Where are all the older Pois?

[Charlie]

Hello Everyone,

I've been finding a lot of your forum topics useful in my research about poicephalus and so I decided to join in. I don't actually own any parrots yet, but I am doing my homework before I commit. I am torn between getting a Senegal and a Jardine's at the moment. The Senegal seems the easier option. Smaller beak, less prone to nippiness, no physiological problems like beak overgrowth and aspergillosis such as you get with the Jardine's. Yet there is something quite alluring about a larger, more challenging parrot. What do you think?

Here is an interesting thing I have found while researching these species. Nobody I talk to owns a Senegal over about 5-7 years old, and all the Jardine's owners I speak to seem to have birds 1-2 years old. This bodes ill. Where are all the teenage parrots, the parrots in their twenties? Could it be that there is some terrible transformation at the seven year mark which is sending more mature poicephalus owners quietly to the rehoming centre, or is it just that they have had their birds so long they are less vocal about them? Has anyone ever met an older poi who is still a good pet? Has anyone here ever owned one for more than 5 years?

[Michael]

If you want to hear about older pois, you can read Mona. Forget about buying a Senegal Parrot or any Poi for that matter until you read her website:

http://flyingparrotsinside.com

It's kind of like the mytoo.com version about Senegal Parrots: the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you think you are less likely to get hurt by a Senegal Parrot because it has a smaller beak, think again. They can become very aggressive (and it seems moreso than Jardine's or Capes). Of course a lot has to do with how they are raised and such. Take a read through these posts because they cover Senegal parrot questions and aggression issues from multiple people:

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=348
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=768
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1528

I think the reason we don't hear about too many older Senegal Parrots is because there aren't that many. I think they've become more popular for breeding only in the last 10 years or so. Also, I think the folks with new birds have more questions and experiences to share so they tend to me online and more vocal.

Anyway, you've come to the right place for information about Pois because we have a lot of owners of Senegals and other Poicephalus. Take your time and good luck with your search.

[Natacha]

My Senegal is 5 and I don't think she'll be any more different in two years. She's a wonderful bird.

I also have two 6 year old Red bellied parrots, one of whom will be 7 in September. The youngest of the two I got when he was just shy of turning 3 and I have to say that's he's better now than he's been back them. I don't see myself rehoming either for behavior issues.

I also have a 16 year old Meyer's and what you see is what you get. He's had a rough past and went through a few homes along the way. But he's a great bird with his chosen people. As I knew of his issues when I got him 3 years ago, he's not going anywhere because of them.

[Charlie]

Thank you Michael, that IS a good website. I'd heard Senegals could also be aggressive, but I heard mainly of this manifesting itself in territoriality and one person birdedness rather that in general nippiness and moods. I know Senegals can administer a mean bite too, and that whatever bird I get I WILL get bitten! I am looking for somewhere to volunteer and get some handling experience with birds of all sizes, but this is very difficult in the UK. Bird stores and rescues are few and far between. I think aviculture is much more developed on your side of the pond.

Thanks to you too, Natacha. This is reassuring news. The web is awash with cute baby pictures, videos and attestations, with very few meaningful comments from experienced Poi owners. I'd spoken to an experienced breeder, but it's good to hear from someone who has kept these birds as companions. Perhaps Michael is right, and there aren't that many older ones in captivity in general.

[Natacha]

I also know of a few older Pois but their owners don't really do the online forum thing

[Zanizaila]

My Meyers, Saga, turned eight just yesterday. So we have one here.
And I've had her since she was barely ten weeks and I was just twelve years old.

She got much more aggressive and hard to be around maybe two-three years ago when she found out that she can actually attack people from above. But she's been a biting menace since she was just two-three years old. The last year though, she's been calmer.

[Charlie]

Thanks Zanizaila, that's good to hear. I have thought about Meyers too as they get good reports all round. Nevertheless, it seems most of the generalisations about different types of pois having different levels of aggression and different temperaments are largely just that - generalisations. I am starting to think it just depends on the individual bird you get.

[Sarah]

I see this is an older topic, but I wanted to contribute for those who might be wondering the same thing.

I recently adopted a 15 year old Senegal Sammy, and while we have only had him for about two months, he is the most wonderful little bird. I love him to bits, and give him lots of kisses and head scratches.

He had a poor diet for the first years of his life, and the vet said showed signs of malnutrition as a baby, and given his dislike of any fresh veggies and pellets, and his clear love of all things frozen, and processed I am betting his diet was not the most enriched. I have to sneak veggies and pellets into birdie bread that he wolfs down not knowing what is in it!

All this considered he really is a lovely little bird, and I cant think who in their right mind would have given him up for adoption. I have not gotten any serious bites from him as of yet, he has given me a warning or two when I move to quickly, and he doesnt like me changing his food dishes to much if I take them out of the cage through the door rather than swinging the dishes outwards, learned that with his travel cage which does not have dishes that you can change without putting your hands in. He is phobic of anything that moves, even things he sees every day. Its a bit of an adjustment learning what he is used to, and what he is afraid of, and no doubt any warnings he has given me were fairly deserved on my end for not watching him more closely and assuming of course he is ok with me putting dishes in there!

It does not appear to me that Sammy has any behavioural issues, he was just put up for adoption because his owner did not have time for him and was moving. He does display hormonal behaviour with myself and my finace, which we discourage as to not frustrate him and stress him. So far we have not had hormonal problems aside from him trying to do his mating dance. This may be because he does his display for both my partner and myself so he is not jealous, or picking a clear favourite with either of us as his mate.

If you get a rescued bird, the rescue will be more than happy to inform you as to what kind of bird you might be looking at adopting, many places do behavioural assessments before adopting the bird out. Be honest with yourself and the rescue about what you can handle. I knew my experience didnt lend me to taking a very troubled bird with self destructive behaviours, but that doesnt mean you cant adopt.

[pfinarffle]

Pee Wee the Senegal's 18th hatchday was Sept 9th of this year. So I guess we take the cake in aged Pois here. Despite his age and having been rehomed countless times over the years, he's turned into quite a delightful fella. He's very bonded with us, exploring of his environment, and is incredibly interactive with us as a family (perhaps a bit too much so at times!). As Michael said, it all depends on how you train your bird (or how they train you!). Parrots are incredibly intelligent and stay that way for life. Pee Wee has picked up on tricks in just a few easy sessions (say, compared to dogs). But parrots also have special needs in terms of attention. The lesson I've learned in adopted our guy is that it's never too late for birds to change their maladaptive ways if such habits are there, but that you need to take the time to work (sometimes very hard) in teaching them better behaviors.

[Anna]

I have a friend who owns a Senegal that is more than 35 years old. She is a happy and healthy bird, even though she almost eats nothing else than seeds...