Michael wrote:Senegal Parrots don't have to be hormonal to be vicious. They are that way without being hormonal. When they hit a certain age, they become aggressive toward anything that hasn't proved itself worthy otherwise. If you're lucky, it's everyone but you. If you're unlucky, then it will even turn on you and you'll be attacked as much as anyone. Senegal Parrots aren't just defensive, they are actually aggressive. They are the kind of bird that will make an intentional effort to go attack another bird (or person, to them it's all just competition). I have encountered countless stories of Senegal Parrots attacking (and maiming or killing) other birds. One, actually snuck out of its cage and climbed onto another birds cage and killed it through the bars while the owner was gone. It is in their nature to intentionally and maliciously attack others.
Michael wrote:If I'm dwelling on the aggression too much, it's because it is the biggest problem with Senegals and not spoken enough about. People don't see it in the baby and are in no way prepared for what's to come. Worse yet, when the sweet baby becomes aggressive, they deal with it the wrong way and really set it up for further failure. The bird becomes aggressive, so people get scared (or think it just doesn't want to come out). So they leave it in the cage which just makes it more territorial and aggressive. And before you know it either they get rid of it, or just leave it condemned to the cage 24/7 for life without parole.
^This is very very true as I am experiencing it myself.
I have a Senegal who I got when it was a baby, hand-fed. Sweetest bird ever and my family and I could handle him with no issues until a couple years past and it has been a struggle ever since. I wasn't consistent with the taming, training and socializing due to life circumstances over time. He's got more 'wild' as I could say with us and biting is the main issue in my situation. He has become a one person bird, and that one person doesn't even care to correct the problems associated with our Senegal. I have to deal with the majority of the aggression side of it and it does really intimidate me. I know the bird picks up on that, we've (I've) unknowingly reinforced over the years that he can control us with lunging and biting. It has got to the point that he's become very territorial of his cage and anything near him he likes, and has food aggression. The biting is not just small nips. He gives you the beak grinding and draws blood pretty much every single time he succeeds in biting you. My mom has developed a phobia of him biting her that she no longer feels able to handle him with her hands and has to have a towel with her at all times. I don't allow him on our shoulders because of the unpredictable biting, but the person who is Cody's favourite does it anyway.
My Senegal also screams a lot and it doesn't appear to have any pattern to it that I can see, mostly screams when I enter the room, but he will do it whenever and I know part of that is because he is bored and wants us to interact with him more. I do give him 'projects' to do inside his cage as much as possible. His biting has scared most of my family off. If I am not around or busy with something - he will spend most of his time in his cage. I've found it very challenging even for myself at the same time because I am afraid of the malicious biting and have great anxiety with dealing with this one thing about him. On several occasions I have considered rehoming him since not everybody is entirely on board with me with 'taming' him as any time I make even tiny bit of progress - it gets destroyed the following day by the other people in the home. It is depressing to be in this situation with my Senegal. Cody is 11 years old and I've had him all his life and despite the aggression issues. I haven't rehomed him because I am determined to work through this situation I am in. I don't want to give up on him at all.
A large part of why this has happened is because the trust has been broken between us. The unpredictable biting doesn't make me want to trust him when I'm trying to handle him. Although I am rather fearful of it, I do still try to handle him without any towel from time to time and usually I get bitten when I do. I'm the only one(other than Cody's favourite person) who has the guts to handle him with bare hands(albeit sparingly) right now. Since he has got aggressive and territorial a lot, I keep him flighted so he at least he is able to get some exercise outside of his cage without anyone handling him. I would one day love to be able to hold him in my hands, take him outside with a flight harness on and just be around us more and socialize. I don't want him to be like this forever, and I don't want to fear the biting either.
I just wanted to post my story because I was not given such in-depth explanations about how the Senegal Parrot really is like when I was looking into adopting one. I was told they are a great bird for a first time parrot owner and they can adapt to a lot of changes. They are very resilient parrots - unfortunately I didn't know the extent of that until I adopted one and brought it home and had him in my home for 3+ years. I am not letting Cody be caged 24/7, but that I am not able to get past the biting issue with him and as result doesn't get a lot of 'out' time as much as I wish he could have. We end up talking to each other mostly and I do things that don't require too much hands-on bird interaction. He still has fun, but it isn't the life I want him to have with me. It could be way better than that. I am openly admitting on here how much of a 'horror' movie they can be when you aren't consistent with taming, training and socializing them.
This was the reason I came here in the first place - for support and help to work through it. I've been soaking up as much knowledge as I can and applying it to my situation as best as I can to reduce some of the aggression. I only have managed to get him to station himself on his perch when I feed him so he doesn't attack the dishes or me. He makes sure to stay on that perch when he wants any treats too lol
I know it is possible, but it is very challenging for me. Good luck in whatever you end up deciding on though.