How did you meet your Macaw(s)?

[JerseyWendy]

Just curious as to how you all first met/encountered your Macs.

I found Niko in a pet shop in South Jersey, some 60 miles from home. It's a small, family owned store, dealing only with birds, most of which are hatched right there.

In any case, as I was doing my rounds, I came across an enclosure with 2 baby B & G Macaws and my heart melted. They were not even 2 months old and as cute as pie. I had very little money in my wallet, and begged the owner to take it all for a deposit, and she accepted.

Then the journey began. I visited Niko 3 times a week, so that we could get to know each other better. The breeder does not sell unweaned birds, so you all know I did a whole lot of driving, lol.

It was worth each and every mile.

Here are some pictures:

 

[tab_xo]

that is adorable! what a handsome man!

well!! living in Australia macaws are rare and expensive but i finally found a breeder which was 3 hours drive away, so I went for a visit and had a tour of the amazing place, only to find out all the babies (there were about 10-15) were all girls, except 2! which were both sold but there was one egg, out of season, that was about to hatch! so a few weeks later the DNA test results were in! another girl
but then someone no longer wanted a boy!
I was so excited. and went down to visit again.. I was a bit scared incase he didn't like me..
the first time I saw him he was a bit scared of strangers but after a little while he calmed down and allowed me to pick him up and pat him.
2 visits later he was snuggling on my lap and destroying his toys on his perch quite happily
so! tomorrow morning I get to bring Fargo home after a 3 month wait! can't wait

 

[JerseyWendy]

What a beautiful, heartwarming story! Thank you so much for sharing. You must be besides yourself to be finally bringing Fargo home, after all this time!

How old is Fargo now? And my gosh, I thought commuting an hour each way was bad, but your trip was triple that...one way.

Please post tons of pictures when you bring your precious boy home, ok?

They grow up SO fast, get into new things every day, and boy oh boy are they smart.

My Niko will be 3 next month, don't ask where time has gone. Seems like yesterday when we first laid eyes on each other.

 

[sonja]

Mine are rescues I adopted as adults. 2 are from someone who was moving to a new house and didn't want the parrots to dirty it up, one from someone who didn't have time, and one from a home where the owner had died. All are great birds!

 

[tab_xo]

haha yes can't wait to fill his cage. it's been sitting there with toys for a month now just waiting
he is 7 months old yes it's very far! and I will be posting many pictures
awww! is niko cheeky or more laid back personality? and where did you get his name from?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Thank you for sharing your story, Sonja. Hats off to you for rescuing your 2 macs. Had I not been a bit afraid of their massive beak, I would have definitely considered adoption as well.

tab, Niko is most definitely going through a very cheeky phase right now. We call it the terrible twos. I seriously hope there won't be "horrible" threes. He's testing me with anything and everything, quite challenging at times. But THEN he can be THE biggest snuggle bunny you could ever imagine. He's very very active, from morning til night, banging around his toys, chewing through wood like a sawmill, throwing his nuts all over the place, and talking up a storm.

As for his name: My husband's origin is the Ukraine, and the Ukrainian flag is blue & gold (yellow), so I wanted a name that somewhat sounded Ukrainian. Alas Niko(lai).

 

[plax]

Great stories! Baby Macaws are so heart-meltingly cute!! But like sonja, my 4 were each acquired as adults in what I consider to be rescue situations.

Jack and Maynard were wild caught Macaws who were up for sale. Jack was in a pet store in a shopping mall in 1981. He was a large B&G in a very small cage (about 24"h x 18'w x 18"d). Although I was only 24 at the time, I decided I needed to get him out of there and into an adequate cage.

The following year, I stumbled onto Maynard behind a glass wall display structure in a feed store where I was buying some food for Jack. Maynard screamed and screamed and screamed at anyone who came near him. He was clearly terrified to be there. I just had to get him out of that place as well. I brought him home in the back of a pickup truck - he screamed the entire way!

Zaf's former owner, a veterinarian, passed away. Zaf had been in boarding at a vet clinic for over a year. The entire staff was afraid to handle him, so he was never allowed out of his cage. He needed a loving home so desperately and I just couldn't resist providing it for him!

I've already mentioned to many of you that Salsa's mom was a dear friend of mine who passed away earlier this year. Salsa was the core of her life! It had been her wish for Salsa to go to me if anything happened to her. Sadly, she had chronic health issues (including a blood clotting disorder), so she knew her time may be limited - it must have been so devastating for her to realize this fact I promised her that if it ever became necessary I would certainly take in Salsa, give him limitless love and care for him well, and keep him as a dear family member for the remainder of my life. I was so hoping I would never be called upon to fulfill that promise because Salsa's mom, Terrie, was the best bird mom any Macaws could ever hope for and she loved him so immensely... I miss her so very much

Those are my stories and here are a couple of photos of Salsa as he arrived at the cargo terminal:

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh Plax, your story brought tears to my eyes. I'm so very sorry for the loss of your good friend. I just know she's smiling down on you, and thanking you each and every day for taking such good care of Salsa. She couldn't have possibly found a better home.

