• Welcome to Avian Avenue! To view our forum with less advertisments please register with us.
    Memberships are free and it will just take a moment. Click here

College Senegal

Is a Senegal Parrot Right for me?

  • Yes

    Votes: 2 100.0%
  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    2

SeanJay

Checking out the neighborhood
Joined
5/12/19
Messages
3
Hi Everyone,

I'm a perspective bird parent (Feel that a Senegal would be a good fit) and wanted to talk to some experienced keepers. I'm going to be going to college soon and was thinking that a senegal might be a good fit for me as I start my life journey. A little about myself: I am an aspiring avian and exotic veterinarian and want to devote my life to the care of pets. I prefer to be home instead of out partying like other college kids and want to have a companion who will sit with me and make me smile. I am extremely responsible and have cared for an astounding amount of exotic pets and feel ready to take on the lifetime commitment of a bird. The school I am attending is extremely pet friendly (animals are welcome to accompany students to class and are welcome to stay in any residence halls). I'm a home body and a hard studier so the majority of my time will be spent in the room with the bird or out enjoying the sun with the bird potentially harnessed. The longest the bird would be alone would probably be for 3 hour chunks once MAYBE twice a day. I plan on spending summers at home however so there would be 2 plane rides a year (I plan to take an airline where my bird would be on my person at all times along with making sure that the individual bird is comfortable with crate travel and is trained and habituated for transport correctly.) As for finances including high quality food, my parents would be covering costs so that won't be an issue. My dorm would also be large enough for a cage that well above the minimum suggested size and would be filled to the brim with toys and puzzle feeders. Noise is also not an issue as the residence halls are approved for birds as large as Macaws and as loud as conures. I want to get opinions as I know that a bird is an enormous responsibility. Do you think a bird could be a good fit for me?
 

EkkieLu

Rollerblading along the road
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
6/26/18
Messages
4,768
Location
Shelby Twp, Mich
Real Name
Tricia
You have sure got it all together! I know you will be a wonderful exotic vet. You spend a lot of time studying so I think a birdie would be lucky to have you for their parent!
 

fashionfobie

Biking along the boulevard
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
1/4/19
Messages
5,246
Location
Qld, Australia
Real Name
Natalie
Wow your school seems like the pet keepers dream. :fairy:


One thing about a bird is you are talking about a multiple decade commitment. Your current situation is perfect, Wow! I would still ask the question what about in 5 years? 10 Years? It is an important question. I have birds so don't get me wrong I bend my life to my pets, I am sure you will too. I have a goffin Cockatoo that lives in Michigan. She lives with my partner's parents. I am in Australia.

I got her in 2007 she was hatched in 2006. She had splayed legs as a chick and she had some hardships in her first year of life. I was attending Michigan State University and I expected to bring her with me everywhere and to Australia. In 2015 they changed the laws and I can not bring my bird to Australia. I feel like a terrible person all the time. I moved all my pets here and spent $10,000 to get my dogs here. I love her deeply and try to Skype with her, but it isn't the same. I ended up getting a Teaching Assistant position at the State University of New York during my Master's, I was in the States until 2016. I spent 1 year in Denmark and 1 semester in France. I was lucky because my little Peanut loves my partner's parents. They care for her and treat her well. Now she is basically their bird :( When I got her I researched and understood that I could bring her back with me..it was heartbreaking when they ban the import of companion birds. My main point is that this all happened in 10 years. I got opportunities that I didn't' expect to have, stayed in the US longer than I expected. Laws changed in that time. Now I have settled into life in Australia and I opened my home to some more birds. We have accepted that Peanut is my partner's parents bird. I visit her now on the holidays.

My partner and I met in Michigan. :)

Anyhow I think you understand my point. I think it is impossible to know all the answers and we never know where life will take us. I do think in the early years of uni and adult life things can change quickly and often so it is important to consider those 10 years. I know my life didn't go exactly as I expected..and I was so sure of myself when I started at MSU in 2005.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tka

SeanJay

Checking out the neighborhood
Joined
5/12/19
Messages
3
Thanks for the advice. I plan to stay in the states for a long time and anywhere else I plan to go will allow birds. It’s a big commitment and I definitely need to think long and hard before making that commitment. Thanks again.
 

Rain Bow

Rollerblading along the road
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
5/3/17
Messages
4,727
First, I want to say

:welave:

& 2nd

:thankyou:
for checking before you run out & snatch the first birdy you find off the shelf. Second, I will apologise for what I write next, not to make you feel bad that you asked but for what @fashionfobie said. A bird can be a life of commitments. Specifically, to the bird. Since you're going to school to be a vet, it sounds like your life is about giving! A great start!

Now here's where I'm gonna be a parent & get tough! :yapyap: Please know what you're in for & I'm gonna ask ?'s & share a bit.

