Senegal Parrot

Description:
   Senegal Parrots are probably the most popular of the Poicephalus parrots which includes Meyer's, Red-bellied, and Jardine's parrots. They are attractive and intelligent little birds that are highly social and live in flocks in the wild. They are from central and eastern Africa. In the wild, breeding is after the rainy season, from September through November.
   The Senegal's head is gray, with a mostly green body. The breast and belly ranges in color from lime-yellow to deep orange. The body markings form a "V" with a green point running down the breast bone. There are some who say they can be sexed based on color, but this is very unreliable, especially when they are young. Others believe they can be sexed by their behavior, with females being shy and retiring and males being bolder and more aggressive. This is not very reliable either since there are bold hens and shy males. Juvenile birds have dark brown eyes, while adults eye color ranges from silvery yellow to orange.

Housing:
   Provide a roomy cage with the minimum dimensions of: 20" long x 20" deep x 28" high. Preferably a cage with horizontal bars about 3/4 inch apart to make climbing easier. The individual senegal's needs should be taken into account if possible. For instance, if the bird is going to spend most of its time in the cage without being taken out frequently, a larger cage might be better, while a bird that is handled allot could do with a smaller one.
   It has been observed that wooden toys are favorites of senegals. Wooden ladders, chew toys, and wooden hanging toys seem to be preferred, most anything made of wood.
   You can also attach a perch/play area on top of the cage. In the cage have about three perches of different diameters (or branches with some angling) without the sandpaper guards. A swing and mirror among other toys are available but be sure to leave enough room for flying! Food and water dishes, preferably automatic dispensing, or if not, ones with guards to prevent waste contamination. Clips to hold spray millet and fresh food. A bath house with a textured bottom is a favorite, or a slow running faucet will do. Provide a breeding box if breeding is what you have in mind.

Care and feeding:
   In the wild the Senegal parrots eat seeds, nuts, berries and fruit. For your pet, ready made staple seed mixes are usually available at your local pet store or super market which contain a mixture of canary grass seed, white millet, yellow millet, oats and groats and red millet, niger seed and linseed. Some higher quality seed mixtures come with thistle, anise, rape, sesame, and safflower seed. Vitamin pellets with iodine in them are sometimes present to prevent thyroid problems. Store seed in a dark but airy place. Not in plastic bags but in a clothes bag in a closet. Offer fresh foods such as eggplant, green peas, cucumber, young dandelion greens, sweet corn, beet greens, carrots, unsprayed lettuce, green peppers, sorrel, spinach leaves, tomatoes and zucchini. Fruits that are suitable are: Pineapples, apples, apricots, bananas, most other fruits.

   Don't feed your bird chocolate or avocados. These foods have been implicated in the death of many birds and should not be fed to senegals.

Availability: Senegal parrots are readily available and moderately expensive.