Max came home early... :)

Byron and I spent some time yesterday at the shelter (dropped off a door I had re-welded for one of their cockatoo cages). She asked if I wanted to take Max home now, he seems so attached, she thought he would do better being home with us even if we do move shortly. Guess the stress of coming home and moving but being with us was considerably less then stress of staying at the rescue another month. They are truly the experts and beyond amazing with the work they do and success they have had with so many birds, I trust them completely! so......

Yesterday we only had my Maxima and while a nice large family sedan, it certainly was not fitting a 30x40 macaw cage even broken down So, my brother was coming up to visit and we enlisted his assistance with his Outback! He likes going over to the shelter, he loves the Toucan. And we took him on a tour of the whole property, there are many old barns and living quarters on the property from the last century or so when it was a dairy farm. He loves photographing old buildings, so he was in bliss climbing around a personal ghost town.

Anyway, babbling on! Back to point! Max is home!! He has done so well so far. He has hung out with Byron and Victoria and even Neill for a bit, so, we are starting out on the right foot making sure he is a well socialized family member and not just a momma's boy.

I must admit, as much as I love my bare eyed girl, having a macaw pick me as the person he wants to love after being abandoned at 25 years of age really is amazing. I know many people enjoy raising a bird from a baby and have the pride on what they have grown to be. But, there is just something beyond words to walk into a room and have a bird of 25 who has not always had the best in life and does not trust everyone, decide you are the person they can trust and want to go home with. Just removes all doubt about the bad and negative in the world to see the faith in his eyes that he belongs with us.

Its really been a great couple days and I am so happy that AHW has entrusted another shelter baby to us. But have to admit, its a pretty full flock about now. We have 1 cage that needs a resident, and I still think the poor old 60+ year old Amazon that was also dropped off at the shelter recently might be a great candidate, but that is a decision for another day. For now, its just enjoying the big lovable puppy 'baby' boy that just came home!

Some pics from today... Max in his carrier on the drive home... yes I had faith and trust in him to scratch his head thru the grate (still have all my fingers!!).

Its a great start and Ivory has not been upset, so that was a surprise plus!! I was so worried she would be too jealous... but hey, its only the first night, should not jinx myself!!

Sorry for the long babble, but so many of you had posted and replied about Max from the time he was dropped off tot he shelter, had to share the news

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend and happy egg hunting!!!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0cSEfPP6CE"]Max - YouTube[/ame]

Oh my goodness, the way he just crawled into your arms when he was slightly startled made my heart melt! Max seems like such a sweetheart. I'm so happy for you all! Congratulations on bringing home such a beautiful baby home early. You and Victoria are such an inspiration to my boyfriend and I - we love how much you put into those you love and how you reach out to help all living creatures in need.

I really hope to experience that feeling - having a bird look at you and just let you know in one gesture that they need you, despite the struggles and tragedies. Once again, congrats, and is look forward to more pictures and stories!

Max's colors are stunning! He is so gorgeous I can't get the video to play, my computer is running really slow & I can't get it to load
I am so thrilled that he is home with y'all now, and am still holding out hope for Helmet to eventually come home with you as well.

Max sure seems like he has made himself right at home!

Oh my god, his noises!!! *squeal*. I am green with envy, I would love a B&G if only I had the space. Max is so handsome and his colours are stunning. I love how he just grumbles away! That boy doesn't know how lucky he is, going to such a great home! What does Folger make of him?

Folger really does not fuss much any other birds. In that aspect he's really laid back.,. Maybe only way

Awww dino,,, thank you for your sweet words! I know I always go on about adoption, max is just a poster boy for how wonderful an adult / rehome / shelter baby can be. I do understand all the posts about babies and we have enjoyed raising the little ones, but just something about adoption. I hope when you guys are ready you consider adoption... but as Terry reminded me about another bird.... they all need a good home

Thanks again, I think I feel more the lucky one... I never would have considered a macaw so its still in that 'wow is this real' emotional state!!

Update.... he talks in his sleep!! Any other macaws out there that grumble mumble when sleeping!!!??

Yay!!! Wow, Max is so beautiful Jen. I can't get the video to load on my tablet unfortunately, but the pics show a very handsome middle aged man with gorgeous feathers... I bet he looks like he did when he was just a boy lol!

That must be a really amazing feeling having a bird especially as big and flamboyant as a macaw pick you out of the crowd. It was so meant to be! Love this story.

So that is interesting they told you that it was less stress to move house with you than be away from you. I could see that though since Max did bond to you already. I just wonder about my Ruppell's coming who doesn't know me, and we will be moving right about the same time frame he is due to wean! I really hope we've already moved by then.

The scenery you describe by the shelter sounds pretty cool too. I'd love to see back east one day. Have fun with your new little man!!

