Treys macaw rescue attempt - intro

[IRNMom]

She is beautiful!!

 

[Tgsplano]

Thanks for the compliments on her photo. I may have not waited long enough before testing her out of the cage but I felt like we were doing well enough to see. I already feel like stepping up while in the cage isn't going to happen without some outside cage work. I've only offered about 3 times, but the more confident she is in the new surrounding, the more aggressive her reactions are. I may be taking it a bit fast, but I think the sooner I can get her to neutral territory the better.

I let her out of the cage. She climbed on top of the cage and seemed happy to be there. I spent about 2 hours approaching every 15 min or so and giving different treats for her cordial reception (and trying to determine her fave foods - I'm going to reserve the top 3 or 4 for training).

What did we learn today? She is not going to work with me at all from on top of the cage either. If a hand without a treat approaches her, she will threaten to bite (I still leave my hand up there until she calms down). I did this maybe 3 times because I couldn't do much with her highly perched. I tried to time everything so she'd have a few hours out before bed and hopefully going into the cage would be easy. I had to get her onto a stick first and then she easily went into cage.

Tomorrow I'm going to leave her in the cage all day and not attempt to handle her. I don't think anything today hurt our bonding, but I have errands to run and she has been through a lot. The next day - immediately to neutral room on a stand all day to see how that goes.

I don't think I can improve anything until I get her into the T-stand. I know I shouldn't let her come out of the cage on her own, but that is the only way I think that is going to be the least traumatic way right now. Let her climb on top of cage, get her onto a stick and then place her onto stand. She didn't really like the stick but I'm pretty sure she is familiar with being picked up with one because she was on it in 15 seconds and stayed on it while I put her into the cage. If anyone has a better approach to get from cage to stand, please share.

 

[RavensGryf]

Really beautiful bird! I love the orange color. I've never seen a harlequin that light before. Although they vary, they usually come out more red. Maybe she's 3/4 B&G instead of 1/2. Though it doesn't matter at this point, and she's gorgeous.

 

[Tgsplano]

Thanks revensgryf. In daylight she is even lighter than the photo appears. I only know she is harlequin but no other details. The photos on the web look redder to me too. I've never seen another in person.

Crazy bird has not eaten anything from her dish to my knowledge. I fed her by hand this morning. Also not vocalizing yet but I make a little change each day. Today I pulled the blinds so she can see outside since I'll be gone this afternoon.

 

[thekarens]

I don't think there's anything wrong with letting a bird come out if it's cage on its own. I do that with all mine, though I can take them out if I want to.

 

[Birdman666]

Macaws are smart enough to know when you are not in a position to control them. They act up when they are higher than you, not because they "become dominant" but because THEY CAN...

Your bird has trust issues right now, that's what this is. And he is also "feeling you out."

Personally, I would get a stepping stool, and go up higher than the bird, and step him up that way.

I agree with Karen. Nothing wrong with a bird coming out of a cage on his or her own. Mine come and go as they please.

They behave with me primarily because they are bonded, but also because a firm "Step up" means, we are not playing games now... "Step up! Thank you. Good bird! Here's a treat and a head scratch, and now you get my undivided attention."

 

[Tgsplano]

I did climb on a chair to try to get her but I never felt like I was in control. Luckily I'm not having to today at least.

Last night I returned with my dog - she is as big as he is and he was scared of her as I expected. I held him up so they could get a good look at each other. She got really wound up after he left the room. She was bobbing for him and she hasn't done that for me yet. However her wings were cocked a little so I'm not sure if it was aggressive or friendly. I took it as excitement that could go either way. After the dog left the room she climbed all over that cage like I've not seen before. Sliding down the bars like batman, swinging around the bars of her swing, around the cage- over and over. My last parrot never moved like this around the cage - this was like a monkey. With the Amazon, I would have let him out, but I'm not entirely sure if that is what this meant. It was well past her bedtime - and mine, so we all went to bed. She settled down immediately when the lights went off.

Today the dog is paying her no attention but she still bobs in his presence. I do have good news. After hand feeding her, she started climbing the cage again but not quite as fast. I opened the door when she was on the swing and I put my hand inside and said step up. She raised a foot so I risked a bite and she stepped on. She was still kind of leary but I didn't think we'd get this far this fast. She is on her stand and we are just hanging in the living room. I'm only going to approach her every hour or so. She wouldn't take a treat from me after I picked her up nor after I sat her down. She won't let me touch her just yet, but I think it isn't far away.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. This is going lots better than I could have asked for.

 

[Birdman666]

Maggie especially just loves dogs. I don't know why. In fact, she'll call them over to her.

The macaw Happy Head Bob is exactly that. It's a feeding behavior, and generally a sign of affection. (Though they also do it just to be goofy and get attention.)

Next step: Two fingers on the fat portion of the beak gently holding it. Then, scratch her head. Watch her eyes and her facial feathers to see how she responds. If the headfeathers go sproing, then she likes it. Keep going. Walk by and do this every once in awhile. She'll allow touching...

Soon you won't have to use those two fingers anymore.

 

[Tgsplano]

Thanks bird man. We didn't get to "next step" yet. I have 3 stands that came with her. I have the shortest and tallest in the house. The tallest is going into the garage after today. She climbs to the top and stops responding well. She does well on the other.

We are having interesting moments. She won't come to me every time. And once she wouldnt step down - which is when I put her on the taller stand. I don't really like holding her really close because I don't know what she is going to do but if I hold her long, she starts inching toward my shoulder - I know the previous family had this issue with her and they wouldn't block her. Since she isn't used to having her feet held, I haven't tried just yet. Holding her close so my bicep is vertical seems to keep her on my hand but neither of us are comfortable that close and I'm not confident I can successfully drop her if needed. We'll just hope it doesn't come to that.

