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Re: So now what?
Posted by Cheryl on 6/16/05

> and instantly wants to step up and cuddle under my chin or
> try to climb up on my shoulder. Oh, and try to stick his
> head in my mouth. These interests of his do not intersect
> with mine! I can't do much with a bird on my hand under my
> chin, and I've been told not to let him on my shoulder. So
> what should I do with him all day? I want him to be happy
> and sociable, but I don't want to spend the day with a bird
> attached to me! Thanks, Shawna

You sound totally opposite of me. The best times with a bird
are when they trust you enough to seek you out. When I
brought Darby home, she was 12 weeks to the day and had just
been weaned.
I spent much of the day holding her to my chest, talking
softly, explaining what was going on to her, and just
stroking her all over, including her beak and feet.
I never allowed her to climb up to my shoulder on her own,
but if it was MY choice to allow her up there, it was fine.
She has the #207 cage by King's, and has at least 6 toys of
all types in it, rotated regularly, a boing and a swing in
the cage too.
I never followed a strict schedule. I don't believe in doing
that, sine if it ever needs to change, the bird will suffer.
I took Darby out whenever I wanted to interact, which was
often, LOL, even if it meant me just giving her a quick
scritch and a kiss, and telling her I loved her, before
putting her back into the cage. I also do not wait for her
to call to me all the time. If I am busy in another part of
the house, I call to HER, saying "Hi Darby, I am right here"
and she never turned into a "screamer" whatsoever. Also, I
am sure, due to the fact that I did this often while she was
still young, she always seeks out attention from me, and
loves hands on interaction, whether it be cuddling, or beak
wrestling, of just sitting with me watching TV, or sharing
something I am eating. She still loves being held against my
chest being talked to.
She rides on my shoudler sometimes, but will never even try
to go up there on her own...She hangs out on her playstand (a
large, natural branched tree on a platform) in the family
room when I am in there, and has about 3 toys at any given
time on that also.
She continues to enjoy a healthy fresh veggie and fruit diet,
along with pellets, pasta, nuts, fish, most any healthy thing
we have, she has.
She is an absolute joy, and I am very lucky to have her. We
are totally bonded, and I thank my lucky stars that she has
remained that way.
Please remember that your bird is a BABY. It needs all the
nuturing and love it can get now. No, don;t run in every
time the bird makes a sound, but DO reassure it with soft
words, and make a point of going to the cage, taking the bird
out, and even if just for 2 minutes at a time, when the bird
cannot be out for more than that, take it our, cuddle, and
tell the bird how much you love it and that it is such a
goood bird. Talk in a higher, animated voice.
With Senegals, (any bird, for that matter) do not just leave
the cage door open...Giving the bird too much "freedom" to
make it's own choices from early on will result negatively.
The bird can be out as much as you like, but YOU take it out
and YOU put it back in.
Once again, since I feel that, based on your comments, this
cannot be stressed enough, remember that your bird is a baby,
and, like a human baby, it is learning from everything it
sees. If it sees that you are a loving, nuturing and caring
person, as well as a patient adn calm teacher, things should
be fine.
BTW, a bird doesn't automatically know how to "play"...It
will learn by watching you "playing" with the bird toys. To
share your life with a parrot, you need to be willing to be
silly, fun, patient, understanding, and very loving and
nuturing.
Good luck.

Posts on this thread, including this one

• So now what?, 6/15/05, by Shawna.
• Re: So now what?, 6/15/05, by Michael L.
• Re: So now what?, 6/16/05, by Cheryl.