adopting an older senegal

[wildspiritgirl]

I am thinking of adopting a 6 year old Senegal female. I am wondering if taking the bird from her old environment will be detrimental to her health regarding bonding with me and missing her old life.

[Wolf]

Apparently, if you are planning to adopt her, this is going to happen to her anyway. If you don't, then someone else will. So here is the scoop. When she leaves her old owner, she will go through a mourning period, it could be short or long and the intensity of it can also vary. That all will depend on the birds own nature as much as how well you treat her. But regardless it will pass, and when it does it will not interfere with her rebonding, in fact, if you do this just right by the time it does pass she may already be bonded to you. But it must be a clean break from the old owner.

[sidech]

Well said, Wolf !

[wildspiritgirl]

Thank you Wolf. I appreciate the feedback. I am concerned since she was in a home with a lot of action. Dogs, kids.. but I live alone and have 2 dogs, very good dogs that have been around birds, parrots, cats, kids etc... Would she be bored? I work from home so, I am not gone all day.

[Harpmaker]

Welcome wildspiritgirl! and kudos to you for thinking of giving a needy senegal a new home.

I wouldn't worry too much about things being too dull for a bird. If you are there most of the time, you may end up being the senegal's favorite toy. They find ways to get into mischief to liven things up. You will have to be the bird's guardian from the dogs. Some birds have no sense of self-preservation and will actually try to tease and bully larger animals. They are like permanent toddlers that will pull the kitty's tail to get a reaction. And like the toddler, they can be surprised and hurt by the reaction. They are, however, much more fragile than a toddler.

[Wolf]

I always advise people to be careful with any interactions between dog, cats and birds as dogs and cats are predators while parrots are prey, a Dog or cat can grab a bird quicker than you can move and it only takes once and no more bird. That being said and out of the way lets continue on.
Your house will likely be quitter and for the bird that means less stressful, It could also be more boring but as long as she has some things to destroy, other than your dogs, and you she will be fine. I spend a lot of time telling Kiki, my Senegal to leave the dogs alone as she takes great delight in tormenting them whenever she thinks that I am not watching her. She would rather do that than play with her toys, but her favorite thing is to be on me as long as I am not moving around too much. And she definitely tells me when I am too mobile to suit her mood.
She will be much more afraid of a new toy than of a dog or cat or even a new person. I do have to be careful with her when it comes to humans though because she is a parrot and therefore she will bite. Often the bitten person will have no idea as to why they have been bitten, but from her perspective she is fully justified in her action. They have a strong tendency towards being one person birds.

[wildspiritgirl]

I live in a condo. Is it a good idea to get the senegal? I have heard mixed information. One, that Senegals are the quietest of parrots and make only some noise in the morning and in the evening. I don't want to get in trouble with my neighbours.

[Wolf]

I would be more concerned about whether you are allowed to keep a bird in the condo. My Senegal is pretty quiet. I can not say if it is a good idea for you or not, that is something that only you can decide on.

[wildspiritgirl]

Thanks Wolf.

[Pajarita]

My senegals are pretty quiet, they do have a couple of different piercing calls but they are not screamers so it should be OK. I would not worry about your house not been up to par to the previous one... If you ask me, she'll be better off in a quiet house than in such a busy one (less stress).

And, yes, if you play your cards right, she will bond with you in no time at all. My male hated all humanity when he first came to me but my three females bonded in a matter of days.