Well said, Nigel. Sometimes we humans just lose our common sense. No two parrots are the same, just as no two children are the same. Babies eat baby food. Toddlers eat toddler food. Some children have deficiencies or allergies. Adults who don't get any proper exercise should not eat like athletes. We can not expect any different for our feathered kids. Expert advice should come from real experts who know your specific bird, as you've pointed out so well. What we can get from each other are fun ideas for different kinds of treats or games or toys or experiences that might improve our birds' experiences. Lots of wonderful things to share and enjoy amongst ourselves for the sheer pleasure of it. No room for judgement or criticism here. Bravo to you and Smurf - indeed she is the total package of health & happiness! 👏🏽🐦👏🏽💜☮️🌍
Your story about greys in the wild has inspired me to leave the fruit on my trees outside instead of trying to pick them before the birds eats them! I love how Smurfy joined the conversation about her favorite subject. Sounds like she has a cold, lol!
I feel you are giving good advice. More people should listen to you. It is obvious you love your Grey and you are trying to keep her healthy and happy. My Grey refused to eat pellets and my little Amazon loved them. Each bird is different and has different needs and likes. I never gave them meat but tried to vary fruit and veg. Even tried healthy cereals. My Amazon would sneak into the kitchen to try to eat my bread. She also loved cheese so I gave her a very tiny piece of lower cal cheese for a treat. They also liked pizza crust so sometimes got a small piece of my pizza crust with the little piece of dried cheese on it. My birds also loved pasta so they got a little spaghetti without the sauce. It was soft and long and thin so it may have reminded them of worms. Parrots love their food and when they eat with you and share it is a way of bonding with them as Greys share food in the Wild. Keep on what you are doing if your bird is healthy and happy. Always check with a good vet to make sure what you are doing is OK.
Absolutely Lois - and thanks for the feedback. Smurf loves a tiny bit of mature chedder cheese from time to time ...we make our food together but I draw the line with eating together... for my own sanity :)
Suicidal parrot! 🤣🤣🤣 Dodo never had pellets or bird seed in his life! Nuts, millet, fruit and veg every day...loved egg, crisps, shortbread, chicken bones, beef, lamb and went beserk for cherry stones, that are meant to be an absolute no no! He was never ill in his 50 years!
Really great advice Nigel & makes total sense. Ive never lived in a country where we had avian specialists so have had to rely on general vets or more often just gut feelings. Ive had several African Greys in my lifetime & each one totally different in character & likes & dislikes as far as food is concerned. We didnt have all these fancy diets so basically they were fed on seed, fresh fruit, & veg. They ate whatever they enjoyed & what they didn't like they just chucked away. Amazing how far a parrot can sling a piece of fruit! One thing they all loved was a bunch of grass with root & soil attached...I believe grit is quite important in their diets & also fresh water. Their needs certainly change as they get older. Jasper used to love an orange or tangerine, but now just throws them away. He also used to steal & eat my dogs pellets! He still loves a tomato which he liberally plasters all over my kitchen walls!! Cashew nuts are his favourite thing at the moment - he's got very expensive tastes! Hope this hasnt turned into a food lecture but just wanted to say that they are all such individuals & most of all they thrive on love & care ❤
100% in agreement. Smurf has expensive tastes too lol ...and her favourite thing is to launch pomegranate seeds all over the kitchen floor when I'm making our tea :)
Smurfy is definitely a very lucky girl. She has a Dad who loves her to smithereens and does a fantabulous job keeping her safe, happy, and healthy. Thanks, Nigel, for sharing your sweet and very smart girl with us. Lots of love to both of you from a pink butterfly called Mel in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. ❤❤🇨🇦🦋
Thank you, it wasn't boring at all. ❤ I share your view on only pellets diet 😝 and that people should ask about age, health, medication, surroundings etc. before giving advice.
