A friend of mine has recently added a Senegal parrot to his life, after a lot of debate about whether it was the right choice for him.
Everything has been going great so far, and he’s been loving having the little guy around.
The training has been going well, and he’s been quiet and well behaved.
One area where my friend is having trouble, though, is with affection.
The parrot just hasn’t been terribly affectionate, and he was concerned there was an underlying issue there.
I decided to look into it.
So, are Senegal parrots cuddly?
Well raised, well-socialized Senegal parrots are affectionate and playful. They will form deep bonds with their owners. On the other hand, if they are wild caught and poorly socialized, they will have trouble making this connection. Even then, it’s a very individual thing—some more affectionate than others.
So, largely speaking, Senegal parrots are cuddly.
They enjoy physical interactions and affection.
However, there are many factors that go into determining this. as I said, if the bird has not been raised well or properly, then it will have a harder time trusting humans.
There’s also always the possibility that you just get a more standoffish Senegal!
Let’s look further into this.
Are Senegal parrots affectionate?
Yes, they are, generally speaking. Senegal parrots form deep bonds with their owners and get excited by the prospect of cuddles and physical affection.
Senegal parrots are highly social creatures and need a lot of interaction with someone they’re bonded with to be truly happy.
It does depend a bit on how you define affectionate, though.
They are cuddly in the sense that they will probably land on you, rub their beaks on you, and generally enjoy being close to you.
But they won’t really want you to “cuddle” them, as such.
They show affection in other ways, too.
One of the most important is in how they vocalize.
Notice how much noise they make when they see you approach, especially after you’ve been away for a long time.
If there seems to be a lot of happy chirps, then this is another way that they express affection.
For any parrot, though, such relationships take work.
It all starts with how the parrot is raised to begin with, and how you raise it once you bring it home.
Let’s look into why your parrot might be less cuddly.
Why is my Senegal parrot not cuddly?
There are a variety of possible reasons.
Firstly, consider the possibility that you just have a Senegal who is less interested in that kind of affection.
It’s entirely possible, even with a perfectly happy Senegal parrot.
Beyond that, though, there are many other possible reasons.
As I said, the biggest and most common problems usually arise with how they are reared.
If they’ve been well trained and socialized, then they should know how they are supposed to behave around people.
This will lead to forming deep bonds with people.
On the other hand, if they are not well trained and socialized, then they will be far more suspicious, even frightened, of people.
This will, naturally, preclude the possibility of affection and bonds.
So, be sure that you purchase your Senegal parrot from a reputable and responsible breeder.
They will determine how the parrot is trained from birth, and thus, in turn, how affectionate it is in later life.
It doesn’t stop there, though—you need to continuously work with it throughout its life to keep it happy and bonded with you.
In the worst cases, Senegal parrots can even get aggressive.
Why is my Senegal parrot being aggressive?
It’s worth pointing out that a natural part of Senegal parrot behavior is often getting a bit nippy when they don’t get their way.
This is why they are not recommended for children.
For the most part, all you need to do is know how to end the interaction and lightly scold them in such cases.
However, if they are being constantly and overly aggressive, then there is a deeper behavioral issue there.
Again, it could simply be that they were not properly reared at birth. It could also be that there is something you are not providing, from food to socialization to stimulation.
Parrot behavior is complex, and if you’re unsure, you should consult a vet or behavioral specialist.
How do I bond with my Senegal parrot?
Bonding with your Senegal parrot is an ongoing process.
Make sure to greet them whenever you walk into the room.
Spend time with them, playing and physically interacting with them.
Since they are parrots, you’ll also need to do a lot of vocalization.
This could take any form you like—you could simply talk to them, or you could even sing and play music for them.
They will really enjoy this.
You can also read out loud to them, if you can’t think of things to say.
They certainly won’t know what you’re saying!
In any case, it takes time and effort, so be prepared to deal with that.
Conclusion
Owning a parrot is not easy, then.
There are lot of factors to take into consideration, and you’ve always got to prepare yourself for the basic individual personalities that every bird has.
Some are, by their nature, more affectionate than others.
That said, generally speaking, Senegal parrots do form deep bonds with their owners, and will express that through cuddliness and affection.
But you’ve got to take responsibility for their rearing, otherwise there is no guarantee that they will ever even bond with you in the first place.