Oscar, a 4 year old senegal.

[shmee]

Ye Marie, I had his wings clipped because the first time he came out to grab a little piece of apple on the door he then went to the top of his cage and had no idea how to go back in and so he freaked out, started flying everywhere and wouldn't leave a high chandelier... I'll definitely let them grow now that he's more confortable with my presence.

I agreed with the bird buddy more because he could have more of a role model. I've read that budgies with 1 month of lots of love and attention get tame which is great. I do understand what you're saying though, could Oscar get jealous? I don't know...

And yes I did start target training him like 2 months ago (I wrote this above ) and had a bit of success but not nearly as much as I expected. He often comes for the target stick but normally I always have to cheat the first treat or two and the the target a bit closer to him, no more than this though or he'll get used to that. Other than that there's not much else we achieved with target training, except for two times which I got him to put one of his feet on a stick I was using for stepping up for support, not that bad but it was really just 2 times in hundreds.

Cheers

[friend2parrots]

re: the budgie....

I agree with marie that a budgie is really not a good species of bird buddy for your senegal. if you do decide to (later on ) get Oscar a bird buddy, he would do best with a larger species, maybe a Poi. check with other senegal owners what they advise.

[marie83]

Ah yes, you did mention the target training lol sorry I have a short memory.
I would start from scratch with it after you've removed his food for a longer period of time

As for the role model thing...
....well I have no doubt whatsoever that birds do learn from one another to a point but being around 2 other tame birds didn't help me tame Harlie, one was the same species, the other one a really cuddly conure. So yea don't rely on it helping and do consider that if they dont get on then your going to have double the work with out times etc, not just double the training.

I have never owned a senegal but I do know from hearing loads of stories that they are usually very difficult birds, once your has his confidence he will try to work around you to see any chinks in your armour. I just think based on what I've heard from others that you need to be 100% sure you can handle 1 bird before you take on another.

[shmee]

Sure, I can try that. I mean he somewhat trusts me already, it's a bit hard for me to explain. If I hold a pellet on the tip of my lips he has no problem whatsoever on grabbing it, same for my hands. However if my hands have no food and start aproaching instead of him coming to them it's a whole 'nother story!

[marie83]

He will bond to you sooner or later, he still getting used to his new life

[shmee]

I'm still getting used to the whole patience thing, we'll see