We have Mojo!

[Sulphiria]

So after seeing the macaw for sale on oodle (i had never even heard of oodle before) I decided to do some looking around today when I was bored and see what was available. I stumbled across an ad for a B&G, 4 years old, sex unknown, and the owner stated she had to rehome him because she couldn't afford to keep him. There was no price listed so I sent an email. She called us and we spoke to her about the bird, she had him for about 2 years, he doesn't step up, but he will take treats and likes to be rubbed. She asked about our experience with birds, how they are cared for, and wanted to know everything we would tell her. After a lengthy conversation she asked if we would like to meet Mojo. At this point a price had not even been discussed, but we figured we had nothing else to do tonight, why not? So Ron and I made an hour and a half trip to meet Mojo. Poor Mojo has a rather small cage for a macaw, he's got one large branch going across the cage and a small cement perch. Not a toy in sight. He had a bowl of water and a bowl of honey kix. While we were there, her son was trying to feed him candy corn. The mom in me wanted to smack him and say "dont give him that!" We asked about his feathers which look a little tattered and the little red spot under his left eye. She says he takes frequent baths but since they lived in the middle of nowhere, we think the look of his feathers has to do with the well water he was bathing in. We discussed toys and perches and diet, etc. She told us if we promised to take him to a vet for his eye, get him plenty of toys and some new branches, we were welcome to have him. We about died! So we loaded up Mojo and headed home!

This is going to be a long journey and amazing experience. We gave him some peanuts and an avi cake when we got home, and he took a peanut and turned it around in his mouth, tasting every inch he could, nibbling a small piece then tasting more followed by more nibbles. I dont think the big guy ever tasted a peanut before. Here are some pics of him and his cage tonight. Tomorrow he will have much more!

Questions: Do we introduce toys slowly? Or can we just put a couple in there for him?
His beak is slightly crooked and *extremely* sharp, I'm assuming because he has no toys to chew on. Would it be okay to have it trimmed or rounded off a bit?
He did just have treats and food, does that look normal for the crop size?

Thanks!

 

[KatherineI]

Oh my goodness!!! Wow! That's amazingly awesome. Congrats, keep us posted and yay!!

I can't really say about the toys or crop, but I see nothing wrong with having his beak dremmeled down a bit. I've had both my birds done, Loki once at the Vet's right after we got him and then about 6 months later where we get his nails and wings done for free (the store I found Sugar at). If you're going to take him to the Vet for his eye, why not have the vet do it?

 

[RescueMe]

I would get her to the vet. They can do a full assessment and perhaps take care of his beak as well. Congrats on the new addition.

 

[goalerjones]

remember though, if you file the beak down manually then you might have to keep doing it that way. Toys (wooden IMO) are the best way to get the beak filed down.

 

[Mayden]

Wow what a pretty boy!

The cage looks a bit of a mess, but I'm sure you'll fix that asap

Just get him into the vet, they'll look at his eye and do a health check etc, and will let you know if his beak needs a trim by them/you or if some toys will sort the problem out . He's VERY pretty!

 

[Spiritbird]

Macaws do well opening nut shells for beak health too. His entire life has changed for the better. I am glad this person had the birds welfare in mind and not her pocketbook.

 

[wenz2712]

Congrats on your new addition! He is adorable and I am sure once he has been with you for a while he will be fine Sounds like he has come to a great home with you

 

[Safira]

Honestly her/his beak doesn't look bad, it looks fairly normal. A good few toys for him/her to work on it and it'll be fine. I wouldn't have them trim it unless the vet says to.

See how he takes to toys. If he likes them right away I don't see why you couldn't be a few in his cage, but if he seems scared of them then introduce them slowly.

You could get some walnuts, almonds and things in the shell for him to work on as well for treats, they love those. Pine nuts are a great 'training treat' mine eats hers up



Congratulations on your bird, he's beautiful!

 

[caliopi]

Oh wow! Congratulations! I am so jealous but happy for you at the same time! Kudos to the previous owner who put her bird above money!

 

[KatherineI]

I'm curious; how did Mojo's first night go? I'm assuming he's in quarantine for now.

 

[Sulphiria]

Thanks for all the advice. Im hoping he takes to toys easily... we will see soon. Hes by himself right now, at least kind of.. I can't seem to stay out of his room, lol.

I'm curious; how did Mojo's first night go? I'm assuming he's in quarantine for now.

He was quiet. Last night when I covered him, he tried eating the sheet and when i said "no mojo, leave it alone" he laughed and left it alone then said bye bye a few times and quieted down. This morning he had a peanut and has been hanging out in his cage, with the door open. I'm going to make them all some eggs for breakfast and see how he likes that. My boyfriend showed him a perch this morning to see his reaction, he wasnt very happy with it and let out a nice squawk.

 

[Safira]

aww, I wish my Macaw would learn how to laugh. She's just figuring out she can make loud noises, but she's a babbbbyyy..

While some of his actions may seem to be that he doesn't like it, or is 'shy,' try not to let him intimdate you with the noise/wing flare ups if he does them. Macaw's are big on.. well trying to be 'big.' They'll make all kinds of protesting sounds and displays just to see if they can get their way.

