces, blood, and other bodily fluids will be tested in the laboratory by the veterinarian. 

If for any reason your parrot is found to be sick in any manner, you will be able to discover any issues, if there are any, at the earliest possible stage, take the necessary precautions for its care, or take it back to the store where you bought it.

The feathers of a grey parrot are not all the same shade of grey, contrary to popular belief. Instead, the bird’s upper coat is a brighter, silverier grey than its undercoat, which is darker towards the bird’s head and wings. 

Additionally, there are white spots and undertones in the head feathers.

There are a few more flashes of color as well, including brilliant yellow eyes, a black bill, and vivid red tail feathers.

In addition, mutations can occasionally cause the coloration of a parrot’s feathers to be red, blue, brown, or albino.

There have been efforts made by certain breeders to increase the amount of red in African grey parrots. They were successful in their studies since some baby parrots now have red or pink feathers instead of grey ones when they are born. 

On top of that, due to the extreme rarity of these specimens, buyers typically have to pay exorbitant amounts for them.

Additionally, grey mutations happen spontaneously in the wild, such as the Blue Ino (which is completely white), the Incomplete Ino (which only has a little coloration), and the Blue varietals.

There are two extremely exceptional color variations that can happen in wild cockatiels:

Melanistic birds are those that create a greater quantity of dark pigments, which gives them the appearance of being very dark grey or even black, despite the fact that they may still have white patches on their wings.

Albino is an uncommon genetic variant that causes the bird to be completely white or creamy in color, and it may have very faint yellow undertones. The albino status of the bird can be recognized from its whitish legs and its crimson eyes. 

Aviculturists and others who breed birds as pets want to breed cockatiels because they may purposefully encourage their offbeat coloring.

 Emerald, creamface, pastelface, whiteface, and yellow cheek cockatiels are just some of the color variations that may be found in pet cockatiels. Other color variations include pastelface, whiteface, and whiteface creamface.

The coloring of males and females can be used to differentiate between them. These distinctions are not always easy to make, particularly in younger birds or birds still developing their adult feathers. Consider using genetic testing for a conclusive determination of gender.