My Koko also throws not only broccoli but kale too. He likes the carrots but prefers them cooked. Actually, he prefers everything cooked and even order us to "Cook!" hundreds times each day.
I’m so glad that I found your channel! Smokey has a better life than I. lol I’m getting ready to get a bird and have learned so much from you already. I’ve had birds in the past but it has been 25 years and things have certainly changed, for the better, I’m happy to see. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and beautiful Smoky.
Smokey is so great and so lucky to have such a thoughful and caring owner! I'm so excited that you are getting her a bird companion too! Birds are like chips, it's hard to have just one! Your philosophy of learning every possible angle of bird keeping and deciding your own personal opinions from there and encouraging others to do the same is fantastic and it's exactly what I try to do with my pets. I have a tiny bird that I've had since the beginning of high school (he's 9 now), I love birds so much but I know that once my little buddy Spock is gone it'll be many years (until after I've retired from my current career path) until I can adopt another bird because they deserve and require so much time, stability and commitment. I'm lucky that Spock is such an incredibly playful, toy-obsessed and independent little bird and that I have access to channels like yours to learn new ways to enrich and engage my birdo so that he gets the best life he can possibly have.
Smokey is well taken care of. I got yelled at when I fed my Ringneck an Orange. The person said never feed an Orange to a bird. Can't wait to see the new addition.
Many species of parrot can produce their own vitamin C in the liver (unlike humans) so citrus is not bad per se, but too much can actually overdose them on vitamin C. It should be an occasional snack so as to avoid vitamin C toxicity as too much of any vitamin can be as harmful as too little.
Getting yelled at for it is a bit much... you definitely shouldn't have been yelled at. As someone said above, they can end up getting too much vitamin C if you feed it often. The acidity can also cause some digestive upset if they've had too much. If you categorized "great" foods as "green light", foods to feed sparingly as "yellow light" foods, and toxic foods as "red light" foods, this would be a "yellow light" food. To give an idea, kale is a "green light" food because it is super nutritious and there's really no drawback to feeding it a lot, spinach would be a "yellow light" food because it can block calcium absorption but has great overall nutritional content, and things like alcohol or avocado would be "red light" as in "never okay, these will poison your bird".
Molly Jane Thanks for that example. I agree there is no need to be yelled, educating is better. I only feed a piece of orange occasionally as my avian vets feeding guide. I guess that person had no manners, 😀
bloodbane007 I feed only occasionally and my Ringneck does not like it too much, she prefers more green foods, thanks. Education is best instead of yelling. Thanks for being nice and educational.
I have to say that you are such a dedicated parent and companion to Smokey. Everything you do is for this beautiful beautiful bird. The reason she lets you do anything is because of the enormous amount of love you give her. It’s so sad to see birds in homes with no stimulation. They make tons of noise because they have nothing to enrich them like you do. Even her aviary is gorgeous, even nicer than my back yard. They should have these beautiful homes like this because they live for a long time and it’s not fair just to play with them for 10min and then be done til the next day or even yet you get bored and don’t talk to them for awhile. Anyway I’m a new sub and I love this channel. I saw some guy on another channel hit hit bird on his head for eating a basket because he had nothing to play with. He didn’t hit him hard but enough to make me angry. You are very gentle with her. Can’t wait to arch the other vids-All Day Smokey!
I don't know if this was a personal quirk of my bird, but my Indian Ringneck absolutely LOVED Artichokes. I don't think he ever actually ate any of it, but he would spend ages just shredding off the leaves and pulling the whole thing apart. They aren't very popular and are very seasonal so I couldn't get them often, but the reaction I would get when he saw me walking towards his cage with a fresh Artichoke was just fantastic.
hey Smoky’s dad! I would much recommend to chop most of the fresh food as small as possible, maybe even use a machine for that (I use a salad machine thingy for my birdh Chauko), just because you want to make sure that she got all her nutritions especially because African Greys tends to get a bit of iron and calcium deficiencies. this its been recommended to me because chopping them that way make it way harder for them to do their picking and sticking only to eating favorites, if she likes to hold them with her feet you can bring her one or few pieces with her finely chopped fresh food (I do it for snacks usually). you really want to make sure she’s eating most of her nutritions from her fresh food because it absorbs better I think???
