Question out of curiousity

[noodlesoup]

Purely just a curiosity question. If you get a hand-reared bird at 5 months of age, and the bird has begun weaning, will this bird still see you as its parent when you receive it and hand feed it 2x a day? Thus making it harder to pair bond later? Or at that point does it see the person who fed it for the first five months the parent? I'm having a hard time understanding what makes it more difficult to pair bond later in life and what hand feeding a bit does to damage those odds. Just out of curiosity, hopefully this question doesnt upset anyone?

 

[LordTriggs]

DON'T BUY AN UNWEANED BABY!!!!

Just don't for the love of god. You will more than likely kill the bird by accident and if not cause an infection. It's also illegal in many parts of the US

There is nothing to say hand-feeding the bird yourself will make them pair with you better. Also hand-feeding 2x a day is not something you should follow nor should a breeder. Any breeder that sets a time for feeding like that and sells an unweaned bird to someone with no prior experience is not reputable and you should walk away from them entirely. Baby birds require more than 2 feedings a day some even need feeding during the night. It's a full time job hand-feeding baby birds.

Looking at your other threads I will right now after being told a Cockatoo may not be right for you say that you seem to be searching for a big bird for the sake of having a big bird. I may be wrong but it's what it comes across like. I'll also say what you're looking for is the holy grail of birds. One that can sit and hang out with you, play on their own, be okay with anyone ETC. Birds are individuals, they all have traits we don't like. Some bite, some scream, some pluck, some actively attack anyone who's not their person, some even attack their favorite person. you honestly need to slow right down and stop focusing on the thought "I want a bird". With your life right now it just does not seem to be the right time. You need to be able to fully support yourself and at this point in your life you barely know what will be happening a month from now. You may have careers that take you all over the place, you may have 14 hour work days, 6 day weeks, night work, poor pay, apartments you can barely afford, tiny apartments with no room. There's so many unknowns for you right now it's not fair to bring an animal into that uncertainty. I know I'm being the bad guy right now but please leave it until you're finished with school and have a stable job. If you're the right person for a bird then 2/3 years from now you will still be the right person.

Yes people here make things look easy with them but remember that many of the people on this forums are older, have their own houses and careers they work around their birds and even then at times it's too much for them. Once again I know I'm coming across as an awful person but I can assure you I'm not saying this just to stop you from owning a bird. Please for a moment take a step back, take a breather and really honestly question whether now is the right time. A large part I have found of bird ownership is knowing when it's not right to keep one no matter how much you want one

 

[plumsmum2005]

Really there is no harm in researching but agree, best interests to wait. You have your whole life ahead of you, what is the rush? I definitely believe if something is meant to be it will happen and no matter how hard you push if it isn't it wont.

You have your 'pup' enjoy her for now, enjoy your studies and you have something to look forward to in a year or two, a goal to aim for. One thing have you an interest in foreign travel, seeing some of the world? What would you do with a parrot then? I will not leave Plum, he comes with or we dont go! How do you explain to a parrot "see you in a fortnight, cheerio!"?

 

[LordTriggs]

Really there is no harm in researching but agree, best interests to wait. You have your whole life ahead of you, what is the rush? I definitely believe if something is meant to be it will happen and no matter how hard you push if it isn't it wont.

You have your 'pup' enjoy her for now, enjoy your studies and you have something to look forward to in a year or two, a goal to aim for. One thing have you an interest in foreign travel, seeing some of the world? What would you do with a parrot then? I will not leave Plum, he comes with or we dont go! How do you explain to a parrot "see you in a fortnight, cheerio!"?

The dog is a puppy? I thought they were an older trained service dog? I would be extremely hesitant over a bird and a puppy together. Not impossible but we all know dogs like to play rough. I know I couldn't have a bird round my mum's dogs despite them being well trained.

Yes like plumsmum has said you have the rest of your life ahead. 60+ years easily, so what's 4 or 5 years to that? You'll have that larger bird for the rest of your life so try to enjoy your own life for now, go out with friends, go see the world, do stupid things. Now is the time to do it. Don't rush to get to the finish line and try to enjoy your life.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Affectionate term, 'pup' LOL.

 

[LordTriggs]

ahhhhhh now it makes sense!

 

[noodlesoup]

lol guys I'm not planning to get an unweaned baby, as stated this question is out of curiosity. I'm just curious after reading so many posts on here. If I could get a response to the actual question? NOT PLANNING ON GETTING AN UNWEANED BABY. Hence why I prefaced this post with 'purely out of curiosity' and not 'planning on getting unweaned parrot'

 

[noodlesoup]

It makes it very hard to ask questions on here, even questions that are not intended to do any harm and are strictly informative, when I feel that everything will be attacked and scrutinized and my intentions are under a microscope as opposed to just learning information. I didn't think that was the intention of forums such as these.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Its probably how you come across? We get loads of folk on here who ask a question, they get some brilliant and time consuming answers in response. We then either get a different question (you fall into this category) or a stone wall.

