First Time Macaw Dad

[JayInTheJungle]

Hello Everyone, an orphaned Red and Green Macaw recently came into my care unexpectedly. I have worked with many animals over the years both personally and professionally. I have worked with birds but I'll admit they are my less experienced area of animal care and this is my first time with a Macaw. I've had a lot of special bonds with animals over the years but I'm a little shocked at how quickly and deeply I'm hooked on this baby bird. I could use all the tips I can get but I'll post questions in more appropriate threads. Still don't have a name for her since I need just the right name for this bird that will likely be a part of my life for a long time, possibly the rest of my life.
A little more about me, I live and work in South America practicing and teaching sustainable agriculture and conservation. As I get known as the local animal guy I've had an increasing number of rescues coming my way, including this Macaw.

 

[Terry57]

Welcome to the forum to you and your adorable new baby!
We do have members with Macaw experience when you start asking questions, and the Macaw forum has a lot of info.
Is the baby weaned yet?

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed. As Terry recommended, we have a lot of info about Macaws, written by birdman666 our resident macaw guru. I suggest you search on here for any and all osts by him. Also, on the Amazon forum there is a thread at the top "I Love Amazons" which has tons of GREAT info that is applicable to all parrots.

Also, this thread is very useful if you have an unweaned baby..

So you bought an unweaned baby...

Today I spent several hours trying to help someone save a baby bird they had purchased unweaned. The baby died; they are usually almost dead by the time the new owner realizes something is wrong, not because the owner doesn't care but because they are not educated about what to look for or...

www.parrotforums.com

 

[JayInTheJungle]

Thank you! No she isn't weaned yet. I'm still hand feeding her and she doesn't seem to have much interest in weaning yet. Had a slow start eating well because the people I got her from were keeping her alive on bread and milk. Now she is eating well. Not really sure on her age.

Welcome to the forum to you and your adorable new baby!
We do have members with Macaw experience when you start asking questions, and the Macaw forum has a lot of info.
Is the baby weaned yet?

 

[Terry57]

Thank you! No she isn't weaned yet. I'm still hand feeding her and she doesn't seem to have much interest in weaning yet. Had a slow start eating well because the people I got her from were keeping her alive on bread and milk. Now she is eating well. Not really sure on her age.

I'm so glad you are getting some nutrients into her, and that she is now in your care.
It is recommended that they are fed as long as they want it, even once they start eating solid food. This is probably even more important given what she was being fed in the other home.

 

[JayInTheJungle]

Welcome and be welcomed. As Terry recommended, we have a lot of info about Macaws, written by birdman666 our resident macaw guru. I suggest you search on here for any and all osts by him. Also, on the Amazon forum there is a thread at the top "I Love Amazons" which has tons of GREAT info that is applicable to all parrots.

Also, this thread is very useful if you have an unweaned baby..

So you bought an unweaned baby...

Today I spent several hours trying to help someone save a baby bird they had purchased unweaned. The baby died; they are usually almost dead by the time the new owner realizes something is wrong, not because the owner doesn't care but because they are not educated about what to look for or...

www.parrotforums.com

Thank you, I'll take a look at his posts

 

[wrench13]

Main things to keep in mind with hand feeding babbies - temperature, checked with a candy type thermometer and frequency. Macaws can take 6 months or more to fully wean. Let her decide when she is ready - called abundance weaning. GOod lucky , she is beautiful!

 

[JayInTheJungle]

Main things to keep in mind with hand feeding babbies - temperature, checked with a candy type thermometer and frequency. Macaws can take 6 months or more to fully wean. Let her decide when she is ready - called abundance weaning. GOod lucky , she is beautiful!

Thanks! Yeah I've been monitoring food temp with a meat thermometer. Question, she's been asking for food again with her crop still pretty full from previous feeding today. This is first she's done this. Do you go with demand feeding or wait until their crop empties more/closer to 4 hours from previous feeding?

 

[Laurasea]

Welcome to you! Glad you joined!

Thank you for taking on this baby! Milk......oh so scary! Its hard to tell in the picture, but it kinda worries me that the skin looks yellow tinged , which if is true, would indicate liver inflammation.

