New Senegal Parrot

[richardkellow]

Hi

I have owned various birds in the past such as conures and cockatiels. I dont currently own any, but am thinking about getting a senegal parrot as I have done a lot of research and feel that this would best suit me (and they look so entertaining!)

I have been offered a senegal parrot that is not hand tame, but apparently will take food from the hand if you put your hand in the cage. My question is, is it likely that with time and patience, it could become cuddly tame and if so, any tips on good taming techniques and how long it is likely to take.

Thanks

[Java]

I really have no experience on taming Senegals. Mine came tame, or at least I thought she was tame, based on the fact that as soon as I saw her in store, I piked her up and did not put her down until I had to drive her home and she didn’t even try to bite me.

But I can say that Senes are extremely entertaining and very curious and involved in their surroundings. Nothing is safe, they want everything. They are just so adorable. Good luck. I think you would do well and be able to tame this Senegal, and you will find a great friend.

[richardkellow]

Thanks - i have read that they love to be very involved and interactive, so im hoping that if im prepared to put in the time, he will appreciate it and enjoy the stimulation

[Kathleen]

If you have had previous clicker/target training experience, it might be interesting to take on these issues. It's possible this bird could become a good pet. It's possible that working out these issues could take months or years. It's possible that the bird would never be fully tame and never fully trust you.

[Java]

Thanks - i have read that they love to be very involved and interactive, so im hoping that if im prepared to put in the time, he will appreciate it and enjoy the stimulation

I cannot explain to people what I mean when I talk about my Sennie. I really feel she thinks she is just another one of us humans.

Some examples of how involved she is.

When she is trying to do something, I don’t want her to do, I tell her no. She literally yells back at me as if to say, who made you God.

I play, I’m going to get you, and I use my fingers to walk to her and I cannot explain how much she enjoys this.

At night, when the house is quiet and I am up working, we talk to each other. She sits on my shoulder and will just gibber. Lately, she is saying a new word. When it is bed time, I will say to her, Java want to go ah ah ah sleep. She now says ah, ah, ah.

If I say, where are the baby kitties, she makes the cat call sound. It is almost as if she understands what I am saying and conversating back with me on the current conversation.

I do not even own a clicker to train with and really, I want her personality to come out and I don’t want to change anything about her personality.

She will be walking all over my desk and I can say Java come here and she comes.

If she is walking around on my desk, and a cat comes by, she comes back to me doing the cat call sound as if to tell me that a cat is trying to get her.

Java is a part of every part of my life, everything I do, she is there, or I am thinking about her. She showers with me, she goes to the bathroom with me, she does laundry with me, she makes coffee with me. The only thing she does not do with me yet is sleep with me and that is cause I have not found a way to safely do that yet, with cats and kids. She has wound herself around my little finger and I am afraid to think of how heart broken I would be if something were to ever happen to her. I took kids to the local pool before school started back again and all I could think about was how lonely Java must be at home. I felt horrible.

In the morning, we take my son out to wait for the bus, and she comes with me on my shoulder. Sits there and whistles and what not at the cars passing and when the bus leaves, she looks right in my eyes and tells me basically we can go in now.

If I am eating something, she literally pulls at my cheek to get what is in my mouth. I put her down and she comes right back up. I give her some of what I eat, but I will not allow her taking food out of my mouth as that is just gross.

If I eat cereal, she loves to sit on the side of the bowl and eat it with me (only allow her to get a tiny bit), but she loves this and I can say, you want some cereal and she acknowledges me and looks right into my eyes and squawks excitement.

If I make myself something to eat in the microwave, and it beeps, a soon as it beeps she starts pulling my face to her to tell me my food is ready and she wants some.

I know I probably am just crazy and exaggerating some of these things, but I really feel a strong connection with her and I think she does too. I have had a quaker parrot before many years ago and having him was nothing compared to my senegal. He was probably not tame though, bought him from a flea market in Florida where they were sold then for like 50 bux. I have also had cockatiels and parakeets, which in my opinion, leave a lot to be desired in the bonding arena. They were just birds that sang prettily for me anyway. Could not hold them. Could not really do anything with them.

Anyway, I think you will enjoy a senegal. It may take a while for bonding to happen, but I think it will.

Okay, my babbling is over now, LOL. Sorry, I just really enjoy my Senegal.

[rebeccaturpeinen]

java now I want a senegal!!!! that is just too cute...