My friend's Very poorly cared for macaw

[Katie.K]

My friend has a macaw that isn't in the best condition.
What can I do about this, he pulls out his feathers, always lives on the porch and his cage is never cleaned, the poop looks like an ant pile on the cartoons. They love the bird but arnt giving it proper care at all I need advice. Maybe I can talk them into giving it to me idk. needs help

 

[Soyajam]

Before you consider talking your friend into giving you their bird - first consider whether you are capable of caring for a macaw.

They're incredibly different from a budgie and from what I've scanned in your post, PJ is your first bird?
You also want to think about whether you want your birds to be out together. It is uncommon for birds to get along without having met first, and it could mean that your relationship with PJ could change before you've really got to know each other.

Is there a bird rescue near you that you could inform about this? If you are sure your friend is neglecting their bird and you think their wellbeing is in danger, you could also contact the local animal organisation (in the US that's the SPCA, right?) for advice about what you can do.
Once the macaw is in a situation where their needs are being met, you could always volunteer to foster the macaw if you're interested in owning him/her eventually, or you could just volunteer at the place to see how he/she is going.
I don't know how your friend/s would feel about this but (at the risk of being a bit incendiary) I don't know how I'd feel about a friend of mine if they treated an animal so poorly...

That aside, have you spoken to your friend about their bird to find out what's going on? Are they sick and can't care for their bird, did their macaw somehow frighten them (like with a bite) and they're now scared to go near them? Or are they just not interested in providing the care and want merely to look at them? Sometimes there are innocent reasons a bird isn't getting the care they need that can be resolved with a bit of guidance, and many owners are just not educated enough to care for parrots. Other times...

It sounds like the Macaw's having a hard time - if he's pulling out his feathers it could be for a multitude of reasons and it's sometimes hard to come back from it. I'd do something sooner rather than later if you want to help.

Oh, and thanks for coming to us. I hope the macaw catches a break. Sounds like a heartbreaking situation IMO.

 

[wrench13]

A filthy cage and pulled feathers - this is not the signs of a parrot that is 'loved' . This family needs to step up and provide the parrot clean cage, lots of interaction,a healthy diet, good medicalcare or surrender the macaw to a responsible sanctuary. God, I hate people sometimes.

 

[SailBoat]

You have gotten excellent information above and have at least a starting point.

I am guessing that you have a basic relationship with your 'friends' that should allow you to have an open discussion with them regarding their MAC.

At the very least, as stated above, they may just need some help at this moment in time.

Start the conversation, but stay away from you know whats best and move along the line of being helpful.

Having at least some idea where in this huge World you are would help define and target help from members here. A region, would help. Like for me, I'm in the upper mid-west. That helps in defining things like outside weather conditions, etc...

Thank-you, for wanting to help. Starting from a kind place will help you better understand their situation.

 

[LordTriggs]

definitely talk to them as soon as you can. My main question would be why are they letting something they love sit in a pile of their own feces?

 

[SailBoat]

definitely talk to them as soon as you can. My main question would be why are they letting something they love sit in a pile of their own feces?

True. But as a conversation starter, maybe a bit sharp.

 

[Sarge]

Very good answers through out. Before you take over the responsibility of caring for the an8mal remember it’s not just changing the cage and feeding them that’s the issue. I adopted a blue and gold and I’m dealing with the feather issue as well, at first the capt was cage bound, now broken of that is onto step two. These dudes need a lot of attention and careful handling ( both physically and mentally) much like a fat supermodel they have baggage they drag around.
Wrench13 definitely said it best, doesn’t sound like he/she is loved. If you have the patience time and understanding then go for it. If you fail keep a rescue organization in your back pocket just in case.
Good luck
Sarge

 

[itzjbean]

So sorry to hear this macaw being neglected like this. Sounds like he needs to be either placed in a rescue or if the OP is willing, take in the bird.

HOWEVER, a macaw is such a huge responsibility, as others have mentioned. The cost of owning these guys (providing food daily, toys to destroy monthly, vet checkup, etc.) it can really add up. If you do not have a stable source of income that can provide around $300 (that's low-balling) per month for this macaw to get what he needs then you are better off having your friend give the macaw to the rescue for its own health and well-being.

 

[Kentuckienne]

People do this too often. They buy an expensive bird without really knowing what they are getting into, and when the bird matures into, well, an adult bird, they don't like the change. No more sweet little cuddle bug. Or maybe they expected it to talk and do tricks, and all it does is yell and lunge. Macaws are famous for lunging. The people don't know what to do, and the bird was so expensive that they don't want to give it away. So they move it into limbo .. a porch, back bedroom, or basement where they can't hear it scream. It's a horrible situation. Unhealthy is the least of it ... pile of poop, and I bet anything the water is dirty and sometimes empty, cheap food...but the isolation from a flock is so hard on an intelligent animal like a macaw. They can go insane. Wouldn't you?

I hope you can come up with a plan. Maybe starting with questions, maybe you can give them something printed or send a link by email? Tell them to join ParrotForums and get good free advice on how to remedy the situation? Shame them into letting the bird be rescued or adopted out, despite its monetary "value"? Good luck. Keep us posted, yes?

 

[bigfellasdad]

This sucks.....

As mentioned above, see if your friend just needs some help and encouragement. As you have a bird already you should be able to open the discussion. Personally i'd offer to help clean the parrots area for starters and show your friend how you care for your bird, if you keep it helpful and not judgemental then maybe once the immediate sanity is corrected you can work together on them to suggest diet and caring etc.

If you can help fix the relationship then maybe the bird wont need rehoming etc, avoiding further stress.

Finally, good for you for caring, you may be the one who helps save the big fellow

 

[Katie.K]

Before you consider talking your friend into giving you their bird - first consider whether you are capable of caring for a macaw.

They're incredibly different from a budgie and from what I've scanned in your post, PJ is your first bird?
You also want to think about whether you want your birds to be out together. It is uncommon for birds to get along without having met first, and it could mean that your relationship with PJ could change before you've really got to know each other.

Is there a bird rescue near you that you could inform about this? If you are sure your friend is neglecting their bird and you think their wellbeing is in danger, you could also contact the local animal organisation (in the US that's the SPCA, right?) for advice about what you can do.
Once the macaw is in a situation where their needs are being met, you could always volunteer to foster the macaw if you're interested in owning him/her eventually, or you could just volunteer at the place to see how he/she is going.
I don't know how your friend/s would feel about this but (at the risk of being a bit incendiary) I don't know how I'd feel about a friend of mine if they treated an animal so poorly...

That aside, have you spoken to your friend about their bird to find out what's going on? Are they sick and can't care for their bird, did their macaw somehow frighten them (like with a bite) and they're now scared to go near them? Or are they just not interested in providing the care and want merely to look at them? Sometimes there are innocent reasons a bird isn't getting the care they need that can be resolved with a bit of guidance, and many owners are just not educated enough to care for parrots. Other times...

It sounds like the Macaw's having a hard time - if he's pulling out his feathers it could be for a multitude of reasons and it's sometimes hard to come back from it. I'd do something sooner rather than later if you want to help.

Oh, and thanks for coming to us. I hope the macaw catches a break. Sounds like a heartbreaking situation IMO.

Yeah, Pj is my first bird, and if i was to take the macaw i would only foster it untill i Found someone who can love it in the right way, which i know a handful of people. the family loves the bird, but the problem is the laziness and the "oh he's fine" thing. I'm scared to call because I'm probably the only person that has questioned the well being and he might know. I will look into bird rescues!

 

[Katie.K]

thanks we live in florida and we've got some cold weather right now