Progress with Sam

[Kiahanna]

My new Senegal seems to be doing very well. He loves his cage and his toys and he's got a rope swing thing that he loves to swing in (murmuring to himself very sweetly as he does so) :) I am keeping up contact with him (I still don't know whether he's really a he, I tried to get a look as his bottom end but he seemed to think it was rather undignified to have me stare at his bottom and I agreed so I've put that on hold for now) and he seems more interested in my hands.

What I am wondering about are two things - When I talk to him he will come to the front of the cage and move his beak as if eating something over and over. He doesn't gape his mouth, its just a gradual thing and it really does look like he's eating something but I know he really isn't. Is this normal?

Also now that he's more comfortable with my hand in the cage he wants to explore it, which is great. However as he's giving my hand a good thorough exploring he then seems to get fascinated with my fingernails and tends to put a bit too much pressure with his beak on them. I try to redirect his attention to my other hand and he's happy with that but then goes right back to the fingernails again. Am I doing right by this or should I be doing something else? He closes his beak a little bit too firmly sometimes on my hand as well I try not to show much reaction but sometimes it is a bit uncomfortable.

I was really pleased this morning as he took hold of my finger and moved it closer to him so he could step on it with one foot

[Lindann]

Max does the same thing--moving his beak-- when I talk to him. It seems to be his way of acknowledging me and sort of responding. He also does the finger exploration thing, along with the pinching. He tries to jam his head between my fingers, nibbling and pushing at the same time. He's young yet, only 17 months, so I think this is very much a baby thing, almost a preening or flock bonding behaviour. Sounds like Sam is typically Senegal!