New bird owner :)

[Brittanyv326]

I just brought home my Senegal. I'm so happy to have him home finally. I think everything is going better than I'd imagined. He did fine in the car, I talked to him the whole time and he stayed on the side of the cage closest to me. I put the last couple of things in his cage and transferred him to his new big cage. He sat on the perch I put him on for a while and dozed off a bit until my dog walked by the cage (my dog did amazing by the way - I did put her out of the room while transferring). Then I took my dog outside and when I got back, he was eating! That seems like a great sign to me... But now he's sleeping on his food bowl instead of his many perches. Here is a picture from the breeders website:
http://www.its4thebirds.net/000_0012_op_640x480.jpg

And I just took a couple while he was eating, sorry for darkness and blur - didn't want to startle him with the flash.





Any name ideas?
Any tips for me?

And the breeder told me to just play it by ear with interaction with him. I've been able to hold him fine and pet him, he's just a little nervous, but not nippy - really he's the sweetest bird Should I really keep him locked up for 3 days like so many people suggest or should I just "ask" if he wants to be held every once in a while? Also, he's not turning his head around to sleep like Kili does in that video, should I be worried?

[lzver]

First off, congrats on your new baby Senegal ... he's a cutie

I'd play it by ear with him ... if he'll step up and come out of his cage, then go with the flow. It will take him a few days before he starts to feel more comfortable, but I think its easier when they are babies.

They don't always turn their head when they are sleeping. Sometimes they just perch on one foot and close their eyes. Don't be too concerned about that.

[Marnie]

congrats on your new Sennie! he looks great, sounds like you both are off to a good start together
it took Marnie about a month to feel comfortable here and used to her new surroundings (and dogs).
then she came right to me. she's one of the family now.

it looks to me in the pics like your bowls need to come down a smidge, he looks a little hunched over to me. or maybe its just the angle?

[Brittanyv326]

Yes, I did put the bowls too high and that's probably why he was sleeping on them. He's exploring his cage already, I'm surprised since the lady said when she moved him to her storefront he remained on the floor for a couple days. He's climbing around happy as can be. I was able to take him out again. Thanks for the replies!!

[pchela]

Take him out if he wants to come out! If he's comfortable there is no reason to lock him up for three days!

Also, get a rope perch and put it up high for him to perch on. If the food bowls are the highest area then that's where he will perch. They like to be at the highest point.

Congratulations by the way!

Names... Loki (Low-key) is a great name for a male Senegal. He is the Norse God of mischief and Senegals are certainly mischievous!

Here is a list of some of my other favorites.

Jasper -reddish brown gemstone
Sputnik- little traveler (I love this for a bird. It's so cute and the meaning rocks!)
Teagun - little poet
Tierney - implies lord of the household
Aderyn - a bird
Icarus - greek mythology
Loki - Nordic Trickster God
Horus - Bird headed Sky God in Egyptian Mythology
Floyd- Grey Haired

[miajag]

Yeah, I prefer to have the food dishes lower (though not under perches where they'll get pooped in). Birds typically like to sleep/perch on the highest perch they can, so moving the bowls down and having rope or wood perches up higher will probably solve that.

[Brittanyv326]

I moved them down and he napped on his rope perch
Now he's hanging on the side of the cage constantly for the past couple of hours. He did show some signs of aggression - tail fanning, eyes pinning, soft nips, beak clicking. So I've backed off a bit. It's all already overwhelming for him so I know I shouldn't smother him with attention. I LOVE your ideas for names!! We were flipping through our mythology book too and came across Loki. That might be it!

Forgot to add before that his hatchdate is January 16th, 2010.

[Brittanyv326]

Everything was going so good, but now he won't step up! He actually bites me instead of stepping up and I don't jerk back (he's not biting hard) I stay calm and just say "No. Step up." but he's not having it. He takes the treats I give him and drops them so they're not working as lures or rewards. I must have done something wrong... He's still having a blast in his cage, I found him hanging upside down on his boing this morning. I guess I should give him more time? It to me seems like it would only get worse if you left them alone, by biting, he's getting what he wants: to be left alone, so he will continue to bite. I need to go invest in some tastier treats and a clicker I think...

[Michael]

He did show some signs of aggression - tail fanning, eyes pinning, soft nips, beak clicking. So I've backed off a bit.

Those aren't necessarily signs of aggression. Just excitement. Kili does all of those when she is happy to see me. Signs of excitement are often the same between happy excitement and aggression. However, aggression is often marked by a very slick look and beak partially opened in preparation for attack. Basically the bold signs cross over to both excitement and aggression but other more subtle hints tell you which it is.

[pchela]

You didn't do anything wrong! He's brand new to your house, he needs time to adjust. He's also going to be like a small child. He will test his boundaries and see what you will let him get away with. I think getting a clicker and a training book (or reading Michaels articles on training) are excellent ideas. It will certainly give him some boundaries and teach him how to interact with you. It will start building a strong relationship between you. It will take him some time to completely fall in love with you. My senegal was nippy and disagreeable for months after we brought him home but I didn't know anything about clicker training at that point so I did some things wrong. Just use the training, find his favorite treat and before you know it, you'll be able to read his body language and he'll be your best friend. Also, because he is so new, you may also be overstimulating him... give him time to just be in his cage or sit on top of it if he wants and just get used to his new home.