New Senegal with behavior problems?

AshleyMack · Dec 13, 2012

Hello, I'm a first time bird owner and was given my beautiful Sammy yesterday. He has a history of biting but he was very nice when we first met him. He is 7 years old and never took a liking to anyone except the woman who cared for him and we believe he 'imprinted' on to her. I don't understand bird behavior very well but he won't step up for us and bites and shrieks when we go in his cage. I'm very worried about him not getting enough social activity or comfort and having too much anxiety. Any advice on what we can do? Is there anything we can do? Thank you in advance.

MeganMango · Dec 13, 2012

I would start with just talking to him lots, and work your way up to feeding him treats from your hands. These guys have a LOT of attitude, so its going to take time, but Im sure he will come around. In a few weeks when he has settled in, try working on step up to a stick or T-perch. Once he will do this for you very well, move up to hands. It sounds like he is a little cage aggressive, not surprising since hes in a new home. Use the stick to get him out, and then work on hands away from his cage. The hardest part is ignoring the bite. You have to make sure you completely ignore it and dont let it stop you from doing whatever you were trying to do. Eventually when he realizes its not going to accomplish anything he will stop doing that. Keep us posted, and be sure to show off some pics!

lene1949 · Dec 14, 2012

MeganMango said:
I would start with just talking to him lots, and work your way up to feeding him treats from your hands. These guys have a LOT of attitude, so its going to take time, but Im sure he will come around. In a few weeks when he has settled in, try working on step up to a stick or T-perch. Once he will do this for you very well, move up to hands. It sounds like he is a little cage aggressive, not surprising since hes in a new home. Use the stick to get him out, and then work on hands away from his cage. The hardest part is ignoring the bite. You have to make sure you completely ignore it and dont let it stop you from doing whatever you were trying to do. Eventually when he realizes its not going to accomplish anything he will stop doing that. Keep us posted, and be sure to show off some pics!

I would not ignore a bite... I tell the bird that it hurts (just like any bird would do) - I squeak, the bird let go, I say gentle, and then good bird...

For an older rehomed, biting bird, I leave him in his cage, and do target training with him, until he's so good at it, I can target him back into his cage... Only then will I start on step up on a stick...

A bird with lots of energy, such as a Senegal would enjoy learning tricks...

mtdoramike · Dec 14, 2012

If you only got him yesterday, give it time. ALL SENEGALS HAVE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

I've never met a Senegal that didn't. They can be very sweet and loving birds, but they can also be nippy. Also, the person you got the bird from, did they demonstrate how tame the bird was in front of you? I have found that most people aren't honest about how tame their bird is. "They will claim oh they are tame and you can pick them up. But I wouldn't handle the bird for a few days until they get used to you". Your bird may not have been handled in a while and could have been cage bound. At the very least it wasn't socialized well enough.

New Senegal with behavior problems?

AshleyMack

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MeganMango

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lene1949

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mtdoramike

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Shy talker

why is my bird rubbing it's beak on me?

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