I have a young Senegal

[Judy_234]

Hello,

In October, I was gifted a 7 week old African Grey. I was hand raising her and she was healthy, happy with a sweet personality. One morning, Memphis just threw up all her food from the night before. I rushed her to the vet and discovered a crop infection. My avian vet said she felt positive about her recovery about 6 days in. on day 8, however, she tragically passed away from a secondary repository infection that she hid all too well.

I took the last few weeks I've been doing a lot of research about different parrots. I knew that after Memphis changed my life, that I am a bird lover and definitely want another. Not to replace her, that's not even possible, but to make a new friend. I chose not to get another grey, because I can't imagine one that isn't her.

I Narrowed my list down to: A sun Conure, A Senegal or a Hahns Macaw. I like the small size because if I travel, I'd like to take my baby with me.

I went to the local breeder and visited each of the species (these ones where wild, breeding pairs, but I just wanted to see them in person) I was really drawn to the Senegal parrots and the Hahns macaws.The Conure's screech was a little too much. So I went home and dug into my research again, refining the search to these two.

I finally decided that I wanted a Senegal. A lot of people say they tend to be moody and difficult, but I have no problem in dealing with and working through behavioural problems patiently.

In my search, I came across Micheal and his methods and I knew instantly that I would like to incorporate his methods with my new feathered friend. So I spent the next few days reading forums, blogs etc. both here and on trainedparrot.com. I've also ordered Micheals book online (The Parrot Wizard's Guide to Well Behaved Parrots) as well as my clickers and should recieve them in early Jan.

Senegals are few and far between in my area, there aren't really breeders here for them. Most come from private breeders who have 2-3 babies a year.I know from experience, we could never find enough to keep up with the demand for them at the petshop where I worked and people who obtained them vary rarely seek to rehome them (luckily! The same can't be said for the poor African grey poulation) So, I searched the local classifields anyway for any one looking to rehome one and also discovered in the process that we have no bird rescues anywhere near me I was so disheartened, even the breeders I had visited told me due to their scarcity I'd only have luck next year November, if at all. So I was at a petshop, asking if they knew where to find one when a customer overheard is and told me she'd just seen one at the other petshop down the road. I rushed over and discovered that it was a 3 week old baby and I was sceptical. The petshop didn't seem keen on letting me leave him there till he was older (even though I'd pay for him ahead) and the one guy even tried to tell me the babies where 7-8 weeks old! I've only ever raised young ones from 5 weeks (worked with a petshop a few years, syringe and spoon feeding methods).

Anyway, after much consideration, I went back and got him 5 days later. The five days in between where spent doing more research on young birds, and buying all the supplies I needed before I could bring him home. I've sterilized all the new spoons and bowls, bought fresh feeding formula, blankets etc. I fetched my baby yesterday. I took Levi to my Avian vet this morning for a check-up and he has received a clean bill of health. The vet checked that I'm feeding correctly while he was there and gave me all the extra information I needed. He is scheduled for a check-up every week for the next four weeks. I weigh him in the morning before and after breakfast and I keep a record of this. Levi isn't ringed and apparently came from someone's home (a private breeder).

I chose spoon feeding because it's the safest method, especially for slower eaters like senegals, it is also more sterile (No plastics or reusing syringes)

Levi was on a tube feeding but he took to the bent spoon so beautifully and is eating wonderfully, 4 times a day. He's being kept warm and bedding is changed twice a day.

So, now for the part where I need some help:

1) I love the idea of flighted birds, and am very keen on this.I'd like Levi to spread his wings and be happy from his weaning age. However, I do travel and I'm afraid it might be a risk if he flies off. What do you guys suggest I do?

2) At what age can I start training him, starting with target training?

3) What should I add to my flat in order for him to have what he needs as a flighted bird?

4) What other books / articles can I read? I'm particularly interested in socializing (My boyfriend needs to birdsit when I'm not there) and also in diet options and different tricks.

5) Any other information is welcome!

Please don't fret over the baby being so young. I am experienced in raising young babies and I have my vet's personal cell number at hand. I am working closely with him to ensure my pets health.

Thanx in advance for your responses!

[Harpmaker]

Hello Judy_234! I'm terribly sorry to hear about your Gray, but glad to know you are enjoying your new baby.
We have a thread pegged to the top of the Health, Nutrition, and Diet section on "Why you should never buy an unweaned baby parrot", so I won't repeat the comments here.

As far as travelling with a parrot goes, you will need to invest in a travel cage. If you want your parrot to be outside of the cage, you should get a harness and desensitize the parrot to its use. Do NOT follow the instructions that come with most harnesses that say force it on the bird and take it outside. I did that and it took MONTHS to get my Corsair to allow it on without fighting. Michael has detailed instructions on harness training his Kili here http://theparrotforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1329, and videos of training Truman here http://trainedparrot.com/Cape_Harness/.

He also recommends having two doors between the parrot free-flying indoors and the outside, if at all possible. LOTS of people lose their birds to accidents, and no one can be eternally vigilant. However, I have seen more stories about wing-clipped parrots escaping than flighted ones, because a parrot that is frightened or catches an updraft can fly even with clipped feathers.

Making your home parrot-safe is partly covered here http://www.theparrotforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11471&p=77927&hilit=bird+room+safe#p77927

Best of luck with your new baby!

[Pajarita]

It makes me nervous that you brought such a young bird (and unweaned at that!) to a home where another bird had died from an undiagnosed condition which could have easily been chlamydiosis or even PDD. Please keep a very vigilant eye on that baby!

[Judy_234]

Thank you Harpmaker for your helpful response. Levi is fledging and starting to wean now. He's flying quite well now and eating on his own in the afternoons. He's still on two feedings a day. I've had him visit the vet's office once a week, every single week since I've had him. He gets weighed, given vitamins and checked over. He's doing well!

And as for Pajarita, I had no choice other than to take an unweaned bird if I wanted a Senegal. You don't find very many here and the shop wasn't willing to keep him unclipped until he was weaned. The conditions they kept him in weren't ideal. I don's appreciate that you assume the African Grey's condition was "undiagnosed". She had a Candida infection in her crop. She was in the hospital for treatment and didn't make it. I also consulted a vet on sterilizing the environment before I brought Levi home, and have had him checked on a regular bases for any sign that there could be anything wrong from early on.

Levi is doing very well and starting to wean beautifully and is fledging. He is under the vet's supervision until he is fully weaned and then two months after and then again six months later. I wouldn't be irresponsible and I understand you care about the birds but it's not fair to treat a new member to the forum in such a way...

Anyway, Thanks again for the helpful advice, His harness is on order and he has a travel cage which he is well accustomed to. I will be following Micheal's advice on how to train him to wear his harness.

[Pajarita]

I am sorry you don't 'appreciate' it but the gray did die of an undiagnosed condition. That's what you said on your original posting! I am quoting "on day 8, however, she tragically passed away from a secondary repository infection that she hid all too well" - I assumed the 'repository' to mean respiratory and that could mean psittacosis because birds don't die so soon of a 'regular' respiratory infection.

In the birdworld, when a bird dies from an unidentified cause, a necropsy is in order if you are planning on or already have other birds. Anything else is too risky.