And WOW as for your other 3 Macs. 2 wild caught ones? Are they handable? I did chuckle when you described Maynard screaming the entire ride home in the back of your pickup. How quickly did they settle in? And do the WC Jack and Maynard get along with Zaf and Salsa?

I remember the first time I held a Hyacynth I nearly fainted with awe. THE cadillacs of all birds. All the ones I've encountered had terrific personalities. One day....one day...when I win the lottery

 

[plax]

Oh Plax, your story brought tears to my eyes. I'm so very sorry for the loss of your good friend. I just know she's smiling down on you, and thanking you each and every day for taking such good care of Salsa. She couldn't have possibly found a better home.

Thank you. It brings tears to mine every time I think about her. She was such a sweetheart and had so much to deal with in life I'll miss her forever!!! I can clearly hear her voice in some of the words and phrases Salsa says. That brings tears to my eyes as well

And WOW as for your other 3 Macs. 2 wild caught ones? Are they handable?

Oh yeah... I handle them every day. In fact, Jack is a HUGE shoulder bird! He's my very first Macaw so he's pretty special to me

I did chuckle when you described Maynard screaming the entire ride home in the back of your pickup. How quickly did they settle in?

Well, it was quite long ago but as I remember Jack settled in almost right away. But I think Maynard took a few weeks to begin feeling at home.

And do the WC Jack and Maynard get along with Zaf and Salsa?

Maynard really likes Salsa, whereas Jack doesn't care for him much. Salsa likes both of them. Zaf isn't crazy about either of them, nor are they about him.

I remember the first time I held a Hyacynth I nearly fainted with awe. THE cadillacs of all birds. All the ones I've encountered had terrific personalities. One day....one day...when I win the lottery

They're indeed pretty awesome birds

 

[Conuregirl]

really great stories! the rescue situations are amazing!

 

[JJones1719]

Great stories,
I purchased my Neleno from my Breeder in the State of VA. I live in MD approx 6 hours away.
I first purchased my Male Eclectus Guapo and had him for just about a year when I met a Green Wing Macaw who was from a rescue here in MD and one of the Members in my Bird Club brought him in, told his horror story and how this member saved him. Although this GW had a terrible upbringing, he remained a real sweetheart and would go to everyone who wanted to hold him.
After meeting this GW I too wanted one. There were no GW at the rescue so i called my Breeder in VA as she too sells GW. My GW hatched on April fools day and that weekend started a journey for both me and my GW Neleno. I drove to VA that weekend to meet Neleno and his sister. There were only two eggs layed in this clutch.
I was shocked to see the difference in size of these two macaws, Neleno appeared to be weeks older then his sister and 2x the size. He had the largest feet I have ever seen on a macaw and his head as well was so big, he could not hold it up.
I learned how to feed him, handle him from week to week. My breeder sent me pictures everyday while he grew very fast. Every weekend he appeared to be a different bird.
Approx 6 months into this relationship I make the choice and selected the male GW over his sister, he had more personality and was so clumbsy, I could not resist.
Around 6 months old, I could tell that our relationship moved to a different level, when i entered my Breeders home, he was in the baby playpen and did everything he could to get to me, even trying to climb up the net on the side of the playpen. Both myself and the breeder were shocked to see this.
At 9 months old he was fully weaned and I was able to bring him home.
the first week was amazing, he was eating well, playing with me, stepping up and then all of the sudden, he stopped eating.
I took him to my Aviary vet and she explained that Neleno had regressed and needed to be hand fed.
I knew how to do this and everything I tried would not work, I had to take him 2 times per day to be tube fed and after $800.00 that week, I called my breeder to bring him back to her so she could wean him again, I made the long trip and after 2 more additional weeks, he was ready to come home again.
neleno is now 5 years old and we have an amazing relationship. Most bird owners see us and cannot believe the amount of love my GW shows me and our bond is very strong. I would not trade my boys for the world. best of luck to you with your new baby, you're about to embark on an amazing journey. Joe

 

[JerseyWendy]

What a great story, Joe! Thanks for sharing. Neleno looks absolutely ENORMOUS in your picture. You did quite some driving with him/for him when he was a baby. I'll never complain again about driving 1 hour each way to see Niko grow up, because it's beginning to seem like peanuts compared to what others traveled for their fids.

 

[JJones1719]

Thank you Jersey, On my profile picture, he was only 10 months old or so, I have to update my photo with him.
The important part is that you were there for your baby when they needed you most. Your B&G is very lucky to have you and what amazing colors he has. Enjoy. All my best to you Joe