New Baby coming later this year

[Flynhigh]

Hi Everyone , Please check my intro for a little backround on me and my fids , but I have recently put my deposit on a baby B&G from a wonderful breeder and with a little luck I should be a proud daddy again this spring and have a new fid late summer/early fall. This will be my first macaw but not my first parrot. I am very excited for this addition as he/she will be trained for free flight. I do realize there's a lot of controversy over this issue but to each there own and when done properly there's far less risk of losing a trained bird to free flight than them flying out your front door skill less and scared. That said I do realize it happens and is truly a horror. The training will be done by true pros for me as well as the bird and this decision has not been made in haste. The bird will have GPS at all times to give us the best chance of reuniting should a situation arise. So I will be checking in here often and I will update when new info comes to me from my breeder.

 

[ChristaNL]

Get your bird microchipped and registered as well
saves a lot of hassle to prove ownership if the bird gets lost a bit and not found by you (first).

Overhere is it mandatory (Law actually) that the larger macaws stay with their birdparrents for 5 months before they are allowed to be taken away and sold. Since they are babies for about 2 years it still gives them plenty of time to learn to be companion-birds.


I read you have a lot of grey experience...

I was (rather unexpetedly) given a macaw last year and boy was I in for a surprise... my B&G is almost the opposite of the greys in handling etc.: where with a grey you tread carefully- the macaw will just barge in.
You are going to have so much fun (its like getting a puppy when you are geared to cats).

 

[Flynhigh]

ChristaNL, ,

It is law in California for pet stores but not breeders to stay until weaned, my breeder does not reside in CA and will keep the bird until weaned but is also a professional bird trainer of 30 yrs. Not just parrots either , Owls ,Ravens , Corvids and others too. The micro chipping is a great Idea and I will likely go this route as well but as with anything it to has its faults , its really only as good as a person is honest. Training the bird not to fly to strangers is also a good insurance policy but not foolproof either. These two coupled together should take much worry out . Rest assured he/she will be protected to the best of my ability.

Yes I love Greys, matching wits with them is a hoot, body language is key as they many times will show you their intentions immediately before the act. Apollo is like a bullheaded 2-3 year old child at this point stomping his feet to get his way. In fact he is trying to dismantle my recliner as we speak. Just like children he has all the toys he could want but still would rather have what he cant. Thanks for the advise and kind words.

 

[Scott]

Congrats for your upcoming B&G! Looking forward to you sharing the story!

 

[Flynhigh]

Thanks Scott,

I'm very excited for this opportunity and cant wait to share our lives as this all evolves. Now its time to get excited about cleaning up after these two mess makers , you know the less attractive part of having roomates that wont lift a finger. Lol!!

 

[noodles123]

Very exciting- if I were you, I would definitely wait until all of my birds had become sexually mature before getting any more. I am not saying to withdraw your deposit either....

I just think it is important to know that babies are MUCH easier than adults, and personality changes are often common with adolescents (this can mean changed alliances, new aggression, new jealousy, new screaming, changes in people/bird preferences, egg laying etc-much like a human teen rebels against his of her parents in favor of a girlfriend/boyfriend/hobby). From the looks of it, all of your babies are under 3 years of age, and with many parrots sexual maturity comes later. For instance, in Umbrella Cockatoos, it is generally around 6 years of age; for grey it is usually 5-7; for macaws it can take 2-6 years. Make sure you are aware of this when handling and interacting with them and know that what works now won't always work. They may develop new jealousies towards other birds and become possessive of you, or they may form new bonds with fellow birds and feel threatened by you. In other words, you are soon to have 3 very young parrots who will likely change dramatically in the years to come- this means that current dynamics will be altered (in all likelihood).

 

[ParrotGenie]

Working with a young B&G macaw that has drooped wings from being clipped so many years from previous owner and bad diet, now has weakened muscle the wing. She can still fly short distances.

Being your first macaw, you find has a very sweet disposition, and respond well to training and just overall a laid back personality. Besides Cockatoos, Macaws are one of the few that can benefit from free flight. Just remember an unskilled bird can gain altitude and likely have difficulty slowing, turning, landing accurately, and performing other motor skills. This often results in the bird flying straight away from you the owner and landing only from exhaustion in a tree somewhere. Then they lack the ability to return. This stuff has to be learned. I train mines in large open area where they can't get lost and get them custom to that area. Usually even a large enough indoor space is fine for training till they know how to come back down from something high and turn as well. Then outside training. Then always watch out for raptors, as they can cause your bird to go off course and then get lost. I know as I trained and rescue raptors before as well.

 

[Flynhigh]

Noodles, I understand your concerns and you have some very valid points, as they are all individuals and we have to treat them accordingly. I am familiar with the maturity issues and until it rears its ugly head all we can do is enjoy the companionship and deal with the issues as they arise. I am divorced and most if not all of my free time is spent training or at the very least with them so there wont be an opportunity for alliance changes as Im all they got for a pet human. I have seen some changes already even this early with foods and treats but time is all we really have with these creatures so paying attention and living in the "now" with them is key. Train ,train ,train. Also I have 2 DNA'd males so no eggs which helps immensely. On the other hand the conure is a bully so when we're hanging out constant supervision is a must as anything he has claimed he will not back down from and will defend. This is very common with most parrots and they need to have there own space and "stuff". Positive reinforcement for good behavior and boundry's for everything else. 3 is my limit ( parrots ) and all will be raised with equal love and affection , and the training and enrichment to be well behaved companions.

 

[Flynhigh]

Parrot Genie, I agree completely. Hawks and Crow's can be problematic during training , I do have several areas to free fly that are wide open and relatively safe but nothing will ever be perfect. Baby steps and lots of love until the bond and trust is formed . Its not going to happen overnight but it will be a joy watch them grow.

 

[Laurasea]

It will be an exciting journey to read of your new macaw. Training recall young is the
Key , and won't it be wonderful to allow flight! My GCC has the heart of a lion to, I'm sorry I taught her the word no, as she is thrilled to tell me no!

 

[Flynhigh]

Yes , Absolutely . I'm sure there will be some nerve wracking moments early on but I am truly excited about the new relationship and sharing the details. Now on to try and load some pics.

 

[Flynhigh]

I was hesitant to mention this but during Kona's sassy period 12-16 mos. He was abusing his daddy regularly by biting my ears or the back of my neck , I would tell him he was sassy and playfully tell him I was gonna kick his a$$ and boy he not only picked up on the words he has put them together cognitively and when his big brother Apollo lands on anything Kona has claimed his he immediately runs at big brother Get Down!! I'm gonna kick your A$$!! He got the Get Down from me also chasing Apollo down from the ceiling fans. Too Smart. Oh and when I get home the first words out of his mouth are " Your a sassy bird " mad because I was at work.

 

[noodles123]

I was hesitant to mention this but during Kona's sassy period 12-16 mos. He was abusing his daddy regularly by biting my ears or the back of my neck , I would tell him he was sassy and playfully tell him I was gonna kick his a$$ and boy he not only picked up on the words he has put them together cognitively and when his big brother Apollo lands on anything Kona has claimed his he immediately runs at big brother Get Down!! I'm gonna kick your A$$!! He got the Get Down from me also chasing Apollo down from the ceiling fans. Too Smart. Oh and when I get home the first words out of his mouth are " Your a sassy bird " mad because I was at work.

LOL! Noodles screams for my attention and immediatly yells "BAD BIRD!!"
I didn't teach her that, by the way....LOL

 

[Flynhigh]

Hahahaha! They are truly amazing!!

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