Introducing Julio the Noble macaw

[noblemacaw]

Julio is finally home! To celebrate I will include pictures of him at the bird club picnic where we met the foster mom and other club members. We drove 7 hours (time tacked on for construction and traffic jams) down to Kansas to get Julio. All the club members were very nice and welcomed us with open arms. We had a good time meeting everyone but unfortunately with a 7 hour drive back home we only stayed a couple of hours.

Here is Julio enjoying the outside at the picnic

I was pleasantly surprised to see feather follicles on him. Julio is a feather shredder and not really a plucker. It is our hope to be able to help him with feather shredding behaviors. Now I must do ton of research on shredding.

Julio has pin feathers. I wanted to help preen him so bad but he is not use to being touched. I want to be able to build trust in him so that one day I can help preen his feathers.

After we arrived and Julio's foster mom brought him over to us it was sunny and beautiful out and I could see his head feathers shining and his eyes were bright. I became overwhelmed with emotion and I had to look away. When I was able to look in to Julio's eyes I saw a very happy little parrot who was well taken care of. I understand he was abused in the past with yelling and I believe things thrown at his cage but since Julio went into the rescue he was well taken care of and seems to not carry his abusive past with him. Right away I saw typical Noble macaw behavior of being friendly and laid back. He was a little bit stressed because it was windy but even stressed he was doing well. Lupe teared up as well as the both of us were emotional. Although I always wanted a second bird Julio is really for Lupe so she can have her own companion friend she can handle. Valentino is too much parrot for her and she has never been fully comfortable handling him. Unfortunately Julio seemed to take to me more than Lupe as he bit her 4 times at the picnic. However Lupe is very committed to Julio and will work with him building his trust in her. I am very torn with how much I should handle him. I will not neglect him or ignore him but for now I am participating with being with him, talking to him and singing to him but I backed off actually handling him. Now that he is home and a routine will be established for him it is my hope that while he is settling in he will respond to Lupe more without biting and learn that she loves him no matter what.

Julio is eating well and has adjusted to the buffet feeding system right away. He is talking and I am hearing new phrases and words Stacy has not told me he says. Julio is trilling and singing which I find of great comfort. When Julio made the Noble macaw hiss and a purr sound I make to my birds he sounded just like my Mihijo and I broke down and cried. We are very happy he is home now. Now we need to get him in this week for his vet visit and from moment one trust building and adjustment had begun.

Here is Julio with Lupe

For the first time ever since I have NO pictures of myself on the internet here is a picture of Julio with me

Please help me welcome Julio to our family. We are now his forever home!

 

[JerseyWendy]

YAY!!!! You and Lupe must be SO excited and SO very tired from SUCH an incredibly long day!!! 7 hour drive???? YOWSER!!!!!

He is with the PERFECT family now, IMHO. Once you get a clean bill of health for the little cutie Julio, I truly believe he will be one big, snuggly lovebug for you and Lupe!

And I also think with your TLC his feather shredding may be a thing of the past in the near future.

GREAT great pictures!!! Thank you SO much for sharing!!

 

[noblemacaw]

Thank you so much for your kind words Wendy. It was a 7 hour drive EACH WAY! We left at 6am and did not get home until a little after 11pm. It was a very long day but worth every mile we drove to go get this wonderful boy.

Here Julio is in his cage this morning. His head is fluffed and he is not experiencing any stress. He is relaxed and enjoying the music I am playing. He is eating and drinking, talking and singing.

 

[JerseyWendy]

AAAAWWWW!!!! Look how CUTE he looks in that picture!!!! I just want to snuggle with him all over!!

14 hours of driving?? :11: WOW!!! I take my hat off to both you and Lupe for your incredible dedication AND the love your hearts are filled with!!

This will be quite an adventure for all of you. A love story in the making - NO doubt in my mind.

 

[chasroth]

Congratulations on Julio. He is a beauty and I am sure you will be the very best home for him.

 

[MarciaLove]

oh he is adorable! I am so happy for you CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[Blancaej]

Congratulations on finally bringing Julio home. He is beautiful! I love his deep green feathers. He is truly lucky he has found you both. I know he will begin to thrive immediatley! 14 hours! Wow! He's one lucky bird!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Awww he's so cute! He looks like a little birdie lion.

