Meet Duke

Lis

New member
Aug 20, 2013
56
0
Indiana
Parrots
"Larry Bird" Quaker, 12 years
"Mogul" CAG 17 years
"Duke" B&G Macaw 22 years
"Pepper" GW Macaw 6 years
Well I finally brought home my adopted 22year old B&G Macaw Duke yesterday. Oh my what a day it was....his previous owner offered to drive 4 hours (I drove 1 hour) to meet her while she was helping her son move back to collage. One intersection from our meeting spot, she was in a bad accident. Imagine trying to pick up your macaw in the middle of a busy intersection at the on/off ramp of the Hwy. Her truck was totaled, cop car lights , tow trucks. she had taken him out of his travel cage in her panic to check on him and was worried about the airbag dust and he was coughing, this is what I ended up pulling up to. When I called my husband to tell him what was going on all he could say is, he's going to have ptsd before you get him. lol, thx honey!! Well as awful as all that was, it's been going incredibly well, in fact so well I'm afraid I'm going to turn him into a bad macaw.

Like I know it's not good to allow them on your shoulder until they have earned your trust. Well I've already messed up step one. He's giving me a really good sense of security and warmth, that I don't think I should expect so soon. He easily steps up, even from inside his cage. He will sit on my forearm and snuggle up close in the crook of my neck and let me pet and hold the back of his head and neck. he seems to get so relaxed he feels like he's leaning back into my hand like he would lay on his back. however when we walk around the house, yard, neighborhood, he tends to want to get up on my shoulder. To be honest it's a easier place for me to have him too as he can hold on to my shirt better and feels like he might slip on my arm.

We went for a car ride today and got some ice cream and sat on a bench, he seemed to love it, yes the ice cream too. His previous owner said he loves it and so I did it. People would come up to take our picture, he would step up onto my hand and if i hold him up high and say show them your wings, he spreads them. If a truck would go by he would get in closer to me, like he knows I'm where he's safe. So Please be gentle with me, I know I've done it all wrong, but after yesterday, accident, his owner crying, all rational thoughts were out the window. And yes I didn't meet him before, we had Skype a couple of times only.
 
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MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
That's love at first sight!!! You two would have great bond together like Willie and I. I was able to do it all with him from the moment we met like you two did. Willie have been with us for 10 years! Lola is the newer addition and she's doing really good too. I know sometimes you let your guard down a little bit seeing how good they're doing with you. But just always be cautious!
 

henpecked

Active member
Dec 12, 2010
4,858
Media
3
18
NC/FLA
Parrots
Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
Your in there...you're doing all the right things. Socialize,socialize ,socialize.
 

ShellyBorg

New member
Apr 8, 2013
890
2
Redding, CA
Parrots
TAG Spirit,RLA Danny,Senegal Damon, Parrotlet Opal, B&G Paris
He is a keeper! I have only had my Girl 4 days and I let her "touch" all over my face today, so your not alone in blowing the whole distance thing. *sigh*
 
OP
Lis

Lis

New member
Aug 20, 2013
56
0
Indiana
Parrots
"Larry Bird" Quaker, 12 years
"Mogul" CAG 17 years
"Duke" B&G Macaw 22 years
"Pepper" GW Macaw 6 years
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
I have had him everywhere with me in the yard, running the hose all around. I was worried how he might react to my chickens, but he didn't really seem to care. I have tried to frequently tell him to step up on my hand while he's on my shoulder so he is use to me telling him to come off, even if after some snuggles and kisses I tell him to step back up there again. He's just perfect personality for me, my husband is probably going to get jealous. I know he liked to play dead for his last owner, but he hasn't done that for me. I feel like maybe I don't have the right grip on his feet for him to feel secure. I know he use to live in a typical neighborhood and i live just outside of a small town on 5 acres. When we walked down our winding drive to the mailbox, under all the trees and vines, he had this funny look like he had never seen so many tree options. haha. Still much to figure out, but I feel like he's home.
 

ShellyBorg

New member
Apr 8, 2013
890
2
Redding, CA
Parrots
TAG Spirit,RLA Danny,Senegal Damon, Parrotlet Opal, B&G Paris
My girl is flighted and I want to get a harness on her before going out. I cant wait to do what your doing!
 

