Getting ready for a new baby Blue and Gold

[BrianTN]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes. My wife and I have decided to raise a baby Blue and Gold. Looks like it will be somewhere from 4-6 weeks until they are ready for us to meet and pick one out (or have one pick us out). I have read around on cage sizes etc on this forum but have not quite found the info I am looking for. Since we are always home and can supervise our new friend, we are thinking that the majority of its day will be outside of the cage. I will be building a large perch/ playground for it to spend its days on. The cage will be mainly for bedtime and behavior and training. The playground will be in my home office. We plan on well socializing the bird. We also want to be careful of spoiling it to the point that if we walk out of the room it doesn't go nuts. We are looking for cage suggestions and also, we are wanting to know what you guys think about strict routine vs. changing it up a lot from day to day. Is it a good idea to let it out the majority of the day? Is this counter productive? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Birdman666]

Easy answer: There should be a structured daily routine.

BUT that routine should not be so rigid that anything out of the ordinary freaks the bird out.

My macs have ALL been out and about trained, even the foster birds. I get them outside every nice day, and try to get them out and about at least once a week.

 

[BrianTN]

Easy answer: There should be a structured daily routine.

BUT that routine should not be so rigid that anything out of the ordinary freaks the bird out.

My macs have ALL been out and about trained, even the foster birds. I get them outside every nice day, and try to get them out and about at least once a week.

That makes sense. So in your opinion, it is not bad to allow them out most of the day and use the cage for bedtime and if we need to be away for whatever reason? Any suggestions for bedtime cage?

 

[Birdman666]

Mine are out 24/7, so I'm the wrong person to ask. The only time they get locked up is when I'm cleaning. And that's as much to keep them out of my cleaning supplies, and prevent them from being "ever so helpful" when I'm cleaning up the mess. The rest of the time my cage doors are opened. BUT MINE ARE TRAINED TO STAY IN THEIR BIRD ROOM, AND DON'T GO WANDERING AROUND THE HOUSE DESTROYING THINGS.

I prefer dometops or scalloped top cages for large macaws B&G and above. It helps with their tails getting in the way. My greenwing is in a kings double macaw cage, which is similar to the Kings 506 only wider...

The King's 506 is nice... or something similar to it. Joe just got a good deal on a cage as well. I forget where, but he's got it posted.

 

[BrianTN]

Thanks a bunch for your input. I will try and find Joe's post.

 

[Birdman666]

Here's a link:

http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/45800-your-experiences-best-worst-cage-s-macaws.html

 

[BrianTN]

Thanks again Birdman!

 

[BrianTN]

Change of plans. We are now in talks with someone that has a well cared for 23 year old Blue and Gold that needs re-homing. We are very excited and will keep this thread updated on how things develop.