What should i get?

surferdon · Post by **surferdon** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:14 pm

OK folks I need some advice on a new fid. I can't seem tio choose between a senegal red belly or a brown head parrot. All of these birds are from the same Genus so they are all pretty alike. Most people that i talk to although seem to tell me to get a Red Belly. I hear they are the best talkers and i could have my choice between a 5 MONTH OLD or a 4 month old male or a 5 month old female. The female seems more interested in me but i have to admit that i am a sucker for the colors of a male! No one seems to say much about the senegal or the brown head, so does any one have any info from past experiences or whaTever that i should know to help assist in my choice!!!! :?:

Bird crazy · Post by **Bird crazy** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:44 pm

My first parrot was a male senegal, 5 years old when I got him. He was a woman's bird, she bought him at 3 yrs old to breed with her female but they decided they didn't like each other so I got him. When I met him he was a charmer, I held him, kissed him, he talked to me, I was able to pet him through the bars of the cage all the way home. He took one look at my husband and it was love at first sight and I was toast. He learned my husband's name in 2 days and the dogs name within the week, had an extensive vocabulary, a great interest in everything and a real zest for life. My husband however did not want a parrot and I could not handle him. I found him a home with a woman who had another senegal and they got along wonderfully. From what I've read they make fairly good apt birds because they're relatively quiet compared to other parrots. Although like the IRN they have a loud call. Pepper was a wonderful little bird, I'm not sure if they are one person type birds or not, you might want to read up about that, he was apt to bite my husband to get him to move away from other people or pets if he felt threatened.
If I had been able to handle him I would not have had to place him elsewhere, he was wonderful !!! Sue and Nila

surferdon · Post by **surferdon** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:31 am

wow that sounds wonderful!! I am still waiting for a bird that i can actually afford to like me right away. Only the expensive birds seem to do that. However, the female red belly follows me everywhere!! But when i take her out of the cage she is sciddish. But I hear that the males seem to want to talk more often than the females and as bad as thios sounds i really would like to have a bird that does talk because it facinates me :shock:

Bird crazy · Post by **Bird crazy** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:54 am

I'm trying to remember everything I read about them but I think the skittishness is a personality trait of the senegal.

In fact the July issue of Bird talk has an article Parrot Psychology Curb Panic and Anxiety and it has a picture of a senegal with a question from a reader about his senegal and his panic responses. I'd get a good book on Senegals. It's been so many years since I bought Pepper, but I think there was a separate book on just Senegals that I got at a book store. I can tell you I remember laughing at that bird every day. :lol:

I had finches at the time and when they would get loose and fly around he would go to the top of his cage and try to catch them when they flew by. Fortunately he never did get one but I was tempted to let them fly just to watch the fun he had.

I know quaker parrots are small but I think they are great talkers too. And they are not expensive and do not require such a big cage. I think you can buy a quaker for about $100-150 here in Florida. Are they legal in your state? I know it's illegal to own or transport one through Georgia and Pennsylvania. Anyway, they are chatterboxes from my own experience and what I've read about them.

Sue and Nila

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:28 am

Youre a big boy now... time to be talking KIDS! :shock:

Lord have mercy, I hope he is legal... all the crap I talk to him... the Feds will come and get me.

surferdon · Post by **surferdon** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:30 pm

legal is all 50 states i have my green card!!!!!!

surferdon · Post by **surferdon** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:32 pm

BUt really my focus is on a red belly I like the look and they are ok in price about 450 here(US) But the senegal and brown head are supposed to be very similar and at the pet store I think the senegals like me more but are they the same??? and not sure about the quakers Never seen one here but I will look

surferdon · Post by **surferdon** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:38 pm

Well I think that I MAde a choice in the matter of perplexity. I spent all week pretty much at the pet store and spent time with all the birds around. I fell in love with a african grey, a yeelow nape fell in love with me, whom by the way wont take her eyes off of me and follows me around making purring noises!! I really want a red belly only because they are discernable in terms of sex which makes breeding purposes easier. But both were uninterested in me and just wanted to fly away or bite. The Senegals however just seemed to be sweet as could be and there was this one who tried to make friends with all of the other birds, which made me happy because that means that there is hope that he/she could become a distant friend with my IRn who also is not a fighter but a lover. THese senegals are so young they still can't step up but have no reason to bite, or they just don't know how. But I think that I figured out what I want to do and that is become a bird breeder, of course on the side because I have to admit I love the life style that I lead now and Being A bird breeder, at this point in time, will suffice!!! So Should I go For it!!!! :?:

kimtoo · Post by **kimtoo** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:44 pm

go for it!

btw, you can't go wrong with the grey....Iif you can swing it you would not regret it. have had mine for 12 years, he is am awesome animal.