Senegal Parrot

• ExerciseModerate

  Daily out-of-cage time and foraging toys keep them busy.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceSome experience helps

  A little know-how makes life smoother.

• Commitment25–40 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Feather plucking · Respiratory issues · Obesity

The Senegal is a quiet, charming parrot that offers a lot of personality without the ear-splitting volume of many species, which makes it one of the more apartment-friendly parrots. Playful, acrobatic and affectionate, it often bonds most strongly to one person and can become nippy or one-person-protective if it is not broadly socialised, so involve the whole household in gentle handling from the start. It needs a good-sized cage, out-of-cage time, and plenty of toys and foraging over its 25–40 year life. Diet should be mostly pellets and vegetables. Senegals and their Poicephalus relatives are prone to obesity and fatty tumours, so keep fatty seeds and nuts to a minimum and encourage exercise. Watch for feather plucking, respiratory and fungal disease (aspergillosis), and the beak-and-feather disease parrots can carry. As with all birds, non-stick fumes, aerosols and smoke are lethal to their sensitive lungs. Socialise it well, feed a lean diet, provide enrichment and daily interaction, and a Senegal makes a wonderful smaller, quieter parrot companion for decades.

• How much activity does a Senegal Parrot need?

  Moderate. Daily out-of-cage time and foraging toys keep them busy.

• How much feather care does a Senegal Parrot need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Senegal Parrot need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Senegal Parrot a good fit for first-time owners?

  Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.

• How long do Senegal Parrot live?

  25–40 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Senegal Parrot?

  Keep an eye out for Feather plucking, Respiratory issues, Obesity. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

Be the first to join this community!