Extremely aggressive senegal

[jrl2512]

Now we've had the senegal aka sarge aka meeper aka meeper ding a ling. We know of senegal's jackel and hyde personality. But for some reason, he is actively attacking me. I will not engage him in any way and he will literally attack me. Last night was the worse, where I was drinking some tea. He flew on my shoulder and clamped down on my ear, causing blood on one side and nearly pierced my ear. We have no idea what to do with him. We try disciplining him in a firm but non abusive matter. I am at my ends rope, can someone please help? Could me having a male sun conure as my personal parrot be contributing to the senegal's aggressive behavior?

 

[legal_eagle]

You should clip its wings for the time being.

 

[RavensGryf]

I'm very sorry you're experiencing this with your pet Senegal. How old so he? If he's a sexually mature adult, he could be hormonal. I didn't see where you live, but here in the US where it's winter, it's these Poicephalus parrots breeding season.

I have a closely related Red Bellied parrot. Especially when he was younger, (he's 19 and a bit more mellow now) he would have periods where he would become vicious, complete with a psycho look in his face. He'd bite and hang on like a Pit Bull and grind your flesh. During these hormonal periods he'd bite so extra hard he was even difficult to pry off.

That is what came to my mind... Maybe hormones? Otherwise a behavioral issue that may take some time to correct?

Oh and another thought... you might feel bad about wing clipping, but might be a good idea to prevent flying attacks (at least until hormones or behavior is no longer an issue). Clipping so that he won't fall hard, (but not fly up in the air) also can work to curb his attitude. Just an idea Hang in there, and good luck!

 

[jrl2512]

He just turned a year old in September. It makes sense with the hormones because I have a male parrot, and no one else has the scent of the other male parrot as much as I do.

 

[RavensGryf]

and no one else has the scent of the other male parrot as much as I do.

Not quite sure what you mean here You mean like dogs? Smelling the other guy's scent on you (the conure)? Parrots don't have a good sense of smell (as a predatory animal would). Doesn't work that way with them. Parrots as prey animals use sight and hearing as main senses.

Also at one year sounds kind of young for hormones, but you never know. Someone with a young adult Senegal might give some insight too. Hard to say what variable is causing this. Hang in there and all the best to you!

 

[SoCalWendy]

He just turned a year old in September. It makes sense with the hormones because I have a male parrot, and no one else has the scent of the other male parrot as much as I do.

My female will be a year next month. Senegal's don't sexually mature until they are about 3 but, that doesn't mean he isn't testing his boundaries. Now that Rio can fly a little, she is becoming more and more confident and a bratty BirdZilla. I am apprehensive about clipping, but I noticed when I trimmed her nails, for a while she was a different bird. So if this is a safety issue either I would do something else to work with him to change his behavior or clip him. Rio got beaky with me tonight and immediately got timeout in her cage. Afterwards she was okay, we did some recalls and then I put her to bed.

 

[jrl2512]

Well since it's not his scent, he probably associates me with the other bird anyway. Since most times he sees me he says knuckle bird, which is what we call the other bird. He's a smart lil devil

 

[RavensGryf]

Yes they are smart little guys. Jealousy is never easy to deal with. I'm lucky that Robin is 'big' about it, and will actually seem to control his jealousy. He tucks his head under his wing so he doesn't have to see or deal with it. Also, his way is more about calling attention to himself. Saying his name extra loud and clear lol! Good luck...

 

[thekarens]

I'd also clip him, at least for a little while. I have a female and occasionally Sammie has moments that I call "pinchy parrot." When she has those moments I just put her back on her cage and we try again later. She'd much rather be with me, so usually the next time I pick her up she's sweet, but she has had whole days where she was pinchy parrot.

 

[mtdoramike]

YES, you answered your own question. Example: Tiki was one of the sweetest birds when we got her at 11 months old, but she would still have her moments like a two year old child, but all in all a sweet bird. In comes Mac the Eclectus and from that day forward, to would have very little to do with me and when she did, she would be vicious and bite my hand two or three times before I could get her off of me. She became more my wife's bird and was very sweet and cuddly with her, but she rarely interacted with Mac that much.