I'm linking some helpful articles
https://hari.ca/hari/research-facil...cine-pediatrics-housing-feeding-baby-parrots/

Page 7 in my ornithology thread I have several links
Post in thread 'Ornithology: Share and discuss scientific articles on parrots!' EllenD gave some detailed information for a different species baby, but some of it will still be helpful to you
https://www.parrotforums.com/thread...entific-articles-on-parrots.82369/post-846194

Baby Parrot Development Stages

The developmental stages among birds are as diverse as the size, color and personality of each bird species.

be.chewy.com

I'm not sure the correct answer on crop and next feed. How you mix the formula is important , to wet and the liquid is replacing the calories and you will see more urine less fecal matter in poop. To dry and risk dehydration and crop impaction.
When I had to feed formula for a sick adult birds, I would weigh before feeding and after each feeding. And watched poops

 

[JayInTheJungle]

Welcome to you! Glad you joined!

Thank you for taking on this baby! Milk......oh so scary! Its hard to tell in the picture, but it kinda worries me that the skin looks yellow tinged , which if is true, would indicate liver inflammation.

I'm linking some helpful articles
https://hari.ca/hari/research-facil...cine-pediatrics-housing-feeding-baby-parrots/

Page 7 in my ornithology thread I have several links
Post in thread 'Ornithology: Share and discuss scientific articles on parrots!' EllenD gave some detailed information for a different species baby, but some of it will still be helpful to you
https://www.parrotforums.com/thread...entific-articles-on-parrots.82369/post-846194

Baby Parrot Development Stages

The developmental stages among birds are as diverse as the size, color and personality of each bird species.

be.chewy.com

I'm not sure the correct answer on crop and next feed. How you mix the formula is important , to wet and the liquid is replacing the calories and you will see more urine less fecal matter in poop. To dry and risk dehydration and crop impaction.
When I had to feed formula for a sick adult birds, I would weigh before feeding and after each feeding. And watched poops

Thanks for the resources! Good spot on the skin! If you mean the yellow/orange tinge on the face, it gets a little colored sometimes from the feeding mix. Thanks for the water pointers too, I have noticed a variation in the urine levels now that I think about it corollate to how wet the mix was I made. On that note I think I've made some batches too wet but haven't seen any sign of making it too dry (my blender wouldn't let me make it too dry anyhow).

 

[wrench13]

I think a meat thermometer is the wrong range for formula, which I think is supposed to be like 105deg F, but double check that. its been a long time since I fed a baby.
Too cold it messes with digestion, too hot an you could burn the crop.

Like Goldilocks, it has to be juuuuussstt right.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you and yours!

 

[Scott]

Welcome, what a beauty! Hope weaning process is successful to completion!

 

[Laurasea]

I don't think this baby is even close to weaning yet...not even fully feathered. Think around 10 months? No experience mind you. Weaning is a critical time when comes, and even continue comfort feeds to a year...or for life if doesn't trigger hormonal

Stress Reduction for Companion Parrots – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co.

To put it bluntly, keeping companion parrots is similar to trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. The fact that they do as well as they do is testimony more to their adaptability than it is to our husbandry efforts.

lafeber.com

But you can start offering minced up veggies and stuff

https://yarmouthvetcenter.com/weaning-birds.pml#:~:text=Large%20macaws%20in%20the%20wild,begging%20sound%20well%20into%20adulthood.

 

[JayInTheJungle]

I think a meat thermometer is the wrong range for formula, which I think is supposed to be like 105deg F, but double check that. its been a long time since I fed a baby.
Too cold it messes with digestion, too hot an you could burn the crop.

Like Goldilocks, it has to be juuuuussstt right.

Well my meat thermometer has a range of -50C to 300C so I think I'm good!

 

[JayInTheJungle]

I don't think this baby is even close to weaning yet...not even fully feathered. Think around 10 months? No experience mind you. Weaning is a critical time when comes, and even continue comfort feeds to a year...or for life if doesn't trigger hormonal

Stress Reduction for Companion Parrots – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co.

To put it bluntly, keeping companion parrots is similar to trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. The fact that they do as well as they do is testimony more to their adaptability than it is to our husbandry efforts.

lafeber.com

But you can start offering minced up veggies and stuff

https://yarmouthvetcenter.com/weaning-birds.pml#:~:text=Large%20macaws%20in%20the%20wild,begging%20sound%20well%20into%20adulthood.

