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[Katieg17]

So im katie! To start off I was given a B&G Macaw from my Uncle. His wife and him retired bought an RV, selling their house and wll be traveling around the states. So they made the decison to part with her so she isnt put under the stress. We recieved her exactly a week ago now, I live in NY, and my uncle lives in Maryland, so we had to meet half way in Pennslyvania to get her. A little about the bird, Its a girl, her name is KoKo! (avatar pic) She is 26 years old. I am now her 3rd family. My uncle obtained her when she was 16, and badley neglected. Her first owners were elderly and couldnt take care of her so she was a plucker, her neck/stomach/shoulders were completely bald. Over the past 10 years my uncle had her, all of her feathers grew back on her tummy and shoulders, but as far as her neck, they never grew back, sadly I think it was so severe she damaged the folicles. I was so sad when I recieved her from my uncle because they were very close, it was a sad/happy day for all of us. She has been adapting nicely, but I know it wll take some time for her to gan our trust. I have many questions, but I will wait and post in the approprate area

 

[JerseyWendy]

HI Katie & KoKo! Welcome!!

So super nice of you to take KoKo off your uncle and to provide her a good home. I'm confident that in time you will develop a great relationship with her.

How has she been acting her first week with you? How's her diet?

Sorry to hear about her feathers in her neck. She looks beautiful in her avatar picture.

 

[Katieg17]

So far she has been actng very good! for the most part haha. She can be fiesty. But has not shown any signs of aggresion. We keep her cage open at all times day/night, because that is what she is used too, we did switch cages when we took her in, one that was a little bit larger then the one she came in. My uncle told me to make sure I put her hoop (her bed) in the new cage because she refuses to sleep on anything else. So thats exactly what I did. Now the problem is, she refuses to come off of it, we have different perches and many toys, but she refuses to leave her hoop (she has left it a couple times for food/water) But within seconds hopped back onto it. So she stll hasnt "explored" the cage. I have many different toys, but the only thing she plays with is a phone book thats cut in half and secured to the side. She will rip off pages all day long! ... She is constantly rocking. I mean constantly rocking, if she comes to a stop shell grab ahold of the cage and rock herself more. She wont eat either unless shes rocking back and fourth.... She will take treats from our hand very very nicely, but if were not giving her a treat, she wont allow our hands anywhere near her..

As far the diet, Were working on making her be on it. Shes 26 years old, and I know for at least the last 10 years she has been on Zupreem.. I talked to a parrot specialty store around me, and they told me that it was high in sugar and to try to slowly switch her over to roudybush or pretty bird. So we have been mixing that into her pellet mix. We cut up fresh fruits and veggies for her, which she is extremly picky about.. We have not been able to get her to eat any fresh veggies, and very little fresh fruit. But she loves all dried fruit. We also gve her nuts for treats. She loves pasta and Ham but thats about all weve tried so far since we have only had her a week

 

[JerseyWendy]

Sounds like she's still a bit nervous about her new surroundings. Perhaps her "sleep perch" is like her comfort blanket, that's why she's refusing to leave it at this point.

Time and patience and love should bring her out of her shell soon enough.

When was the last time she's had a complete check up?

 

[Katieg17]

Sounds like she's still a bit nervous about her new surroundings. Perhaps her "sleep perch" is like her comfort blanket, that's why she's refusing to leave it at this point.

Time and patience and love should bring her out of her shell soon enough.

When was the last time she's had a complete check up?

To be honest I dont believe she has ever been to the vet. At least not in the last 10 years my uncle has had her, There was no avain vets anywhere near him. I really want to get her in for a check up, since theres one near by me. But then again, I wont be able to that untill Im able to handle her or luer her into a cage

 

[plax]

As far the diet, Were working on making her be on it. Shes 26 years old, and I know for at least the last 10 years she has been on Zupreem.. I talked to a parrot specialty store around me, and they told me that it was high in sugar and to try to slowly switch her over to roudybush or pretty bird. So we have been mixing that into her pellet mix. We cut up fresh fruits and veggies for her, which she is extremly picky about.. We have not been able to get her to eat any fresh veggies, and very little fresh fruit. But she loves all dried fruit. We also gve her nuts for treats. She loves pasta and Ham but thats about all weve tried so far since we have only had her a week

Hi katie...