Agree with 95%. I disagree that birds require a bird companion. As a matter of fact this often creates more problems. Like most social species kept in captivity humans become the birds social group. Independent play is extremely important but so is spending quality, not quantity, time with them most days of the week. Create a healthy balance. Adding to what you said training and flight training are important to communication, building a trusting relationship and exercise. Birds need exercise to be healthy.
True I used to think the same as him with my bird but it turned out he was just not interested in another bird as much as he was with his human companions. We tried them to get used to each other with training and very slowly but they just did not like each other and we had to split them up, as they even started fighting each other! (It turned out really scary, in a bloodbath basically) Luckily both are fine now but they're split up, obviously I'm not saying this will happen at all but also its a possibility. And I also disagree that they NEED another bird, there is also a very big possibility that it will make things worse. Smokey looks perfectly happy to me.
I thought that too, and now I have three parrots and all HATE each other 2 are of the same species and makes like very difficult think twice about doing that
Thank you Jon. I feed my Smoky a buffet every morning which can include as follows: Edamame California mixed vegetables steamed Carrots Blueberry, raspberry, blackberry Cuties, navel oranges Cantaloupe Kashi shredded wheat Almonds in the shell Yellow squash, zucchini Kale Baby bell pepper Cooked mash from bird-store (full of grains and legumes) Snap peas Pinto beans Pellets Peaches Cherries with seeds removed Corn on the cob Sweet potatoes Cauliflower Sunflower seeds Pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top Vitamins 3 times a week Fresh water
So happy to have found you and your videos. I watch Apollo and other birds and accidently came across yours. I don't have birds but love watching bird videos. I have a dog. Thanks for a great video and you have great verbal description. Good girl Smokey.
Might go down after it. My Grey throws out his less preferable stuff, and then goes to the bottom of the cage to eat it after his favorites. Greys in the wild spend a lot of time on the ground.
I also think it is good for parrots to hv a companion. I had a cockatiel 1st and decided to get my CAG. I NEVER had them out together even when supervised bc they act quicker than we react. I noticed they communicated with each other and learned from each other and they kept each other company when i was away. When my CAG passed my tiel greived for her.
indeed, I have an African grey and an Senegal from gambia, they love to be together and they love to watch youtube and they always try to interact with the birds on youtube haha also they eat the same as me, when i eat pan cakes they eat pancakes when i eat spaghetti they do. and fruits daily, i dont have a place outside since i live in an appartmant but i sometimes put them in a parrot bag and go walk with them trough forrests etc.
I found feeding some fruits, such as grapes to be full of insecticides, to the point the bird was so sick I didn't think he was going to be alive the next morning. Since then, it has been veggies, some pasta, pellets (ground up) seems to work. Bird happy, wife happy, who knows. Had him for over 20 yrs, amazon blue front for 30 years. Who knows, enjoy !!!
it's a long time since you posted this but when I finally see it it's great to hear how committed you are to the welfare of your animal. So many birds end up closed up in a cage - other animals too! Enrichment is so important. I have two smaller dogs and an african grey. Admit that I struggle to keep her occupied (apart from gnawing on leads in the kitchen;-) Thanks for good advice.
In the last couple of hours, i've watched so many of your videos (from 2015 til now) thank you for sharing Smokey and your knowledge. I think anyone who is wanting a parrot really should watch your videos.
We mix up, oranges , apples, carrots, celery, grapes, and more fruits apart from the really bad stuff, avocado, also not too much orange. Then at night he gets a little bit of budgie mix, your classic parrot mix, and some fruits on top, he was given to us a bit too young, 3 months, maybe even 2 and a half, we didn’t choose, he’s is fully weened and still has one little baby fluff. We have no experience with birds but my whole family has been reaseatching got 2 years.. this is day 3 with him...
You said what I was thinking, about even if she doesn't eat it,it's OK it's what they do in the wild. Your always right on with raising your smokey. I love your videos they are filled with such great,important knowledge everyone can use. So much love to you and your family.
