Pre-first big mac checklist/advice

[bug_n_flock]

Hey guys, we are adopting Charlie (http://www.parrotforums.com/adoptions-re-homing/80285-rehoming-b-g-macaw.html) and will be meeting his current owner, Noel, some time between the 15th and the 22nd somewhere midway between the two of us. He will be my first macaw of any size and I am beyond excited.


He is coming with a cage and a kennel as a travel cage, but I want to make sure we have all the bases covered(and also I am just excited and full of excited energy), since all our current birds are small beaks. We have time if we act fast to order any supplies we do not have on hand before he arrives(nearest petcosmart is literally 50 miles away even).



I am making some toys now(stuffed pizza boxes, take out containers, etc), we will hit a hardware store for safe lumber, and pick up some food dyes. I am trying to make a bird toy parts order, but my go to site seems to mostly have toy parts for small birds and somehow I never really noticed that lol. We will order some roudybush(current diet) and will either keep him on that or slowly switch his pellets to Harrisons, haven't decided yet. Going to order whole in shell nuts, dried fruits, dried veggies etc etc etc as treats, we already order spray millet by the 5# box until we grow some.


Things like ladders, perches, swings, boings, etc I figure we can order some now but build up supply of those over time as long as he doesn't destroy them. Noel does tell me he loves to CHEW, though, so no guarentees lol. We have access to PLENTY of natural branches, etc from the forest(properly sanitized first, obviously).


OK. WHAT am I forgetting, because it has to be something! Obviously!





Oh, and I took it on myself to read lots and lots of birdman666 posts and have been reading TONS else on big macs too. I have never had a macaw myself, but I have worked with them before, and I have had 2 Amazons previously.

 

[Vien]

I read the topic and I’m so glad he’s going to a good place! I’m not very experienced when it comes to big birds so I can’t really advise you

 

[noodles123]

A large cage with room for his large tail

No shadowy places and lots of toy---introduced very slowly, as they can cause fear when unfamiliar. It has taken my re-homed U2 YEARS to learn to play with the most obvious toys.

CONGRATS!!!

 

[bug_n_flock]

The cage he is coming with is on the very small side for a Macaw(4'×2.5'×5'), but he is apparently quite an escape artist and that cage is Charlie proof. We are going to watch him and see how he thinks and then build both an outdoor aviary and an indoor very large cage that will stand up to his beak and his mind. Also, we will be working to minimize his cage time of any sort(other than outdoor aviary time if that is something he really really enjoys).

 

[SailBoat]

Hey; Go Big or Go Home!

Birdman really pushed getting past the 'Big Beak' thing! I recall he had a Thread regarding that subject. The mid to large Mac's know they have a Big Beck and are going to test your reaction with a couple of well timed lunges with an open Big Beak! Nerves of Steel helps as does a well stocked emergency first aid kit size for both Humans and Mac alike.

Over the years, I have found that one can communicate with Mid-Large Mac's using single head bob of the Head (up and down) and single side shift of the of head (left and right). Movement based on Break Dancing, the stiffer and more square the movement the better. I have started from across the room with one or the other movement and watched the Mac for a return movement. If I got one response, I would use the other next. If a like response occurred, I moved a few steps closer and repeated. By the time I was much closer, the Mac would reply with a smooth body swing. By the time, I made it across the room the Mac had her leg held high and was ready for a step up. Have done it a couple of times with Mac's I had no prior contact. No assurances, but it is worth a try.

Another of Birdman's saying was that under the 'I'm A Big Bad Mac' is a Mush Bird that want's nothing more than more than to be loved up-close and personal. But, you need too earn the trust!!!

FYI: Assure that you build in self-entertainment time! Kind of like Too's, they do need to learn you need to be other places.


Enjoy!!!

 

[bug_n_flock]

Ok, we are adopting him on the 15th it looks like now. So not really time to order things to arrive before he does. What bare bones basics MUST we have already before he comes home?



