New Future Bird Owner: Senegal Parrot good for first timers?

[BlondeCorinne]

I'm quite the researcher when I get new pets and I'm quite confident that I'll be a good owner. I'm a very patient person and am forgiving. Thanks for the advice guys.

[Pajarita]

LOL - Research doesn't tell you how hard they can bite when you don't live up to their expectations. The worst bird I've ever had to tame (and I've taken in aggressive macaws, umbrella cockatoos and wild-caught male amazons) was SweetPea, the male sennie. It took over three years of relentless, every single day, multiple attacks for him to stop. This bird would fly to me, bite my face and would not let go even though I was pulling from his body and blood was running down my face -and I have scars all over my body from him.

[Ardeotis]

I agree with other posters when they say that Senegals are not forgiving in the least. They can be the sweetest of birds and just wonderful. They're not super loud and not super destructive. They can also be hateful of everything around them and get sincere enjoyment from making you bleed. That's exactly what happened to my Sengal. He was amazing for the longest time and then one day when I went to feed him he lunged out of his cage to attack me. It was like a light switch. I quickly learned that he was terrified of my hands - like I hit him - which I never did and never would do to any animal. If I hid my hands he would be his half normal-ish self. It was weird. Its been a year and a half and I haven't won him back over. I work with a hateful Senegal too - she hates women.

I'm not saying this stuff to totally discourage you from this species. But maybe look into a different Poicephalus species. You can do all the research in the world (which I did) and still have a bird that turns against you. This isn't exclusive to Senegals though. If you do decide on a Senegal - make sure to get it DNA sexed and make it the opposite of you. You may have better luck.

[spiral71]

wow thats interesting

someone on you tube described their senegal which was not tame as a can opener with wings, which shocked me and seemed unpolite to the bird but i can undurstand why it was descibed that way now reading your post.

This being said i still like senegal parrots, and enjoy seeing michel play with Killi but i would not choose to own one myself.

I can manage with my I.R.N and we have a routine, although i do have direct others to help me sometimes because of my disability.