I look forward to all your videos, I’ve learn something with each one. Thanks for all the time you give us. I can’t wait for Smoky new friend to come. There are so many unwanted GCC’s out there my heart breaks, I know BooBoo and my new friend is waiting for us to find her.
This is what they do in wild! :) re: leaf shredding! Washing them is awesome too, it gives her added water droplets to enjoy. Ups their water intake! Your videos are amazing. I love the tips!!
Thanks for making this vid, it really helped me! I also feed my parrot most of these foods. My CAG loves broccoli and many other vegetables. He is still a young parrot (8 and a half months) so we give him seeds once every week. Also giving palm oil on bread is a healthy treat for AGs. But don’t give palm oil and bread often. Egg is very good for African greys as well with the yolk and shell.
Its so great to see you and Smokey together. I have a question about the aviary. How big is it and where did you buy it? I live in Denmark and i have not seen one like this here.
I'm so glad I found your channel! I adopted a Timneh African grey on Saturday who is afraid of me. He will take almonds from my hand but that is all. So excited to begin your training techniques. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Wonderful video. Parrot nutrition is SO important! To get my tiels and grey to eat veggies I bake homemade birdie bread which contains sweet potato, bananas, kale, broccoli, carrots and usually some berries and nuts in moderation. I crumble it into their breakfast pellets and it is gone by the end of the day. I also use the eggs with the shells to add a source of calcium. The Cuisinart can chop all of this very finely. I totally get why you would want to net in your patio... I would do the same to our front porch if my husband would let me! As it is, my birds get to fly around in a large room inside for now. It will be interesting to follow your process of choosing and adding a second bird. Another grey? Rescue bird? Male or female? How to introduce them to each other and deal with the inevitable jealousy. (Trust me, my male tiel is very jealous of my grey so it takes a delicate balance!) Good lucK
HAHAHA! I have an 18 year old Umbrella Cockatoo and he does the same thing with a broccoli!! He throws it across the room!!! You have a beautiful parrot, love the aviary.💜🕊💜🕊💜
Another Great Video! Super helpful. I actually have a baby African Grey coming in a few months and found your video to be a great resource as I know their dietary needs are a bit different than the parrots I currently have. So, Thank You! Looking forward to your future videos!
What you're feeding Smokey is absolutely what she should be eating. 1/4 to 1/2 cup good pellet like Harrison's or several have made their own & are available by googling, as well as fresh veggies & fresh fruit. If they won't eat them in larger chunks then chop them smaller for your bird. Smokey has better living quarters then most Humans.
I had an African Grey and I used to cook daily because he liked a cooked meal a day before bedtime, he would rather go hungry than touch his parrotseeds, he just waited for his hot meal
Really good advice, we do owe it to them to try and enrich their lives in as many ways as we can :) and its great that you're showing ways that people can do that :) My grey Henry loves broccolli but only if I steam it first, i know it takes some nutrients out of it but he loves it :) ive started to only part steam it now too and he seems to still enjoy it but you can tell the flavour is stronger :) made me laugh when smokey threw hers out! Mine do that a lot to get to what they want :) so funny
I love your videos, helps me a lot with my new friend. (Sorry for my english, im from Spain) The vet ( is especialized only in exotic animals) recomends me the same diet you have mentioned in you video. Pellets, and fresh fruit and vegetables, alsa i give him voiled eggs, natural juice, voiled pasta... but the vet prevents me of two vegetables, that are toxic for the parrtos, the eggplant and the avocado. Have a nice day
I had dreamed of owning loud parrots for 15years I got one and felt bad he/she was in acage albeit a reasonable size we turned the garden shed into a Avery 😂 then I felt bad he didn't have a friend so I brought 2 more lol now I'm on the hunt for more lol they are addictive once you start lol I even started covering the old windows with netting and knocking the windows out so they can see the chooks and sparrows etc outside now I have my monkeys I'd not change it for the world I love them 2 bits and the good thing for me with having them is I'm eating healthier as well because there's always so much fresh fruit and vegetables in the house 😂 they are so spoilt lol. But u should try corn on the cob with smokey mine love it and shredding the Cobb as well is always fun and hiffing it across the Avery 😁 can't wait to see the new addition when they arrive 💓 💓
I had to watch twice. Completely zoned out when she started to eat. Sooo cute :D Second time around there was much interesting information. Thank you for sharing =)
I m really agree with you,, what a great idea to build that great space for smoky, I have one and feel very bad for her to be just with me they new a companion,you are so good for her thanks
I feed my babies some freshly cooked green beans and bone marrow from cooked drum sticks, and other things. But your Grey looks extremely healthy. Congrats!
