Update on Buddy the Macaw!

[punkpoppyparrot]

Hello Everyone!!

Just wanted to give a quick update. I have been so busy the past week or so. Buddies vet visit went very very well. Besides being a little over weight (not sure if that's my doing or his previous owners constant supply or peanuts and dried banana chips) he is in perfect health even taking into consideration the type of environment he was in before. I have ordered him a new cage and went to home depot over the weekend with a list of stuff to get for his new perch I am going to build him.

In just 3 short weeks. He went from being so scared he would shake, horrible feathers and not eating the best diet. To being spoiled rotten, will come out of his cage to perch, to his feathers being so full and shiny! He is beautiful! I am so proud of him and myself. He got his first bath a few days ago and OMG...did he LOVE it!! He still isn't letting us touch him. At least while he is around his cage. So I'm thinking he may have some cage aggression. He loves the homemade bird treats I make for him and has associated our eating our dinner with it being time for him to eat as well so he will eat his fruit and veggies with us in the evening. I take a bite and offer him a bite and he nums it up! He is also talking more. He says Hello very very well and will say What's Happening, Who is it, Buddy Pretty Bird and will turn his head and will close his eyes slightly when you talk really low and soft to him. I just love it!

I want to thank EVERYONE who offered such wonderful advice. I was so scared I had jumped in over my head with this bird. But I wouldn't give him up for the world. He is going to be a fabulous bird because I will see that he is! Oh and about the blood work since there was rust on the cage. Nothing showed up in the blood work that would suggest metal poisoning. Thank goodness!! But new cage is on the way! One twice as large as the one he has now.

I do have a few questions. Has anyone ever had a bird that will bark (not like a dog its more a squawk) and bite their toes? I asked the vet this and she didn't seem to have an answer. Just that it could be some sort of game to him. But to me it looks like he is really mad at his feet!

Will post some pics soon. I am still in awe as to how far in such a short time he has come.

 

[MOPAR78]

Awesome!! Can't wait to see some pic's!

 

[MikeyTN]

Im glad to hear Buddy is doing good for you. The issue your asking about sounds like a game to me as well because that's something my macaw have done as well. With us, it was love at first sight, he came to me within 5mins of me being in the house. He's been coming to me ever since. My partner and I pick Willie up together, but only I can touch him and it's been nearly 8 years and I am still the only one that can touch him.

 

[punkpoppyparrot]

I wanted to show a before and after photo. This was Buddy when we first got him. Or should I say when he pulled at my heart strings and I rescued him.

and Buddy taken a few hours ago. Please excuse the quality. He doesn't like the camera much as you can tell LOL!! But as you can see...he has came so far! I am very excited about his progress!

I also apologize about the size of these things. I have never been very good at posting photos.

 

[MikeyTN]

He was ragged!!! It looks like he's never had a bath! Talking about bath, I need to take mine in the shower with me.... he looks absolutely gorgeous now!

 

[Rio Mom]

What an amazing improvement! He's very lucky you rescued him!

 

[Mayden]

Brilliant! He really did look sad and dejected before! Is he definitly a blue and gold? Might just be me but he seems a bit different looking to most b&g's!

So pleased to hear about all the progress and how much better he sounds!

 

[mtdoramike]

WOW, what a difference in just 3 weeks. You should feel very proud. Good job!

 

[JJones1719]

Wow, what a difference a great owner makes. He looks great and your doing an awsome job. If you have pure Aloe vera, after their bath while Buddy is soaked to the bone and before you towel dry him, take a dime size amount of aloe vera 100% and rub your hands together and rub him down, then towel dry or let him shake off the water, turn your blow dryer on low and keep it approx 36 inches away and blow dry him. He will puff right up and his feathers will be even more shinny. Also 1 hour of sunlight per day too is great for their feathers. My Neleno sometimes raises his foot and places his toes inside him mouth, this body language is saying, I need your attn and want to join you so take advantage of this. Keep up the great work Thanks Joe

 

[punkpoppyparrot]

Brilliant! He really did look sad and dejected before! Is he definitly a blue and gold? Might just be me but he seems a bit different looking to most b&g's!

So pleased to hear about all the progress and how much better he sounds!

I was thinking the same thing myself. He is certainly more green then most B&G's I have seen. He can be a Hybrid and having doing a little searching he looks a lot like the crosses of Buffon's and B&G's (Bluffons Macaw they are called). So there is no telling. He really only seems to have the blue on the ends of his feathers. I find him beautiful none-the-less. As long as he is healthy and happy that's what matters most to me.

 

[Remy]

That's so great! I'm so happy for you two.

 

[merlinsmom13]

What a difference, you shoud be proud. Keep up the good work.

 

[congobongo]

I am working on a B&G now that I got off CL. The more I deal with him the more I know he came from totally ignorant people. We are making progress. Steps...baby steps. Honestly, I think someone hit him because he is so hand shy of me. But I will keep on working to gain his trust. I read him Dr. Suess all the time. The bird's lullaby is Green Eggs and Ham.

 

[YNAMomma]

My goodness he is so beautiful now. He is so lucky to have found you!