My 1st Bird=Senegal Parrot (rehomed, age 15)

[Nicolette]

This is my first bird ever and he is a rehome. He is 15 years old & so far has thankfully taken a slight liking to me, he steps up and allows me to take him out and sometimes allows me to pet his head. He tries to bite everyone else! I feel bad because he was with the same person for 15 years who is getting divorced and can't take him with her, he was temporarily at her parents home but no one took him out because of his biting. Then I got him a month later and I have a 2 pit bulls, one is animal friendly and the other is not so I had to put the bird ( Kramer ) upstairs which is unfortunate because he is used to being in the living room around people all day even though he doesn't like anyone touching him. I put aside time a few times a day to take him out and play with him, I feel bad it's not more. His wings aren't clipped but unfortunately they were when he was a baby and never learned to fly. Any advice anyone has would be greatly appreciated since like I said before this is the first bird I've ever owned...

[parrotlover]

Kool! I'm getting my first parrot sometime next week! I'm getting a Cockatiel!

You could ask Michael. He has a Senegal parrot and he can probably tell you EVERYTHING about them! He has trained his. Put in Kiliparrot in youtube and go to his channel. He has 10-hundreds of videos on his parrot! Also whatort of help do you need? I'll give you the simples- Atleast 4 dif. types of perchs, atleast 4-5 toys and move them about the cage so it doesn't get bored, I would recomend a %60 pellet diet and a %40 seed diet, ake sure you interact with he/she everyday, and possibly train he/she so you'll can have a better bonding. Is he/she taimed?

[Nicolette]

He isn't very tame if you ask me, I have watched some of the videos you suggested and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get this parrot as trained as Michael's is! He tries to bite just about everyone. He hasn't actually bitten me yet but I am sure that day is coming!

[parrotlover]

Ok have you seent he video Michael did to tame his Parakeet Duke? If not here's the URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RFnBnVRe5A It's called clicker training but it can also help! It's the first stages of taiming your parrot. Also here's the Forum's FAQ for Senegals http://theparrotforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=348 Its also shows to get get your parrot not to bite you and others. This I recomend after watching the clicker training video. Well I hope this helps! And just be patient eventually he will learn. I know someone that had breeder Lovebirds and it took one of the Lovebirds almost 2 years to taim it. So just be patient and "understanding".

[Roger P]

Hi Nicolette, first off, if you want to socialize Kramer the last place to put him is away from everyone else. Birds like to be where the action is. Put him in high traffic room and put a chair right next to the cage. Start off with just sitting next to the cage and talking to him. Read whatever book you are currently reading out loud to him, or a magazine article. The more he hears you the more he will get used to you being around. Also, a good "icebreaker" is to have some kind of special treat (with my bird it is pieces of almond), black oil sunflower seeds are usually a good choice. Every time you go to the cage to talk to him, or change his water or food, offer this treat. Only at these times, though. If you are using seeds as a pert of his diet then remove all the sunflower seeds from the mix. Save the best treat for when you come by. That way he starts to associate your presence with good treats.

From there you can start to "target train" him in the cage, using the special treats as rewards (that's why I use almond pieces, so he doesn't have to shell them). I just use a wooden chopstick for a target. Move the stick around the cage (start close to him and once he catches on slowly move the target further and further away) until he is moving all around his cage to get to the target for treats. You can use a clicker but you can also just use a consistent word like "good", then give the treat. From there you can target train him to move to your hand.

Only go as fast as Kramer wants to. If he loses interest, stop and come back to it later. Start with short sessions (5 minutes or so) and slowly lengthen them as he stays interested. It takes patience but it can be done! Good luck!

[nagelsan]

these are the kinds of replies i miss on the dutch forums. They are more specific so you can get more out of it.
Just a small compliment on your behave. (Roger P)
bye the way, great that you (Nicolette) take in a bird that's already that old and give him a second chance.
In the Netherlands, most birds and up at animal shelters, never to leave there again, because they all want a jung and handfeeded bird!

[parrotlover]

That's what I said >_< lol