Bat bird?

[tdmsu]

Fidrych is really getting comfy here - he is not interested so far in scritches, but he loves to hang upside down from the top of his cage and swing. Mind you, he also has a boing which he loves. My wife is calling him "Bat Bird!"

Does anyone else have a "Bat" Senegal?

[Lisa's Tiki]

I don't have a Senegal, but I do have a Red Belly who thinks she too is a bat. They are too funny to watch!

[Pepper's Pa]

When he was younger, Pepper spent much of his time hanging and swinging while upside-down. He’s only three and one-half years old and still does it, but not as much as he used to do.

The other day he did the oddest thing I’ve seen from him yet. Somehow, he ended up midway up the corner where the front and one side of his cage come together. His head was up and his back was wedged into the corner. His legs were out to his sides each holding onto a different wall of his cage. As I was talking to him he kept his grip and did a backward roll so that he was now facing down with his front to the cage bars. Since where he did this was at least six inches from the closest perch or hanging toy, I have no idea how he got there and into that position in the first place.

Here’s one suggestion, if Fidrych is perching on your hand and hangs upside-down, gently scoop him in your other hand and scritch the side of his head and his cere (the soft area above the top of his beak). You may find that you’ll teach him to remain on his back in your palm and enjoy his scritches. I did this with Pepper when he was young. Now he regularly will do a somersault in my palm, stretch his neck and head down, then wait to get scritched on his neck and under his beak. He’ll stay in this position for several minutes and make a parrot purring sound as long as I’m willing to keep scritching him.

I’m sure Fidrych will continue to amaze you with his antics and I look forward to hearing about them.

[Luisa]

YESSSSS!! I thought my Sammie was the only bird to do that! I even lokoed it up online. He would go into the corner of his cage and hang upside down to fall asleep at night. I put a snugle hut in his cage, and since then he runs in there to fall asleep! Isn;t it funny to see them do that! I can;t imagine how they could feel comfortable!

[Thoroughbred]

I don't have a Senegal right now, but I am adopting one in the next few days - we are still working out pick up arrangements. Anyway, a while back I had a brown head who would always swing and climb up side down. She just loved it!!! I also caught her one night fast asleep on a perch completely up side down just like it bat - it scared the crap out of me because she was not moving or anything, but I then realized she was just sleeping in a very odd way.

[tdmsu]

Fidrych hung upside down from my finger once, but has not done it again. I am starting clicker training him, so that will help us bond, and perhaps lead to scritches. I will not force the issue, I think it is best to let him come around on his own.

Thanks for the tip, Pa!

[jimpierce7]

Zoey does that all the time. I see her and I say "swingin' swingin' swingin'" and away she goes!!