| New Blue and Gold - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| Phil Harris |
Hello...
I have had some experiance keeping smaller parrots (Senegals, Quakers
and Nandays). A freind of a friend knew this and needed to get rid of
a Blue and Gold macaw to a good home. She gave me the bird, a 6ft x
4ft x3ft cage and a huge tree type perch. The bird is beautiful and
the cage is fairly new. Hte bird was her husbands and he left her, so
the bird had basically been left in it's cage for the last few months
with the only attention being food and water changes.
The bird has a pretty good attitude (if you can get her off her cage).
She will eat out of my hand (loves all kinds of nuts, and peanut
butter and crackers). Once off her cage I can carry her anywhere, but
I can't pet her. Getting her off of her cage is a fight. As soon as
we open the cage door she will come out and go to the top of the cage,
putting her well over my head, then attempt to bite me if I try to put
my arm out for her to get on. We usually throw a sheet over the top
of the cage before we let her out, then we lift the sheet down with
her on it (carefully, we don't ball her up in it, just stretch it
tight and sit it on the floor).
On the way home with her we stopped by a bird store where they checked
her over and clipped her wings and toenails. They said she was a
great bird.
She is two years old and eats pellets (with a little seed mixed in).
Now, after that long intro...I am looking for advice. I feel pretty
comfortable on the care, feeding and cautions. What I need help with
is big bird peculiarities. Also, advice on making her friendlier (and
not losing any fingers). My biggest fear is that I will do something
wrong and ruin what could be great bird.
One final question. When I sit her on the floor or the back of the
chair she "dances"..Waves her head around and that kind of thing. Any
idea what this means? I am afraid it may be a trick the husband
taught her and she is expecting a special treat (I would hate to
disappoint her). On the other hand it could be bird talk for "I'm
goona mess you up" which I would not want to reward. Any thoughts?
PS: If binaries are ok in this group I can post pics...She is
beautiful..
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| jwallace |
"Phil Harris" wrote in message >
> A freind of a friend knew this and needed to get rid of
> a Blue and Gold macaw to a good home. She gave me the bird
Congrats - Macaws are great. My Minty is a nine year old female.
We've had her for eight years.
> The bird has a pretty good attitude (if you can get her off her cage).
Give her time to adjust to the new surroundings and you.
> On the way home with her we stopped by a bird store where they checked
> her over and clipped her wings and toenails. They said she was a
> great bird.
Try and find a good bird vet. Have her microchipped. Also on occasion some
macaws will need a beak trim. Even though they will reduce a pile of 2x4
play toys to toothpicks in short order those beaks just keep on growing.
> She is two years old and eats pellets (with a little seed mixed in).
Try lots of fruits and veggies. Minty also eats practially everything we
do - pizza, pasta, she starts each morning with a blueberry Eggo.
> What I need help with is big bird peculiarities.
They're like two year olds (for the next eighty years). They pout and throw
tantrums.
And are loving and cuddly. They blush too.
> Also, advice on making her friendlier (and not losing any fingers).
She will bite. Do your best not to suprise or startle her. Please don't
use a spray bottle and spray her when she nips or misbehaves. Minty came to
us affraid of being misted and it's a shame since most birds really love it.
Socialization is best. After she adjusts to you gradually introduce her to
others. Be sure to warn them of the risk of losing fingers.
> One final question. When I sit her on the floor or the back of the
> chair she "dances"..Waves her head around and that kind of thing. Any
> idea what this means?
When on my shoulder or any furniture Minty will "dance" around to worn me
that she has to poop.
They also dance when the want to get somewhere, like from the floor to you
or from you back to the cage, or when they are playing and want you to play
too.
Hope this helped. Jim
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| Alex Clayton |
"Phil Harris" <birds@pncharris.com> wrote in message
news:7qppgv4s1d6s5vio502guif2h1ei75mn6h@4ax.com...
> Hello...
>
> I have had some experiance keeping smaller parrots (Senegals, Quakers
> and Nandays). A freind of a friend knew this and needed to get rid of
> a Blue and Gold macaw to a good home. She gave me the bird, a 6ft x
> 4ft x3ft cage and a huge tree type perch. The bird is beautiful and
> the cage is fairly new. Hte bird was her husbands and he left her, so
> the bird had basically been left in it's cage for the last few months
> with the only attention being food and water changes.
>
> The bird has a pretty good attitude (if you can get her off her cage).
> She will eat out of my hand (loves all kinds of nuts, and peanut
> butter and crackers). Once off her cage I can carry her anywhere, but
> I can't pet her. Getting her off of her cage is a fight. As soon as
> we open the cage door she will come out and go to the top of the cage,
> putting her well over my head, then attempt to bite me if I try to put
> my arm out for her to get on. We usually throw a sheet over the top
> of the cage before we let her out, then we lift the sheet down with
> her on it (carefully, we don't ball her up in it, just stretch it
> tight and sit it on the floor).
>
> On the way home with her we stopped by a bird store where they checked
> her over and clipped her wings and toenails. They said she was a
> great bird.
>
> She is two years old and eats pellets (with a little seed mixed in).
>
> Now, after that long intro...I am looking for advice. I feel pretty
> comfortable on the care, feeding and cautions. What I need help with
> is big bird peculiarities. Also, advice on making her friendlier (and
> not losing any fingers). My biggest fear is that I will do something
> wrong and ruin what could be great bird.
>
> One final question. When I sit her on the floor or the back of the
> chair she "dances"..Waves her head around and that kind of thing. Any
> idea what this means? I am afraid it may be a trick the husband
> taught her and she is expecting a special treat (I would hate to
> disappoint her). On the other hand it could be bird talk for "I'm
> goona mess you up" which I would not want to reward. Any thoughts?
>
> PS: If binaries are ok in this group I can post pics...She is
> beautiful..
>
The bigger birds are still birds. If you can take care of smaller ones, you
can take care of the new bird. It's normal for there to be some adjustment
time. Just keep working well with the bird. Our Macaw will dance and show
off all the time. Especially if he has an audience, it's just means they are
excited.
This is a text only group, if you want to share pictures you can set up an
account on Yahoo and do so for free. Would love to see some pictures. Have
been adding a couple new ones to mine will post it again soon.
If there are any questions, feel free to ask away. It sounds like your
well on the way already, the bird just needs to get used to a new home, and
new people.
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| April1201 |
Subject: New Blue and Gold
From: Phil Harris birds@pncharris.com
Date: 07/09/2003 9:37 PM Pacific
Getting her off of her cage is a fight. As soon as
we open the cage door she will come out and go to the top of the cage,
putting her well over my head, then attempt to bite me if I try to put
my arm out for her to get on. We usually throw a sheet over the top
of the cage before we let her out, then we lift the sheet down with
her on it (carefully, we don't ball her up in it, just stretch it
tight and sit it on the floor).
On the way home with her we stopped by a bird store where they checked
her over and clipped her wings and toenails. They said she was a
great bird.
-----------------------------------------------
Our bird cage is over my head also. When I tried to get our macaw when he
didn't want me to he'd simply step out of my reach. -Very irritating. I got a
three step ladder that folds up.
Now I can just stand on the floor and he knows he's not going to win, so he
comes over and steps up.
Bird store people are along way from being vets.
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