We were thinking:
Food (pellets and a healthy supply of veg and fruit, maybe a bag of in shell mixed nuts if the grocery store has some, etc etc etc)

A place for his cage to go for quarantine
Toys(shredder type and ideally some wood for him to chew on)

Perches


Anything else? We are looking for a vet that might be convenient for us to stop at on the drive home(we are meeting Noel roughly halfway so we don't have to be away from the farm for even an overnight). Figure a quick wellness exam and nail clip if needed would be a good idea, since the largest bird I have ever groomed was a BFA and I will want to watch someone else groom him a few times before I'd be confident to try.



Any other last minute tips or suggestions of supplies to try and grab local?

 

[noodles123]

Macaws are sensitive to respiratory stuff-- dust from your other birds could pose a problem. You will definitely want an air purifier is you don't already have one (non -ionizing/non-ozone producing).

FYI- You definitely will want to form a solid bond with this bird before attempting to trim nails etc. I know you are planning on waiting and that is smart, because failure to do so would definitely harm the process of building trust...I would wait AT LEAST a year or more (just my opinion) before attempting to do beak/nails yourself (if ever)--just because you don't want to scare or upset the new bird and they move very slowly in terms of trust etc. I never do my cockatoo's beak just because I would rather pass that buck off on a vet (whose office we can leave), plus, if using a dremil, there is too much that can go wrong. Hand files are the way to go, but they do take longer. Also, I typically step out of the room during a beak/nail trim just because I get anxious and I don't want my bird to see that...nor do I want to be associated with the procedure.

My "Too" is still harboring feelings of resentment towards me after our latest nasal irrigation fiasco (and I just took her to the building), so even though she doesn't really bite me these days, she does make my life difficult when trying to prove a point...You have to live with the bird day-in and day-out, so if it's mad at the vet, there is not that overflow into your home-life (unless nasal irrigation is involved LOL!!), but if she is mad at you, that is a bigger problem.

If you give your bird nuts in the shell, be very vigilant. They can sometimes eat the shell bits and become impacted. My cockatoo started eating the shell the first time I gave her a nut and I had to wrestle it away from her (much to her disappointment lol). Walnut shells etc are particularly common when it comes to intestinal blockages. I had just assumed that my bird would know better, but it is more common than you would think. I found that out after calling the vet and Dr. Google.

 

[bug_n_flock]

GREAT tips, thanks! We will probably shuffle around and do Charlie's quarantine in our bedroom. It is the only room with air conditioning currently. We keep basically all the other windows open 24/7 unless it is cold or raining super hard these days. Eventually we will have to do ac out there too probably, but for now pleeenty of fresh air for our birds. We have also been talking about getting more air purifiers and this just cements it. We only have 1 currently and it really is not enough.

 

[noodles123]

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Respiratory Diseases in Macaws - Pulmonary Hypersensitivity Syndrome

Glad you were already discussing more purifiers- with a cockatiel and macaw in the same house, it will be important (as tiels are powder down birds). If you can keep their cages far apart, that also is probably a good idea. I know you will initially, due to quarantine, but even after that, I wouldn't want a powdery bird right next to the macaw...It will be important to really stay on-top of the dust (more than usual).

 

[bug_n_flock]

Just more evidence that my deciding to never have the little guys out around the macaw is a good idea. For both the big bird and the little ones!

 

[noodles123]

Just more evidence that my deciding to never have the little guys out around the macaw is a good idea. For both the big bird and the little ones!

Well that works out then. Budgies aren't as big of an allergy trigger, and not all macaws react to allergens in the same way, but since the cockatiel is a powder down producer, that was why I mentioned it.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Charlie came from a bad situation(a few situations back, not his current home or the one immediately prior) that likely had really really poor air quality. Best to assume his lungs have already been through a lot, and keep the air as clean as possible for him.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Actually we have reconsidered. Charlie will go in a bedroom that we can open a window in for quarantine. There is no furniture in that room yet, mostly it is full of boxes that we can just move out. We will put a table and chairs in there so we can comftorably spend hours in there with him daily. Also, we will probably change his name. Noel says he doesn't seem to know it. Our cat is also named Charlie, though, and definitely knows her name. How best should this be done? Gradually? All at once? To a name similar to his old one or does it not matter? Should we avoid talking to the cat around him or will he figure out that the cat is Charlie? Or, since Noel did say he doesn't act like he knows his name, am I just over thinking this? Lol


