Shade
04-27-2013, 01:24 PM
Shade is my 7 year old Senegal hen. She's my second parrot, and one of the few birds I got as a baby.
After I got Piper (Lovebird), I inevitably thinking about a second parrot so I started researching high and wide about what should be the next species I get. I wasn't in a hurry, although I think that pretty early on I figured that a Poicephalus would be a good fit for me. At the time, I was in doing my last Undergrad year, so I figured I would get my new parrot once I was done (which meant more or less a year after I got Piper).
My mother knew of my research (she's also into parrots and, by that time, had two Lovebirds and two AG of her own). She knew I hadn't decided on any specific Poicephalus; I figured I'd see what was available within the smaller Pois when I was ready to bring one home.
It turns out that towards April my mother started looking at ads for Pois all on her own. April was technically the last month of school and my birthday also happens to be towards the end of the month. So, as the month ended, my mother surprised me, saying her and my dad were going to get me a parrot for my graduation/birthday present and that she found a breeder with baby Senegals for sale. These babies were being sold unweaned, however, she had her breeder friend at the time (the breeder I got Piper from) agree to wean whichever baby, if any, I would bring back.
So on April 30, 2006, my dad and I drove down to the city where these Senegals were (which was like 1.5 hours away...).
There were two babies left, both 1 month old, and both didn't look to be in great shape. They both had issues with their legs, Shade being the one who looked better off. The breeder explained that he got these from another breeder and I'm guessing he was trying to "unload" them early because of their problems. Shade showed the most interest towards me, wiggled her way up to me. Being a total sucker I couldn't leave her behind so I told my dad we should bring her back. The breeder then offered to throw in the other baby "for free" - and my dad said we were going to bring him too. I think he was afraid of what might happen to him had he stayed behind.
In any case, the "inexpensive" and "free" birds ended up costing a small fortune in vet fees - Shade having had a broken leg that was healing improperly and her brother (who still resides with my mother) had two badly splayed and, at the time, infected, legs (a cut that went untreated).
However, 7 years later, both of them are pretty happy birds, despite their rough start in life.
As babies at the breeder -
only Shade
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
Shade (pink) and her brother (Nemo - purple)
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
Shade (above) and Nemo (below)
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
Recent pictures -
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
After I got Piper (Lovebird), I inevitably thinking about a second parrot so I started researching high and wide about what should be the next species I get. I wasn't in a hurry, although I think that pretty early on I figured that a Poicephalus would be a good fit for me. At the time, I was in doing my last Undergrad year, so I figured I would get my new parrot once I was done (which meant more or less a year after I got Piper).
My mother knew of my research (she's also into parrots and, by that time, had two Lovebirds and two AG of her own). She knew I hadn't decided on any specific Poicephalus; I figured I'd see what was available within the smaller Pois when I was ready to bring one home.
It turns out that towards April my mother started looking at ads for Pois all on her own. April was technically the last month of school and my birthday also happens to be towards the end of the month. So, as the month ended, my mother surprised me, saying her and my dad were going to get me a parrot for my graduation/birthday present and that she found a breeder with baby Senegals for sale. These babies were being sold unweaned, however, she had her breeder friend at the time (the breeder I got Piper from) agree to wean whichever baby, if any, I would bring back.
So on April 30, 2006, my dad and I drove down to the city where these Senegals were (which was like 1.5 hours away...).
There were two babies left, both 1 month old, and both didn't look to be in great shape. They both had issues with their legs, Shade being the one who looked better off. The breeder explained that he got these from another breeder and I'm guessing he was trying to "unload" them early because of their problems. Shade showed the most interest towards me, wiggled her way up to me. Being a total sucker I couldn't leave her behind so I told my dad we should bring her back. The breeder then offered to throw in the other baby "for free" - and my dad said we were going to bring him too. I think he was afraid of what might happen to him had he stayed behind.
In any case, the "inexpensive" and "free" birds ended up costing a small fortune in vet fees - Shade having had a broken leg that was healing improperly and her brother (who still resides with my mother) had two badly splayed and, at the time, infected, legs (a cut that went untreated).
However, 7 years later, both of them are pretty happy birds, despite their rough start in life.
As babies at the breeder -
only Shade
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
Shade (pink) and her brother (Nemo - purple)
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
Shade (above) and Nemo (below)
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
Recent pictures -
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]
[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]