Potential new Macaw "owner" - Special circumstances

[KDub]

Hello....Brand new here.

I have come to a situation where I might become the home for a MaCaw, and I want to make sure that my home is going to be a good place for him. He has been a guest in my home now for about a month while looking for another home.

He is a Blue MaCaw, 12 years old and has suffered a very traumatic experience. At a previous home, his cage, with 4 other MaCaws, was broken into by 2 racoons and they were all killed, except him. He lost a foot in the slaughter. This was a few years ago. He has been relatively isolated since and gets worked up in the presence of other birds. He has not been able to be handled since the attacks, but is receptive to the presence of humans.

I currently have a large Alaskan Malamute of 6 yrs age and 130lbs. He is friendly with other animals. Blue does not seem to react much when he is around, unless the dog gets really close to him, then he just moves away and watches. I also have 3 boys (age 6, 7 and 13) and work a fulltime + job. My wife works part time (~20hrs/wk)

I talk to him daily and he seems to be warming up to me and I was able to feed him by hand just yesterday without feeling like he was going to bite.

I am considering offering him a home more permanently, but I want to make sure we are a good fit for him and his history.

Thanks for reading and any advice.

KDub

 

[PrimorandMoxi]

You are amazing and should be commended.

invaluable information and great people on this forum to advise as you begin your journey.

 

[KDub]

You are amazing and should be commended.

invaluable information and great people on this forum to advise as you begin your journey.

Thank you.
I am just doing what I think is best and asking before embarking on this adventure.
Despite wants or desires, sometimes situations are not for the best, for one reason or another. I just want to be sure this is a good fit for everyone.

 

[MacawMomma]

Such a heartbreaking story!! . Bless you and the opportunity for him to have a happy loving home!

 

[Kiwibird]

A busy family home is a good fit for many parrots. They are social creatures and love to be right in the middle of all the action. Rescues can take a bit of time to come around, to overcome whatever traumas they experienced and to really blossom into the wonderful individuals they are deep down. But the fact he is warming up and receptive is a good sign he likes you and is willing to allow you to earn his trust (earn being the key word here).

Does Blue seem happy in your home? I think that would be the biggest question you should ask yourself. Birds live in all kinds of situations, family sizes, other pets etc... If he seems content with your family and you feel you are able and willing to continue to provide him a loving home to be in, then I'd say what more can a bird ask for

 

[KDub]

I am not a "bird person", really. I am not familiar with their behavior and general disposition. Intuition tells me that he is good, and getting comfortable.

He is relatively quiet and does not really talk or make much noise. Seems happy just keeping to himself, mostly. Right now, I am the one who is interacting with him the most, because we were told his is a bit panicky when hands move near him, and with younger and unfamiliar children, I would not want anyone to get hurt, since I know that MaCaws have very strong beaks and could (potentially) remove little fingers. As I mentioned, I have gotten him to the point of being able to eat from my hand (only a couple times), but I make sure to also give him his space and not push the envelop much.

My thoughts are of compatibility with a "predator" and many little hands in the house and his traumatic past. He is still young, so I am sure he can grow past what happened, if given the proper environment to do so, and I would like to see that he has that environment, even if not at my home.

 

[Kiwibird]

Patience and persistence with rescues. It's important to work at their pace and there is no rush. Everyone in the family can be involved in helping socialize him by simply talking to him in a soft, soothing voice, even though the children should be warned not to go too close to his cage at this time. You (and your wife if she'd like) can work on trust building and training. Children should also be sure they understand he had a traumatic experience and to be calm and gentle when in the general vicinity of Blue.

I've always known I was a bird person and have never owned predatory pets. Plenty of other bird owners successfully and safely keep dogs/cats/other predatory creatures and birds in the same home though. As your bird is not yet coming out of his cage by the sounds of it, this wouldn't be of concern now but in the future, it would be safest that while he is out the dog be put outside, in a kennel or shut in another room etc... and trained now to ignore the bird/stay away from the bird. I'm sure some of the people who do keep birds and predatory pets would have more to add about precautions they take.

I grew up with parrots from the time I was born. Yes, I did get bit on several occasions growing up, a few times they were very deep bites that scarred. My parents used it as a teaching experience and still have their birds. I actually loved growing up with birds, they were noisy, messy, fun pets. Loved them enough that I adopted my own as an adult. That said, not every parent would be accepting of an animal inflicting a serious wound on their child. That is up to you and your wife to decide. It is certainly a very real risk with any parrot and the bigger the bird, the bigger the bite. Bite pressure training (a training technique that should be worked on by adults only) helps mitigate the risk of serious bites but does not completely eliminate it. But there are a few of us out there who grew up with them, were bit as kids by them and were not traumatized for life by the experience.

 

[itchyfeet]

You might be not so accustomed to parrots but you know your kids. Can they cope with parrots without getting to excitable? My youngest is 6 and can calmly handle too's down to lovebirds - not saying you should hand over the care of the macaw! Jack has grown up with them all. Just saying that some six year old can understand the needs of the parrot....and if they give him the space, and you the permission to guide relationships over time, I don't think the ages of your children should weigh too heavily into your long term decision.

Thinking ahead, to when the macaw may spend more time out of his cage with the family - Is it easy for the dog and parrot to be separated within the environment? Has your dog ever shown predatory instincts to any other human or animal? Our dog often shadows the kids, but if I am in the same room as the birds and him they can be out together. While due care is taken - He's never once gone for a parrot. Neither has the cat - in fact, they're both petrified of the birds, and our chickens! Very helpful really

I reckon you're on the right track. Trust your instincts. How did you end up as a foster home for him?

Edited to add after reading Kiwis post....with the bites and the kids, my two have received a couple of bites, the worst being a pierced lip from an RB2. The children know it's always the humans fault, and I guess it's part of how they build up their own knowledge of bird behaviour. They are always closely supervised but these things can happen. They're resilient, they haven't scared but have developed a healthy sense of caution, and as a result incidences are few and far between.

 

[KDub]

I am step-dad and have only been in their lives for the last 3 years. Having a dog was new to them, but they have adapted well and ADORE the big monster pup. They are very curious about the bird and often say hello to him, but keep their distance. They are a little panicky at the sight of blood, so I am sure getting bit would become a mortal wounding, but I am the type to not overreact or flip out over things. I have grown up with many different animals in my life, trained dogs and have been nipped or bit a number of times by them in my life when I did something without watching their behavioral signs...

Chewbacca (the malamute) was rescued at the age of two from a kennel where he was abandoned. I have had him since, but not aware of his first two years of life, nor was the kennel. I was just told he was left there by a young girl (18) who didnt know how to care for him properly. He has never shown aggressive predatory behavior before, but he is an alpha-type, though not aggressive (even when the kids pulled on ears and such). I have seen him stalk squirrels in the yard before, but that was all.

Blue came to via a friend who had recently adopted him, but was ousted from her home by her "friend" and "landlord" who wanted to sell the home, so we offered to take care of him in the interim and now she is unable to give him a home, herself.

So, we were looking into becoming his home ourselves.