A Big Step Up

[OutlawedSpirit]

I may be biting off quite a bit, but I may be getting a big Mac. I was at a family gathering yesterday taking to one if my cousins. She said my aunt, who is sort of the black sheep of the family so I haven't talked to get in years, is looking to get rid of hers. My cousin said it's a scarlet, but without seeing it, I'm not sure if it could be a green wing too, she just said it was a red one.

She said he hasn't been handled much in the past few years because our aunt's arthritis has gotten so bad it's hard for her to do anything with him. I'm not completely sure that I'll be getting him, but it's a big possibility at this point.

I'm pretty excited about the prospect. Although ekkies will probably always be my favorite, I think that the macs are just so fun. Like feathered puppies. If I can get him tamed back down and socialized really well, it may be the bridge to getting my wife to really like birds.

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[plumsmum2005]

Will await your next post/update with excitement.

Please don't pin too many hopes on your wife becoming a bird lover as we all are here. If you don't fly too high, you don't have so far to fall eh? If it does happen that's great.

 

[CDavis]

That is awesome I'm sure it will be a very different challenge than your other rescue but just as rewarding thanks for giving a Big Mac a awesome home. O yea this could just be the macaws I've handled but in my experience every time I have Been bitten the bird brings it head back just a little bit(kinda like an axe coming down on your arm) and that was all the body language signals I got I'm not sure how much macaw experience you have but that's just been my experience.

You know that you are absolutely going to have to post some pictures right?

 

[Anansi]

Considering how great you've been with your fosters and the rest of your flock, I think you'll do great with a mac. Besides... a mac does seem the next logical step. You've been trending bigger and bigger. After Tiki, you'd probably need to go big mac (or large 'too) to continue along your current track. Lol!

 

[wrench13]

Good Luck!

 

[ToMang07]

In for pics....

 

[SailBoat]

That is awesome I'm sure it will be a very different challenge than your other rescue but just as rewarding thanks for giving a Big Mac a awesome home. O yea this could just be the macaws I've handled but in my experience every time I have Been bitten the bird brings it head back just a little bit(kinda like an axe coming down on your arm) and that was all the body language signals I got I'm not sure how much macaw experience you have but that's just been my experience.

You know that you are absolutely going to have to post some pictures right?

Full agree!

And, oh by the way, now you have a reason to Read all 10,000+ Threads and Posts by BirdMan666 regarding MAC's that you have been avoiding. Read now, so you are prepared! After all, I'm sure your Parrots love to be read too, right!

 

[Flboy]

Considering how great you've been with your fosters and the rest of your flock, I think you'll do great with a mac. ....

I was just about to say the same thing!
Actually< I think it would be the Mac getting the best part of the deal!

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

Well, I finally heard back from my aunt. I am going to take Remy! I might be able to go pick her up tomorrow, but not entirely sure. Once she gets home, I will definitely have pictures, how could I not?

I'm pretty excited. I really am going into this blind, but I'm okay with that. I haven't seen her for probably 15 years, the last time I went over with my mom. I don't remember much, just that she had a parrot, honestly. I don't know her temperament, or how tame she still is. I'm ready though.

If anyone has advice, I welcome it.

 

[AirtransCrash]

The best advice I can give and I'm sure you know it already is that you gotta be patient. You don't know what the bird's reaction will be so you gotta roll with it.

 

[SilleIN]

A good bribe of food she loves always gives the bird the idea, "hey this person is great to be close to, (s)he has the good stuff"

 

[deque]

Awesome! So happy for u

 

[Moose]

Looking forward to seeing pictures! You'll do great.

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

I finally got Tapatalk to work on my phone again. I went and saw her on Tuesday. I have realized my cousin apparently cannot identify colors. She told me that it was a scarlet, or at least a red macaw. When I got there, I found out she is actually a blue and gold.

My aunt said that since she doesn't need her gone immediately, she wants me to come over a few times and see her before I bring her home so that she at least is familiar with me before she's brought into a new house. It does make sense, but I still want to get get out of there as soon as possible.

Now, I don't necessarily fault my aunt, but the bird is in rough shape. She isn't sick or lethargic, but she's been on a horrible diet for the last 20 years consisting of a lot of sunflower seeds and peanuts, not much in the way of pellets, and other unhealthy practices. Her feathers are rough looking, but they're all intact, she's not a plucker. I think it's just a result of bad diet.

She's pretty skittish, but she hasn't really been handled lately, because my aunt's rheumatoid arthritis has gotten so bad her hands and arms can't support her anymore, which is part of the reason she is trying to rehome her. She really does want the best for her bird. She has just lacked the proper information for how to care for her for so long.

I don't see the point in making her feel bad about how she has cared for her since I am taking her anyway, so if she's been like this for 20 years another week or two isn't going to make it break her. I just hope it doesn't take too long for me to get her on a proper diet.

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[Anansi]

You're absolutely right. A week or two more shouldn't make much of a difference at all. And it'll give your aunt the chance to say goodbye.

Definitely hard to blame her for the bad diet. Seeds being the staple of every bird's diet has been a rather persistent myth, and she likely thought she was doing right by her.

But it's great that your aunt has agreed to allow her to go to you. It pleases me to know that she has such a good next chapter ahead of her. Looking forward to pics of your new girl.

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[Jerseyjeff62]

Going back and forth might heal the relationship with your aunt too. Good luck on both

 

[plumsmum2005]

I finally got Tapatalk to work on my phone again. I went and saw her on Tuesday. I have realized my cousin apparently cannot identify colors. She told me that it was a scarlet, or at least a red macaw. When I got there, I found out she is actually a blue and gold.

My aunt said that since she doesn't need her gone immediately, she wants me to come over a few times and see her before I bring her home so that she at least is familiar with me before she's brought into a new house. It does make sense, but I still want to get get out of there as soon as possible.

Now, I don't necessarily fault my aunt, but the bird is in rough shape. She isn't sick or lethargic, but she's been on a horrible diet for the last 20 years consisting of a lot of sunflower seeds and peanuts, not much in the way of pellets, and other unhealthy practices. Her feathers are rough looking, but they're all intact, she's not a plucker. I think it's just a result of bad diet.

She's pretty skittish, but she hasn't really been handled lately, because my aunt's rheumatoid arthritis has gotten so bad her hands and arms can't support her anymore, which is part of the reason she is trying to rehome her. She really does want the best for her bird. She has just lacked the proper information for how to care for her for so long.

I don't see the point in making her feel bad about how she has cared for her since I am taking her anyway, so if she's been like this for 20 years another week or two isn't going to make it break her. I just hope it doesn't take too long for me to get her on a proper diet.

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Like you a little impatient re getting going on that horrible diet. Could you suggest that you will bring her back for visits regularly to your Aunt? This would help socialise her a little in as much as she would be going to and from, two places she knows? Your Aunt will I am sure miss her very much and even if things have slipped a little they will have been company for each other for a long time. Just a suggestion that will seem a little less final to your Aunt?

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

I've already told her she's more than welcome to even come to my house and see her when she wants. She wants to come over anyway, and see my babies. I might suggest bringing her back over there on occasion to visit as well, thanks for the idea.

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[PasselOfKids]

So instead of a Scarlet your getting a B&G...That's great! Is it a boy or girl? Whats its name? Do you no how old? I'm so excited for you and hopefully it can help heal some family wounds, pets are always good therapy
Vicki

 

[GaleriaGila]

No matter what choices are made... I wish the best of luck!
I'm so glad you are part of our communty.