My Macaw Journey Has Started

[CPT4Wheel]

I am going to be using this thread to update my journey for purchasing my new baby Greenwing Macaw.

After loads of searching and loads more frustration dealing with scammers, I decided on a breeder. I chose to go with Avian Adventures Aviary. The decision came after some serious reading on these forums. Lots of you told me to read everything by Birdman666, so I did. In one of his threads, someone asked him to recommend some good breeders and Avian Adventures Aviary was at the top of that list.

I didn't originally decide to go with this breeder because they 1. have a waiting list, and 2. they don't currently have any birds on eggs (it was a time thing really). However, after all the issues I had dealing with scammers and listening to you here on this forum, I decided that the time wasn't that important because this is a pet for life and in the end waiting a few extra months (in the scheme of things) matter very little. The last issue I had was that the bird was going to have to be shipped from California to Georgia and to be honest their shipping charges are almost 4 times other places I have looked into, but as before I figured the added expense was probably for a good reason and doing it right was worth the extra cost.

So to the good stuff, I am currently third on the wait list and it looks like the birds will likely lay within the next week or two. So now the waiting game begins. I will be using this time to get our cage (Kings Cage 506) and set it up. We will be buying toys and a play stand and everything we will need for our new addition. We will also continue reading and watching as many videos as we can, so when the little guy, or girl, comes home we are as prepared as we possibly can be.

So now the waiting game begins... We will be notified as soon as they know they have fertile eggs and when the baby is two weeks old they will actually take my deposit and at 4 weeks it will be DNA tested.

We are so excited, it's like waiting on a new baby.

 

[wrench13]

Well alright! Congrats. I would hold up on buying toys just yet. As you will see there are all kinds of toys out there, and parrots develope a liking for some and ignore others. And buddy, macaw toys aint cheap. So get a few, try to see what interests your mac and then you can work around that. Good luck, and the months will seem to pass quickly.

 

[CPT4Wheel]

Too late, I ordered this today in the large size lol

 

[wrench13]

LOL, Giddy Ap

 

[itzjbean]

Oh so so exciting!!! I wish my husband wanted a macaw baby as badly as me...lol! I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to see how things go and when you finally get to see your baby! Keep us updated and pictures are always appreciated!!!!

 

[happy410]

Excited for you. Our Macaw is wonderful, he makes us laugh everyday. Tesla would have that toy DESTROYED in 5 minutes. Plastic type toys will hold up alot longer. Although they do enjoy wood to rip to shreds, then laugh at you while you're cleaning up the mess.

 

[CPT4Wheel]

Excited for you. Our Macaw is wonderful, he makes us laugh everyday. Tesla would have that toy DESTROYED in 5 minutes. Plastic type toys will hold up alot longer. Although they do enjoy wood to rip to shreds, then laugh at you while you're cleaning up the mess.

I can't wait to see what comes of this poor giraffe... My wife said it looked like a horse and she loves horses, so it had to be the first toy lol.

 

[BeatriceC]

Excited for you. Our Macaw is wonderful, he makes us laugh everyday. Tesla would have that toy DESTROYED in 5 minutes. Plastic type toys will hold up alot longer. Although they do enjoy wood to rip to shreds, then laugh at you while you're cleaning up the mess.

Charlotte loves to shred lengths of 2x4. She doesn't much go for toys, but plain, untreated lumber is apparently the best thing ever.

 

[happy410]

Lol, better get a good look at it before you put it in the cage. Also look for foraging toys. Tesla loves them. He doesn't care so much for the puzzle type toys, but I can put an almond in one of his ball type toys and it keeps him busy for hours. Also bells, they love bells.

 

[BeatriceC]

Yup. Bells. There are exactly two toys that Charlotte plays with. One's just a cowbell hanging on a chain and the other is a bell inside a ball that she likes to shake. Other than that, just give her 2x4's and she's happy.

 

[BeatriceC]

Actually, I take that back. Currently she's chewing on a wood shelf in her cage. It's there supposedly so she has a wide, flat place to stand because her balance is bad. She's chewed it into some interesting shapes instead.

Now if she would only go to bed. I swear she's worse than a toddler at bedtime.

 

[CPT4Wheel]

I don't think we will be hurting for toys lol. I've read that a simple 1"x1"x12" piece of untreated pine hung from the top of the cage is a great toy... We will be trying that as well.

 

[BeatriceC]

If I may suggest something...

Parrots can be weird. I have a ton of different toys and none of my birds really go for the same types. Toys that one love are hated by the others and vice versa. Buy a couple different kinds of toys while you're waiting, but not more than one or two of each different type. Then, after that, every time you want to buy a toy, transfer that money into a savings account that's just for bird expenses. This is a pretty painless way of building up not just a slush for toys, but an emergency account for vet care. Vet care can get very expensive. I just tallied up my March vet bills. I have spent $1,974 *just this month* at the vet's. Granted that's not normal, but that's what one sick bird can do for you, and why having an emergency fund is so important.

 

[CPT4Wheel]

Perspective names:

If it's a boy - Rummy
If it's a girl - Rubi

 

[itzjbean]

Perspective names:

If it's a boy - Rummy
If it's a girl - Rubi

Great names!!! Is there a backstory to these names or how did you pick them out?

 

[CPT4Wheel]

Well, let's see... We have been talking names for days. My daughter is a bit unique when it comes to naming things. We have a Bellatrix, a Rodrick, and a Stacy in the house and some of the other names she came up with were very much her, however, my wife had boycott rights this time. I have a tendency to name things after whatever I'm interested in at the particular time, for instance, we have a Campi (short for Campagnolo) and a Tekin (from when my son and I raced RC cars), so I got to pick one name Rubi after my Jeep Rubicon. My wife picked Rummy because she likes Captain Jack Sparrow and he likes Rum lol.

 

[psychocircus91]

You are in for a lot of fun. When I chose my boy, he was about a week old, so I had to wait almost 6 months. The waiting is tough, but weekly updates make it bearable! My greenwing is not picky at all about toys and destroys them all.

 

[Luckyandjenn]

Also if you get un treadted 2×4 s cut and smoth the edges drill a whole the use a few drops of food coloring to two tables spoons water you can safley dye wood for your bird .lucky got bored with his chew blocks till i found i could safley dye them btw love all the names youve picked thus far

 

[CPT4Wheel]

Thanks, I saw the post on dying wood and I may just try that out. I'm lucky that I have a full wood shop in my basement.

 

[itzjbean]

I have a full wood shop in my basement.

That is awesome!! What kind of things do you do or have you done? My husband's uncle is getting into wood-working and recently completed his own little workshop and is currently trying to convince my husband to drive 7 hours (each way) to pick up a table saw he bought online.... I will not be joining them for the trip, lol! Too far for me to drive for a saw!