Eta: or should we try to juggle 2 Charlies in one house? Lol

 

[greytness]

Glad to hear that you've decided to adopt Charlie!
Our second macaw, who came to us at 18 months of age, was named Trump by his previous owner. We changed his name after we got him and he's acclimated quite well to his name change. He'll say his former name on occasion, but loves to say his new name.

There are many large cages that are most definitely macaw break proof. I encourage you to get him into a bigger one with lots of toys. He'll be much happier and less likely to want to jail break it.

Do get him a large java stand to hang out on. One of the best investments I ever made for my macaws, second to having built for them a large outdoor aviary.
.

 

[bug_n_flock]

I keep going over the play stand options again and again and again and again. The cage is a playtop type if I am not mistaken, so that buys us a smidge of time, but not really much time. I am thinking about maybe doing a play area for him in that room on a permenant basis. Why not, right? We have the space. Hang swings and boings, cargo nets from the ceiling, and cycling through various potted bird safe saplings grown specifically for him. Apple, etc. Also maybe building a tree from harder bird safe woods from the forest. Also can do parts out of PVC. Sort of do a modular playground in a bird-proofed room that we hang out with him in, and after quarantine, we could build smaller versions of the same type of thing in each of the areas we spend the most time in. I figure the modular nature would allow us to start with something easier to build and expand on it. The nearest Petcosmart is 50 miles away, and we do not live in a place we can get mail, we have a PO box so deliveries are somewhat limited, don't remember if I have mentioned that on this thread.

 

[WakaWaka]

Glad to hear you are adopting Charlie and getting him out of a bad situation.

Lots of good advice above, certainly read Birdman666's posts.
They are worth their weight in gold !!!
When he comes home, Patience, Patience, Patience. Sit in the room with him and read Birdman's posts aloud.
He will enjoy the company and soft voice tone while you increase your Macaw knowledge .

One other thing I can add is make sure you use really good, heavy duty stainless links to hang his toys. Also, any sort of flimsy rings that are not welded together will be destroyed very quickly and could possibly cause him injury.

Here is an example of a good sturdy link that we use in Arika's condo.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-Stainless-Steel-Quick-Link/999971144

And yes, that cage is way to small for a Macaw.
The bigger, the better. Arika's is 4' wide, 3' front to back, and 6.5' high.

Please keep us updated on your new family member.

 

[bug_n_flock]

About to leave to go meet Noel and Charlie!!!!! [Excited squealing]

 

[greytness]

Take pictures! And have fun today!

 

[bug_n_flock]

We are back home. Charlie is amazing. Oh maaaaaaaan. Charlie is amazing. I am in complete awe of this bird; he is so magnificent. I am in love, completely and utterly.


We did not stop at a vets, so we will go back out for a checkup either Friday or next week(I have a dr appointment tomorrow for more x rays of the foot). He has one nail that seems lighter in color than the others, cosmetic or something to ask vet about? Also his beak seems a little overgrown to me. WOW, I didn't realize how recently he was recieving less than ideal care. Apparently when Noel and her family adopted Charlie last year he didn't even have any green on him, and his colors were muted. His tail is messed up, but feathers regrow. As amazing and just simply perfect as he is now, in a year he will be absolutely breathtaking I am sure. Noel and her family really did this bird such a kindness by taking him in, it just didn't work out for them to keep him. And I'm not even all that sorry to say that I'm glad it didn't. Because now Charlie is here, and I simply couldn't be happier.


Eta: photo is of him in a dog crate for the trip

 

[SailBoat]

All hope is lost now, you are a confirmed 'Crazy Parrot Person' controlled and ruled-over by a B&G.
Yup, in a year of so, breathtaking!