I have a Zon they live 50-60 years. I inherited him when my Dad passed on. Buddy was between 20-25 yrs old. If I'm like my parents & die before I even collect SSI, my daughter will inherit him. So my question's are: regarding lifespan, & cost

No this isn't some weird math test... :heart2: It's pure bird :heart:

if a Senegal parrot live's for 30 yrs.

What are your lifeplans over that timeframe? Are you planning on working in a vets office or running one? Are you going to have a life where you get married & have kids? Are Senegal's a kid friendly bird? If you live in a dorm or apartment even... Are you ready to be asked to make your bird be quiet? Honestly, I'm not sure how loud Senegals are, but birds can be very loud. Many people get rid of birds because of noise.

Your parents are going to help you pay for one...
up to what point?

Cage & travel cage
Food - preferably fresh veggies & fruits & grains (preferably organic)
Toys, perches, stands

Most importantly a really good air cleaner. Not one that catches fire (many on Amazon do). I researched this for probably a month & a half. Always HEPA only.

The one I wanted is this:
Welcome to Austin Air | Nothing but clean air.

I'm 30 mins - hour from where these are made, could drive to pick one up.

We couldn't afford it, so for now we settled for a cheaper one, knowing a more expensive one would be in the future.

Finally, if you want a parrot but don't think 30 yrs is for you. Please watch the rescues in your area. Adopt & don't go to a breeder. Rescues are full of beautiful birds that were not properly researched before getting them.

I can tell you I've had Buddy for 2 yrs. We make his toys, as I can get more bang for our buck. My guys very spoiled, & part of our entertainment is his entertainment. This & food has been my biggest cost over all in those 2 years. Many birds like to learn & I've added any of those items in w/ the toys cost.

There's a great spot here on AA to learn about Senegals:

Poicephalus Place | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum
 

fashionfobie

Biking along the boulevard
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
1/4/19
Messages
5,246
Location
Qld, Australia
Real Name
Natalie
@Rain Bow I don't see any reason for an apology :) I think you asked good questions in a super kind way! :xflove: When I saw you linked my name I instantly panicked. It isn't an easy story for me to share, but it is the truth. I am a very bird oriented person. My whole life and research is about birds in our societies.


I also thought I would share this link. If you do want an older bird @SeanJay Keep in mind that a lot of birds who are in rescues are wonderful birds. Not all of them have trauma and abuse in their past. Not that there is anything wrong with birds experiencing recovery from trauma. But birds with baggage require a knowledgeable owner.

Ginger's Parrots Rescue - Specializing in Senegal Parrots and Cockatiels
 

SeanJay

Checking out the neighborhood
Joined
5/12/19
Messages
3
Thanks for the response!!! All really good points and advice. And from what I’ve gathered from your response I think that I’m willing to make the commitment and believe that it fits into my plan. I’ve of course not chosen a bird yet but my first stop is going to be at my local bird sanctuary followed by a nationwide search then a breeder. Thank you for all of your help.
 

Rain Bow

Rollerblading along the road
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
5/3/17
Messages
4,727
Thanks for the response!!! All really good points and advice. And from what I’ve gathered from your response I think that I’m willing to make the commitment and believe that it fits into my plan. I’ve of course not chosen a bird yet but my first stop is going to be at my local bird sanctuary followed by a nationwide search then a breeder. Thank you for all of your help.
You never know you could go in looking for a Senegal & end up w/ a Zon. Sometimes you both realize when it you've found "Your bird" if its a good rescue they'll probably make you come back. You may want to watch local ASPCA's too! There was one close to me that had a conure & I believe it was a Senegal near me in the last 6 months. If you are in the US.
@fashionfobie Sorry didn't mean to frighten you! :watching: ;)
 

tka

Rollerblading along the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/4/17
Messages
4,433
Location
London, UK
It sounds like you're thinking about the right things - well done!

Something to consider is whether you'll go abroad for residencies, training or work. Different universities and zoos in different countries have different specialisms, and if you want to gain experience in a specialism not supported in your current institution, want to work with a particular species in a particular context (e.g. captive breeding programmes or conservation), or want to work with a particular vet or research lab, you'll have to travel. This can be really exciting - my previous avian vet worked in sanctuaries for both chimpanzees and lions, studied for a particular certificate in Canada, did a residency in the US and now works in the UK. Who knows, if you're interested in avians you could find yourself working with macaws in Brazil, or (if you get really liucky) kakapo or kea in New Zealand. However, it does mean that it can be hard to to provide a stable home for a pet.

Also, don't discount the time you'll have to spend outside your room. You may be timetabled for a three hour lecture, but there will be lab work, time you'll spend in the library, time in study groups and so on. These will eat up your time and will mean that you're out of your room for much longer than you anticipate.

My advice would be to at least complete the first year of your college studies before you consider getting a bird. You'll have a much better sense of your study commitments and, perhaps, a better idea of further training you want to do (and where).
 
Top