I do not think that using the netting to give her space to fly is a bad idea or over the top! I love it. Gave me an idea on how to give mine a way to fly outdoors. Thanks for the video, the tips and the work you put into Smokey! Where are you located that kale can grow in your yard??
Can you add a non toxic plant in your birds Aviary and let it grow so they could have an actual living plant in their cage or enclosure? Cuz I want to do that with my birds and their aviary so I'm just asking.
Late answer but : in my opinion you should definately do that if can, every parrot I had loved it, I believe plants are way more untertaining for them than any toy you can brought them BUT you have to know that they will distroy them in no time (like pretty much anything you'll gave them anyway😂 but plants are more fragile) And don't expect your bird to understand they have to take care of it if they want to play with it for a longer period, they can't realy help themselves when they're focus So my advice is : don't go with expensive plants, try to go for tough ones or realy fast to grow. For me the best way to go is : Palm, fruit trees + bambou , in addition to the seeds that are in their diet. Especially Sunflower, they grow extremely fast and parrots love it. Be carefull tho, not all plants are non toxic for all parrot, Im fine with most fruit trees, but they are toxic for some parrot spieces
Hi John, despite of many followers/questions I hope you will manage to find time to answer mine ;-) I have had african grey Kuko for 6 years now....gave him as much attention as I could, however he is a plucker, but he has times, when he stops plucking, then he starts again, but he tends to go for a certain place on his body, so I can tell that its a kind of neurotic issue...Anyways he is a great talker, knows many words and uses them at the apropriate time of day or situation so as if he knew their meanings... He seems content with us overall considering our circumstances and lack of out of cage time etc....We have just had a baby, which means even less time to spend with my grey, so I have been considering to give him away to a parrot sanctuary, where he even might find his soul mate, I mean a female as well as he might become a part of flock and be happy there... Do you think this would be the right decision? Of course I would visit more often in the beginning to make sure he is doing fine etc... Also I am his favourite from our household and it must be this time of year, when they breed as he regurgitate towards me and gives me all sings of love, which I ignore and do not encourage him, so I would leave him alone for a bit till he calms down..... This makes me wonder whether your smokey shows sings of love towards you??? You must have had this happened as she clearly adores you.... and How did you or do you deal with that sexual behaviour?
Thank you so much for sharing smoky and all the different things that you do. I have a green cheek conure. He is three months old. My daughter got a green cheek conure at the same time and the 2 birds are the best of friends and constantly groom and scratch each other’s necks. My daughter already had a cockatiel that has always been afraid of hands and will try to peck anybody that comes close to him. It’s really hard to even find a treat that he enjoys because he so afraid of hands. He says several different words and when the baby birds get anywhere near him he gets very nervous and just start chattering all the words he knows. Both of the baby birds now attack him every time they’re near him. I listened to your video that showed fear of hands and what to do but We can’t find a place to start to calm him down. Also, you mentioned in this video that it’s good for them to have their kind. Did you mean in the same cage and should it be the same kind of bird? My daughter and her husband work full-time nights so the birds spend time in their cages while they’re at work. They let the birds out as soon as they get home but there still struggling with the cockatiel. All three birds are kept in separate cages and my daughter lives in her own house except right now she’s been staying with me for the last couple weeks. While they’re at my house, the birds are all let out as soon as we wake up for the whole day then sleep in their separate cages. Do you have any advice for us in these two issues we’re having? Again, thank you so much for all that you give to smoky and to your viewers.
I know you are an African gray specialist but I would think that the behavioral changes would be the same procedure regardless of the size or breed. I have looked every couple of days since I wrote my question. You had mentioned in the video to write questions on your most recent video so you would be more likely to see. Please John, I’m hoping you respond soon before I give up hope in hearing from you.
