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.

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