Skip to main content

Gray parrot or red-tailed yaco: characteristics

Origin of the yaco parrot

The gray parrot is found naturally in almost all of Africa, being able to spot specimens in different countries, such as Kenya or Nigeria, but not all gray parrots are the same, because depending on the region it will be more frequent to see one or the other of the three subspecies of gray parrot that exist: the nominal one, which is the most frequent at the same time as the most appreciated as a company animal, that of vinegar tail and that of the islands of S.Tome and Principe.

The habitat of the yaco is made up of mangroves to lush equatorial forests, including also areas adjacent to the courses of the rivers and cenagas.Currently, due to the destruction of many of these habitats, the red-tailed yaco parrot is within the threatened species list .

There are no documents that date the existence of the red-tailed yaco parrot from a concrete moment in history, although it is estimated that already existed more than 4000 years ago ong>, being a kind of very remote origins.

During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries they were much appreciated as a pet among European nobles, it is said that even King Henry VII of England had one of these gray parrots as a companion animal in Hampton Court, which is why it is believed that they arrived massively in Europe on merchant ships, for later sale as exotic animals.

Characteristics of the African gray parrot

The red-tailed yaco parrot is in the category of medium parrot , with an average weight of between 350 and 400 grams , and a length, measured from the peak to the end of the tail, between 27 and 33 centimeters .They are animals with a long life expectancy, which usually revolves around 50 years in freedom and more than 60 in captivity .

Following the characteristics of the yaco parrot, it presents two colors in its plumage , gray in the body, with different shades of this color, while the tail is, as its name says, red.The legs are dark gray and the beak is always black.

Something curious is that there are no differentiating physical characteristics between males and females, what is called sexual dimorphism, although there are those who defend that females have the clearest plumage, or that males have a somewhat square head with a lig peak It was bigger.The truth is that the only way to safely sex a gray parrot is with a DNA analysis, or veterinary techniques such as endoscopy.

Yaco Parrot Character

African gray parrots are very social , since in freedom they are gregarious animals , that is, they live in perfectly nested flocks that can be formed for hundreds of these birds.It is resizable that, like its congeneres, the red-tailed yaco parrot establishes solid and stable couple bonds, which remain for life, being one of the most loyal animals to its partner.

If the animal lives in captivity, it needs a lot of dedication, since due to its intelligence and sensitivity , it will require our attention to remain healthy emotionally and physically.In addition, the yaco parrot is incredibly perceptive, being able to identify the feelings and mood of their tutors.Likewise, they are very talkative , and with not too much training they will learn a surprising range of words, and even complete sentences.

Not recommended for families with children, as they have It is a powerful beak and very sharp claws that can cause serious damage to minors if they are not handled properly.

Care of the red-tailed yaco parrot

When we adopt a red-tailed yaco parrot, we have to consider that we will have to emulate as well as possible the conditions in which he would live if he were free in his home habitat.That is why, for example , your diet should be based on plant foods, fruits, vegetables, seeds and vegetables .It is recommended that you provide them with foods such as cabbage, lettuce or parsley, which should be at your disposal on a regular basis.Other foods will be provided in a more complementary way, such as fruits.The seeds, on the other hand, are fundamental, since they contribute Many benefits at the nutritional level, but we must take care that they do not exceed 10% of the total intake.We know that the feeding is being adequate and sufficient if our gray parrot has a lustrous plumage and without falling of the feathers, which would show a deficit of vitamins or minerals.In addition, we must always leave clean and fresh water , thus avoiding dehydration.See the article on "Fruits and vegetables recommended for parrots".

Other fundamental aspect about the care of the yaco parrot is the cage in which he will live .It has to be of considerable dimensions, that allow him to move and that contains his trough and feeder, as well as toys and one or more hangers where you can perch.It would be ideal if you had a removable plate or tray, which facilitates the cleaning and maintenance of the cage in the optimal conditions for our parrot.We need to place it in a quiet place , free of noise and Other animals, but with enough sunlight.Of course, it will be essential to let the gray parrot enjoy hours of freedom, outside the cage, to exercise and stay emotionally balanced.A bird permanently confined in a cage is not a happy bird.

On the other hand, being such an intelligent animal, we can dedicate small moments to teach him words, tricks, etc., that will favor the bond between animal and guardian and allow him to exercise his mind.

Reproduction of the red-tailed yaco parrot

As for the breeding, we will differentiate between the one that happens in freedom of the captive breeding.When the gray parrot is in the nature the first thing that will do in breeding time, which does not have specific dates because it is determined by the region and the climate, it will be to find a place to nest , either alone with your partner or in a community of several couples; they will do it in the hollows and cavities that they find in the trunks of the trees.It can reproduce annually, once or twice a year, or even not breed that year.It is estimated that the gray parrot reaches the sexual maturity around at 3 years of age , somewhat later in the case of males.The laying is between 2 and 5 eggs, and they incubate at least 27 days and at most 30.When the parrots are born they remain in the nest until, with 70-80 days, they leave it to live independently.