I put her up about 4 and came back about 5::30 to get her out again. She must be in a roosting mode because she wouldn't step up this time - only acting like she'll bite. She has bobbed more today so that is good.

Do you have any idea how long it usually takes for them to make morning and roosting calls? She is still really quiet all the time. She will vocalize back to me when I'm working with her, but no calls at all thus far. I was told she doesn't really call in mornings, but I have never seen that before.

 

[Christinenc2000]

She is so pretty. I have never seen that color before.

 

[Tgsplano]

I need more input on the toy question. But I'll start with an update.

She still has not yelled even once. She rarely vocalizes or talks although the vacuum gets her going a bit. I think she says hello each time she takes food from me.

Today is the first day I've been able to scratch her head. She didn't let me do it long but it's a first. I have no idea how to grasp the beak lightly. She doesn't seem to be comfortable with that so if I do that, it'd have to be a firm hold I think.

Now to the toy question. I think the spot in the center of her chest is from plucking. It was there when I got her but I thought it was from where the feathers changed direction. I could be wrong but it looks a little bigger to me today. There are about 10 orange feathers that she has lost since she has been here - since Friday or 4 days. In all, I'd say 30 feathers including downy type.

She has been out of the cage probably 6 hours a day on average with exception of Sunday. Her cage has plenty of toys. But I don't see her interact with anything but the swing. I'm removing that tonight. I'm going to change some stuff out too. I have a box - sold as a foraging box - cardboard with nuts in it. She chewed a bit but no interest now. I can give her Popsicle sticks and she destroy 3 or 4 before losing interest. Same with wooden laundry pins I've removed the spring from. I've given her pressed paper seed starting cups - she chewed maybe 1/6th of it. I'm loading a whiffle ball with some nuts next but if she is plucking, this is going to be challenging.

 

[Birdman666]

If she's letting you scratch her head, then just gradually do it more and more.

As for the plucking, that's not an easy answer.

Increased bathing perhaps? Something in that area irritating her? A little aloe on the bald patch on her chest?

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Could she just be molting? Lots of birds are going through hard molts right now. I know Zilla is and there seem to be feathers everywhere!

A molt and hormones this time of year might make her a bit more grumpy than normal, then add moving to a new place with a new person!

I think she just needs some more time to adjust to everything.

 

[Dopey]

Do you have any idea how long it usually takes for them to make morning and roosting calls? She is still really quiet all the time. She will vocalize back to me when I'm working with her, but no calls at all thus far. I was told she doesn't really call in mornings, but I have never seen that before.

Depends on the bird I'm sure but with mine it wasn't until a month or so. But enjoy the quiet while you can.

 

[Dopey]

I got my Severe on the 7th of December. He has always been a playful thing but not with the toys. I didn't start noticing him playing with his toys until I had him over two weeks and he still doesn't play with them as hard as my Blue Front Amazon does. (My White Front Amazon barely plays with his toys at all.) Give her time. She is still getting to know her surroundings and you.

Leave the swing (or put it back). She's just getting used to it and now you are taking it away from her.

I know you are in a hurry...I was and I still am but this all takes different times for different birds.

As for the bath. Today - 3+ weeks later I finally got to mist my Severe. My Zon's love to get soaked with the mister (spray bottle)...but today was the first day my Severe acted like he enjoyed it.

Sit back and watch your bird for a while and enjoy her. She's coming along better than you think she is. Although not as fast as you would like.

 

[Birdman666]

Do you have any idea how long it usually takes for them to make morning and roosting calls? She is still really quiet all the time. She will vocalize back to me when I'm working with her, but no calls at all thus far. I was told she doesn't really call in mornings, but I have never seen that before.

Depends on the bird I'm sure but with mine it wasn't until a month or so. But enjoy the quiet while you can.

My greenwing is that quiet, unless something upsets her... then she lets it be known to all the world that she is upset, and is then quiet again.

 

[Tgsplano]

Increased bathing perhaps? Something in that area irritating her? A little aloe on the bald patch on her chest?

She hasn't had a bath yet. I'll try that in her cage. I think it is too soon to try in the shower. I don't think there is a chance of me touching her chest yet.

 

[Birdman666]

Increased bathing perhaps? Something in that area irritating her? A little aloe on the bald patch on her chest?

She hasn't had a bath yet. I'll try that in her cage. I think it is too soon to try in the shower. I don't think there is a chance of me touching her chest yet.

Sometimes, if their feathers and skin get "itchy" and "icky" feeling, they will start tearing the icky ones out...

Sally was doing that when I got her. Turns out she hadn't had a bath in two years. (She took a 20 minute shower, the look on her face was pure bliss! The plucking immediately stopped.)

Always start with the simple things.

 

[Tgsplano]

Depends on the bird I'm sure but with mine it wasn't until a month or so. But enjoy the quiet while you can.

Ok, thanks. I am hoping she doesn't scream but I know she isn't to her normal vocalization yet. I'm not really encouraging her to talk much right now though. I'm mainly just trying to be soothing when I am working with her. And I'm really hoping she doesn't know how to whistle.

I did leave the swing but I removed a lot of the toys. They were already in there from the previous owner. I've been making foraging toys today so I left 2 toys as is and attached some foraging stuff to some of the others.

She has been in there for about 20 minutes. I'm off to spray the perch in the corner and see if she climbs under it.

 

[Tgsplano]

They told me she loves baths but she didn't seem to like that. I had a pressure mister (for people in summer) and she stayed under it for about 5 seconds before relocating. I tried a spray bottle that would give out more water - misting above the cage to let it fall on her and she moved again so I stopped. It may be too late in the day since it is getting dark so early. I'll try again tomorrow. I might try to put the small stand in the shower and see if she will climb into the shower.