Since Mac has been rehomed, Tiki has become the sweetest bird ever again. She hasn't bitten me once since Mac has been gone and even seems to like to hang with me more than my wife. So to say that Senegals are one person birds is an under statement.

But the first suggestion is to get his wings clipped asap. That will take a little wind out of his sails.

 

[mtdoramike]

and no one else has the scent of the other male parrot as much as I do.

Not quite sure what you mean here You mean like dogs? Smelling the other guy's scent on you (the conure)? Parrots don't have a good sense of smell (as a predatory animal would). Doesn't work that way with them. Parrots as prey animals use sight and hearing as main senses.

Also at one year sounds kind of young for hormones, but you never know. Someone with a young adult Senegal might give some insight too. Hard to say what variable is causing this. Hang in there and all the best to you!

I don't think it's scent, birds are more visual.

 

[jrl2512]

Well he's being nice to me again, it's weird how he has phases.

 

[Megapixel]

Is this sort of Jekyll and Hyde behavior more of a male senegal thing? I have two female senegals that I've had for many years (13 and almost 17) and neither has ever been the least bit aggressive toward me.

 

[SennieSlave]

My male Sennie very much has a love/hate relationship with me.
I have no advice - just wanted to let you know I feel your pain (literally).

Some days he will go out of his way to keep attacking me and yet I'm his chosen mate. I just put him back in his cage and let him have his tantrum in there. Over the years, I've got some pieces missing from my body/face because of his mood swings. Like a parent to a child - I'm the one he takes everything out on.
Other days, he's a cuddly baby.

But, there are days he seems so content and loving and then he'll lure you in with false hope - and strike. Sometimes he laughs after. He's a little bit evil.

 

[BEWolf]

Senegals are very much prone to jealousy and are not shy about expressing this on you. Please do not clip your birds wings or put a lot of effort into disciplining him as it is counter productive, it just reinforces the bad behavior. First off I would try to arrange your time with him so as to not have him see you with the other bird. I would then use training and exercise as the main deterent for this behavior. Teach him to target. Distraction is your best friend in this case. Give him something to do when out with you. When he bites you, tell him no bite and sit him off of you on perch or table. Do not use his cage as punishment as it will create more problems. Be patient with him, I know it isn't easy but it is worth it, he needs time to learn that the other bird is no threat even if he doesn't ever become friends with it.

 

[Zuzu]

Sennie slave, you are sooooo very right, mine does the same to me. used to love me all the time, now that winter has hit, he'll bend his head down let me rub it and pet him, then he'll put a foot on my hand like he going to start skirt dancing like he used to with me, but instead will viciously attack me, he's already ripped open a knuckle and the skin between thumb and pointer finger, just takes his beak and grinds back and forth, won't let go, no matter what you say, offer or shake. its like they have a death grip. my wife can do whatever she wants to him though and he doesn't have a care in the world to what it is. But in the morning he wants to be lovey dovey to me, and before he'd hang with me all day and no issues, now though forget it, and yes he'll even do an evil lil laugh after doing that to me

 

[mtdoramike]

Sennie slave, you are sooooo very right, mine does the same to me. used to love me all the time, now that winter has hit, he'll bend his head down let me rub it and pet him, then he'll put a foot on my hand like he going to start skirt dancing like he used to with me, but instead will viciously attack me, he's already ripped open a knuckle and the skin between thumb and pointer finger, just takes his beak and grinds back and forth, won't let go, no matter what you say, offer or shake. its like they have a death grip. my wife can do whatever she wants to him though and he doesn't have a care in the world to what it is. But in the morning he wants to be lovey dovey to me, and before he'd hang with me all day and no issues, now though forget it, and yes he'll even do an evil lil laugh after doing that to me

Tiki would do the same thing to me when we had Mac the eclectus. But once Mac left, Tiki has went back to being just as sweet as sugar to me and hasn't bitten me once. But now she will pinch my wife every now and then with a good pinch that leaves a mark. But she doesn't skirt dance with me though, but she does my wife.