New Senegal Owner to be!

[Ivvy]

Hi guys it's great to find there is a parrot forum out there I am very excited to participate. I will be getting a Senegal parrot within the next couple months.

We were originally planning on a timneh african grey but we met a lady who was selling us a cage who convinced us with her little joker Senegal named bandit. (bandit was the most friendly and sweet bird doing roll over tricks/cuddlies/talking and he even would come onto both my fiancés and my hand .) He was the most charming fellow. There is a bird convention in late October in Orlando, FL and she promised to help us pick out a baby from the right breeder.

We've decided to name him Mr./Mrs. Dieye (pronounced Mr. Jay), after my boyfriends 8th grade Senegalese french teacher Mr. Dieye (lol pronounced Jay).

<that's the right icon, right?

I have owned a cockatiel in the past and she was a beautiful and loyal bird. Since her death and since moving away from home and in with my fiancé I have been trying to convince him to allow me to get another bird. (he doesn't believe in caged birds--but our bird isn't going to be one of those kinds anyways!) I want a "more" interactive bird, one I can play with and take everywhere with me. One that I can buy toys for and teach tricks. (I love Kili the youtube senegal and all her tricks!) I plan to teach recall flight.

We'll I've convinced him and he is letting me finally get my parrot . I've purchased the recommended cage 20x20x56 (this is a starter cage I will upgrade). I havn't yet finished getting all of the branches and toys set up but here is what I have so far. Recommendations or recommendations on what section I could post in would he helpful .




Here are the pictures of my setup: I have 2 manzanita branches, 1 grapevine branch, that round thing, the pink round thing that is supposed to be a foraging toy, the rope perch for nesting, and 2 "foot" toys on the bottom branch for pulling up. Can you let me know if I need more or less toys or if my placement is off. It looks pretty to me but of course that doesn't matter relative to what to the bird wants . Also My bird will be flighted and allowed out of the cage at least 3 hours per day.

My fiance and I own 2 Papillons (little dogs) and they are our babies. We can't buy them enough toys. I've even created the first dedicated Papillon forum @ papvilion.com since every other breed has one and the Papillon didn't.

So happy to be part of the group and have a Parrot forum to go to!

[marie83]

Welcome to the forums

You will find owning a sennie completely different to your cockatiels but it will be an adventure all the way as they are a huge commitment.

Enjoy your new family member and read as much as you can. Any questions just ask because there are several senegal owners on here who can help.

[Ivvy]

Thanks so much for the welcome marie My fiancé bought me a Senegal book which I read in the car (I'm always the passenger and bored . It is from an owner/breeder perspective instead of a more textbook encyclopedia style so it's helping me get an idea on how to act around a bird and from firsthand ownership perspective.

I am an "expert" at dog body language and training dogs, but birds are much different and I know I'm going to have to learn a lot. I cannot wait for Mr. Dieye. Forums are certainly awesome to have as a resource!

I want a bird that is going to be different and more work than a cockatiel. I like challenges. I always find the more challenge the more reward .

<3

[marie83]

Hahaa, I was known as the dog expert once apon a time, these days I know more about parrots.
I am still very much an animal person but the bug bites hard.....

[Ivvy]

Hehe, I hope both bird and dog can live in harmony. I've read Senegals and other birds get jealous of other dogs/birds/people. My dogs are small and very gentle. I am hoping they can be friends. I've also read senegals like to chase dogs and I know my two will easily be intimidated by my sennie so I'll have to learn how to react to that.

My dogs are very used to getting toys (they will stick their heads in the shopping bags and pull out what they know is their toy). As of lately we've been only bringing them one toy and they just can't understand why I keep putting all of these "dog toys" in the cage. I let them smell it for a little but they look at me like "what do you expect me to do with this wood on a chain?".

I'm going to have to search threads on dogs + bird harmony.

[cml]

Welcome to the forums!

I think its great that you are planning ahead with the cage, and decorating it in advance. I would personally add a couple of thicker branches, which your parrot cannot reach around. Its best if all claws actually touch the wood, that way they will work themselvs down.