Thanks, I agree, she shows no interest in eating on her own yet. I'm mostly curious on her age and when I might expect her to start being interested. She's starting to get feathers on the rest of her body now. Hadn't thought of life long comfort feedings but that makes sense since they do feed their mates.

 

[JayInTheJungle]

Welcome to you! Glad you joined!

Thank you for taking on this baby! Milk......oh so scary! Its hard to tell in the picture, but it kinda worries me that the skin looks yellow tinged , which if is true, would indicate liver inflammation.

I'm linking some helpful articles
https://hari.ca/hari/research-facil...cine-pediatrics-housing-feeding-baby-parrots/

Page 7 in my ornithology thread I have several links
Post in thread 'Ornithology: Share and discuss scientific articles on parrots!' EllenD gave some detailed information for a different species baby, but some of it will still be helpful to you
https://www.parrotforums.com/thread...entific-articles-on-parrots.82369/post-846194

Baby Parrot Development Stages

The developmental stages among birds are as diverse as the size, color and personality of each bird species.

be.chewy.com

I'm not sure the correct answer on crop and next feed. How you mix the formula is important , to wet and the liquid is replacing the calories and you will see more urine less fecal matter in poop. To dry and risk dehydration and crop impaction.
When I had to feed formula for a sick adult birds, I would weigh before feeding and after each feeding. And watched poops

Getting the right hydration of my homemade formula is proving harder than I thought. I made the mix a bit dryer which really helped bring the urine down to a normal level but then I then the next few batches I think I made too dry and her crop seemed to empty too slow. I think I'm finally hitting a happy medium here.

 

[Baylee83]

Hello Everyone, an orphaned Red and Green Macaw recently came into my care unexpectedly. I have worked with many animals over the years both personally and professionally. I have worked with birds but I'll admit they are my less experienced area of animal care and this is my first time with a Macaw. I've had a lot of special bonds with animals over the years but I'm a little shocked at how quickly and deeply I'm hooked on this baby bird. I could use all the tips I can get but I'll post questions in more appropriate threads. Still don't have a name for her since I need just the right name for this bird that will likely be a part of my life for a long time, possibly the rest of my life.
A little more about me, I live and work in South America practicing and teaching sustainable agriculture and conservation. As I get known as the local animal guy I've had an increasing number of rescues coming my way, including this Macaw.
View attachment 36647

This one must be less than 3 months as I read they are fully fledged by 3 months old also the fact she received the wrong nutrition at first impacted the development. I had a lovebird that when I got him he was supposed to be 5 weeks old but looked 3 weeks behind and it was because they were giving him bread and milk.
Milk and bread is sooo common in South America ugh people here in SA don’t get that parrots are intolerant to lactose… Also parrots are Monkey See Monkey do lol so if she see you eating something she will want to inspect whatever you are eating.
Welcome she is cute!

 

[Laurasea]

Looking at the fist pictures, and knowing the history...this one is under weight, thin feet big head...Likely developmental delay so true age will be a little harder to figure but you just go by how he is developing. Often they can catch up.
" Stoddard (1988) monitors the health and development of young babies by the;

1. Plumpness of the toes, wings and rump.
2. Skin colour – should be a flesh-toned pink.
3. Skin texture – should be translucent and soft.
4. Anatomical symmetry – malnourished babies often have thin feet, toes, and wings as well as a disproportionately large head."

From the best baby bird article I've ever come across

One moment, please...

Any new pictures?

 

[JayInTheJungle]

Looking at the fist pictures, and knowing the history...this one is under weight, thin feet big head...Likely developmental delay so true age will be a little harder to figure but you just go by how he is developing. Often they can catch up.
" Stoddard (1988) monitors the health and development of young babies by the;

1. Plumpness of the toes, wings and rump.
2. Skin colour – should be a flesh-toned pink.
3. Skin texture – should be translucent and soft.
4. Anatomical symmetry – malnourished babies often have thin feet, toes, and wings as well as a disproportionately large head."

From the best baby bird article I've ever come across

One moment, please...

Any new pictures?

She's doing great! More curious and fun every day! Lots of wing flapping she seems eager to fledge. She started rolling over in my lap and lifting her wing up when she's really comfortable and no one else is around. Here are some updated photos.