Nigel, I was transfixed by this video. I don’t own a parrot, I just love watching them on you tube. This video was a revelation to me. Thank you for helping me understand and learn. Your passion and love for African Grey Parrots and our beautiful Smurfy is crystal clear Respectfully your friend, CT xx
Hi Bertie. I think I just accidentally deleted my detailed response because I'm a moron :) ...we're good and just outside in the garden a lot at the moment. Busy dreaming up more stupid ideas for videos :) ...hope you're well? Thanks for missing us!!
@@smurfyswears LOL! You’re not a moron, just a human like the rest of us! Throw us a blurb or two every so often and we will be happy !😊 You and Smurphy have a lot of fans out here in UTube land! Enjoy your gardening, it’s good for the mind and soul for both of you!!😘😍🥰
Hi Nigel and Smurphy!😊 Thank you for sharing your advice, which as based on your experience raising your precious birdy.💖 Also, I am lol at Smurphy, trying to distract you with her random 'one-liner' comments!😅 Are you hungry? Eat some mackerel? Love you two a lot❤! 💕😇😍☺🤟🙏🏼
I couldn't agree with you more! Every Grey is different & advice should be given based off of *your* bird. General advice on "parrots" is one thing, sound advice is another. 🦜
Great advice Nigel , thank you for doing this is was very informative and needed as far as I know no one has done this prior. You spoke all facts Sophia Doctor did state I was doing a great job with Sophia as well lil brat! Much love to you both Smufy and Nigel ❤️
That was a good video, nicely done. My cockatiel is out of his cage 7 hours a day every day. Some how he always knows when it's 4pm to go back in his cage. That's a mystery 🤔 On a completely different side note, you have a lovely cheeky face. No harm meant 😌
That was brilliant, thank you 😊 It takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to care for a parrot (or any pet), and each and everyone is different. As are the outer circumstances. Healthy, happy, chatty Smurphy is the best proof how well you did.
Excellent advice! Avian vet check ups annually and anytime your bird is off can really help prevent bigger issues down the line. That and a balanced, varied diet for your specific bird with exercise and emotional connection too. I will say that adopting an older parrot came with a very different learning curve than that of a hand fed baby for me. Patience and gentleness there. Thank you for your thoughtful info Nigel!
100%!! I'm lucky to have a fabulous team of veterinary specialists for my greys, I'd be afraid to be in charge of them without their help available. I have an older blind male, and a middle aged female who is broody on and off. The type of parrot matters of course your focus here is AGs, but eclectus are a great example of "vitamins can hurt."
To add - if you can't afford routine avian vet visits, let alone the blood work that goes along with those, and the potential emergency and specialty visits on top of that at any moment? Don't get the bird.
Yup :) ...or any pet really. But those on disability benefits etc should still be allowed to have pets and a good charity to help with bills for animals because too many of them need good homes and it shouldn't be about wealth.
What a beautiful pair you are. It does my heart good.I'm not just saying this Nigel, Smurfy is the most contented and relevantly communicative[?] African grey parrot I've ever seen, and YT shows me a lot of African grey parrot videos.
Aww... thanks Corinna. It's lovely to know we're missed. Smurf says hi to Lara and Rudi. The videos are coming soon - life just gets in the way doesn't it? Bloody life :)
Excellent content Nigel. Some people just load up in sunflower seeds and peanuts which can carry aspergillosus. My hubbys a vet bur knows zero about parrots. When we got Jimmy we had to seek advice from one of his pals thats an avian vet. You simply must go to an avian vet period. Smurfys plummage is in tip top shape you are very knowledgeable ❤
Hi Jen - thanks for asking :) ...we're fine thanks. Life just gets in the way of having fun and making videos! We've got lots planned and a bit more time to execute the plans coming up so unfortunately we'll be back annoying everyone in a short time :)
Well said, Nigel. Sometimes we humans just lose our common sense. No two parrots are the same, just as no two children are the same. Babies eat baby food. Toddlers eat toddler food. Some children have deficiencies or allergies. Adults who don't get any proper exercise should not eat like athletes. We can not expect any different for our feathered kids. Expert advice should come from real experts who know your specific bird, as you've pointed out so well. What we can get from each other are fun ideas for different kinds of treats or games or toys or experiences that might improve our birds' experiences. Lots of wonderful things to share and enjoy amongst ourselves for the sheer pleasure of it. No room for judgement or criticism here. Bravo to you and Smurf - indeed she is the total package of health & happiness! 👏🏽🐦👏🏽💜☮️🌍
Thanks for the lovely feedback Lisa - in complete agreement with you :)
Your story about greys in the wild has inspired me to leave the fruit on my trees outside instead of trying to pick them before the birds eats them! I love how Smurfy joined the conversation about her favorite subject. Sounds like she has a cold, lol!
