Does anyone have a senegal parrot and can you tell me a few things:
What is their size difference in relations to QP?
what is their personality like as far as screaming, loudness, cuddling, touching and playing?
how do they get along with other birds?
Thanks
Lori

We have one. They are heavier than quakers.

They are quiet and talk quiet that's a plus. They are entertaining as all get out to watch and interact with.

Now, here are some of the not good parts. They tend to bond to one person. They have the worst bite of any parrot I've ever had. They are like little feathered pit bulls. I'd much rather get bit by my CAG or even a macaw than one of these little devils.

My husband wouldn't part with him for any amount of money. Guess who the little devil bonded with? LOL He goes everywhere with hubby and he can do absolutely anything with him.

But, he will rip anyone else a new one given 1/2 a shot at them. I use a buddy perch with a hand protector on it and that is how we get along. I interact and take care of him. I just can't handle the little bugger and I would love to cuddle him.

Because of his predisposition I don't trust him with my CAG and quaker. And my CAG and quaker get along famously together.

So, there you have my own opinion. If you google senegal parrots and read up on them you will learn pretty much the same as what I have told you.

Just like any other bird, you have sweet ones and not so sweet ones. They have a shrill call but a tiny voice. And I agree, they can be a very one person bird. Its really important to socialize them with lots of people at a young age and that helps but doesn't mean that they still won't have their favorite.

Size wise if you take a Quaker and loose the long tail feathers and then add about 1/2 again its size, you pretty much have a Senegal. They can be big clowns, hanging upside down in their cages etc. They're a pretty active bird.

I think they have neat but eery eyes

I have a sennie named Yoshi who will be 1 year old December 1st. I have only been bitten by him 2 times, but it is worse than any bird I have ever been bitten by. When he bites he clamps down and doesn't let go. You pretty much have to pry his beak apart to get him off your flesh. Both time I was bitten were my fault though, and I realized what I did wrong. Besides those 2 bites, he is so loving. He loves to be held and is definately a velcro bird. He can keep himself happily and quietly entertained for hours, but when he is out he doesn't leave me alone. lol He will do anything for scritches and pets, and loves laying on his back. He is very amusing, active and hops around and does flips in his cage. It takes him a longer time to get used to things than it takes Joey my quaker. Yoshi is double the size of Joey. He is a very dense bird. He is over all VERY quite, but when he does make a sound it is one of the "high pitch nails down the chalkboard" screech. Overall I would recommend a senegal to pretty much anyone except first time parrot owners.

Oh yeah, Andies mom.....aren't those the wildest eyes?

Now I have heard that the males are the nastiest when they are over 5 years old.

Ours is over 5 and a male. Also, we rehomed him at this age so, that's just what I've learned from this one.

They are evil birds and very noisy . The two my brother had were anyhow . But on the other hand a client of mine has a very sweet one all depends on the owner really and how they brought up.

This is really helpful, thank you. I googled them before asking all of you, and NOT one site said they bit or were nasty, they all recommended them because they were quiet and cuddly.
No one said that they got nastier the older they got.
I am having a very hard time deciding what to get, and I appreciate your help on this.
I think a Senegal would not be for me. I want the bird to bond with me, but play with the whole family, so a Senegal could be a disappointment to us all, if he bonded with the wrong person and then was a biter!
My family would KILL me!
ha ha
thanks
Lori

I have to giggle reading this thread because I know sooooooooo many seni owners who would be appalled to read this thread Just as we would be appalled to go onto a regular, non-QP forum and read about how nasty Quakers are

In all honestly, ALL birds have the potential to be one person birds. It's all about the socializing. Even Quakers can be one person birds.

If you want a bird that is likely to accept the whole family, isn't that noisy, then get a Cockatiel. The males can learn to talk, while the females just chirp (although a rare female can pick up a word here or there). Cockatiels are often over looked when it comes to parrot ownership, which is a shame, because they are one of the best parrots to have.

I agree with Carrie about cockateils. They are really sweet birds and pretty much like anybody, if given the chance. Also I have heard caiques are pretty cool birds.......would like to own one but that will never happen. Kiwi my quaker is a sweetheart........and I have received lots of bites over the 10 yrs of owning him, but I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.....

this i agree on cockatiels most certainly are

That is SO true! You'll find common threads throughout this whole forum regarding the how much attitude a little green dragon shows some days, how contrary they can be on one wing and then sweet as pie on the other, all about their territorial habits which dedicated quaker owners don't even blink at because it comes part and parcel with the bird.... For someone who ISN'T willing to live with a small feathered stick of dynomite that has a mind of its own and very well defined opinions, quakers can seem the devil incarnate. *wicked grin* For those of us who've fallen absolutely in love with the little Napoleons you end up not only putting up with some of their more developed species quirks but enjoying them.

Even most Senegal owners will tell you that the birds are very specific on who they like and who they hate. And when they hate you, they HATE you. When they love you, you can do ANYTHING to them. Roll them around, flip them over, pull their wings over their little feathered heads, you name it. A friend of mine used to clip her Senny's wings while she was standing on her knee. She'd just put the bird in her lap, pop out the wing and have at it with the scissors. Her husband, however, had to use two perches if the bird got out and there was no one else home to put her back into her cage. One for her to perch on, one to keep her beak away from his fingers. They seem to have no concept of gravity - or they don't care. You'll find them upside down, sideways, right way up... whatever. They don't seem to mind either way. They don't seem to make as much noise on average as some of the little conures and I agree with the bite behind them. They grab on and grind if they decide to go after a piece of you and you have to literally pry their beak open to get them off. Most of the bigger guys will let go and then line up to strike again if they think you didn't clue in the first time.

If you're looking into another bird your best bet is to research what kind of life they live in the wild... remember that even hand-fed babies are only a couple of generations from a wild caught bird. Parrots are NOT domesticated by any stretch of the imagination yet. Then you can do exactly what you're doing here... ask a million questions. =) You'll find someone who fits, I'm sure!

Good luck!

You hit the nail on the head there. lol Yoshi will tolerate some, HATES a few, but will let me do anything to him. I file his nails while he is sitting on my legs. No towel or anything is needed. That is another thing about sennies...their nails. They will sit there and sharpen their nails for fun. You will file them down, but the next day they feel like razor blades to the skin again. lol I actually think they like being upside down more than right-side up.