Biting senegal

Question
Hi   My daughter has  a Senegal which often is very nice but she has lost her trust in it because it bits hard sometimes with no warning. And it does not like the rest of her family.
My question is: If Tania found a nice place for the bird to go in with other birds,  would it be happy.She has had it since 8 months old and it has bonded  but still bites.It is 18 months now.
Would it forget her quite quickly and then be happy? That is the question?  Or would it severely pine? It would not be fair to sell it to another person whom it could also bite.
Hope you can answer
Thank you
Penny


Answer
Hi, Penny.  Thanks for posting.

Biting in caged birds is a learned behavior.  In other words, the senegal has learned that biting gets it what it wants.  For example, when your daughter puts her hand into the senegals cage, and the senegal doesn't want to be bothered at that time, he bites.  Your daughter understandably pulls her hand back, but this teaches the parrot that anytime it doesn't want to do what you want it to do, all it has to do is bite, and it gets it's way.  You are actually reinforcing this negative behavior by allowing the senegal to get away with the biting.  Similar to a human toddler having a temper tantrum.  Some toddlers learn that throwing a fit gets them their way (if the parent allows it).  The trick to overcoming this biting behavior is to not let the senegal have it's way when it bites.  Also, most parrots bond with a single person in a home.  Some parrots will tolerate other people, but usually bond with 1 person.  The senegal is most likely bonded with your daughter and doesn't want to have anything to do with other people.  This senegal was not properly socialized as a baby.

The senegal would most likely be happier with other birds.  This is because birds prefer other birds to humans.  However, it's difficult for me to answer your question because I don't know how bonded the senegal is to your daughter.  It might be happier and it might not be happier.  It just depends on the other situation and how bonded the 2 are.  If closely bonded, it might mourn the separation.  If the senegal doesn't like your daughter and it's current situation, it might be happier elsewhere.  Birds have excellent memories, but I couldn't guess if it would remember your daughter or not.  It just depends on what types of experiences it has had in your home (pleasant or unpleasant).  Birds particularly remember unpleasant experiences.

Yes, you are correct.  You might have difficulty finding a new home for your senegal if it has behavioral problems.  I would think your decision would be whether you want to try and work with the senegal's behavior problems or get rid of the parrot.  These type behavioral problems can be fixed with knowledge, skill, patience, and time.

I have a website that might provide more information for you in dealing with this type situation.  Visit if you want to:  http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Come back if you have additional questions.  Thanks.

Chrys