Why ask a question about unweaned babies if you have no intention of getting one? Reminds me of a song, what was it now "Bonkers"?

I have no clue if you have actually heard a word we have spent our precious time on as you have not said which if any of the advice you are willing to take. Guess none!

Hey answer to question http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/26835-hand-feeding-bonding.html

We have loads of info on here and all it needs is for you to hit that 'search' button and off you go to info utopia.

 

[Cas27]

Nobody is trying too undermined you their just stating the facts, don't get so defensive when asking for advice you're going too get the truth so listen and learn! I'm retired other wise I would not be able too keep 4 parrots.
Just you're replies tell me you're not ready it sounds like you only want what you want and that's going too make another rescue bird.

 

[LordTriggs]

why ask a question if you're not planning on doing it?

You've had multiple people here give you their opinions and then you just go to a different sub-forum and ask another question. Remember we're not paid professionals here to help you in your wanting to get a bird. We're just people giving our thoughts and views.

The reason we're being hard with you is because you're being hard with us. You can actually see at no point have I said "you should never own a bird" but have said that right now is not a good time for one and a bit of time from now you may be good for one, and I can safely say I've been the rudest out of everyone which I do apologize for (I'm not the greatest with my wording)

I can't really say anything else. Once again I am sorry I've been rude but I'm thinking of that bird above you which is how every avian enthusiast should think IMO. Ultimately nobody here can stop you but you need to be prepared if you do decide to get a macaw or a cockatoo for some very difficult times ahead for yourself where you won't have a single moment to yourself

 

[Cas27]

Purely just a curiosity question. If you get a hand-reared bird at 5 months of age, and the bird has begun weaning, will this bird still see you as its parent when you receive it and hand feed it 2x a day? Thus making it harder to pair bond later? Or at that point does it see the person who fed it for the first five months the parent? I'm having a hard time understanding what makes it more difficult to pair bond later in life and what hand feeding a bit does to damage those odds. Just out of curiosity, hopefully this question doesnt upset anyone?

When you bring the new bird home and start feeding it yourself I will start too bond with you quite fast.

 

[Cas27]

It makes it very hard to ask questions on here, even questions that are not intended to do any harm and are strictly informative, when I feel that everything will be attacked and scrutinized and my intentions are under a microscope as opposed to just learning information. I didn't think that was the intention of forums such as these.

Well you're wrong on that these forums are for bird owners too share story's and get and recieve advice. You young man are getting sound advice you're just not getting what you want too hear. You are not ready too own a big bird period first off theye are not toys,theye are very expensive too buy adopt house,feed time consuming and can be very dangerous if not properly trained and sometimes even trained. You want too impulse buy one that's going too be a rescue bird after you cant handle it. I've been around birds since I was ten years old amazons not macaws let me tell you owning two macaws too me is the major league of birds you don't just hold them like their parakeets. I'm not trying too be mean too you I like that you ask questions but you should listen. I say you start out with a smaller bird.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Hey man, don't take it personally. We just automatically start out on the parrot's side here. Here's one reason why:
[ame="https://youtu.be/6YtfpWBqp6s"]https://youtu.be/6YtfpWBqp6s[/ame]
"Macaw Betty - 17 years in Parakeet cage"

It's commendable to want to learn as much as you can about parrots. You might start by looking for Sally Blanchard's "Companion Parrot Handbook". Also, "Of Parrots and People" is a newer book, easy to find. The latter gives a great overview of the wonderful nature of parrots, and of the ways they suffer at human hands. It's not a simple matter. Personally, I don't think parrots should be kept as pets at all. They aren't domesticated, they have needs that most humans aren't prepared to meet, and the quality of life in a cage compared to life in a wild flock...but people own parrots and will continue to do so, so let's help them be the best parrot guardians they can be.

 

[Cas27]

Hey man, don't take it personally. We just automatically start out on the parrot's side here. Here's one reason why:
https://youtu.be/6YtfpWBqp6s
"Macaw Betty - 17 years in Parakeet cage"

It's commendable to want to learn as much as you can about parrots. You might start by looking for Sally Blanchard's "Companion Parrot Handbook". Also, "Of Parrots and People" is a newer book, easy to find. The latter gives a great overview of the wonderful nature of parrots, and of the ways they suffer at human hands. It's not a simple matter. Personally, I don't think parrots should be kept as pets at all. They aren't domesticated, they have needs that most humans aren't prepared to meet, and the quality of life in a cage compared to life in a wild flock...but people own parrots and will continue to do so, so let's help them be the best parrot guardians they can be.

Thanks for saving Betty she looks so happy now. I paid for my 8 year old blue and gold Marty I also payed for my ten year old green wing but I really adopted them because they were not being treated well. Well at my house the cage opens at six in the morning and the go back in at nine pm have the best food and plenty of loving and treats they finally have a chance too be the spoiled birds they should be.