GCC vs Senegal

[futurebirdmama]

Curious what your general perception is of what sets these birds apart. Pros and cons? Thank you!

 

[BeatriceC]

I don't have any experiences with GCC's, but I absolutely adore my senegal. He's moody, stubborn, opinionated, and strong-willed, but that's all part of his charm if you ask me. He's always busy and up to something, usually something no-good, and he provides hours of endless amusement and companionship. If you've got the time and patience to work with a stubborn bird, senegals are more than worth the effort.

 

[Flboy]

I don't have any experiences with GCC's, but I absolutely adore my senegal. He's moody, stubborn, opinionated, and strong-willed, but that's all part of his charm if you ask me. He's always busy and up to something, usually something no-good, and he provides hours of endless amusement and companionship. If you've got the time and patience to work with a stubborn bird, senegals are more than worth the effort.

I agree with all said! Also, Senes are a bit beefier, larger bird. Tend to be more of a clown! Both amazingly stubborn! Socialize, socialize!!

 

[jenphilly]

Tho similar in size, they are very different personalities.... Will share my experience both personal and shelter, but if you are thinking of adding a bird to the home, ton of questions, but I won't babble with those unless you want to have that conversation

GCC - Personally, I can say that a green cheek is the parrot that converted me to a bird lover. Scientifically speaking, they are very very closely related to macaws, and I tell adopters all the time, you get all that big bird personality crammed into a tiny little body (good and bad). GCCs seem to fall into two groups - extremely social and amazing family birds, sweet and wonderful, but like their big cousins, they have to check every so often of what they can get away with. Or they can be very opinionated and like just who they like, be a bit nippy and extremely protective of their 'nest' (cage). Its a joke at the shelter that I'm the conure rehabber, I've had so many GCCs come to foster with me to work thru behavior issues. They seldom truly have behavior issues, its just understanding them and giving them the same respect you would if it was a macaw sitting there. I've only ever had one 'failure' with a GCC, he just had some really bad experiences in life and I was not getting thru, but he went to work with someone with an entirely different look (color of hair and such), and he responded well, so regardless of how well I usually work with GCCs, this little guy apparently could not get past his distrust of a woman with dark or curly hair. But generally speaking, GCCs are one of the first birds we consider for families with younger kids. The biggest drawback is a GCC between 8 months and about 2 years of age. They can be complete terrors, they have the sexual maturity period, then they do what we jokingly call the terrible twos. But, if you meet a GCC 3 years or older that seems super friendly, very social and gets along with everyone, literally that is what that bird is

Senegals... first I'll start with the bad. They are by far one of the notorious single person birds. And they are viciously protective and devoted to their chosen person. I can share scars and a still healing bite from the male sennie in my own home that loves my husband and just wants me to die (tho I am the person who cleans his cage, does the vast majority of feeding and care, all fresh foods, and I even take the little turd out to put on a playstand when my husband is at work). But given the chance, he'll track me down and take a chunk of flesh. I can scratch his head under his terms only, but absolutely no stepping up onto bare flesh, unless I want to bleed. So, the bad - they are often a very single person bird and do not tolerate others terribly well (not every Senegal, one of our education birds at the shelter is Ziggy the Senegal, who will step up to everyone, but at home, he is really John's bird and will occasionally remind Jeanne of his preference). The good news... well, they are exceptionally devoted and loyal friends. They are very intelligent, learn tricks and are often quite talented at mimic or repeating. They are funny and outgoing, for a single person wanting a smaller bird, a Senegal is one of the best pics for a true bonded best friend that will be a personal body guard as well!!!

Happy to answer questions on specifics of any of my babble or share more stories about various experiences both personally and with the shelter babies. There have been dozens of GCCs and I can name quite a few senegals in the past couple years we've had and placed happily in homes!

 

[BeatriceC]

I don't have any experiences with GCC's, but I absolutely adore my senegal. He's moody, stubborn, opinionated, and strong-willed, but that's all part of his charm if you ask me. He's always busy and up to something, usually something no-good, and he provides hours of endless amusement and companionship. If you've got the time and patience to work with a stubborn bird, senegals are more than worth the effort.

I agree with all said! Also, Senes are a bit beefier, larger bird. Tend to be more of a clown! Both amazingly stubborn! Socialize, socialize!!

I almost said "bat-sh** crazy", but I didn't want to scare anybody. Leo's antics are legendary. The little chit can even work the lock on his cage using a bit of wood he's chewed of a toy as a tool. He's an escape artist of the highest degree. That little brain of his never stops working.