New baby Senegal/Meyers cross

[Miriam]

Hello,

Spencer is my new baby Senegal/Meyers cross. I got him at age 9 weeks and he's now 13 weeks. He was hand fed and handled by several people at Wings Of The World where I got him. So he is very tame and trusting and loves to cuddle. He is such fun and I enjoy him learning and doing new things each day.

I also have a canary, Frank, who I adore. He's a creamsicle and a beauty and has the sweetest songs. Frank and Spencer's cages are next to each other and seem to enjoy each other's company. My parrot enjoys being on Frank's cage and Frank seems happy to have him there.

I look forward to reading your posts and learning from you.

Cheers,
Miriam
North of Seattle WA

[janetafloat]

Hi, welcome to the forum! I'm looking forward to hearing more about your new baby

[marie83]

Welcome. I too am looking forward to hearing more from you.

[Eurycerus]

Welcome to the forum! That is the weirdest thing I've heard. I wonder if they are sterile like a mule? I'm interested to hear more.

[Michael]

May I ask why you chose to go with a hybrid?

[pionus]

Hi, welcome to the forums.

There's nothing wrong with hybrids! I have always thought they were wonderful.

I look forward to hearing more about your sennie/meyer's and finch's relationship.

[marie83]

Welcome to the forum! That is the weirdest thing I've heard. I wonder if they are sterile like a mule? I'm interested to hear more.

I think most parrot hybrids are fertile as they have equal numbers of chromosomes from the parent birds, mules are generally not owing to an extra chromosome so it cannot pair up.

[Eurycerus]

After quite a bit of research I still haven't answered a lot of my questions, but apparently in mammal interspecific hybrids, the female hybrid is more likely to be fertile, if fertility is possible at all. However with avian interspecific hybrids, the male hybrid is more likely to be fertile. Also confirmed what you said marie about the chromosome numbers, thanks. :]

[Hammcd]

i'd love to see pictures

[Miriam]

Sorry, I've not been back to update you on Spencer. He's 11 months now and is a delight. He's very friendly, although he did bite one person drawing blood when he was perched on my finger. She came up to him quickly and was loud and I think he was just protecting me when she offered him her finger. Other people he's just great with.

He's hard to understand but he's a talker. Lots of clicks, mimicking my dog, and he sort of says, pretty boy, what-cha-doin, love you or thank you--they both sound the same. He offers his left foot to shake hands and is learning to wave with his right foot. I know, it's supposed to be the other way, but that's just the way we roll around here.

He sleeps in his little tent beside me and plays out of his cage all day. I only put him in the cage if I'm gone which is only rarely. All in all he's happy, has a routine that is fun for both of us, and is my little bundle of sweetness.

Why did I pick a hybrid? Michael asked. Well, I kind of didn't pick him. He picked me. I guess I'd have to ask him that question. Why did he pick me.?