Help with rescue macaws appreciated

Hi,
This will be a long post I'm afraid.

We have just acquired a pair of rescue B&G macaws, both male, one is about 29 and the other is of age unknown. They arrived in the same cage, behave like a bonded pair and are in pretty poor shape, very aggressive and with around 50% of their feathers plucked out. To my knowledge, they have been kept in an aviary for some time but I don't know how long. Their names are Trix and Robert. Trix originally worked on TV but Robert has always been in an aviary.

My main concern is Trix; when he arrived his beak was so long that the poor bird couldn't hold his head straight in front of him and had to sit with his head on one side so his beak didn't dig into his chest. The next day it was trimmed but as one can only do a bit at a time, it's going to be a long process unless we go to the vet. He still sits with his head on one side but I feel this is habit as his beak was so long it must've have been like that for a long time to get so long. He also makes what I can only describe as a 'whinging' noise. He can keep it going for hours. Again, I think this is habit but we've not had another parrot-type bird do this before.

What bothers me most about this bird is that he is very lethargic. Robert is up and down the cage, busy investigating, playing and hurling abuse at us through the bars.Trix just sits in one place, his feathers are fluffed and his wings are held slightly out from his body. I haven't noticed any signs of respiratory distress but he just doesn't look right. I can't explain it any other way. He is eating and pooping normally but he doesn't move except to shuffle from one side of the perch to the other in order to get special treats/fruits/veg from me or to feed himself from the seed and water bowls. I'm a bit stuck with this as very few of any other birds we've kept ever got sick and we've certainly never had a bird who just sat on a perch all day except for our birds of prey, of course.

I feel this bird is unwell but the rescue society say not which puts me in an awkward place as they are the experts. I have wondered if this bird has aspergilliosis but, of course, I need a vet to diagnose that. I am interested in anyone else has any views on this; is this bird sick, or just naturally like this as he is submissive of the pair? I don't know macaw behaviour well enough to make a judgement.

Robert is very much the dominant bird and very, very aggressive. He bites and lunges through the bars at anyone who goes near him. He will take food from hand now, but will take his treat and still try to bite me at times. When he bites, he is ignored and then he behaves for a little while. I do not tap beaks, hit, squirt water at him or do anything beyond saying a forceful 'No!' and ignoring him. I'm aware that much of his behaviour is around defending his territory and Trix. He is getting better and will allow me to put my arms in the cage to arrange branches or toys but he will try to bite given the chance. He comes out of the cage and will step onto my hand in order to get onto the sofa but then bites me once he realises he's standing on me. All that said, he's by far the more interactive bird and talks and shouts for our attention. He watches us and talks back if we talk to him.

Trix also goes to bite but it's much more half-hearted and he just withdraws from me as much as possible if I try to put a hand near him although he will take food. He takes food very gently.

Robert is the main feather plucker and has plucked pretty much every part he can reach on himself. He's also plucked Trix's head, neck and back. We say 'No!' forcefully every time we see him do it but apparently he's always plucked.

I'm well aware that it's going to take a lot of hard work, time and patience in order to do anything with these birds. What I'd like to know if whether people here think it can be done. These birds have been left in an aviary for a long time, I'm not sure how long as their history is very sparse, but certainly more than a year.

I feel that they should be split and put into ajoining cages and allowed to be together part of the day but not all the time as I feel that being in the same cage is creating problems with aggression and makes the birds turn to each other instead of towards us.

I feel that Trix should be seen by a vet although I am equally worried that taking him out of the cage and separating him from Robert in order to do that would be very traumatic for him.

If it's felt that nothing can be done, we are happy to build another flight and let them live in there but I would like to do my best to see if it's possible to break some of these habits. We've only had them a week and this is what I've observed during this so far.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Kath

I would take them to the vet. No matter what. Take both of them. Pulling them away from each other you will just see how that goes.and how that works out for them
They may go for it they may not. If they been together for that long it will be very hard to. Any other.? I.forgot let me know and a pm or on here in ill try help out a little better I'm on a phone so its hard toreador sorry

I'll ring the rescue people again tomorrow and try to get them to agree for them to be seen by a vet especially Trix. They pay the vet fees so they call the shots.

I a,m somewhat worried about the trauma for both birds, especially Trix. I suppose I'm a bit jumpy as we've kept birds of prey who can just keel over if stressed unduly. As I say I'm less au fait with macaw behaviour. That said, none of our other parrot type birds died from stress.

Thanks for the advice,

Kath

Perhaps you could make arrangements to have your vet see them together (back to back examinations) as to avoid the stress of a long separation. I admire your consideration of the stress factor involved. I think knowing a bond-mate is there can help a lot.

I agree that an evaluation by a qualified avian vet is the place to start. Unfortunately, there's no way to achieve that without stressing the birds to some degree. If your avian vet won't come to your facility, all you can do is attempt to implement some measures to reduce the stress of going to be examined.

Every bird is so different making it difficult to know whether the behaviors you describe with Trix are indicative of serious illness or not. They may well be. That's why a vet visit is essential in my opinion.

Another thing just gave a few weeks to settle down. Just sit near there cage everyday talk to them try to sing or read to both of them everyday. Find there favorite treat

I will ring the rescue society tomorrow and try my persuasive charm on them as I agree these birds should be seen by a vet. Apart from anything else, they've been kept in a flight for God knows how long without proper attention so anything could be wrong.

Their favourite treats so far are almonds but I'm trying not to give them too many. We've tried a variety of things but these interest them most. They're not keen on veg at all although I try every day with different ones. They have half an apple each every day and some grapes although a they waste a lot but that's expected. Oranges next and nectarines. I am going to try them with half a shell-on hard boiled egg each and see what they think.