Sounds great Ophelia :) ...Smurf is fine ...aside not pronouncing her t's and taking on a distictly common tone at the moment lol :)
Good advice Nigel. Glad to see you 2 again! Smurfy always gets me with the seagull noise 😂
😁 Cheers Calvin :)
I love the way you explain things.. your heart is truly for the parrots .. you are a very humble person.. God Bless
Thanks very much Peggy :)
I feel you are giving good advice. More people should listen to you. It is obvious you love your Grey and you are trying to keep her healthy and happy. My Grey refused to eat pellets and my little Amazon loved them. Each bird is different and has different needs and likes. I never gave them meat but tried to vary fruit and veg. Even tried healthy cereals. My Amazon would sneak into the kitchen to try to eat my bread. She also loved cheese so I gave her a very tiny piece of lower cal cheese for a treat. They also liked pizza crust so sometimes got a small piece of my pizza crust with the little piece of dried cheese on it. My birds also loved pasta so they got a little spaghetti without the sauce. It was soft and long and thin so it may have reminded them of worms. Parrots love their food and when they eat with you and share it is a way of bonding with them as Greys share food in the Wild. Keep on what you are doing if your bird is healthy and happy. Always check with a good vet to make sure what you are doing is OK.
Absolutely Lois - and thanks for the feedback. Smurf loves a tiny bit of mature chedder cheese from time to time ...we make our food together but I draw the line with eating together... for my own sanity :)
So agree - birds need variety - just like us😇😇
Thanks Ms Happy :)
Suicidal parrot! 🤣🤣🤣 Dodo never had pellets or bird seed in his life! Nuts, millet, fruit and veg every day...loved egg, crisps, shortbread, chicken bones, beef, lamb and went beserk for cherry stones, that are meant to be an absolute no no! He was never ill in his 50 years!
That's brilliant to hear about Dodo and thanks for the feedback Jen ...I know... suicidal parrots ....what was I thinking? lol
@@smurfyswearsHilarious! 😂😂😂
Really great advice Nigel & makes total sense. Ive never lived in a country where we had avian specialists so have had to rely on general vets or more often just gut feelings. Ive had several African Greys in my lifetime & each one totally different in character & likes & dislikes as far as food is concerned. We didnt have all these fancy diets so basically they were fed on seed, fresh fruit, & veg. They ate whatever they enjoyed & what they didn't like they just chucked away. Amazing how far a parrot can sling a piece of fruit! One thing they all loved was a bunch of grass with root & soil attached...I believe grit is quite important in their diets & also fresh water. Their needs certainly change as they get older. Jasper used to love an orange or tangerine, but now just throws them away. He also used to steal & eat my dogs pellets! He still loves a tomato which he liberally plasters all over my kitchen walls!! Cashew nuts are his favourite thing at the moment - he's got very expensive tastes!
