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Post by Lori on Sept 29, 2008 21:40:11 GMT
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Post by skyfeather on Sept 30, 2008 20:22:32 GMT
Hi Lori....how extiting you are close to having Elmo come home with you! I would think hand feeding him will help with the bonding process and just spending time with him too. Just make sure to follow your breeder's directions with the feedings. I haven't had my Senegal "Safara" very long either but he was older when I got him (about 8 months old). He is talking up a storm now and says many words and phrases after being with us for only a couple of months. He was only 110grams when I got him But I have been weighing him weekly and now he is up to 122 grams. Do you happen to know which subspecies he is? I know there are 3 subspecies of Senegal Parrot. They are: (1) Poicephalus senegalus senegalus: This is known as the nominate race and has a yellow belly; (2) Poicephalus senegalus versteri: This has a red belly; (3) Poicephalus senegalus mesotypus: This has a orange belly. I am not quite sure which one mine is as he is still developing eye and chest color but his "vest" seems to be halfway between yellow and orange right now depending on how the light affects it. I hope you can post pictures of Elmo once you get him home and settled in!
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Post by Liz on Sept 30, 2008 23:07:09 GMT
How exciting! I'd be beside myself, I be you can't wait to see Elmo! About the handfeeding bonding thing, that would be an interesting thing to discuss. My personal idea (from watching baby budgies and reading a lot) is that the feeding doesn't really affect long term bonding. Attention and handling at a young age does, but feeding doesn't seem to make that much of a difference. Most "tame" parrots view their owners as their mates, not their parents. In the wild, the babies leave their parents who raised them and fed them and then become bonded to their mates. Humans feeding the baby birds encourages handling and socialization, and I think that is what makes the difference, especially when the bird gets older and reaches sexual maturity. Of course, that isn't to say that us feeding the babies doesn't help bonding... on our side. I get more attached to a baby that I've taken care of personally.
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