It's amazing how comfortably he sounds already

 

[crimson]

Oh Rebecca!, I couldn't be happier for you!!! how exciting!

that is a tremendous amount of driving in one day, you all must be very tired, but happy.

nothing like getting a new bird to lift ones spirits, lol

he will certainly be a challenge, I know your dedication will bring him to happiness

 

[Birdlover1]

Awww hes so cute!I just want to grab him and hug him!
Wow that is alot of driving.
I give the best of luck for you and Julio

 

[Abigal7]

He is so cute. I am glad despite all that driving you done that he is now home with you guys. I bet he will be getting feathers in the future.

 

[BirdBrains2233]

Cute little guy, I hope all goes well for both you and him!

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Wow what a trip !!! Nice pictures [theres a sweetness you can see in his face ] . Sounds like hes already adjusting. In one way its neat with his feathers cause you can walk right outside with him [I dont think hes going far ] I know its going to be hard to try and take a step back so he doesnt bond to you only.We have the same problem in are house . I think some people [are more bird people] and birds know it . I think its great ,you had a long journey trying to find him .

 

[ParkersMom]

congrats on your new birdy baby he is sooo cute I love the fluffy picture

 

[MonicaMc]

Honestly, he's just too adorable!!!! Glad to hear he's making the transition well!

 

[SandyBee]

What a beautiful boy, many congratulations.
He's a lucky parrot to have you.

 

[noblemacaw]

Thank you everyone for the kind words. We are very happy to finally have Julio with us. Lupe worked with him a bit this evening one on one when she was using the office and was able to get him to step up for her. She did some trust building things with him and Julio enjoyed her attention.

However after I had put Valentino to bed and went upstairs to do my work in the office Lupe wanted to show me how she and Julio were getting along but the little parrot seemed to work himself up into flirting mode and was bobbing his head and dancing. It seemed he was giving me a show but I sat down in the chair to make myself small and while Lupe was trying to show me what she was doing with Julio earlier and he bit her.

I wonder if it was because I was there he got all worked up. He seems to want to bond to me but I don't want him to bond to me to deeply. I would like for him to accept us both but as we all know you cannot "control" who the parrot falls in love or wants to bond with. Especially one that is already an adult. I really felt bad that he nail her badly reinjuring an earlier bite from the picnic.

I think two things were at play with the bite tonight. I was present and Julio worked himself up into a flirting frenzy and was very animated. I am pleased Lupe did make progress with him but I wonder if progress will continue between just the two of them without me being in the room.

 

[crosue]

CONGRATULATIONS on your new pet.. hope i also have that kind of parrot.. 14 hours is a long drive, very very tiring yet great since you already have him..

 

[sodakat]

Aw, Lupe. I'm sure it is a bit discouraging for her.

Although it's really tough to do, I would let him settle in a while before either of you start "working" with him. This is what I have found works best with the older rehomed birds as well as babies.

Of course if the bird launches himself onto your shoulder then obviously the adjustment period isn't needed. Of the 4 adults I've rehomed only one has behaved that way however.

I just don't think there is a rush. And on the flip side, if you do rush them, it sometimes backfires.

Lolly has feathers that are stripped like his. She's been with me since October and has replaced some tail feathers during that time. She seems to be less frantic in her preening now so they don't look as bad as the older ones. However Lolly has been plucking for so long that her body is bare. My goal for her is flight, if she can learn to chew things besides her primaries. Thankfully she does not clip them, but since she overpreens they cannot handle her weight.

 

[noblemacaw]

I am taking Julio's adjustment very slow. I do not want him to solely bond to me with the exclusion of Lupe. I also do not want to get bit severly by him like he has done to her. My wounds do not heal as fast because I have a compromised immune system.

I have been working in my office most of the day and been observing the little guy. Julio seems to be displaying hormonal behavior. It is spring after all but by this time I know from experience the hormones have mellowed. Julio seems to be hormonal and I think has displayed some aggression. The aggression is new to me because I never had parrots display it. I tried to feed him a piece of corn and he seemed to want to take it from my fingers but he kept knocking his beak on the bars.

If he is overly hormonal I might invest in the lupron shot to help him. I can't get him in to see the doctor until the 24th. I wish I could get him in sooner.

I guess this could be a blessing in disguise. I am afraid to take him out of the cage so this will give me time to work with him.