Should I get my senegal a friend?

[Rach]

I'll try to keep it short!

I have a 7/8? year old senegal (believed to be male), that I've had for over 4 years now. Before it was just him and I, I could devote my attention to him most of the day but now there's a baby here! It breaks my heart because I can't give the attention that he was used to. I let him out all morning and night and try to make him apart of things I do around the house. I give him toys and try to enrich his environment but I know he craves the attention he got before the baby was here!

He's great as long as you're in the room with him, but as soon as you leave he calls for you, nonstop, and it a) wakes the baby up or b) makes my fiance irritated. I don't mind it and I'm used to it, but it's an adjustment for my fiance (who up until now has been very good about the bird)

So do I get him a friend? or am I wanting to get one for all the wrong reasons?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Mayden]

I'll try to keep it short!

I have a 7/8? year old senegal (believed to be male), that I've had for over 4 years now. Before it was just him and I, I could devote my attention to him most of the day but now there's a baby here! It breaks my heart because I can't give the attention that he was used to. I let him out all morning and night and try to make him apart of things I do around the house. I give him toys and try to enrich his environment but I know he craves the attention he got before the baby was here!

He's great as long as you're in the room with him, but as soon as you leave he calls for you, nonstop, and it a) wakes the baby up or b) makes my fiance irritated. I don't mind it and I'm used to it, but it's an adjustment for my fiance (who up until now has been very good about the bird)

So do I get him a friend? or am I wanting to get one for all the wrong reasons?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I cant comment too much but this is the reason I got my Charlie - as a friend for Merlin. Merlin is a screamer, god non stop when I leave! Except in this circumstance, I was the annoyed finacee! I couldn't handle the cries, I couldn't be in the house in any other room without him - and just knowing he cried without me home just broke my heart.

So we got Charlie. Currently I can hear Merlin crying upstairs because he knows I'm here, but I know that will settle in ten minutes because he'll chatter with Charlie instead and I know he's getting better with being alone too as me and Andrew can be downstairs, watching a film or eating or anything and Merlin doesn't have to be with us anymore, because he's content chattering away.

Charlie is still in quarantine at the moment - but so far they spend all of their 'free' time, chattering to each other!

I can't promise getting another senegal would guarantee they will get along, but for the company of another 'flock member' it seems to be working in this household. FOR NOW.

Like I said, still not in the same room, but so far so good. I'd suggest it.

 

[Rach]

Thanks for the reply! I hope it works out for you

What are good companions for sennies?

 

[Mayden]

Thanks for the reply! I hope it works out for you

What are good companions for sennies?

I'd recommend another of the poicepohalus family. Meyers, Senegal, Red Bellied parrot, Brown Headed parrot. Those are similar size.

But, any parrot can become another flock member. So depends on how much you'd want another type of bird?

Meyers are very relaxed birds, so I'd probably recommend them out of the bunch.

You've also got to consider the fact that considering you have less time for your sennie because of the baby - you'll have even LESS time to split between the two birds. Especially if they don't end up getting on, you'll just have two birds to deal with instead.