Blancaej
New member
- Apr 5, 2013
- 2,329
- 5
- Parrots
- CAG Quincy - BD 3/27/00. Gotcha 6/00 ~ GW Macaw Savannah - BD 6/21/93. Gotcha 4/13 ~ B&G Macaw Coqui - BD 9/3/03. Gotcha 10/13 ~ Blue Crown Conure Sidney - BD Unknown Approx 5 Years Old. Gotcha 6/15/
Thinking About Adopting a 19 Year Old Green Wing Macaw. Please read!!
I currently own an African grey parrot. I have had him for 13 years. He tends to be a bitter but I've managed to deal with it for all these years and have learned ways to avoid being bitten. But all in all we've had a good relationship. Unfortunately no one else handles him but me.
With that being said, I have an opportunity to adopt a green wing macaw. This bird is 19 years old. He has had the same owner all his life. She is getting older and just doesn't have time to spend with him anymore. She has never gotten him out of his cage on her hand, except on a stick and once he is out he will get on her arm. She says she has never been bitten but no one else can hold him. She says he likes to spend time in his cage and prefers to do that then come out. It sounds like she hasn't been spending much time with him for a long time. How many years I don't quite know.
Obviously I have concerns here. The fact that he seems cage bound is a big concern. Is it possible for a 19 year old bird to learn new behaviors and bond with someone else at this point.
My plan of action if I do adopt him, is to give him time to adjust to his surroundings. Talk to him, give him treats and spend time in the room with him. Let him get used to our family. Take it one day at a time and gradually move forward to having him trust me and step up for me.
I do know there will be some major challenges I have to face. I would like to get him to the vet to be checked out and clipped. So that will be an undertaking in itself. Plus, just dealing with the emotions the bird will have coming to a new home.
Does anyone have any advice? Do's, Dont's or recommendations? I just want to know if it is possible for us to have a normal friendship with this bird and that 19 years of "I don't know what" will cause him to be set in his ways. It sounds like the woman took good care of him. It's just the fear of the unknown that makes me wonder if this will be worth the effort. I know that nothing important in life comes easy. If I commit to this bird, I want to do the best I can to give him a loving and caring home.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I currently own an African grey parrot. I have had him for 13 years. He tends to be a bitter but I've managed to deal with it for all these years and have learned ways to avoid being bitten. But all in all we've had a good relationship. Unfortunately no one else handles him but me.
With that being said, I have an opportunity to adopt a green wing macaw. This bird is 19 years old. He has had the same owner all his life. She is getting older and just doesn't have time to spend with him anymore. She has never gotten him out of his cage on her hand, except on a stick and once he is out he will get on her arm. She says she has never been bitten but no one else can hold him. She says he likes to spend time in his cage and prefers to do that then come out. It sounds like she hasn't been spending much time with him for a long time. How many years I don't quite know.
Obviously I have concerns here. The fact that he seems cage bound is a big concern. Is it possible for a 19 year old bird to learn new behaviors and bond with someone else at this point.
My plan of action if I do adopt him, is to give him time to adjust to his surroundings. Talk to him, give him treats and spend time in the room with him. Let him get used to our family. Take it one day at a time and gradually move forward to having him trust me and step up for me.
I do know there will be some major challenges I have to face. I would like to get him to the vet to be checked out and clipped. So that will be an undertaking in itself. Plus, just dealing with the emotions the bird will have coming to a new home.
Does anyone have any advice? Do's, Dont's or recommendations? I just want to know if it is possible for us to have a normal friendship with this bird and that 19 years of "I don't know what" will cause him to be set in his ways. It sounds like the woman took good care of him. It's just the fear of the unknown that makes me wonder if this will be worth the effort. I know that nothing important in life comes easy. If I commit to this bird, I want to do the best I can to give him a loving and caring home.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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