Hi All!

[Stacey1]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this board and have a question I hope someone can help me with. We have a Crimson Rosella calle Ocho who is absolutely wonderful, We've only had him for 6 months. We got him from a local pet shop and also in the shop was a Senegal. We have been back to the shop many times and the Senegal is still there after 6 months and has now lost almost all feathers on it's head, it never moves or makes any noise. I am quite concerned and would like to offer it a good home but worry our Rosella will not get on with it and if it will be too far gone with boredom and misery to turn back into a happy healthy bird. If anyone has any advice it will be appreciated. I am mainly concerned about how our Rosella would be with it as I wouldn't want to traumatize the Senegal further.

Many Thanks,

Stacey

[Franciscus]

It's a difficult question to answer. Perhaps find out what the cause is of the feather loss. It's unlikely it's plucking, it's rather tricky for a bird to maneuver a beak so that it can pluck it's own head. So, if the bird is in it's own cage I would think it's not likely another bird plucking it and there is a potential disease causing the feather loss. If you want to get a Senegal, get a Senegal. I don't recommend getting it as a companion for the bird you have as it would not be likely that they will get along an a physical level, due to size difference and the nature of Senegals.

[Stacey1]

Thanks for the reply. The Senegal is in a cage on it's own. Could it be a vitamin deficiency? If I got it, it would be in a seperate cage to ours but I don't know much about senegals, I've read they have great personalities etc but don't know how they get on with other birds. I would like to let them both out at the same time but obviously wouldn't want them to fight.

[xafsmom]

It could be a number of things, actually. It could be medical, or simply psychological duress which caused it to pluck out of anxiety or boredom, or it might just be mate plucking (this is the season for old world birds and Sennies habitually barber the hens heads) - you didn't state the age or if it was caged alone.

As for getting along? Anything is possible, but Senegals can be quite aggressive to other birds, so you would have to determine that on your own with both birds there.

[Franciscus]

Senegals, as most poicephalus parrots, tend to like birds of the same species but not others. The Senegal would need a complete work-up by a vet who can then likely tell you about the feather loss, it's difficult to diagnose and expensive. It sounds to me like you are feeling sorry for the little bird. You have your heart in the right place. Perhaps try to convince the pet store to have the little guy checked by a vet. Keep in mind that there are a lot of bad pet stores (as well as good ones). I would say it's likely that if they are good that the bird would have been checked, or will be soon.

[Stacey1]

HI Xafsmom. The Senegal is still in the shop, caged alone. I don't know how old it is and I doubt the man in the shop does either. We only have an estimate of how old our Rosella is as he had been with a family before us. To be honest, I don't trust the pet shop man to know much about his "stock". I am even considering calling local authorities as the animals in there are in a small back room with no natural sunlight and do not appear to be very well looked after. I think we were very lucky with our Rosella as he is a wonderful bird but am very concerned about the rest in the shop. I know I can't save them all on my own but would like to try and give the Senegal a good life as it seems to be in bad shape.

[Astrid660]

I have a Crimson Rosella too! I thought they were quite rare birds. I would love to see a pic of your little guy. I have heard they can be territorial, especially the males.. Mine roams around near the little birds and is territorial, but he's not aggressive to the other birds about it, he just prefers to be alone. I have African Greys in the same room and he was spooked at first, but after a while adjusted to their presence. If you have the means to rescue this Senegal, I say go for it! I don't like supporting horrid pet shops, but at the end of the day the bird in question still needs a loving home.

[Stacey1]

Hi Astrid, I don't know anyone else who has a Rosella, aren't they gorgeous! We've been told Ocho is a male but we haven't had him sexed. I personally think he's a she. He has the whole lounge as his territory and don't think he'd like sharing it, he's rather spoilt, haha. We went to the pet shop today and I asked the guy why the senegal was bald, he said it puts it's head up againt the side of the cage and the Conures in the cage next to it, plucks the feathers out of it's head! I still haven't made my mind up yet. I'll try and get some pics of Ocho up.