Ask Lafeber

My Senegal Parrot Socrates

Dear Brenda,
Thank you so very much again Brenda for all your help with my Senegal Parrot Socrates. He was not like this quite a while ago. I also never had a parrot before. I got him originally from my former boyfriend Joshua a couple years ago. From someone who was giving my Socrates away. I took him in with loving arms. I don’t remember when he actually started to change his behavior. Is he frightened of me or angry at me. It is so hard to guess. But I know he used to be friendlier and I know not to get too close to him for fear of getting bitten by him. He definitely needs his space. I don’t know if he is pining for another parrot like himself, because he is the only bird amongst my others that is in a cage by himself. I would not want to invade his space in any way. I have other birds in other cages on two tables. I am in the living room. That is my bedroom and my roommate Ray has the bedroom. I live in an apartment in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York. I have two canaries in one cage, my Socrates next to them in his cage, my two lovebirds, in their cage, my four parakeets in their cage, my two cockatiels in their cage and my two doves in their cage. So my Socrates has plenty of company from his brothers and sisters. I have always been an avid lover of birds. And I always will be. It is wonderful to be able to ask Lafeber for advice on my birds. Do you also have birds Brenda? They are simply the loves of my life. They always were and always will be.
Thank you again Brenda for all your help.

Sincerely, Michelle The mother of her baby birds.

Hi Michelle,

It’s definitely harder when you don’t know a bird’s full background. He may have been passed along a lot before you ended up with him. Most people don’t want a bird they can’t handle. Most likely Socrates became fearful with the first owner and that started a pattern of him being given away. He has plenty of birds around him to “talk” to. Getting him a companion could be complicated. If he feels lonely, he is more likely to reach out to you. Just keep being patient with him and make sure he has plenty of toys to keep him busy. Maybe you can try some foraging exercise. We just had that webinar so I’ll post the link for you.

I’ve actually owned all of the species you currently have, except for a Senegal. But I’ve worked with many Senegals and their related species. It sounds like you have a fun bird family around you! Nothing is more entertaining than having several parakeets together. Their social behavior is very interesting. We also just had a webinar covering some of the small bird species. Our guest speaker is also an artist and she did watercolors of some of the small birds while she talked. I’ll give you that link, too.

Take care!

Brenda