Hope this hasnt turned into a food lecture but just wanted to say that they are all such individuals & most of all they thrive on love & care ❤
100% in agreement. Smurf has expensive tastes too lol ...and her favourite thing is to launch pomegranate seeds all over the kitchen floor when I'm making our tea :)
I love that you know what you do about Smurfy. So she can thrive! I trust you👍🏻😁🥰🦊
I try Fox - I always try :)
Smurfy is definitely a very lucky girl. She has a Dad who loves her to smithereens and does a fantabulous job keeping her safe, happy, and healthy. Thanks, Nigel, for sharing your sweet and very smart girl with us. Lots of love to both of you from a pink butterfly called Mel in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. ❤❤🇨🇦🦋
Aww... thanks so much for the wonderful feedback Mel :)
Smurfy is adorable
Cheers Jan :)
Thank you, it wasn't boring at all. ❤
I share your view on only pellets diet 😝 and that people should ask about age, health, medication, surroundings etc. before giving advice.
Thanks Sandra - hope I struck the right balance in the video :)
Nigel, I was transfixed by this video. I don’t own a parrot, I just love watching them on you tube. This video was a revelation to me. Thank you for helping me understand and learn. Your passion and love for African Grey Parrots and our beautiful Smurfy is crystal clear Respectfully your friend, CT xx
Wonderful! Thanks for the great feedback CT :)
Very good advice 🙂 i agree with your thinking, Nigel. Smurfy looks gorgeous & so healthy. She has a great and very clever dad ❤ love you both!
Thanks so much for the feedback Selena :)
Great information: people need information , and I didn't know so much about bird ownership. =))
Many thanks J :)
I don't even have a parrot and I love your advice and Smurphy too (of course).xox
Cheers Camille :)
Hope all is well in Smurphyland! We miss your posts!😌😘🥰 Thanks for all the really great info!
Hi Bertie. I think I just accidentally deleted my detailed response because I'm a moron :) ...we're good and just outside in the garden a lot at the moment. Busy dreaming up more stupid ideas for videos :) ...hope you're well? Thanks for missing us!!
@@smurfyswears LOL! You’re not a moron, just a human like the rest of us! Throw us a blurb or two every so often and we will be happy !😊 You and Smurphy have a lot of fans out here in UTube land! Enjoy your gardening, it’s good for the mind and soul for both of you!!😘😍🥰
That was brilliant and thank you. Smurfy is absolutely adorable ❤
Our pleasure! Thanks for the great feedback Terina :)
Love you Nigel and Smurfy❤ Great job! Said very well, and love your bird!
You rock! :)
Where’s my fooking mug
I'll get you one for Christmas :)
Hi Nigel and Smurphy!😊
Thank you for sharing your advice, which as based on your experience raising
your precious birdy.💖
Also, I am lol at Smurphy, trying to distract you with her random 'one-liner' comments!😅
Are you hungry?
Eat some mackerel?
Love you two a lot❤! 💕😇😍☺🤟🙏🏼
Many thanks Sand ...as I write she is currently banging the Addams Family beats in the bread bin :)
@@smurfyswears😂
I couldn't agree with you more!
Every Grey is different & advice should be given based off of *your* bird. General advice on "parrots" is one thing, sound advice is another. 🦜
100% with you Vixster :)
Sage advice, Nigel. Sending hugs to you and Smurfy
Cheers Laura - hugs back to you in Oz :)
Great advice Nigel , thank you for doing this is was very informative and needed as far as I know no one has done this prior. You spoke all facts Sophia Doctor did state I was doing a great job with Sophia as well lil brat! Much love to you both Smufy and Nigel ❤️
Cheers Raine - great feedback as always and hi to you and Sophia :)
Great neutral advice Nigel
Thanks Joanna :)
Hi again Nigel your very fitting for today as Gizmo the Gery parrot has said it’s world Parrot day today
Oh yes!!! Thank god Gizmo remembered!
