KalieLovesBirds
New member
- Jul 30, 2015
- 69
- 0
- Parrots
- Ruby- 5 y.o. CAG;
Pharaoh, Emmy, and Sky-Quakers of unknown age;
Maui- 8 m.o. Catalina macaw
I have been referencing this forum (which I am very impressed with) for a few weeks now to track down answers I have been seeking but have now come across one that cannot be answered and so officially created an account in order to have my current questions answered.
I recently adopted a 15 year old, male Blue and Gold macaw from a rescue last Friday (so about a week ago). He had spent the past year at this rescue and prior to that I am pretty sure had been with the previous owner his whole life. He did not make a peep the first day/night. The second evening he went into a mini screaming tantrum. And the days following that he has had squawking fits here and there. He is beginning to talk more and more to himself (you can hear him when you are in the other room). The first night he was also excessively doing the 'Stevie Wonder Move' in which he sways back and forth, which I know can be a way for them to displace stress. He is not doing this as much as the first couple of days but still does it here and there. I can put my hands on his cage and in his cage to do things and he will not try to attack or bite or lunge but he will not step up for me. If I put my arm near him and ask him to step up he just moves away and will climb the side of the cage and occasionally hang from the ceiling of the cage until I move my arm back. He will also not come out of the cage. He will move to whatever side of the cage I am standing by and put his head close when I am talking to him and I have had a few times where I have opened the cage door and he will move himself over to the front of the cage and peak his head around the opening for a few seconds before climbing back to his perch but that is all. I was able to hold him at the rescue but since he has been home he has had no desire to come out.
He also plucked the inside of his legs and the underside of his wings/sides a little bit while at the rescue and I have been monitoring that since he's been here to make sure that it hopefully doesn't continue. There are a few feathers here and there but nothing overly concerning.
He is also eating but not as much as he was at the rescue and as much as he should be since he's come here and I am assuming that is part of his stress level too. I can feed him from my hand and he will take things gently but you can tell he is still stressed.
So I am wondering if anybody could give me some advice as to what else I can do to help make him adjust easier to his new environment. I am also wondering about how long it usually takes before a B&G will typically come out willingly. I know each bird is unique and different and I am assuming that it is perfectly normal for him to still be shy since I am still earning his trust. It's just sad to see the poor guy not sure of what's going on and especially when all you want to do is take him out of the cage and spoil him to pieces.
Thank you in advance for any and all advice/help. It is greatly appreciated by me and my feathered friend.
I recently adopted a 15 year old, male Blue and Gold macaw from a rescue last Friday (so about a week ago). He had spent the past year at this rescue and prior to that I am pretty sure had been with the previous owner his whole life. He did not make a peep the first day/night. The second evening he went into a mini screaming tantrum. And the days following that he has had squawking fits here and there. He is beginning to talk more and more to himself (you can hear him when you are in the other room). The first night he was also excessively doing the 'Stevie Wonder Move' in which he sways back and forth, which I know can be a way for them to displace stress. He is not doing this as much as the first couple of days but still does it here and there. I can put my hands on his cage and in his cage to do things and he will not try to attack or bite or lunge but he will not step up for me. If I put my arm near him and ask him to step up he just moves away and will climb the side of the cage and occasionally hang from the ceiling of the cage until I move my arm back. He will also not come out of the cage. He will move to whatever side of the cage I am standing by and put his head close when I am talking to him and I have had a few times where I have opened the cage door and he will move himself over to the front of the cage and peak his head around the opening for a few seconds before climbing back to his perch but that is all. I was able to hold him at the rescue but since he has been home he has had no desire to come out.
He also plucked the inside of his legs and the underside of his wings/sides a little bit while at the rescue and I have been monitoring that since he's been here to make sure that it hopefully doesn't continue. There are a few feathers here and there but nothing overly concerning.
He is also eating but not as much as he was at the rescue and as much as he should be since he's come here and I am assuming that is part of his stress level too. I can feed him from my hand and he will take things gently but you can tell he is still stressed.
So I am wondering if anybody could give me some advice as to what else I can do to help make him adjust easier to his new environment. I am also wondering about how long it usually takes before a B&G will typically come out willingly. I know each bird is unique and different and I am assuming that it is perfectly normal for him to still be shy since I am still earning his trust. It's just sad to see the poor guy not sure of what's going on and especially when all you want to do is take him out of the cage and spoil him to pieces.
Thank you in advance for any and all advice/help. It is greatly appreciated by me and my feathered friend.
