new member

[Becca]

Hello.

My name is Becca, and I'm likely getting my first parrot on Saturday!! I've never had one before, I did have chickens that i absolutely loved though. I had a bench in the chicken yard where I'd go sit down and they'd all jump up on me and like to be petted, I even made a pet out of the rooster who actually went to the mall to get his pic taken with santa in a homemade fleece harness

I'm currently mommy to 4 rescue ferrets, 7 ball pythons, 1 hognose snake, a 20 month old boy, and 2 month old baby boy! May get flamed for adding a parrot to the family with a toddler and newborn, but I'm a stay at home mom and feel comfortable with our decision to add a bird. We were planning on getting a dog but we're not big on the small breeds and can't have a larger breed in our home.

I'd wanted an african grey for many many years, but can't justify the price tag on them, and rescues are still charging $1,500 for an adoption fee, which IMO ISN'T an adoption fee!!! So I'm having to put off a grey until further into the future.

Anyways! On Saturday I'm going to look at a 5-7 year old male Senagal about an hour and a half away. Ad online said it's not tame, but quiet. Pictures just seem like it's been stuck in a cage with no toys or anything, and the guy has like 20 ads up of birds, and fish...I'm not looking forward to going and seeing the conditions of this place

I know older rescues can be a long road and lots of hard work to get a social bird. But since this ad has been up for awhile(december), I'd rather give him a forever home than picking one up at a petstore. I honestly cant see a good reason why I won't be coming home with him

Here's a pic from the ad.

 

[roxynoodle]

Welcome to the forum! He looks healthy so that's a good start. But, you are correct that it may be a long road, but it also sounds like you want to do this for the little guy. Many helpful folks here to aid you.

 

[Wulfgeist]

Hello and welcome!

 

[lexx510]

Welcome, Becca = )

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to hearing about your successes with your new bird and sharing story's.

 

[Becca]

Thank you

Have you guys got any suggestions or advice for when I bring him home? I'm going to clip his wings after he settles in, just to make handling easier. There also isn't enough space for him to fly safely and I don't want him to get hurt, or worse!!

 

[roxynoodle]

I would quietly spend time with him the first couple, few days. Sit in the room and do quiet things like read or watch TV. If you can eat your meals in there as well, they enjoy that as flock activity and it may start to interest him in healthy human food. Comment to him from time to time.

As he settles in spend time talking and singing to him. Dance if you think he is ready for that. Play peek a boo hiding behind furniture or under a blanket. Stick your tongue out at him. Look at him from the side of your face as much as you can and flirt coyly. Put your hands over your face and peek at him and giggle.

You might try sitting on the floor in front of the cage to be lower and less intimidating to get his attention.

If he talks or does other imitations, do them back. They really like it if you speak their language. Don't imitate any fearful sounds though.

Act confident but not aggressive.

 

[Sulphiria]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Mozzie]

I agree with Roxynoodles advice. Do what she said, and you will be fine. It might be a long road, but I can tell you from personal experience it is well worth it. My parrots are rescue birds too and it has been such an amazing experience to watch them progress. It is very rewarding to take them in and give them a forever home and change their lives. It takes a lot of patience. You have to go at their pace, and they will let you know what they are ready for. But the end result will be AMAZING!!! He is beautiful!!!! Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Becca]

Well i did bring him home today, once i got him set up in his cage he explored a bit and even came to the side of the cage closest to me!!

Really flighty though, can't open the cage and put anything inside without him freaking out and trying to get away. I'm just gonna let him settle in the next couple days and just change the food/water/paper in the cage, then I'll try bribing him with treats

House he came from was fairly disgusting, garbage scattered all over the yard, bird poop all over the floor inside. He had 2 greys, a pair of lovebirds, and a plucked blue and yellow macaw all in small cages that they wouldn't be able to fully stretch their wings out in. And those are only the ones i saw, I know he had more because of all the ads he has online

The cage he came out of just had the food/water, and 1 perch, nothing else

Decided to name him Cricket, and I'll start a new thread in the species specific forum tomorrow with pictures!!

 

[HalfInsane]

Urgh, good you got him out of there. Sounds like a hoarder or a 'bird flipper'. Not the be off topic, but have you considered calling the SPCA on the guy? Sounds like poor conditions to me.

That aside, thanks for giving him a better home. I'm sure he'll come around with time. Oh, and Cricket is a cute name.

 

[roxynoodle]

I'm sorry to hear about the other birds there :-(

It sounds like Cricket hasn't had toys before. Pete was that way as well, and he is still usually scared of new things. You can start by laying them next to the cage, then hook them to the outside, near the bottom. Each day move them up a bit, keeping them outside. Once you get to the top and the bird accepts it being there, try putting it in. I would only try one toy at a time. Once he trusts you, you can try playing with the toys in front of him, or, ha ha, Pete seems to accept things after I rub them all over my face, lol! No, I don't know what I tried that or why it's working

My first bird was named Cricket