New B&G owner just wanted to say Hello!

[HeatherB]

Hello my name is Heather and I'm a stay at home mom to my 3 year old son and we have one on the way, I'm also a new mom of a 4 year old Blue and Gold Macaw . I got him a few days ago from craigslist, the previous owner no longer had time for him and he was kept outside in his cage. He so far has been a joy! I never knew they could have so much personality. He seems to be enjoying our company so far. I thought I was going to have to leave him in the cage to adjust but he had none of that he wanted to be with the family from the very start so I put his play yard by my couch in the family room and he likes to spend most of his day there. I gave him a bath in the bath tub yesterday and he loved it and he let me pet him all over for the first time so that made me happy. Just in the couple of days I can see that he is trusting me more. He loves to sample everything we eat and he vocalizes that he wants some very loudly Also he has to be in the same room as you or he will tell you that too I do have a few questions, #1 How do I get him to stop saying shut the He** up? Apparently that's his favorite sentence. #2 What size perch should he have the one that he came with is very short and kind of thin I think. Should it go across the entire cage or not? #3 How do I tell him not to do something such as get on my head and pull out my hair... that seems to be his favorite thing to do but I've lost a lot of hair already and if he had his way I think he would like me bald lol!! #4 He seems to like a stuffed little monkey toy that he came with but he can now pull out the cotton is he aloud to have these kind of toys or not? Also they made their own toys and hung the plastic toys with a metal wire is this okay or should I just take them all off his play stand and cage? #4 when he has outside time should I put him in the sunlight or in the shade? We live in
Florida so it gets pretty hot. #5 what's the best type of food to buy?
I think those are all of my questions for now. Thanks for reading from one happy B&G owner !!!

 

[paulhanlon]

Welcome to the forums seems like a nice boy apart from his little swear word the best way to stop him saying it would be to ignore him when he says it which will take some time the other way would be to mold the word from what he says into another word again this will take some time and for the perch question if the one he has now is short and thin I would bin it you will need a large thick one for a bird the size of a macaw and as for him pulling your hair and getting on your head the best way to stop this behaviour would be to take him off your head don't shout at him just a firm no will let him know he's not aloud to do it also the toys should be fine the stuffed monkey I would bin as for the sunlight being hot I would keep him in the shade and for food I would go for either Harrison's or zupreem but its up to you which you choose to feed him

 

[HeatherB]

Ok thanks for the advice!!

 

[brianlinkles]

I would also add that it is important to have several perches in their cage that have different diameters. I would add one perch accross the cage that is a natural branch (they are available at the bird supply shops) This should be a thick diameter but the natural branch allows him to flex and change his feet while gripping. This is good so that they are not always holding on with their feet in the same shape. (hope this makes sense. I would than add at least one more perch (more dependant on the size cage) This could be a very thick boing (rope perch) or another wooden perch. I like having a boing in there, it's nice on their feet. With a macaw they will eventually chew it up so keep an eye on it. It sounds like he is settling in nicely! Great advice in the above answer from Paul.

 

[wenz2712]

Welcome to the forum

 

[gretta]

Another B&G member, YAY! I love these guys. As mentioned above in terms of changing behavior I would just be firm and consistent. Kyle will test me to see if I will let him get things. (mine are a bit different being much older and breeder pair made pets) I praise like crazy. If he says "I love you" I tell him he's such a GOOD BOY and I love him too. The "cutey" voice seems to really hold his attention. Kayla has learned if she leaves my lower arm she has a ticket back to the perch, and she chooses to hang out with me instead. They take patience, but the reward is amazing.

 

[henpecked]

Hey and welcome to the froum. i'm in the palmetto /Terra ceia area. #1 give him something else to say that gets a better reaction from you than the words you don,t like,(that do get a reaction from you). You want him to stop saying that? respond to something else , and ignore the bad. #2 Basic perch should be 1 1/2 dia of the dia of his foot when nails are touching, His feet should reach 2/3 of the way around the perch. natural perches are best because they aren't uniform in dia and his feet won't cramp from the same dia perch 24/7. Different sizes ,materials is best but should be large enough his toes don't touch each other. #3 You have to be the flock leader and lay down the law about what is acceptable and what's not. You need to make the rules, nip bad behavior in the bud. Tell him NO and be consistent. Be the leader and don't let him make the rules or chaos will result. #4 Toys, the stuffed monkey is not a good toy. To start with buy bird safe toy parts and learn what is safe and what's not. Loads of good threads about making toys. #4b Outside, don't leave him unsupervised. Early AM or late PM ,direct sun is OK, but they can over heat very quickly and die. They don't sweat like us and can only cool off by panting like a dog, if you see that rush to cool area. Our outside birds have fans and shade to keep cool in the middle of the day. #5 food? tons of good threads. Fresh veggies /fruits in the AM ,then removed and replaced with a quality daily maintenance pellet, natural color, organic would be best, one produced for your bird species. Can be supplemented with occasional nut/seed, sprouts,and even people food . People food should be high quality ,low fat, low sugar,low salt. Healthy stuff is OK in moderation. Several threads about what is dangerous to feed birds. Did i cover it all ?

 

[plax]

Congrats on your new family member!

Also they made their own toys and hung the plastic toys with a metal wire is this okay or should I just take them all off his play stand and cage?

I would get rid of that wire!! If it's long enough to wrap around any part of his body (neck, leg, etc.) it's a real danger for him. Birds can get tangled in strings, ropes, and wires if they are long enough. And when there are objects hanging from such long strings, ropes, or wires, the result can be that of a weighted noose which a bird may get caught in and strangled by when no one is paying attention. It's best to toss the wire and replace it with stainless steel quicklinks.

Good luck with your new guy