Which type of Zupreem pellets was KoKo used to eating? They're not all the same. I believe the fruit-blend type contains more sugar than some of the others. I feed my birds a few brands of pellets, but their base pellets are Zupreem Natural (Avian Maintenance) - they're the gold-ish colored ones. Those ARE a nutritious pellet. If you have the chance, take a look at the ingredients list on those. My B&G and my Military are quite finicky and that's often the only kind they'll eat.

But if you really want to get her off of the Zupreem and you can do it without lapsing her nutrition intake much, that's fine. In my opinion, though, it would be better to have her on something she'll eat that has lots of nutritional value than to attempt to push her onto something she may not eat much of, which could negatively impact her health. She should especially be offered plenty of a base food that she's used to, as long as it's nutritious, during the time her stress level is elevated due to the new environment. I guess it all comes down to the type of Zupreem pellets you were feeding her.

Also keep in mind that fruit contains high sugar levels as well. It's not as quickly metabolized, but it's still sugar. Keep offering it to her in moderation though, and keep offering her the vegetables.

Those are just some suggestions.

 

[lanie]

any tricks on preventing my bird to quit biting holes in my shirts while hes sitting on me!??

 

[plax]

any tricks on preventing my bird to quit biting holes in my shirts while hes sitting on me!??

I not wishing to hijack the thread. But as a quick comment, I keep a bunch of holey t-shirts around and often wear them when I'm playing with my birds (either that or I just go without a shirt). But some birds can learn not to do it by giving them firm and consistent expressions of disapproval upon their efforts

 

[Katieg17]

Hi katie...

Which type of Zupreem pellets was KoKo used to eating? They're not all the same. I believe the fruit-blend type contains more sugar than some of the others. I feed my birds a few brands of pellets, but their base pellets are Zupreem Natural (Avian Maintenance) - they're the gold-ish colored ones. Those ARE a nutritious pellet. If you have the chance, take a look at the ingredients list on those. My B&G and my Military are quite finicky and that's often the only kind they'll eat.

But if you really want to get her off of the Zupreem and you can do it without lapsing her nutrition intake much, that's fine. In my opinion, though, it would be better to have her on something she'll eat that has lots of nutritional value than to attempt to push her onto something she may not eat much of, which could negatively impact her health. She should especially be offered plenty of a base food that she's used to, as long as it's nutritious, during the time her stress level is elevated due to the new environment. I guess it all comes down to the type of Zupreem pellets you were feeding her.

Also keep in mind that fruit contains high sugar levels as well. It's not as quickly metabolized, but it's still sugar. Keep offering it to her in moderation though, and keep offering her the vegetables.

Those are just some suggestions.

The Zupreem she is on is the fruit blend type

 

[JJones1719]

Welcome to the forum,
Couple of questions, Before your received the B&G, was she handled offen. Is she a one person Macaw, was she only handled by your Uncle, does she prefer men over women.
Once you figure these questions out, it will give you a better understanding on what she is going through and help you understand how to better help her.
As far as diet and the rocking, I too would advise you to watch the sugar intake.
What do you thinnk would happen if you offer her your forearm to step up onto?
Remember Macaws are great at bluffing, Macaws sometimes use their beaks to step up onto a arm, hand or perch, so do not get this confused with agression.

I would advise you to try to get her to step up ASAP, It's a shame that your Uncle did not work with both of you and teach you how to handle her. Do you have a way to contact him to answer some of these questions. Please keep us posted. Thanks Joe

 

[Katieg17]

Welcome to the forum,
Couple of questions, Before your received the B&G, was she handled offen. Is she a one person Macaw, was she only handled by your Uncle, does she prefer men over women.
Once you figure these questions out, it will give you a better understanding on what she is going through and help you understand how to better help her.
As far as diet and the rocking, I too would advise you to watch the sugar intake.
What do you thinnk would happen if you offer her your forearm to step up onto?
Remember Macaws are great at bluffing, Macaws sometimes use their beaks to step up onto a arm, hand or perch, so do not get this confused with agression.

I would advise you to try to get her to step up ASAP, It's a shame that your Uncle did not work with both of you and teach you how to handle her. Do you have a way to contact him to answer some of these questions. Please keep us posted. Thanks Joe

She was handled By both my aunt and uncle, but My uncle more then my aunt. I think If we offerd her a forearm to step up onto, She gets figity and scared and kind of tries to stay away from you. I will contact him and ask him some more questions. Would be easier for him to show me, but he lives 8 hours away, and when we met up to get her, It was more of a hurry up and get her home because it was a very long car ride.

 

[Katieg17]

Also when we get our hand close to her she kind of makes like a squeak noise like shes scared.