If we want our domestic yaco to have young, the first thing will be to know for sure their gender and find a partner, with whom he congenies and is prone to procreate, so it is recommended that they have lived together for a considerable time before breeding.Then, we will ensure that the cage is large enough and we will provide them with a nest, such as it can be a wooden or plastic box where they fit comfortably and the rell we will saw sawdust or paper shavings.The number of eggs and the time of incubation and maturation of the chicks will not change with respect to the breeding in the wild.

Since the parrot is a threatened animal, it will not It is advisable to raise it in captivity, being the best thing to leave for the centers of fauna recovery and species preservation that task.Likewise, it should be noted that the commercialization of these animals is illegal in some countries.

Red-tailed yaco parrot health

We have to consider various aspects that must be taken care of to keep our pet healthy and free of diseases.One of the most important factors will be feeding, as one of the most frequent pathologies in the yaco parrot will be the lack of calcium in the diet , which is called hypocalcemia, which would cause muscle weakness, tremors and seizures, as well as inability to produce eggs with a hard shell, causing retention of it.that their cage is always neat, otherwise they may suffer aspergillosis , which is caused by a fungus that proliferates in unsanitary conditions.

Due to their intelligence, the yacos may present behavioral disorders such as itching, which consists of pecking and even plucking the feathers, with the damage that this causes.To avoid them, a suitable environment is recommended, with attention and affection, food and water, as well as toys or proper entertainment.

They are sensitive to moisture and cold , being able to develop colds.To treat them you have to change them to a place of the house warmer and drier and take them to the veterinarian, who will be the one who estimates if they need pharmacological treatment.

Like many birds, gray parrots can suffer from ornithosis or psittacosis , a bacterial infection that will cause respiratory infections, conjunctivitis, sinusitis or sneezing, veterinary care being essential, since it is also a zoonotic disease, it is that is, it can be transmitted to humans.

As with other pets, to preserve the health of the yaco parrot, we must pay attention to deworming both internally and externally, as well like vaccines, which will help us avoid dangerous diseases such as polyomavirus or Pacheco's disease.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to remove the dog smell from my house

Image: pixabay.com The body odor of dogs is much more intense than that of other companion animals, such as cats, and it is not surprising that our home is impregnated with that smell, despite maintaining its hygiene properly In addition, there are races of cans that tend to give off a stronger odor than others, the Poodle and the Dachshunds, for example, are races that are not used to smell bad .In general, we usually immunize ourselves to the point of not noticing that our home smells like a dog, but visits do not, so that you can easily get rid of it, in this article of a How we want to teach you how to remove the smell of dog from your house with some Simple homemade tricks. Steps to follow: 1 The first thing you should do is look at the intensity of the smell , if your dog smells stronger than normal you should take it to the veterinarian since, in many cases, the bad smell is usually a symptom of Virico diseases.Other times the cause is usually the physiognomy of yo...

Tricks to shine my dog's hair

There are several homemade tricks to keep your dog's hair shiny and healthy.The simplest and most economical is to brush it gently on a daily basis (5 minutes are enough) although you can use many other techniques to make it look perfect either winter or summer. There are many tricks that have been used since ancient times They have been used to enhance the beauty of hair, both humans and animals, although more time is required to elaborate and apply them than usual brushing.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain the most common or easy to apply so that the Your dog's hair is bright. In addition, you should keep in mind that factors such as feeding directly affect the quality and brightness of the dog's hair.Read reading to know tricks to brighten the my dog's hair . Beer The application of non-alcoholic beer to the dog's hair at the end of the bath, is proven to improve its brightness because it nourishes the hair bulb and softens th...

Flea bite allergy in dogs

In this Animals and Pets Online article we discuss a common problem: the allergy to flea bites in dogs .We say usual because fleas are parasites of wide worldwide distribution that, due to the conditions provided in our homes, can survive throughout the year, being able to bite dogs, cats, any other warm-blooded animal and even humans. Not all dogs develop allergies, but it is worth knowing this pathology because it is very common and the symptoms are very annoying, so read on to find out how to know if your dog is allergic to flea bites . Flea life cycle Fleas are parasitic insects observable to the naked eye.They have a flattened body to move better between the fur and are characterized by their high-altitude jumps.The adults get on the dog and bite to extract her blood , from which they feed.The female deposits eggs in the environment, between carpets or slits.These develop in several phases until they become adults and get on another animal, restarting the cycle.their way...

Green anaconda care

First of all we should emphasize that adopting a green anaconda will be a huge responsibility only within reach (if the adopter is sensible), of experts who have previously adopted other minor snakes, so that they already have a solid idea of ​​the minimum care that should be taken in a terrarium for reptiles. One factor to consider is the sex of the anaconda, since females are much larger and heavier than males.Obviously males will be much more manageable than females, since they rarely exceed 3.5 meters, however, females can exceed more than 6 meters during their 30 years of captive life and exceed 200 kg of weight. Therefore you must build and modify the terrarium of your green anaconda based on its growth.If you continue reading e This post from Animals and Pets Online, we will explain the basic conditions for the care of the green anaconda . Terrarium size and needs The size of the terrarium will be based on the measure of the green anaconda.It will not be the same to...