He's a gorgeous mac and he's lucky to have y'all. Such a sweetheart!

Willie mumbles when he's fixing to go to sleep....One thing I really have to mention, I hope you guys are practicing quarantine when bringing all the birds in, especially from a shelter. I trusted someone once when I first started and it was a terrible mistake causing numerous bird's life when the virus broke out. Hundreds of dollars at the vet later I was able to cure the rest. One had permanent damage done but he did just fine.

AhW quarantine policies has been discussed once before. But all birds go thru full vetting including bloodwork and then into quarantine. Max came home straight out of the cleanroom. Thinking about it, might be the logic why it was less stressfull to come home now, going into a shelter environment with either dozen macaws or Chynas cage among the amazon gang may have been more dramatic to a quiet man then couple car rides and window scenery changes with mom!!

But thank you for sharing your exoerience and concern! I would never have brought him home straight from a strangers house.

Raven... I think your ruppells will do fine, When Victoria was hand feeding the tiel babies they traveled and went on vacation with us! They loved it, long as they had their mom! For your baby will probably seem like going from bedroom to living room. Sometimes I think we worry more then they do!! I can't wait to see your pics!!

Max is beautiful, Jen! Congratulations on the new addition to your flock! Great Easter gift too, eh? And there's no doubt of the love he already has for you when you watch that video. I'm happy for him and you, both!

Btw, I don't know if I missed a post or something, but weren't you talking about bringing an amazon home as well? The laid back one? Did she already come home?

Many congrats on Max! Wow, that sure happened quickly. No doubt that he has all of you firmly wrapped around his talons.

jenphilly said:

.... But, there is just something beyond words to walk into a room and have a bird of 25 who has not always had the best in life and does not trust everyone, decide you are the person they can trust and want to go home with. Just removes all doubt about the bad and negative in the world to see the faith in his eyes that he belongs with us.

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I thought Max only had one previous owner, and was raised from egg? Here is a part of your quote from when you introduced Max in the Adoption section.

jenphilly said:

We had the great fortune today to meet the latest macaw to come into A Helping Wing needing a home. I am not a macaw person (tho there is one there I adore), but Max could seriously change my mind.

.... He happily goes from person to person and is funny, gurgles and grumbles non stop, does talk, but likes to grumble like a little old man nonstop.

He does this awesome wing display and then he reaches out with his wing like a human would a hand and touches you or rubs whatever he can reach!

Adoption applications will be taken a list started, but seriously, this guy is a million to one find in a shelter... He has been in one home for 25 years, literally from egg til now. He would make a fantastic addition to a family!

Here are videos and photos, see for yourself!!! Think this what Birdman would label a mushmac!!

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Max did only have one home, but being in one not so great home doesn't mean he had a wonderful happy life and perfect experiences. For example, his diet was all seed, so safe to say not everything was parrot heaven. I never suggested he had multiple homes, just that he does not trust everyone... He has a fear of men, whether its never been exposed or the woman's boyfriend / husband / significant other was not very nice to him.

The second quote if you look at the post was after he first came into the shelter and being passed around was among women who were standing there. that was the first day we met him and I photographed and videotaped him to post for petfinder. Much like a person, you think you know what a wonderful person someone is at first, then you realize what a grumpy, sad, miserable beast lies beneath the surface. So we're learning what 'issues' Max has, nothing that can't be worked out, Byron is working with him as I type this No husband running from him, he is totally committed to working with Max and ensuring he is a well rounded and socialized member of our flock and not just a momma's boy.

We've also learned he has a fear of being carried around and especially downstairs. Now being in quarantine, we really would not have realized he had this fear, but bringing him down it became clear he has been dropped or something along those lines. Didn't mention that in my first post either, but learning as we go!

But with all the macaw experience on this forum, I am sure everyone realizes that the settling in and learning his quirks and what stimuli affects him in what matter does not happen overnight or even in a few visits, but is a long process over many months.

Anansi said:

Max is beautiful, Jen! Congratulations on the new addition to your flock! Great Easter gift too, eh? And there's no doubt of the love he already has for you when you watch that video. I'm happy for him and you, both!

Btw, I don't know if I missed a post or something, but weren't you talking about bringing an amazon home as well? The laid back one? Did she already come home?

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There are actually a few amazons at the shelter I adore... But amazons apparently don't like me nearly as much Rosie is one I am absolutely in love with, he was the one that was the theme of the bully Jen into adopting an Amazon all in good fun and humor! But, unlike Max, Rosie did not give me the time and day and had absolutely no interest in spending time with me. Tho my feeling were a little saved because Rosie acts that way to everyone! But, the decision was made after multiple attempts to develop some relationship with him, that Rosie's best interest was to remain in his 'gang' of Zons.

