New Senegal Questions

I have a new Senegal parrot. He's about four months old right now and a real sweetie. He calls to me whenever I'm not in the room or even when I am in the room and he's not right with me. I've heard him say "Hi there," and the owner of Feathered Friends said she's heard him say "sweet bird."

Here's my questions:

I bought a harness for him. Normally, I'm extremely nervous about doing anything to offend a bird, but I thought, with the harness, I should just bite the bullet and put him in it. We were quite a tangle of nylon, beak, claws, feathers, towel, and blood (mine). At one point, working with Pegu in a towel, I thought I had the harness on him, but it slipped off. After a half hour, we finally gave up. I switched to the slow approach, and by the end of the day, he was allowing me to slip the head loop loosely over his head, but I really don't know how to get the other strap under his wing and all adjusted. He lets me touch his wings, but he doesn't like me to lift his wings. I can cradle his back with my hand. I can pet him, but I don't know how to get the damn harness on him without going through the trauma of the towel. (It's the first bird I've ever tried to put in a harness). How do you get a Senegal to happily submit to a harness? I bought the Feather Tether. Is the Aviator any better or easier to put on?

The book I have about Senegals say that they like to play on their backs. The owner of the bird store said that he allowed her to turn him on his back. The book also said it is a good submissive posture. When I try to turn him on his back, he clings to my finger and digs in with his beak. Occasionally, I can get him to hold still on his back with his little feet in the air, but he doesn't look like he's "playing." He's holding very still like he wants me to finish whatever the heck I think I'm doing to him. Should I continue with this upside down patterning, or should I just let him be for a while? He's only been here about a week. Maybe I'm rushing him.

He is manic about trying to remove my fingernails. He'll start by nibbling the side of the nail, but then he starts trying to pry the whole thing off. That is not pleasant. Do they grow out of that stage? I don't mind him gnawing on me, but the prying of the fingernail is a real no no. (He's also been shredding the collars on my shirts. I don't allow him on my shoulder often because of the reported problems with doing so, but I wish I could distract him from my collar when he is up there).

The only other big parrot I had was a vicious fourth-hand African Grey. I thought I could reform him, but after a lot of bleeding, we existed in an uneasy peace until he caught a cold, spent a few days in the vets incubator, but didn't make it. I'm enjoying having a bird I can cuddle and who enjoys my company.

Thanks everyone.

OK, let's go point by point:

- harness - Can't help you here. I don't agree with them and would never try to put one on a bird. I think they are dangerous.

- laying on his back - Yes, they do lay on their backs but I've never seen them play on their backs although I've seen them attack from this position. I've also never seen them stay on their backs for any length of time, they seem to fall this way sometimes (like when you accidentally bump into them) but they usually turn around and straighten themselves up (kind of like a 'fall guy' knowing how to roll down the stairs to avoid getting hurt). Is there any particular reason why you would want the bird to adopt this position? Because I can't think of any practical one...

- fingernails - I think he's hungry. Are you feeding him soft food and checking his weight regularly? Because he is still too young to be put only on grown-up food regardless of what pet store owner (who wants to make the sale) has told you.

I don't have a Senegal but my Quaker does the same thing with my fingernails. Also, I work with my hands so hangnails is a common thing for me. If I am not paying attention she will grab one and rip it before I can stop her. Nothing seems to really deter her from it that I have tried so far.

Mine also chews on my collars. I bought a couple of flannel shirts from walmart and when I want to take her out, I put it on that way she can chew or poo on me without it getting to my other clothes. Someone told me I can potty train a bird, have yet to see if that works or not.

yes, you can potty train a bird. My african grey Milo is potty trained. what I did was I held Milo over the toilet & would say "go to the toilet, do your duty" & when he did I praised him & gave him his favorite treat! I did this every time I brought min out. Now, when he comes out, I have newspaper on the floor in front of his cage, I say "go to the toilet" or "do your duty" & he does.Then we go play or do what ever were going to do. He very rarily makes a mistake on me now or on the carpet. He knows where to do his duty!