Me and my Friend who bought a new Macaw!!!

[xiaohe1984]

I don't like using any additives personally in water. Just frequent baths/showers usually suffice.

Have you seen your B&G picking on her legs? I did see the bald spot in the last set of photos you posted. Giardia 'could possibly' be the reason.
Giardia in Birds
Giardia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Only a vet would be able to determine whether your bird would be affected with this or not.

Actually I don't get what u mean Also. Cos I had being stop study more then 18yrs.. Yes I give mist spray bath every week 1/2. Picking her leg mean? And giardia it mean what? Sorry very bad English.. For vets, i not sure vets in Singapore they can handle macaw or not. Me also some time cannot handle the nipping from them.. But so far he nip me I still can endure the pain. So if bring to vet, the nurse or doctor will ask me catch my bng. Worries more hard for me to tame and bonding with him/her. Which now the trust broken!!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Sorry you didn't understand what I said, but I couldn't possibly have put it in simpler words.

Click on the links I provided in my previous post, and then try some translator website if you have trouble understanding what "Giardia" is.

 

[yann]

she means, don't use the spray that goodwill recommended. Just use normal water because that is safer. And she suggests that the bald spots could be caused by a parasite if you are sure that your bng is not plucking the feathers out.

And, i'm sure you know that bc has a file section with all the avian vets in singapore. they can definitely handle your bng don't worry.

 

[Taw5106]

Welcome and congratulations on your new babies. One trick you can do to check for parasites like mites is to take a small piece of scotch or clear gift wrapping tape around your finger so the sticky side is on the outside. Then touch your parrot like on the leg with the taped finger. The mites will stick to the tape and you can then see if there are any mites. Do the tape in different spots. That can help in detecting mites.

When I got my Ekkie in January she had a bald spot on her head. The feathers took about 3-4 months to grow back. Also feeding fresh fruits and veggies, not seed will help. The better their nutrition, the better their health and the better their feathers look. So time and diet for feathers and health.

Taming and bonding take time and patience. Look on YouTube so you can see training exercises. Watch and learn what he likes to eat and use it as a reward for training. Look up basics like stick training, step up, and as you spend more time together that bond will grow.

Also look for an avian vet because you may need one at some point. I can't stress enough how frustrating it can be going to a vet for help and they don't have the knowledge to help your baby.

 

[xiaohe1984]

she means, don't use the spray that goodwill recommended. Just use normal water because that is safer. And she suggests that the bald spots could be caused by a parasite if you are sure that your bng is not plucking the feathers out.

And, i'm sure you know that bc has a file section with all the avian vets in singapore. they can definitely handle your bng don't worry.

Parasite mean?? U also from fb bc? I posted there since like they say normal. Just need protein.. And some and the bc admin ask me use feather spray..

 

[xiaohe1984]

Welcome and congratulations on your new babies. One trick you can do to check for parasites like mites is to take a small piece of scotch or clear gift wrapping tape around your finger so the sticky side is on the outside. Then touch your parrot like on the leg with the taped finger. The mites will stick to the tape and you can then see if there are any mites. Do the tape in different spots. That can help in detecting mites.

When I got my Ekkie in January she had a bald spot on her head. The feathers took about 3-4 months to grow back. Also feeding fresh fruits and veggies, not seed will help. The better their nutrition, the better their health and the better their feathers look. So time and diet for feathers and health.

Taming and bonding take time and patience. Look on YouTube so you can see training exercises. Watch and learn what he likes to eat and use it as a reward for training. Look up basics like stick training, step up, and as you spend more time together that bond will grow.

Also look for an avian vet because you may need one at some point. I can't stress enough how frustrating it can be going to a vet for help and they don't have the knowledge to help your baby.

Yes at least I can understand what u mean now.. Parasite is like mite.. I will do it..but my bng very picking on food.. Headache on his diet.. But he like nuts a lot!! Fruit he eat apple and banana veg he/she like Long bean.. Cauliflower he don't eat.

