Looking for a bit of advise on possible cage aggression.

[SennieMas]

Right so a brief introduction followed promptly by the query I have. Oh and please excuse any more do typos, I'm typing this on a mobile.

Hi all, I'm not new to birds nor am I new to Mason's lovely breed. ( He's a senegal btw.) I grew up along side birds, Mum had lovebirds and budgies and I personally had a Senegal at the age of 16. Thats about the time I fell in love with the pionus family.

My first bird was a pet store buy, it took me months and months to save up for her and I never regretted it in the slightest. Buzzsaw was probably around 4 or 5 when I got the her and the sweetest bird I've ever handled. Of course I'm required to say that she was mine after all. However she cuddled, played, was oddly polite with her noise levels for a parrot, and was friendly to everyone she met. Was downright smart when it came to picking up new words and sounds. Sadly I left home at 19 and had to leave her behind with my dad ( they adored each other and I wasn't sure where I was going so best for everyone at that time. ) Considering the terms of my moving I never had the chance to reclaim her.

Here we are today, many years later and things have finally become stable to the point that I have gotten another sennie. He's about a year and a half to two years old and he's a joy to be around. Mas was a craigslist find and me and the other half couldn't be more pleased with him. He's a very active,* comical, yet quiet little bird.

The only issue I'm having with him is I can't tell if he's cage aggressive or just not used to being interacted with, because he's giving my the signs of both. Right off the bat I can tell you that the cage he came with is just on the side of to small for him - it's about18 x 18 x 24. Though that will be fixed within the next paycheck or two.

From what I understand of his history he was hand raise and purchased at a pet store, he old family payed lots of attention to him save for the last few weeks when they got a new puppy. That is apparently why he was up on cl, they no longer had time for him.

He's not aggressive in general, he doesn't normally go for hands or fingers unless they're close to him ( though he does try if the cage is closed and your hand is on it - he'll go out of his way to try and bit then) I can move my hand freely about inside the cage, but he beak wipes everything first thing when we come close and wants nothing to do with coming off of the cage when it's open. However he readily takes food from a hand - has done from day one, and the one time he fluttered and landed on the ground he let me pick him up without worry.

I want to try and put him on on the neutral perch but getting him out of the cage without being bit to heck or scaring him is a bit of a mystery to me.

Any insite to my little guy or advise on what to do would be loved.

Oh I should add I've had Mason for about 2 weeks now.

 

[Jayyj]

It's probably a bit early yet for the level of interaction you're looking for, and he's still a bit intimidated by you. If he's happily taking food from you, why not try offering the food so that he has to step onto your arm to take it, then let him step back on to the cage once he's taken the treat? That worked really well for me using little sprigs of millet, and once I'd done it a few times she started staying put on my arm while she ate it. Within a few days she was happy sitting on the couch eating her bit of millet. I always gave her a route back to the cage so she was within reach of her comfort zone but we made pretty quick progress that way.

 

[thekarens]

When you get to that point have you considered stick training him? Both my sennies love me and are young, but like to chomp when I put them to bed and they aren't ready, so I'm a big fan of stick training with poicephalus.

 

[SennieMas]

So after a bit of trying I've found that as long as he's off his cage he is a perfect little gentleman. He allows touches and setups up and down without question. It's getting him off/out that's the hard part. I'm considering stick training but he screams something horrid when he sees me holding one.

 

[RavensGryf]

I agree also that 2 weeks isn't all that long and you really don't know each other very well yet .

Try changing the size of the stick. Sometimes they will be less afraid of it if it's not too large. If he is still phobic of it (not unusual for Poicephalus) you might have to keep it nearby so he can get used to the sight of it and learn it isn't going to hurt him. Or if he's out, lay it by him and see if he'll nibble on it curiously. After he's used to it, then you can start training him to step up on it. Praise and treats when he does.

 

[SennieMas]

Will do! I'll try a smaller stick ( the one I have is a bit large I will admit). Do y'all think I should wait on getting him is new cage ( due to the newness of the living sistuation) or is that still a good idea?

 

[RavensGryf]

Will do! I'll try a smaller stick ( the one I have is a bit large I will admit). Do y'all think I should wait on getting him is new cage ( due to the newness of the living sistuation) or is that still a good idea?

Raven was first stick trained by his breeder, so I was stumped at why he was freaked out at my stick at home. The stick was quite big, so finally when I thought to try the much smaller stick I use for my Red Bellied parrot, he was not afraid of it! It must have been closer to the size his breeder used.

I don't think it matters when you get the cage. Some birds take right to a new one like nothing ever happened, then others take time to adjust. My guess, being a Poicephalus, good chance he'll adjust no problem. But you'll just have to get it and see.