Expert: Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott - 11/3/2009

Question
Hi i have recently recieved a senegal parot from a family friend and i have had him for a month now. He seems to try and connect with me like letting me scratch his head and beak while he hangs on the cage but when i reach for him he will try to bite me. He hasnt bit me yet because im a little quick for him but my mom wasnt so fortunate. He likes to screech when i leave the room. My only thoughts are he still hasnt got used to me even though hes in my room, he probably feels abandoned sense hes a year old, and senegals usualy get attached to one person. So i scratch his beak and head and every now and again he gets brave and trys to flip and bite at me like hes baiting me or something. I let him out the cage for an hour a day i change his water he trys to assault me even though he knows he cant fit his head throgh, and he is constanly craping in his water. Hes a little menace but i still try to connect with him. He sees me a good 3-4 hours a day but he just has theese phsycotic mood swings and if he bites me im scared i might hurl him. Help me please with this monster named Ozzy Ozbird.

Answer
What a cute name! I'm very glad you're not hurling him. Let's see if we can fix this


The first thing I'd suggest is providing a "sleep cage" .   It doesn't have to be a big cage, just one with a single perch (preferably a rope perch which is easy on his feet and legs), a source of water and a small amount of food.   It should be in a quiet area, preferably with low light, but you'll be covering it anyway so the lighting isn't vital.  

  If you can't do the sleep cage, at least establish a routine that includes covering at night.  If you typically start your day at 8 a.m., put your companion  to bed around 8 p.m. during spring/summer, and as early as 6 or 7 p.m. in fall/winter months.  Try to be consistent.

Make uncovering an event - be enthusiastic and greet the day - your bird will quickly know it's time to "step up" and go to the daytime area, or at least be uncovered and have breakfast served.   I offer a whole grain meal of natural oatmeal with fruit (banana, apple, raisins, mango, papaya, whatever is on hand).   Even if they don't eat a lot of it, at least they have the choice and you never know, one day you could be surprised.

 Also allow for plenty of vocalizations at this time, in keeping with their nature.   Birds stretch their vocal chords when they first greet the day - so join in with a song and let them scream if that's what they want to do.   After a few minutes settle down to breakfast and they should too.

 In order to transport a biting bird in and out of the cage layer a couple of old, thick socks onto your arms.  Cut the toe part off and pull them up over your forearm, then put your shirt down over them so it doesn't look unusual or frightening to the bird.  This way, when the bird bites it's going to pinch, but it won't be awful.  Once you stop reacting to the bites, the bird learns the action doesn't get a response and they'll usually stop.  

 To pick up, make a light fist with your hand and tuck it down and under so the bird doesn't notice.  Bring your padded forearm in to the bird's chest, just above the legs and as you touch there, issue the 'step up" command.   Whenever you go to pick the bird up, use the command.  

 When it's time for bed, make that an event like getting up in the morning.  Sing a song, allow for vocalizations and when you put him in the sleep cage offer a small treat like a grape or piece of a favorite nut.   

This should be in conjunction with plenty of out of cage time during the day, even if it's just to have your companion sitting on the sofa or chair with you while you watch t.v. or use the computer.   You can see some more ideas and pictures here  www.4AnimalCare.org/birds   

It shouldn't take more than a 1 to 8 days to see a difference in behavior, so keep up the efforts and the consistency.  Remember, patience!