 

[Flboy]

I believe your little guy would like a bath/shower much more than every week plus(10days?). I do not have a macaw, but my guy jumps in the water every 2 to 3 days.

 

[Solo]

Your friends bird could be a shamrock (scarlet/military) though a more definite weight would make things easier..my shamrock is about 950g. I find it odd that she got such an expensive hybrid and the breeder didn't tell her what kind of hybrid she is. Hope your friend and her Mac bond quickly. I've had my girl out loose in the house when handling her, she's been with me almost 4 weeks and was glued to me from day one. Welcome to the forum. There is loads of wonderful advice on here, and I'm sure it could benefit you and your new partner.

 

[yann]

giardia is like 'worms' on the inside, and mites are like 'worms' on the outside!

The feathers like that are probably normal, we're just pointing out that what it could be if it was not normal.

Feather spray is really up to you to use. Some say its safe and see improvements, but some people don't feel good about using chemicals on the parrot's sensitive feathers & worry that the oil glands may get clogged.

 

[xiaohe1984]

My friend macaw was bought in a bird shop. Not from breeder.

As I bath my macaw every week 2x as I got work. And someone who is a breeder just took a DNA of my macaw. So waiting for result.. When the person who took the DNA, that guy say my macaw is normal. Cos my macaw on moulting. So have to wait for few months to grow back.. And he ask me give more vits.. Fresh daily and dry food also..

 

[Doublete]

Correct me if I'm wrong as I don't have macaws but you shouldn't need added vitamins if you are feeding a proper diet of pellets, mostly fresh veg and fruit.

 

[xiaohe1984]

Yes u are right. But I ask u question, I work from 10am till 10pm how got time to give fresh everyday? Unless I off day that want 100% I give fruits and vegg.. Lastly when u send to vets, did doctor supply u supplement if need??????

 

[Doublete]

If you work at 10 am it's definitely ok to give fresh veg and fruit in the am around 730 or 8 am and then if there's any left just when you
Leave throw it away and replace with pellets for daytime snacking. I mean I assume you spend time with your bird at some point?

A quality avian vet won't push vitamins and supplements unless blood work shows the bird needs it.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Having been a parrot owner for the past 2+ decades, NONE of my fids' bloodwork ever as much as suggested they were lacking anything. None of them have ever seen a 'vitamin supplement'.

 

[Birdman666]

My friend hybrid macaw just got yesterday. To me is very small size. Weight mostly around 700/800g above..

..

If the weight is right, then I'd say this bird is a Military Macaw hybrid. Buffon's are rather large macaws, weighing around 1,250-1,500g. Military Macaws weigh around 800-1,000g.
http://www.scottemcdonald.com/pdfs/Average Weights.pdf

I would suspect that Wendy is right about this one. Buffons are essentially Greenwing sized macaws... and they are very rare birds. You don't see that many of them, because frankly, there aren't that many left. They weren't imported as much as some of the other varieties.

Though scarlets tend to be smaller as well, I would suspect this is a scarlet/military cross.

Buffons and Militaries have a very, very similar coloration. So the cross babies would look very similar if not identical. Judging by the facial feathers, this was definitely a scarlet and not a greenwing. So that part is confirmed.

 

[Birdman666]

Having been a parrot owner for the past 2+ decades, NONE of my fids' bloodwork ever as much as suggested they were lacking anything. None of them have ever seen a 'vitamin supplement'.

Nah. Waste of money if you feed them right, and in some cases can do more harm than good. (Vitamin toxicity. Too much of a good thing.)

And I also agree with everyone else. Just water. Turn on the shower, and put them in. Every macaw I ever owned loved to play in the water.

A hose with a mister setting also works really well.

 

[xiaohe1984]

today bring my macaw to go out gathering with some of the parrot owner.

On a hot day mist spray bath. this is how the bald part look like.. on the both side.. even on chest area, legs, and some one the neck.. But so far my bng macaw got a few pins feathers!