There was another Amazon that came in that everyone 'thought' would be my perfect match. When she (who everyone thinks is a he from pics we posted) met me, Kelly pinned eyes, ruffled the neck and splayed the tail all at once! I was impressed at how much he disliked me!! But Kelly is an awesome Zon and will make a great family addition for the right person. He loves Victoria by the way, just not me

Then the last one that to me is beyond heartbreaking is Helmet. He is a 60+ year old Zon who has lived in a smoking home, feed terrible food and much to my horror, I saw the cage he had lived in during my Friday visit. It was the size of maybe a medium travel cage for a green cheek size bird. There was one perch that had a pile of poop that really must have been an inch high. No he's not in that cage, on Friday, we did a tour of the whole property including the old barns where they dump all the old trash cages waiting for a dumpster full. He is still in quarantine tho and they are just not sure what to do with him. It breaks my heart that he will spend his last years in a shelter, even if he is with a group of zons. He is terrified of hands, but does show off for me and takes peanuts. I still hope they will consider letting us bring him home. I am totally fine if he never likes people, I just think every bird (animal) deserves to be loved, and knowing what his life for 60 years has been like, I just think he deserves to have his last years living in birdie luxury. I also have a huge soft spot for the older animals. Just the sadness of them being discarded because they are too old or past their past years... I think I've been on a rant about that on the forums already, so won't start again

I know you are happy! The wait is the worst part, once you decide to bring a new baby home. He is a beautiful boy and he looks like he has made himself at home

He is so pretty I Love his light colors [Mine had darker colors ]. You think theirs different subspecies ? I don't know if im saying it right. As for other birds at your house their bound to love you cause of how well their treated. I think word gets passed around the house [by the birds ] . This is MOM be nice So what Im getting at . I bet if you pick the zon you want [things will be fine] . Their a lot different at home. I have a GREY,2Macaws ,LS2 ,Goffin ,Eclectus ,Zon and greencheek that REALLY wanted to get me . That love me now.

He looks smitten and is a beautiful boy! Congrats on the new addition. Looking forward to his videos

Macawlover12 said:

I know you are happy! The wait is the worst part, once you decide to bring a new baby home. He is a beautiful boy and he looks like he has made himself at home

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I actually was okay with the wait, thought more time taking Macaw 101 with the shelter operators was a good thing for me! But they joked they knew I was ready when Max was sitting with me and starting beaking something and without looking at him, I just pushed his head and beak away. I did not even realize I did it, we were all sitting at the table just talking, not even sure what I pushed his beak away from!

Pinkbirdy said:

He is so pretty I Love his light colors [Mine had darker colors ]. You think theirs different subspecies ? I don't know if im saying it right. As for other birds at your house their bound to love you cause of how well their treated. I think word gets passed around the house [by the birds ] . This is MOM be nice So what Im getting at . I bet if you pick the zon you want [things will be fine] . Their a lot different at home. I have a GREY,2Macaws ,LS2 ,Goffin ,Eclectus ,Zon and greencheek that REALLY wanted to get me . That love me now.

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There are subspecies or 'mutations' for the blue and gold. I had been doing reading myself. I am a bookworm and read everything and anything, so did reading on the species, history as pets, things like that. His colors might be a little light because of his previous diet, he lived 25 years on a seed diet. Now sit down for this... he likes Harrisons, he took right to it when the shelter offered! So, have to pick up some for him today. But, the blue throated macaw by way of genetics is a mutation of the blue and gold family. He also needs bathing, we sprayed him yesterday, but tomorrow will be a full blown bath 'bath'. I have a shower bench that I think I'll try for him, will be a fun experience! Thank for such thoughts, but I think all the other birds forgot to tell Folger, he still would like to eat me, tho we've come to a mutual respect and he no longer tries to chase me hey, its progress!!! I know in my heart Rosie would not have been happy away from his amazon gang of brats, but the wonderful news is they are building a colony aviary for the Zons that have some issues or just are happiest when in their own group. So Rosie will be there. I'll always adore him and I take over birdie bread and sprouts all the time with him in mind So kinda a long distant foster mom if you will! Keep the positive thinking for Helmet, still hope one day he'll join the spoiled brats with us

I figure if you can get a too to stop chasing you it's a victory If you do get Helmet maybe you can change his name to Helmut which means (in part) courage.

jenphilly said:

I just think every bird (animal) deserves to be loved, and knowing what his life for 60 years has been like, I just think he deserves to have his last years living in birdie luxury.

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Absolutely!!
Poor Helmet. Even in the shelter it sounds like he's really living it up as compared to before! It's a wonder he lived that long in those conditions, but you do hear of long lived Amazons in deplorable conditions with smoke and everything. Zons are such hardy birds. I know you'll make the best decision regarding if pursuing Helmet is the best thing.