My birds are a bit bigger than yours, and for us about 5cm thick branches work the best as their "main perches". Then they have a wide variety of other branches, they shouldnt all be the same thickness.
I'm guessing that for a senegal, 3-4cm will be good, but its easier for you to see when your bird arrives!

[Ivvy]

Thanks for the advice cml, I really appreciate it as I am completely new to parrots. I know the require a lot more than cockatiels.

The grapevine perch which is at the top right (across from the rope "sleeping" perch) is about 1.5-2". I'm not sure if the extreme difference in shape (it's a squiggly bulbous branch) will be healthy as one of my top branches. I'm worried about arthritis.

The manzanita branches are approx. 1". I read they recommended 3/4-1". Do you recommend I add 1.5-2" in the middle above the 2 existing 1" ones? Should I move the grapevine one down?

Also, I know I'm missing the pellet,water,veggie/fruit bowl perches. I'm going to buy those last. I'm going to get the plain dragon wood 5" ones for each bowl.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome

[Michael]

Welcome. Looks like you've done a lot of thinking about this. I hope you realize some of the difficult aspects of Senegal Parrots though:

Senegal Parrot Information and FAQ
Senegal Parrot Biting and Aggression Issues
Went to breeder. In love with senegals!
Anyone here owned a Senegal AND a african grey?

There is a bird convention in late October in Orlando, FL and she promised to help us pick out a baby from the right breeder.

I don't think those conventions are such a good idea. They are often ridden with diseased and/or abused birds. Please consider rescue or directly from a good breeder. You've already been so patient so don't think you need to buy it on the spot at a "convention."

Here are the pictures of my setup: I have 2 manzanita branches, 1 grapevine branch, that round thing, the pink round thing that is supposed to be a foraging toy, the rope perch for nesting, and 2 "foot" toys on the bottom branch for pulling up. Can you let me know if I need more or less toys or if my placement is off. It looks pretty to me but of course that doesn't matter relative to what to the bird wants . Also My bird will be flighted and allowed out of the cage at least 3 hours per day.

Get rid of the manzanita perches (at least for now). Baby birds (or even just a newly adopted rescue bird) will be unaccustomed and clumsy. Those manzanita perches are an accident waiting to happen because baby birds fall off of even less slippery perches. Contact me if you need some easy to grip perches, especially for the early stage. Otherwise it looks like you have a great set up. Variety is key. I wouldn't pack the cage too full for now. Just have a little of everything and let the bird learn these items, learn what it likes, and you can observe and see what it likes. Keep in mind that it probably hasn't seen most of this before so it will be developing its preferences rather than demonstrating existing ones.

If you're interested in getting a tree for your parrot, I am in the final stages of development of my tree line. But if you want one sooner than I have it publicly announced, let me know and I can send you pics of what I already have if you're interested.

The dogs aspect is a problem waiting to happen. Senegals can be very territorial and aggressive. If you watch the way they play with toys, they even play in a very aggressive way attacking them and such. What's inevitably going to happen is that the Senegal will try to be aggressive toward the dogs (basically asking for it) but the if the dogs fight back, the Senegal will be the one that gets hurt. Please do not get a parrot unless you are prepared to have 100% separation between parrot and dogs at all times. My Senegal goes after my Cape who is bigger. They have no sense of size and they are so aggressive that often larger parrots, dogs, and humans are terrified of them. However, they are too small to stand a fight of that size so keep this in mind.

Senegal Parrots can be very playful and enjoyable but as long as you are aware and prepared to be able to handle their aggressive nature (particularly in their adolescence). Good luck.

[Mailkachy]

i have had a Senegalese parrot for over 7 months now and i noticed that the parrot is still scared of me and the enviroment.

please i need someone to assist with something to do to make them lively.


Regards

[Wolf]

i have had a Senegalese parrot for over 7 months now and i noticed that the parrot is still scared of me and the enviroment.

please i need someone to assist with something to do to make them lively.


Regards

Could you please elaborate on your parrot and its environment? What is your parrot doing or not doing? What do you mean by making him more lively?