New B&G

[Savannah]

Hello Everyone

My name is Alice and this is my first post in the Macaw forum. I have wanted a macaw for years, but with three kids to raise, I never thought I had the time to devote to one. Now that the kids are 22, 20, and 11, I have decided that I am ready!!

So, I am bringing home a blue and gold tomorrow. I am sure I will have lots of questions. I met her today and I never do anything without sleeping on it, so I am going back to get her tomorrow

I have spent hundreds of hours going through the old threads in this forum and have learned a lot. I feel like I know some of you already, even though I have never introduced myself. I so enjoy all the videos of Salsa!!!!!

Thanks for listening!!!! I will update sometime tomorrow! I don't think I will sleep much tonight.

Alice

 

[Sherry]

I'm so excited for you Alice! Welcome to the group. How old is the B&G you are adopting? Do take pics and post I love looking at them. Good luck tomarrow.

 

[Jtbirds]

Yay and new macaw owner welcome to the club. id as well love to see pictures of him. And if you have any questions feel free to ask many people on here can help you.

 

[Savannah]

Hello

Well, she is here. She is so beautiful. She is on top of her cage playing with a toy. I am trying to take it slow as I want her to trust me. She is taking food from my hand and watching me. I have been sitting in a rocking chair beside her cage and talking to her. When she went in her cage, I went and took a shower. While in the shower, my 20 year old came home from work and when I came downstairs, there sat the bird on my daughters knee watching TV:11: so much for taking it slow. My daughter has her own bird and loves them to pieces.

I have decided to name her Willow. She is gorgeous and I will update with pics soon.

Thanks for listening
Alice

 

[Bird_Mom_to_Coby_the_GW]

Congratulations on your new feathered friend. Willow is a lovely name for a B&G Girl.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hello Alice & Willow, and welcome to the wonderful world of Macaws.

Yup, sounds like you're taking it REAL slow. LMBO! Your daughter must have been completely unafraid of Willow then! GOOD for her!

Tell us a bit more about Willow. How did you find her? How old is she??

Can't wait to see pictures.

 

[Savannah]

Hello,

My daughter has no fear of birds or horses. I tell her all the time, "know nothing, fear nothing". She has a crazy young TB horse that I am sometimes fearful to lead on the ground, not to mention ever getting on it's back. She just stuck her arm in Willow's cage and Willow got on and away she went.

A little bit of information about Willow....I actually saw an ad for a military macaw that needed a home and decided to go take a look. He was so sweet to me, but hated men. Since I have been married for 25 years(to a man), I decided that was not such a good idea. The same lady has a couple pairs of blue and golds that have an occasional clutch. She had raised Willow from one of her pairs and was going to keep her for herself. But when I walked in, Willow(her name was Blue's Clues--Yuck) stepped up on me and was happy to see me. So the lady said she was willing to sell her. We talked money and I went home to sleep on it. I couldn't wait to get my big butt there today to pick her up. She was hatched August 23rd of 2012 so she is still just a wee little baby. Not sure if she is a girl or not, but the breeder is guessing that she is and I really don't care either way.

She has a vet appt next week. She looks really healthy, except a few of her feathers are a little ratty looking as she was out playing with another macaw and they were after each others feathers Not rough, just playing but her feathers need some work.

She just ate dinner with us. She was so cute. She wanted off the top of her cage and down to the table with us. She stepped up great and ate with us.

My first big question is when Plax is going to fly up here and teach me how to do the no nip things. I have watched the videos a million times and sure hope I am ready when the time arrives that it is needed.

Thanks for the welcomes from everyone.

I am now off to look for a java tree stand. I have a metal tree stand thing and it looks boring to me. The java ones look so much more interesting.

Alice and Willow.

 

[Savannah]

Hello,

Here are a couple shots of Willow, taken just with my phone camera, so they are not the best. I hope to be able to find time to get the good camera out tomorrow. Thanks for looking.

Alice

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Hello,

Here are a couple shots of Willow, taken just with my phone camera, so they are not the best. I hope to be able to find time to get the good camera out tomorrow. Thanks for looking.

Alice

OHH she looks like a baby Sounds like shes bonding right away. Ares eats dinner with us everynight [she wouldnt have it any other way]. Dont worry about her feathers ,young birds seem to womp on them

 

[WharfRat]

Welcome to the wonderful (mostly LOL) world of Macs!!! They are awesome creatures for sure!! The biting/nipping is much easier to cure when they're so young so it shouldn't be too big of a problem

 

[Savannah]

Good Morning everyone.

Willow seems to be settling in fine. She is eating(man can she eat), drinking and pooping. She is stepping up great for me now and is being a really good girl. Loves to hang out on the tree stand or on her playtop.

She has a vet appt on Monday. Anything special I should have him look for?

Thanks again for listening.
Alice

 

[noblemacaw]

Hi Alice,
Congrats on your baby macaw. Willow is beautiful and looks very healthy and happy. We got Valentino our RFM in December and for his well bird checkup I had blood drawn for disease checks and for a base line. Every year Valentino will go in for his well bird check up and his blood will be drawn for checks and compaired with the base line. This is very helpful for the doctor to catch any abnormalities (like liver functions, cholesterol, blood fats (lip-a-something), and what not. The first vet appointment was kind of expensive because I had both the normal blood panel done along with the disease testing. Valentino came from a very good breeder who tests her aviary every three months for diseases so we basically knew he could be clean but I ran the tests anyway. Part of baby well bird check. I am not sure what is normal protocol for a well baby bird checkup from your particular vet but they should test for disease and get a blood panel done.

I have been using the same clinic since 1997. Our original Avian vet had to retire so we now see Dr. Blair. I remember when she was interning with Dr. Jenkins and was still at the U of M. Dr. Blair has gone above and beyond in the care of my Noble Macaw Mihijo when he had problems with cholesterol and liver issues. Sadly my little friend passed this October from a heart attack. This surprised us because Dr. Blair and I worked very hard to reverse his health issues and his last visit showed complete normal levels for his issues. Mihijo was doing so well we were all shocked when he passed.

Sorry I digressed from your original question. Is this the first time using this particular Avian vet for Willow? I noticed you have a senegal so I assumed you are using the same vet as you use for your senegal. I have been fortunate with having wonderful and knowledgeable avian vets at the clinic I use. Even though Dr. Jenkins had to retire I totally am pleased with Dr. Blair and have been using her for avian care since.

 

[Cami]

Welcome Willow and Alice! This is a wonderful forum.