The Basics:

Senegal Parrots can be very shy and frightened of humans, unless they were hand-raised. Individuals that have not been hand-raised might remain frightened of people for their entire lives. Under the best of circumstances, they are only suited for the experienced bird keeper.  Although affectionate, hand-raised Senegal Parrots can become nippy and strong-willed, so they must be given regular attention. 

Cage:

Although many experts recommend that the Senegal Parrot’s cage should be at least 36” long by 30”wide by 30” high, others feel that a cage 60-70% of this size will offer the bird more security. In any case, the cage should be made of sturdy metal to prevent the bird from chewing through it, and it must offer easy access for cleaning. Spacing between bars should be no wider than 5/8”.

CAUTION

In most cases, more space is more desirable for birds. However, when increasing the size of a Senegal Parrot’s cage, the bird’s human companion must be careful to maintain a safe (narrow) space between the bars. The bars of a cage have to be narrow enough to prevent a bird from sticking his head in between. Bars that are spaced too far apart for the bird’s size can result in serious and even fatal injuries.

Positioning The Cage:

At least one side of a cage should be placed against a wall to provide a sense of security. Senegal Parrots also feel safer when they are higher up, since they can see more. The cage should be placed in a high traffic area where it is easily accessible. However, the cage must also be secluded enough to afford a sense of privacy and security. An alcove off to the side a family room is a good position. The cage should be positioned in a way that it is impossible for any person to walk all the way around it. No bird’s cage should ever be located in the kitchen, since cooking fumes, smoke and changing temperatures pose a serious, and sometimes even fatal, health hazard. 

Playthings:

The Senegal Parrot’s caregiver should provide him with plenty of hard wood toys for chewing. This beautiful bird can develop an overgrown beak, and the best way to guard against this happening, and saving a possible trip to the vet for beak trimming, is to provide the bird with a wide assortment of chew toys. These toys should be rotated, inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.

Perches:

Since Senegal Parrots feel more secure when they are high, one perch should be positioned in the top area of the cage, while still allowing enough room for the bird to stand. Senegal Parrost should be provided with several perches, made of different materials and having different diameters, around ¾”. A perch should be placed in front of, but not above, food and water dishes.

Play Time Outside The Cage:

The Senegal Parrot should be given supervised playtime outside the cage for at least one hour every day in a bird-safe room. This bird loves to amuse herself with “smart bird toys,” and loves to bond with her human companions outside the cage. Teaching a Senegal Parrot tricks, such as climbing up on stick on command, is a great way amuse the pet and instill good, obedient behavior. Senegal Parrots should play with multiple family members to keep them from becoming one-person birds.

Grooming:

Consult veterinarian or literature about trimming nails and possibly flight feathers.

Bathing:

Provide a shallow bowl of chlorine-free water for daily supervised bathing. Or mist with chlorine-free water. Water must be lukewarm to room temperature. Avoid drafts. Remove bath bowl when finished. A daily bath in a shallow dish, or a shower courtesy of a misting bottle using chlorine-free water, are essential to keep the Senegal Parrot’s skin and feathers healthy.

Diet:

Pellets can form the foundation of the Senegal Parrot’s diet, accounting for 75% of its food intake. (Follow manufacturer’s feeding instructions and select a formula that is appropriate for this species.)  About 25% percent of the Senegal’s diet can be made up of vegetables, with fruit and a nut as a treat on rare occasions. Fruits and vegetables should be rinsed, dried and cut into appropriately sized pieces before being offered to this bird. Senegal Parrots can be prone to weight gain, so care should be taken not to overfeed or offer a diet that is too high in fat, such as a seed diet. Provide additional calcium i.e. cuttlebone during egg laying.

A Note About Water:

All water given to birds for drinking, as well as water used for misting, soaking or bathing must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals.  (Not all home water filtration systems remove 100% of the chlorine and heavy metals from tap water, so check your system's specifications before using it to filter water for your pet.) We recommend that you use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water and never untreated tap water. Do not use distilled water, which can cause severe medical problems, since it lacks minerals that are essential to important body functions.