Home with Merlin

[billiethekid40]

Well we decided to go for it. Merlin made the 2 hour drive in good form, and did not seem to be stressed by the trip. He was not upset by the change in environments, rather he seems to be pleased to have new digs and stuff to look at. It helps that we have his cage and all his favorite toys with him. From the time he got here he has been 90% better behaved. I can now move things in his cage, around his cage etc without being attacked, right from the moment he got here. I used the initial shock to my benefit. He was so calm when he got here that a few hours after we arrived I got a jump on our bond. His wings have been clipped (for his own safety, large birds were NOT designed to fly indoors!) and we spent some time playing on the kitchen floor.

His second day home we played on the bathroom counter and made huge progress in that I actualy had him sitting on my hand, but my hand was covered by a towel.

Day three was amazing! I had been scratching him with a q-tip since day 2, and he was learning that scratching feels goooood! Well, he finally let me scratch him with my finger!

He has also progressed to tasting me with just his tongue instead of his whole beak (ouch

) Tasteing is something VERY good for Sennies, they touch things with their tongue to feel its texture and taste it, the same way we touch things. This means he is quickly learning to trust me, and his curiosity means he just might come around to me really quickly. I can't wait to take him out to play today, and I might do two short sessions today instead of just one. We are very happy to have him here, and I think its going to do him a world of good! He just needed somebody to speak his language I think.

(edited for spelling)

Here is Merlin

And his favorite toy, the Elmo's World phone (aka the worlds most annoying thing to wake up to in the morning, but he loves it).

and Merlin again

(No paparazzi please!)

 

[JO~*]

Cute bird--looks just like my girl.

I bet if I were to put elmo in my gals cage she would try to "kill" it.

Right now she is eyeing one of the Poms with evil eye.

Good thing my senagal loves me or she would have to go to a new home and THAT

would make my hubby and daughter VERY happy.

 

[Jess P]

Wow, what a pretty bird! I am so glad he is warming up to you!

 

[sharon]

Glad to hear that things are working out so well!! Birds can be really strange when they face a big move like that.

I have a parrakeet, cockatiel and an african grey. They make me laugh every day.

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Handsome fella! I got the Elmo phone for Aidan this year too!

 

[billiethekid40]

Thanks everyone, we think Merlin is one handsome dude too. He is progressing really nicely. I wish I'd been able to find our Senegal books before I left home, but no luck there. There doesn't seem to be much useful info on the internet for training birds, and my school library doesn't have any parrot books at all. I'll have to find the nearest public library and see if they have any, because I can't afford to buy a parrot book right now, especially knowing I have 2 perfectly good ones *somewhere* at home.

We are working on it though, right now I am trying to figure out how to teach him to step up and how to stop biting. I think he might have to finish getting used to my hand before he will learn to step up. I'm not sure what to do about the biting though. I know I shouldn't react strongly to it, but I don't know if I shjould ignore him after he bites or not? I AM praising him a LOT for using his mouth in an appropriate way, and right now i will tell him no in a stern voice and then withdraw from him if he bites me hard. Its the best guess i could make, not knowing what is the proper thing to do.

 

[Robin1]

When my bird try's to bite, I get a hold of his beak between my thumb and index finger and tell him NO. Sometimes with a TINY shake, basically moving his head back and forth gently.

He does understand this and stops biting.

Robin

 

[luvmycritters]

That's wonderful news! So glad that every thing is working out for you and Merlin!!

He is a pretty bird and sounds to be very happy now. Where did you get that elmo phone and what all does it do? I would like to get some thing like that for my bird Echo ( african grey ) and maybe even Francious ( umbrella too ).

 

[sharon]

You might want to try teaching him to step up onto a stick first. Either way, put the stick or your finger on his lower chest and apply a little pressure to it while at the same time saying "step up". A stern "no!" for the biting is the exact thing to do.

I too will grab onto the beak and say no, but this is much easier on a larger bird.

I've always liked senegals. Looks like they're wearing an orange vest!