Papillon dog: features

In this Animals and Pets Online breed sheet we will talk about the papillon dog , also known as dwarf spaniel or butterfly dog, for its literal translation into French.It is one of the most elegant dogs in the world and comes from France and Belgium. Here are some details fundamental aspects that you should know if you are considering adopting one: the characteristics of the breed, how its training works or its possible relationship with children.But before, a little history: The papillon dog is It became really popular when Tiziano Vicelli painted them in the 16th century , as a result many other renowned painters began to include the papillon dog in their works such as Watteau or Fragonard.It was then when the dogs Papillon breed were considered as royalty dogs since in all to Europe the most important kings included them in their family paintings. The papillon created a trend .It is even said that Marie Antoinette had a papillon.This pretty and soft water dog changed her phy...

Animals with exoskeleton - Names and examples

The body of the largest vertebrate animals is not a mystery to most of people: it is known that it has a skeleton, internal vital organs (heart, brain, etc.), a dermis of variable and organ characteristics through which the five senses are manifested, among other characteristics. However, have you wondered what the invertebrate morphology is like? Then you need to know all about the animals with exoskeleton, names and examples. Don't miss this Animals and Pets Online article! What is the exoskeleton? The exoskeleton is an external structure that covers the body of various animals, including arthropods.It is characterized by being resistant but flexible .This structure It consists of different substances depending on the subfile to which the animal belongs: chitin for insects and fungi, calcium in mollusks and corals or silica in diatoms among other components. In turn, the exoskeleton is formed by three structures : Cuticle : non-cellular layer secreted by the hyp...

Types of herbivorous reptiles

There are many reptile fans who would like to start adopting and possess some very easy to maintain .However, most of the usual reptiles in pet stores have a common factor that puts these first time fans behind: almost all reptiles for adoption are insectivorous. This displeases these fans for various reasons.One very important thing is that insects cause them to repeat.Another factor to keep in mind is that incessant trips to the store must be made to provide themselves with live food, which often escapes and colonize the house.Crickets escaped inside a home can plunge their inhabitants into an insomniac despair.It is also not pleasant for many people to make a colony of crickets at home. If you are any of these fans, continues reading this p ost as Animals and Pets Online will tell you the different types of herbivorous reptiles. Land turtles Without a doubt, the most frequent herbivorous pet reptiles are the land turtles .In addition, they are also the easiest to maintain ...

Anaplasmosis in dogs - SYMPTOMS and TREATMENT

Ticks that can parasitize dogs are sometimes found, in turn , parasitized by pathogens such as bacteria that, if they enter the dog's organism, are capable of causing various diseases.This is the case of the anaplasmosis in dogs , a pathology that we will talk about in this article of Animals and Pets Online.We will see what symptoms can cause and how this problem can be treated not too well known, although worldwide distribution. Read on to discover everything about Anaplasma phagocytophilum in dogs and the Anaplasma platys , which are the most common in these animals. What is canine anaplasmosis? Anaplasmosis in dogs is caused by bacteria of the genus Anaplasma that infect animals through what is called a vector, in this case, a tick containing anaplasmas.they feed on blood, for which they must catch the animal.In that exchange is when contagion can occur and for this it must last a minimum of 18-24 hours. The anaplasmas are intracellular parasites obliged, thi...

Demodectic scabies in dogs - Symptoms and treatment

Demodectic mange is the second most common type of mange in dogs.It is known as red mange because of the characteristic redness of the skin of dogs that suffer from it.Hereditary herd is another name given to the disease, but it is a wrong name because the real cause of the disease is proliferation delacaro Demodex canis . In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will detail that it is demodectic mange , which are the symptoms that allow us to identify it and the treatment to be applied in case of infection. However, remember that it will be basic to see a veterinary professional to properly treat this disease.The specialist is the only one trained to carry out an accurate diagnosis. What is demodectic mange? Demodectic mange, also known as canine demodicosis, usually occurs in localized form .That is to say it affects only small parts of the skin, however, sometimes it can occur in a generalized way and in these cases it becomes a much more dangerous and complicated...

What do puppies eat?

Did your little puppy just come home and are you worried about feeding? Of course, whenever we comply with responsible ownership, we have to worry about being able to cover all the needs of our pet, and feeding is one of the most important. A Puppy needs a high concentration of nutrients so that its full development can be carried out without problems, but it also needs these nutrients to be contained in foods that adapt to its chewing possibilities. What do puppies eat? If you want to end your doubts do not stop reading this article of Animals and Pets Online. A puppy's first food is his mother's milk Sometimes and due to very different problems it may be necessary to feed prematurely weaned puppies, however, when we talk about everything that concerns the welfare of a dog, the first thing is to clarify that we should never rush to take it to our home, a forced weaning is a very serious mistake . For the puppy to get all the nutrients it needs, it can carry out t...