I came back here to let everyone know how life has been since I brought a Senegal parrot into my home, and also to give perspective Senegal owners another opinion on the species. When I was looking for information on Senegals I found the wide representation of opinions towards the little parrots to be confusing. Were they mean vicious little biters, or snuggly cutiepies? Were they REALLY LOUD or quite quiet? Everyone and their brother seemed to have a different (and always RIGHT!!!) opinion the small, conflicting, Senegal Parrot. This post is simply my experience on brining a little green life time companion into my home.
Very simply, it has been wonderful. My three-year-old Senegal, Kippy, is my constant companion and loves me and no one else. She and my fiance tolerate each other but share no bonds of love, all of that is for me.
For the first week she was LOUD as could be (I think she was calling for her former owner.) but soon settled down and now rarely makes more than a happy chirp or a "I want that" chirp. She chose me as her person, which I am so incredibly thankful for. She is sweet, happy, smart, personable, and just a joy to have around. Of course she can have a bad day, where she will let me know that she does not wish to be messed with with an open beak or a scoot away from my hand, but they are rare. Most of the time she is my Kipkip. She has never bitten me, but has drawn a drop of blood from my Fiance when he asked her to step up and she denied his request. So in my experience they truly are one person birds, which was fine with us since she was "mine" anyway.
I am a college student, and my fiance and I live in an apartment but Kippy has not proven to be an issue thus far. She is quiet and I am not sure anyone but our handy-men know she is there. She has no problems entertaining herself while my fiance and I are away in class, and does not mind it if she does not get her attention until late. She loves shower with me, and loves to cuddle up in "her towel" while I dry off, then she gets a quick buff before I place her on the back of my chair to preen. She is learning how to wave like a little champ and is always looking for goodies from the kitchen. She is a potato chip/cracker adict, though we keep her supply severly limited.
When we bought Kippy her wings had been clipped extremly and irrationally short , and over the past few months she has been growing out her wings for flight. Today we had a "bed session" which consisted of Kippy learning how to land on soft pillows because yesterday she managed to "Fly" (read: falling while flapping like a crazy bird) down the stairs and into the front door. I was bawling my eyes out just sitting at the bottom of the stairs holding her (she was fine, thankfully), because I was so worried about her. She let me roll her onto her back for the first time durring our "landing training", it was only for a moment, but it was a huge moment for me. She is also learning to "play" with a human, and today hung upside down on my fingers for the first time. I feel like earning her trust and love has been an incredibly rewarding experience and now, finally, it is paying off and she is learning to enjoy things that all birds should.
All I heard when we were looking into Senegals was that they were tempermental, but cute little "starter birds" who were "usually" quiet and it does get me a bit mad when people ask when I am going to get a larger bird. Kippy is "my" parrot, she is not a beginner bird, she is not something I need to "upgrade" one day. She is exactly what she is, a parrot, regardless of her size. Please, do not get a Senegal parrot as an introduction to parrots, they are so much better than that. Kippy was a victim of "beginner birding," but has found her third and final home. My Sennie is perfect for me, my life style, and my family. I can't wait to see what 20+ years brings. Thank you for reading.
On a somewhat related note:
I've been told that my not-well-liked-sister-in-law (who bought a dog, numerous reptiles, parrots, and a few cats within a four year span) recently bought a Senegal parrot, and a "few" Budgies to be "family pets." I am sure she had even looked at parrots until my mother told her about my Kippy. I honestly can't imagine my Senegal in a setting inwhich she is intended to be a pet for children. I am sure some Senegals would be great pets for children, but I dont believe mine would. I am also sure that my sister-in-law did absolutely no research into parrots, and bought them on impulse. I feel so sorry for that parrot and her future owners who will have to rehabilitate her.
Thank you.
Very simply, it has been wonderful. My three-year-old Senegal, Kippy, is my constant companion and loves me and no one else. She and my fiance tolerate each other but share no bonds of love, all of that is for me.
For the first week she was LOUD as could be (I think she was calling for her former owner.) but soon settled down and now rarely makes more than a happy chirp or a "I want that" chirp. She chose me as her person, which I am so incredibly thankful for. She is sweet, happy, smart, personable, and just a joy to have around. Of course she can have a bad day, where she will let me know that she does not wish to be messed with with an open beak or a scoot away from my hand, but they are rare. Most of the time she is my Kipkip. She has never bitten me, but has drawn a drop of blood from my Fiance when he asked her to step up and she denied his request. So in my experience they truly are one person birds, which was fine with us since she was "mine" anyway.
I am a college student, and my fiance and I live in an apartment but Kippy has not proven to be an issue thus far. She is quiet and I am not sure anyone but our handy-men know she is there. She has no problems entertaining herself while my fiance and I are away in class, and does not mind it if she does not get her attention until late. She loves shower with me, and loves to cuddle up in "her towel" while I dry off, then she gets a quick buff before I place her on the back of my chair to preen. She is learning how to wave like a little champ and is always looking for goodies from the kitchen. She is a potato chip/cracker adict, though we keep her supply severly limited.
When we bought Kippy her wings had been clipped extremly and irrationally short , and over the past few months she has been growing out her wings for flight. Today we had a "bed session" which consisted of Kippy learning how to land on soft pillows because yesterday she managed to "Fly" (read: falling while flapping like a crazy bird) down the stairs and into the front door. I was bawling my eyes out just sitting at the bottom of the stairs holding her (she was fine, thankfully), because I was so worried about her. She let me roll her onto her back for the first time durring our "landing training", it was only for a moment, but it was a huge moment for me. She is also learning to "play" with a human, and today hung upside down on my fingers for the first time. I feel like earning her trust and love has been an incredibly rewarding experience and now, finally, it is paying off and she is learning to enjoy things that all birds should.
All I heard when we were looking into Senegals was that they were tempermental, but cute little "starter birds" who were "usually" quiet and it does get me a bit mad when people ask when I am going to get a larger bird. Kippy is "my" parrot, she is not a beginner bird, she is not something I need to "upgrade" one day. She is exactly what she is, a parrot, regardless of her size. Please, do not get a Senegal parrot as an introduction to parrots, they are so much better than that. Kippy was a victim of "beginner birding," but has found her third and final home. My Sennie is perfect for me, my life style, and my family. I can't wait to see what 20+ years brings. Thank you for reading.
On a somewhat related note:
I've been told that my not-well-liked-sister-in-law (who bought a dog, numerous reptiles, parrots, and a few cats within a four year span) recently bought a Senegal parrot, and a "few" Budgies to be "family pets." I am sure she had even looked at parrots until my mother told her about my Kippy. I honestly can't imagine my Senegal in a setting inwhich she is intended to be a pet for children. I am sure some Senegals would be great pets for children, but I dont believe mine would. I am also sure that my sister-in-law did absolutely no research into parrots, and bought them on impulse. I feel so sorry for that parrot and her future owners who will have to rehabilitate her.
Thank you.
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