We talk to them all the time and leave music on if we both go out. We also have the cage open for at least an hour or two every day but only Robert comes out. Trix just sits and whinges; the noise is like a broody hen.

Kath

What has the rescue done to prove that Trix is healthy? Have they done their own series of tests with a vet? If yes, talk to their vet and ask for a copy of the test results for your files. If you aren't comfortable with the conversation or results, go to another avian vet, maybe without the birds, and see what he says. Go with your gut feelings because you know how healthy normal birds behave. At least your conscience will feel better. lol.

I would place the birds in separate cages but close enough so that they can interact with each other. Maybe with Trix having his own space and toys, he will come out of his shell. I think Trix's willingness to come to you and get treats is a good sign. Hang in there. Maybe Robert will learn from Trix and change over time.

You definitely have challenges ahead of you. Good luck.

I'm know nothing about this type of bird, (so dismiss my comments if you wish) but to me - if he really is otherwise in reasonable health - Trix seems desperately depressed. Does he take any comfort from Robert? I'd favour the adjoining cages idea to give Trix some peace but if he likes to snuggle up to Robert it might distress him. I've managed it in the past by arranging perches in separate cages so that the birds could still sit side by side. I wish you well with them, they really need you and whatever you can do for them will be an improvement.

Hi Everyone,

Many thanks for all the comments and advice. I just thought I'd give you an update.

Firstly, I spoke to the rescue society and both birds are going to be seen by avian vet. This is going to be a major undertaking in itself as it's a 100+ mile round trip but he's a good vet so we're fine with that.

Both birds are now eating fruit and veg although Trix has to coaxed. They're getting supplements in their water and their seed too. It's now a process of sorting out what they like, what they don't like and getting them to try a little of everything new.

Trix has made huge steps forward and will now come to the front of the cage and has even been out once. He is not so lethargic and is moving around the cage a lot more easily. Robert is in and out of the cage every day for several hours at a time.

After a lot of discussion, the birds will be put into separate cages this week. They do look to each other but part of the reason Trix is in such a bad way nutritionally, is that I noticed Robert is taking food from him or pushing him away from the bowls. Trix does fight back but Robert is the dominant bird.

Robert is also plucking Trix and continues to do this. We are hoping that as we show them how to play and to use their shredding toys that this behaviour will turn outwards and onto their toys. I think, myself, that if you're stuck in a cage 24/7 with nothing to do then it's fairly reasonable to think you'll amuse yourself by pulling out each other's feathers. We realise that it may be impossible to stop it completely but we also hope that in time they will look a bit less like oven-ready turkeys. Although, Trix looks more like a vulture as Robert has systematically plucked his entire head and neck except for a fetching tuft of green feathers above his beak.

Robert is also very aggressive with Trix at times, and it is bullying as he will go back into the open cage just to peck and terrorise Trix. No wonder the poor bird is too scared to move from his perch.

Robert is a little calmer with us although still biting and pecking, but he has come to stand on my hand twice. He is also taking food without biting and pecking as much.

Trix is also biting but somewhat half-heartedly. I actually delighted about this as it's so much better than the exhausted apathy of before. I think we have a better chance of getting him to not bite in the long-term as he was hand reared. And there is a better chance of him remembering those behaviours if they are not in the same cage.

So, we will have two huge cages side by side in the living room this week.

Trix is having his beak trimmed again this week and we'll do it every couple of weeks until it's looking like a normal macaw beak. He doesn't shred, gnaw or chew the toys or wood, special perch or anything else which has obviously contributed to the problem but doesn't justify the previous owner not doing anything.

The only devastating thing that happened was that my husband cut me a bit of broom handle that I wanted to try as a step-up stick so I wouldn't get bitten as much. To my absolute horror, as soon as the macaws glimpsed it in my hand, they both clawed their way to the very back of the cage screaming and distressed and it took several hours for them to calm down completely. We think perhaps they have been hit or threatened in the past but we have no way of knowing for sure. It was distressing for everyone. I would rather just have my hands bitten than do that again.

Robert remains very chatty and has already added 'stop it' and 'don't bite' to his repertoire which is a bit embarrassing. Both birds shout hello when we answer the phone and Robert calls if neither of us are in the room but he can hear us elsewhere in the house. Trix is still making the constant whining noise but it is quieter and not going on for quite as long.

All in all, I'm very happy with how things are going but equally aware that this is just the beginning and we have a long way to go before these birds are anywhere near a good healthy condition physically and mentally.

Kath

I'm so pleased to read your update. Such improvement in just a few days bodes well for the future, surely. I hope the vet trip goes smoothly. I shall look forward to further updates, especially regarding poor Trix, what a rough time he's had, poor soul. They are so lucky to have come into your caring hands.

Yes, that's positive news indeed, Kath. I agree that those birds are quite fortunate to have come to you.

Best of luck with the vet trip!

Great news for both birds. I think Trix will come out of his shell with your loving attention.

I am wondering what would happen if the two were separated into different rooms in the near future? I am thinking that without Robert around, Trix could be a loving companion when he realizes humans are not a threat.

Keep up the good work!!

I most definitely think Trix will do better separated from Robert and, in the long term, being in another room as well might be even better. But that's quite a way off.

I'll be interested to see if Trix talks more once they're apart as at the moment he only says 'hello'.

Robert has quite an extensive vocabulary including some swear words. He's already added a couple of words to that in the week and a bit he's been with us.

Kath