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| PET GAZETTE | AVIAN
cage will end up searching for a plaster. A
companion bird should have a minimum
cage size of 2x2x3’ high. The cage should
be of a high quality, with an opening top
and be made from toxin-free paint. A good
range of perches will be required. This will
help exercise the feet and legs and allow
them to chew. Cock birds especially also tend
to have a hormonal spike as the breeding
season approaches. This will spill out into the
home with the companion bird. Generally,
he will be mischievous, noisy, slightly more
inclined to bite and start to wiggle and dance
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while thrusting the head back and forth as
he regurgitates a treat for you. These are a
few weeks where the keeper will need much
grace and the bird some “time out”.
Senegals can also be maintained very
well in either outside or well illuminated
indoor breeding flights. Pairs should be
placed together into a new enclosure at
the same time or robust fighting can occur.
A flight of 6x6x8’ long is acceptable for a
single pair in which they will use a hollowed
log or premade nest box. Flights should
have a range of perching, natural if possible
and offer areas of seclusion. If maintained
outside, the flight should be double wired
and have a solid top to reduce the risk
of raptor predation and the ingress of
droppings from wild birds.
Three to four white eggs are laid within the
nest box or log which must be as high from
the ground as possible and left well alone.
The hen will incubate the eggs until days 27-
29 when they will start to hatch. The young
birds take roughly nine weeks to become
ready to fledge, however the parents will
still care for them for a good time after. Toys
are readily available and should be chosen
wisely in order to occupy the mind. Chewable
items are preferred as are highly coloured
objects.
Senegals should be fed a wide variety of
Parrot-safe foods. Sunflower can be used
within the overall balance of the diet but
sunflower rich diets can be problematic. I
am not a fan of 100 percent pelleted diets
myself, I feel that good quality pellets can be
used as part of an overall diet that consists of
fresh fruits and some vegetables and a well
thought out Parrot seed and pellets. Cuttle
bone and suchlike should be offered at all
times. Millet sprays will also be chewed and
played with. A good quality natural base
mineral and vitamin complex should also be
used as described on the product to further
support the bird. As is the case with all birds
that have red and orange/yellow feathering,
natural full spectrum carotenoids and access
to full spectrum light plays a large role in
keeping these colours natural and vibrant.
Powders with the full spectrum of carotenoids
can now be found and fed alongside other
such fresh foods that contain these elements.
As previously mentioned, the Senegal
originates from a sun rich environment, as
such the developed need for natural sunlight
is high. Being exposed to the sun rays, or a
full spectrum UV-B bird lamp will help greatly
within every aspect of the nutritional cycles
and help maintain strong bones via the
production of natural vitamin D3. This also
decreases unexplained plucking.
Senegals can live for more than 30 years,
meaning they really can be a friend for life.
They will amuse and delight the keeper as
much as they will infuriate them from time to
time. Companion birds crave attention and
they will ensure that they get it, one way or
the other.
Young hand reared Senegals will retail
between £400-800 each depending on
locality and availability at the time. Cage
selection is key as is giving the right advice
from day one. There are some very good
books available on the genus alongside
active and helpful social media groups.
October 2018