Can a parakeet and Senegal parrot live together?

[Faraaz]

READ ALL FIRST!

I have a parakeet and I was hoping to buy a Senegal parrot. Can a Senegal parrot and a parakeet live together?? IF NOT can we buy a cage divider? Do they sell them?

Thanks
Foof

[Wolf]

If you place a Senegal in the same cage as a budgie you will have a Senegal in the cage ! A divider will not work unless you want a severely crippled budgie. I realize that putting it in this manner is a bit harsh, but I really want it to stay with you.

As a general rule I would not put two different species in the same cage and even then not until I know for a fact that they will not harm each other, and that normally means a bonded pair.

[Harpmaker]

It depends on what you mean by live together. In the same room? maybe. In the same cage? Probably not. My books say each parrot needs their own cage, unless you have a bonded pair.

Budgies will accept another budgie without much problem (and likely more than one if the cage is big enough), but Senegals are very territorial and that beak can do damage to a poor budgie, even through cage bars, faster than a person can react. Please don't try this.

Anyway, a Sennie needs a larger cage than a budgie, not half of a budgie cage.

Some bird cages (breeding and flight cages) may come with dividers. No one seems to make them for cages that aren't initially designed for them. Now you know why.

[Wolf]

Senegals are not known for getting on with others, most of the time they don't even like others of their own species and have quite the reputation for trapping other parrots, up to twice their size, in a corner of their cages, and seriously injuring or killing smaller birds.

[Pajarita]

Both Harpmaker and Wolf are 100% correct and the short answer is: No, they can't.

[Michael]

Senegal could easily kill a budgie. Cage divider wouldn't make a difference.

If you can't afford a $400 cage and over $1000 of initial expenses, doesn't matter if you can get a free Senegal, you won't be able to afford to keep it.

[Faraaz]

Thanks guys, I will invest into another cage for my Senegal parrot but one more question, what kind of cage should I buy in order to give the bird the best environment?

[Wolf]

I would suggest that you get as large of a cage as you can afford to get with bar spacing of 3/4" or 7/8" bar spacing at the most. After you get to know more about your bird you will really be glad for the larger cage size, and the bird will be happier for it from the start.

[Michael]

No no. I think 3/4 bar spacing is the upper limit and 7/8 is too big. 5/8 bar spacing is ideal. They can climb it well and it is totally safe. When you get to 3/4, it's manageable but if the bars get bent it can pose a hazard. I found this to be a really good cage for my and other Senegal Parrots.

[Wolf]

I apologise mine are 3/4" as well. I should have measured first.