Sunnybirb
New member
- Dec 24, 2017
- 76
- 1
- Parrots
- Sunny the blue and gold macaw.
I love animals more than anything, but I didn't know I was going to become such a crazy bird person! I've had smaller birds in the past, like budgies and doves, and while we spent time together, they always had companions of the same species to hang out with, so I was more along for the ride than anything. With Sunny, it's like having another person to hang out with. She doesn't have another macaw to be with, so we've become really close very quickly and spend most of the day together. I feel like there's just something special about her. I felt it when we first met and she gave me that introductory chomp on my finger! She puts on a front but is secretly a big softy, and I love that about her!
I don't know how old Sunny is, or if she's even really a female. I don't know much about her past, but I think at one point someone loved her and took good care of her. I found out recently that she's had at least three homes, possibly more than that, so we're somewhere around home number four or more. I know with time and effort, I can figure out her mannerisms and behaviors, and I'll be able to help her get over some of her fears (there are many! lol).
People told me I couldn't "start off" with a large macaw, that I didn't have the experience and it wouldn't work. They told me I'd need a smaller parrot first to work up to that point. I completely disagree. I've wanted one bird my whole life (a macaw). It made no sense for me to get a smaller bird I didn't know anything about and didn't have as much of an interest in; that would be unfair to the bird, who deserves someone who wants to invest their life in them.
I knew whatever parrot I got would be forever. Is Sunny a lot to handle? Absolutely, but it doesn't bother me. I don't care that she makes messes and poops. I don't care that she can be noisy. We live in our own house, and if she wants to scream all day every day, she can do that. But I spend so much time with her that she doesn't scream, she's actually a very quiet bird (I was told she was rehomed for screaming). I know that she can bite hard, and that's fine too. She's a parrot and she's going to let me know if I've crossed a line she's not comfortable with. It's not her fault, it's mine. She told me and I didn't heed her multiple warnings or postures (it must be frustrating to be a parrot when no one gets what you're trying to convey!).
Would I say most people should start of with a macaw? Probably not. But I also wouldn't tell anyone no either. I might send them pictures of my wood furniture that she's chomped on and pictures of what a week's worth of bird mess on the floor looks like, and some recordings of her piercing scream when I don't feed her early enough (LOL!). But all of that doesn't matter to me. It's just stuff. I can buy different furniture, or install different carpet. None of that is anywhere equal to having a good friend to spend time with and interact with who appreciates every moment and will come up and give you pinch if you're staring at your phone too long, or if she wants a bite of your salad (she always wants salad, so just assume and bring extra).
View attachment 20046
I don't know how old Sunny is, or if she's even really a female. I don't know much about her past, but I think at one point someone loved her and took good care of her. I found out recently that she's had at least three homes, possibly more than that, so we're somewhere around home number four or more. I know with time and effort, I can figure out her mannerisms and behaviors, and I'll be able to help her get over some of her fears (there are many! lol).
People told me I couldn't "start off" with a large macaw, that I didn't have the experience and it wouldn't work. They told me I'd need a smaller parrot first to work up to that point. I completely disagree. I've wanted one bird my whole life (a macaw). It made no sense for me to get a smaller bird I didn't know anything about and didn't have as much of an interest in; that would be unfair to the bird, who deserves someone who wants to invest their life in them.
I knew whatever parrot I got would be forever. Is Sunny a lot to handle? Absolutely, but it doesn't bother me. I don't care that she makes messes and poops. I don't care that she can be noisy. We live in our own house, and if she wants to scream all day every day, she can do that. But I spend so much time with her that she doesn't scream, she's actually a very quiet bird (I was told she was rehomed for screaming). I know that she can bite hard, and that's fine too. She's a parrot and she's going to let me know if I've crossed a line she's not comfortable with. It's not her fault, it's mine. She told me and I didn't heed her multiple warnings or postures (it must be frustrating to be a parrot when no one gets what you're trying to convey!).
Would I say most people should start of with a macaw? Probably not. But I also wouldn't tell anyone no either. I might send them pictures of my wood furniture that she's chomped on and pictures of what a week's worth of bird mess on the floor looks like, and some recordings of her piercing scream when I don't feed her early enough (LOL!). But all of that doesn't matter to me. It's just stuff. I can buy different furniture, or install different carpet. None of that is anywhere equal to having a good friend to spend time with and interact with who appreciates every moment and will come up and give you pinch if you're staring at your phone too long, or if she wants a bite of your salad (she always wants salad, so just assume and bring extra).
View attachment 20046
Last edited:
She ended up passing away a few years back, so I'm most certainly NOT going there. I'm probably going to have to find something a few hours away unfortunately, and the weather here is dreadful right now. For the time being, I've been giving her hardboiled eggs and a perch made from shells. She eats her dropped feathers at times and she's currently molting, so I had someone recommend I get her some calcium via the perch. I'll definitely be taking her as soon as I find someone suitable. There's another avian vet that might work, but he only works one day a week, so it's hard to get in to see him. If he doesn't call me back, I'll look outside the nearer cities (I'm out in the sticks). 
