new b&g owner looking for advice

[tech4pets]

Hi all! I am knew to the forum and also a new blue and gold owner and need some advice.

I recently obtained a 10 yr old b&g, from a woman who no longer had the room for him. This is the first time i have ever had a bird of this size, but have had alot of experience with them working for an avian vet for the last 15yrs. I hav had him now for about 7 weeks, and as many of you know, it does not take very long to become very attached to them. He started off the first week attached to my fiance who is out of work due to a work related injury. I thought this was great, as he would get quite a bit of attention while i was at work. I work full time, with my hours fluctuating between days and a couple of nights. Well, it only took a week, and max soon became very attached to me, you know how they pick their humans. When i am not home, max may or may not really like my fiance and when i am home, if given the chance, he will ruffles his feathers and act like he is gonna attack. Other days, they go for walks together. Anyhoo, we have built him a 7ft x 4.5ft cage that he can be in comfortably while i am at work because my fiance never really knows what kind of mood he is gonna be in, so we cant keep him out. I wanted to give him sufficient room, as well as many stimulating toys and perches that i possibly could. When i get home, i take him out, and he sits with me for as long as possible (usually until bedtime around 10pm). Pretty problem is, he only wants to sit with me. Ocasionally, i need to attend to other chores and feel horrible when i have to put him away in his cage. I have tried to keep him on his perch with toys, but he doesnt stay on it, he crawls down and seeks me out, which could b dangerous for him and my fiance. I am beginning to feel like i cant give him the attention he deserves because i feel so guilty when i have to leave him. How much time is a good amount of time to hold, cuddle and play with them? On weekends, i hold him pretty much all day and night until bed time, is this to much? I was thinking about rehoming him to a couple who have more b&g experience that can devote 100% of their time to him but i am having a very difficult time with it. :-( i just want to do whats best for him. I also have other animals that vie for my attention as well, so it makes the situation even more difficult at times. Please help, i am at a loss and cant seem to keep my eyes dry thinking about whats right for this amazing bird! I look forward to your advice. Thank you!

 

[clofromco]

Hi. I recently aquired a scarlet macaw and my daughter a cockatoo. My short experience has been positive re enforcement. What is your b&gs favorite treat? Have your fiance' use that for getting up and interacting. When you come home, have HIM bring the b&g to you. Have him use these special treats to ask the bird to come back. All animals choose their favs but make him/her versatile. Good luck.

 

[tech4pets]

Thank you for your response.

Actually, my fiance does do that occasionally if max is acting receptive to him. If he is lunging, he wont attempt to pick him up as he has been bitten quite a few times. One night while he was offering him a pumpkin seed. The previous owner did not have him on a very good diet which i am in the process of trying to change. As with any new food, it can be difficult to try yo get them to eat a more rounded mixture of healthy foods when their main diet has been a generic food consisting of sunflower seeds, peanuts and whatever else is in what supermarkets call parrot food. Again, i appreciate your advice, and wish you and your daughter the best of luck with your new feathered Friends!

 

[thebirdnerd]

Congrats with giving this bird a loving home! It seems that you haven't had the bird for very long. He is probably getting used to the household and where everyone fits in the pecking order. Macaws will test you and you must be firm with them. I would set a schedule so that the bird can have equal time with everyone in the house and also some alone time too. Birds need to learn how to entertain themselves. I fell that re homing the bird will just confuse the bird. It is a learning experience and raising a macaw can be a daunting but not impossible task. There will be bumps along the way but you will learn. I hope everything turns out well.

 

[tech4pets]

Thank you birdnerd.

That is my biggest concern. At 10, i am his 3rd home, outside of being boarded at my work for about 3 weeks with the owners other bird. I dont want him to suffer any issues from being passed around. How,many hours a day do you suggest we hold him? He gets as so frustrated when i put him in his cage. He does get over it after sometime, but i know sometimes the littlest thing can cause them to become a plucker.

 

[thebirdnerd]

I would keep him out for a few hours then put him in his cage for a while. The key is to make the cage a fun place for him.. When putting him back, reward him with his favorite treats and a toy that he likes. This way, he associates the cage with things he really likes and makes the cage a safe haven for him.

 

[tech4pets]

He does have quite a bit of toys and things to keep him occpied while having his alone time. However, his favorite thing to do is regurg. He does it constantly, on everything, inside and outside his cage. I have read that you should take away, which i tried, but my boss said that i should do it gradually, because of the habit. He is not concerned at this point, just thinks it is a learned behavior that while subside after breeding season. He does eat it almost all the time, but occasionally he does leave some. Of course, the only thing he will chew on, are the things he is not supposed to chew on.