That was a good video, nicely done. My cockatiel is out of his cage 7 hours a day every day. Some how he always knows when it's 4pm to go back in his cage. That's a mystery 🤔
On a completely different side note, you have a lovely cheeky face. No harm meant 😌
Doesn’t he though? Nigel has such a warm, lovely face and bright eyes. He just makes me happy seeing him. ☺️
@@julielong8714 exactly 💯
Ha! Thanks Julie... blushing now. It's probably too much sun and cider :)
@@smurfyswears I can only agree with Jacky and Julie! 😊
Ha! Thanks Jacky 😃
Smurf is the same. She has a built-in clock that knows tea needs to be served at 5pm 🙄😆
That was brilliant, thank you 😊 It takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to care for a parrot (or any pet), and each and everyone is different. As are the outer circumstances. Healthy, happy, chatty Smurphy is the best proof how well you did.
Thanks as always Beatrix for the great feedback :)
Absolutely awesome :)
Excellent advice! Avian vet check ups annually and anytime your bird is off can really help prevent bigger issues down the line. That and a balanced, varied diet for your specific bird with exercise and emotional connection too. I will say that adopting an older parrot came with a very different learning curve than that of a hand fed baby for me. Patience and gentleness there. Thank you for your thoughtful info Nigel!
In complete agreement with you TG - and great point made about adoption :)
With you 100% 🙂❤
Thanks ☺️
What a handsome Mug😅
Thanks Nigel, nice surprise to see you and Smurphy❤
Smurfy is handsome :) ...who?? ...me??? :)
Hi Suzy :)
100%!! I'm lucky to have a fabulous team of veterinary specialists for my greys, I'd be afraid to be in charge of them without their help available. I have an older blind male, and a middle aged female who is broody on and off. The type of parrot matters of course your focus here is AGs, but eclectus are a great example of "vitamins can hurt."
To add - if you can't afford routine avian vet visits, let alone the blood work that goes along with those, and the potential emergency and specialty visits on top of that at any moment? Don't get the bird.
Yup :) ...or any pet really. But those on disability benefits etc should still be allowed to have pets and a good charity to help with bills for animals because too many of them need good homes and it shouldn't be about wealth.
I completely agree ...I just don't know anything about birds aside AG's lol :)
An all-pellet diet is rubbish. 🙀 Smurf's got me pondering juicy mackerel.😸
What a beautiful pair you are. It does my heart good.I'm not just saying this Nigel, Smurfy is the most contented and relevantly communicative[?] African grey parrot I've ever seen, and YT shows me a lot of African grey parrot videos.
That is such a lovely thing to say Linda - thank you so much :)
Hello Nigel, good to hear everything is ok, I missed you both too 😊 Best regards from Corinna with my greys Lara and Rudi ❤
Aww... thanks Corinna. It's lovely to know we're missed. Smurf says hi to Lara and Rudi. The videos are coming soon - life just gets in the way doesn't it? Bloody life :)
My girl's 15. A good, versatile eater.
Yay to versatile eating :)
Its Sunday morning listening to your advice you are never boring very interesting video and I haven't got a parrot love you both
Awesome! Thank you Patricia :)
💙
Nigel, I wanted to drop a quick line to say that I think you’ve got the lighting for your videos dialed in. It’s impeccable in this release 👌
Cool, thanks Julie - that's great to know :)
Excellent content Nigel. Some people just load up in sunflower seeds and peanuts which can carry aspergillosus. My hubbys a vet bur knows zero about parrots. When we got Jimmy we had to seek advice from one of his pals thats an avian vet. You simply must go to an avian vet period. Smurfys plummage is in tip top shape you are very knowledgeable ❤
So nice of you to say Joyce. Thank you :)
BRAVO!!!
Thank you Ms Trish :)
You've been quiet, Nigel...all good?
Hi Jen - thanks for asking :) ...we're fine thanks. Life just gets in the way of having fun and making videos! We've got lots planned and a bit more time to execute the plans coming up so unfortunately we'll be back annoying everyone in a short time :)
@@smurfyswears Excellent! Glad all's good 👍😊