Adopting a Blue and Gold

[melinda]

Hi new here. I have a 5 year old U2 and 3 year old sun conure. Both are well adjusted birds that can enjoy playing with toys and not need me under them all day. I am going to rescue a B&G on friday. I was told he was 6 years old. but when i went to meet him he has a open band on so i am not sure about that. He has not been touched in a year but will take seeds out of my hand. He was pining his eyes alot when i was feeding him. When i run out of food he stayed on top of his cage near me. I was talking to him and he stopped pining his eyes and kinda started "talking" back to me. His owner said thats the first time he has saw him do that to someone he just met. I am hopeing that is a good sign . I have never thought about getting a macaw until this one came up and i know he needs a loving home that will make sure he does have a perch in his cage ( he don't right now) and toys to chew. But i am worrying about starting the relationship off on the wrong foot. I would like to know any suggestions that you may have. Do you think he will ever let me touch him? Thank you.

 

[oled]

Yes I think you will be able to "touch him" byt I will take a lot of time and training. I an sure he really would like to bond and have a companion.

 

[Mayden]

Sounds like a little scared sweetpea. I'm sure he'll be a great bird if you give him enough time - it's already a good sign that he trusts to take food from yor hand.

 

[little1al]

I also adopted a b&g Macaw (George). He is my first ever Parrot and he will be 9 at the end of this month. I have had him for 3 months now.

George was handled by his old owners but not regularly and he was kept in an avery in the garden so no-one even really went out to see him. George was very cautious at first, i think it is just their nature (he seems to be scared of most things!). But he is coming along nicely now. When I have him out of the cage he lets me handle him and will put his feet on my hand one at a time. He lets me preen his feathers for him and touch most parts of his body (he is not keen on having his tail touched but is getting better)

The only thing with George is that he still won't step up. Its not that he doesn't want to I don't think its just that he feels really unsteady when on my arm or a perch thats not actually attached to anything. He tries to but wobbles a bit so climbs back on his cage. I am not bothered about this though because he will walk along the back of the sofa and things to come and see me and he will step up if he needs to because he has flown somewhere and wants to get back to his cage.

Your new parrot will come along. George is really quite affectionate so I'm sure urs will be as well which will mean it will want handling.

One thing with toys etc though. George is always scared of things at first. He likes to see them by his cage for a while and watch me play with them before I can put them in his cage. I generally hold it outside of his cage & let him chew it through the bars before i open the door and put it in because he is much more likely to go to it then when it is in his cage. I don't know if this is just George being extra cautious or if all Macaws are like it so I just thought it was worth a mention.

I think mine & George's relationship has developed well and I think this is purely becuase he gets a lot more attention and loving than he ever got before & he gets a variety of food he likes. Georges favourites are peanut butter, walnuts, scrambled eggs & any kind of bread (he normally has some of my toast for breakfast). He also likes dried banana chips.

Once your parrot realises that you are going to look after him better than he has been and give him attention and nice food then the relationship won't get off to a bad start.

 

[melinda]

I didn't get the B&G the guy sold him to a young man that has never owned a bird before. I am just going to hope and pray that he does not get mistreated. I told the man that sold him to give my number to the new owner so if he needed help or could not handle the bird he could get in touch with me. Thank you all very much for the great info. At least i did learn alot about macaws and what they need this week.

 

[Mayden]

Thats such a shame. I really hope that guy has a passion for birds, even if he has not owned one. I wish him luck with the b&g since I imagine he's going to be tough work. Sorry you didn't get him