Featheredsamurai

New member
Aug 24, 2011
4,172
19
California
Parrots
African Greg
2 cockatiels
Looks like you guys really hit it off :D
Remember to be careful having him on your shoulder, especially since you don't know him well yet
 

JerseyWendy

New member
Jul 20, 2012
20,995
24
It THAT wasn't love at first sight, I don't know what is! :D

Many many congrats! And what a SCARY meet and greet that started out to be. :eek:

You will have SO many adventures together. You definitely have a friend for life now. :)
 

kc_y0

New member
Nov 17, 2011
1,530
Media
2
1
Sydney
Parrots
Eclectus Female - Audrey.
Art - Budgie.
Astro - Budgie.
Mini - Budgie, RIP gorgeous girl.
Awwwww gorgeous!! :) So glad that you guys have bonded so well already!
 
OP
Lis

Lis

New member
Aug 20, 2013
56
0
Indiana
Parrots
"Larry Bird" Quaker, 12 years
"Mogul" CAG 17 years
"Duke" B&G Macaw 22 years
"Pepper" GW Macaw 6 years
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Thank you everyone. He's such a joy already inmy life. Is there anything that someone could suggest to use on my forearm or somewhere that would make it easier for him to hold on to.
 

brianlinkles

New member
Aug 17, 2011
740
1
Oakwood, Ohio
Parrots
i am the mom of three parrots:
Dorothy- African grey (cag)
Bowie- blue and gold macaw
Nellie- hyacinth macaw
Reggie- hyacinth macaw
Marnie- white bellied caique
It sounds like it is going great!! The only thing I would caution is the shoulder perching. I know its easy to go there with our birds and it is a great feeling to have them there so close. But always remember it is good until it's not. When it's not it can be really , really bad and very dangerous. I do allow my grey and my rb2 on my shoulder at times. I have had them both since they were little featherless babies. I am still taking a risk, I would just be very careful, some birds are set off by the weirdest things that we wouldn't even think about. This could mean such a bad injury for you. I know I sound like a broken record, I guess this was the first thing that my breeder who is my "bird guru" spoke to me about. All that said, you should be so excited about the connection you have made with Duke! What a scary beginning you had!
 

MonicaMc

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2012
7,960
Media
2
43
Parrots
Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
What about using sports gear to cover/protect your arms? Something along those lines might be beneficial for a bird to be able to sit on and grip with ease!
 

ShellyBorg

New member
Apr 8, 2013
890
2
Redding, CA
Parrots
TAG Spirit,RLA Danny,Senegal Damon, Parrotlet Opal, B&G Paris
I found a place here in my town that will be making me one out of ballistic cloth. It will also go up to my elbow. Good luck!
 

Hammerhead

New member
Jun 27, 2018
1
0
I do archery and I will be making or buying one of these. [URL="http://www.3riversarchery.com/Robin+Hood+Bracer_i8540X_baseitem.html]Robin Hood Archery Bracer[/URL]


Thanks for the link. That is exactly what I've been looking for.
 
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ChristaNL

Banned
Banned
May 23, 2018
3,559
157
NL= the Netherlands, Europe
Parrots
Sunny a female B&G macaw;
Japie (m) & Appie (f), both are congo african grey;
All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)
Oh, that one is brilliant!


I have been using something similar - but only covering my fore-arm and wrist. (Bough it at a LARP/ medieval-event ages ago)
Easy-peasy with the snap-fasteners (I hope I got the right word here) but I think the extra material around the thumb wil make it sit more snug anyway.
(Less chance of it rotating around the arm if the bird moves unexpectedly)


Now Sunny's nails are normal lenght (relief!) I dont bother with them indoors, but great idea for longer distances.



==


Looove the story!
Glad the B&G found a great new home (that one really made an entrance!)
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
This post is nearly five years old! :eek: LOL :D




Jim
 

ChristaNL

Banned
Banned
May 23, 2018
3,559
157
NL= the Netherlands, Europe
Parrots
Sunny a female B&G macaw;
Japie (m) & Appie (f), both are congo african grey;
All are rescues- had to leave their previous homes for 'reasons', are still in contact with them :)

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