Did his crop go down? It did seem a little large in the pictures, but maybe it's because he ate so much.

 

[Mozzie]

Congrats!!! Mojo is just beautiful!!! I am glad he now has such a loving home, and glad that the previous owners could see that this is the best for him and gave him to you. Very cool!!!

 

[aliray]

congrats pretty bird and cute name. Alison and sweetie pie

 

[KatherineI]

Thanks for all the advice. Im hoping he takes to toys easily... we will see soon. Hes by himself right now, at least kind of.. I can't seem to stay out of his room, lol.

I'm curious; how did Mojo's first night go? I'm assuming he's in quarantine for now.

He was quiet. Last night when I covered him, he tried eating the sheet and when i said "no mojo, leave it alone" he laughed and left it alone then said bye bye a few times and quieted down. This morning he had a peanut and has been hanging out in his cage, with the door open. I'm going to make them all some eggs for breakfast and see how he likes that. My boyfriend showed him a perch this morning to see his reaction, he wasnt very happy with it and let out a nice squawk.

That's cute! Dakota (My Mom's B&G) says "Nite nite" when it's bedtime.

 

[Sulphiria]

aww, I wish my Macaw would learn how to laugh. She's just figuring out she can make loud noises, but she's a babbbbyyy..

While some of his actions may seem to be that he doesn't like it, or is 'shy,' try not to let him intimdate you with the noise/wing flare ups if he does them. Macaw's are big on.. well trying to be 'big.' They'll make all kinds of protesting sounds and displays just to see if they can get their way.

Did his crop go down? It did seem a little large in the pictures, but maybe it's because he ate so much.

Yeah, it went down quite a bit but now that hes eating apples and eggs.. well apples.. he got a taste of one and looooves it. Hes dancing for me!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-k1Ykijx3g]Mojo eating apple - YouTube[/ame]

His previous owner says he will come out on his cage and put his back towards you and look at you for scratches. He did it a few times this morning so I tried.. awesome!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyxkKOJk9Vs]Mojo likes scratches - YouTube[/ame]

He is tearing into some toys too. I showed him one and he attacked it and started bobbing his head and went nuts for a few minutes. So I hung a few in his cage for him.

He says quite a few things. "what up bird?" "want a cracker" "lemme out" and has a few colorful words. He does a turkey call and then shoots the turkey, lol. I'll have to see if I can catch that on video too.

Question. What do I do when he does bluff and lunge at me? When I was putting a toy in his cage he lunged at me with his wings out, tho I'm pretty sure he wouldnt have bitten me, I wasnt willing to take the chance just yet, lol.

 

[Safira]

I wish I could see those vidoes! I am at work so I have to wait until I get home

As for the lunging, the best thing you can do is try not to flinch back. I haven't learned how to do that myself, everytime one of my CAG's lunge I flinch.. but I am pretty sure they'd bite me.. they are VERY cage aggressive.
But as long as you finish what you were doing, like hanging up the toy, then you still win! lol It wouldn't surprise me if he was cage aggressive if he's not use to stepping up and going onto a different play area.

As much as I think that cage is way too small for him, I'd keep it for awhile while you work on training him to 'step up' with etiher your hand or a perch. Otherwise, when you get a bigger/taller cage.. its going to be next to impossible to reach him when he climbs up on it.

 

[Sulphiria]

I wish I could see those vidoes! I am at work so I have to wait until I get home

As for the lunging, the best thing you can do is try not to flinch back. I haven't learned how to do that myself, everytime one of my CAG's lunge I flinch.. but I am pretty sure they'd bite me.. they are VERY cage aggressive.
But as long as you finish what you were doing, like hanging up the toy, then you still win! lol It wouldn't surprise me if he was cage aggressive if he's not use to stepping up and going onto a different play area.

As much as I think that cage is way too small for him, I'd keep it for awhile while you work on training him to 'step up' with etiher your hand or a perch. Otherwise, when you get a bigger/taller cage.. its going to be next to impossible to reach him when he climbs up on it.

Good. I told him no and finished hanging the toy and he just watched. Now hes in the cage hanging upside down wrestling with it and having the best time!
This cage is perfect for reaching him when hes on top, although he seems more than willing to come to me when I go near him. I wanted to video him wrestling with the toy, but when I get within 5 feet of the cage hes back on the door wanting more scratches. I think we will keep him in it for a week or two and see how he does, that will give me time to shop around too and see what good deals I can find on a big cage.
Do they all sound like seals when they squawk?

His eye also looks a lot better today, it just looks like a lazy eye now. I dont wonder if he was bitten by something. The house we got him from made me cringe.. it was FULL of spiders.. everywhere. :52:

 

[Safira]

He may have fallen and scratched himself or something too. Mine fell one night and cut herself along her beak. Nothing deep, just peeled the first few layers of skin away. She also scratched her other cheek a few times banging into toys or falling to the bottom of her cage -.-

I imagine you will hear alll different kinds of sounds from him. Some loud and ear piercing and some hilarious.

I got both my cages for mine off craigslist and ebay classifieds. I'd stay away from playtops, since the cage you're going to get is going to be HUGE anyways and reaching up on top of it for the bird can be a PITA. Have fun cage shopping though!

 

[solobaby]

congrats on your new baby