Amazed at Gracie the Rescue

I have discovered since Gracie the rescue has been with me over the past week that she has had some real training in her history. She is a wonderful bird and cannot imagine how she ever wound up in a rescue situation. She talks some "hello, bye bye, want a cracker, step up, etc.) but just last night I realized that she has been trained to wave with her left wing when she says hello. She has great bite control using her beak to push and hold without biting even when very nervous and grips very lightly with her talons, almost too lightly when on you so that she slips a bit. Everyday I learn something new about her. She has definitely accepted me as her new owner and I am amazed. She has continued to pluck some but I see a lot of great new growth. Today I started her on a supplement that is supposed to help with plucking and I hope that it helps. Gracie is beautiful now, but fully feathered would be a shining star.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUsOMjtKkiM&list=UUVwbAkuO6QO-RcMo-9KaQsg"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUsOMjtKkiM&list=UUVwbAkuO6QO-RcMo-9KaQsg[/ame]

Close ups please? That's great that she's adjusting!! Today was my second day with my macaw. I hope she makes more progress by our one week point too! Love that stand too!

I dont have many but here are some from the first day when she is in her travel cage. You can really see the plucking she did before I got her and it is so sad . Today, I dont think I saw her pluck at all and she has really taken an interest in preening. She is constantly working on her overgrown beak, cleaning up around her talons and opening the new feather growth that has started to come in. I have gotten some great tips by signing up on some websites like goodbirdinc.com and birdtricks.com. I was considering purchasing the dvd series from birdtricks.com but after seeing how well she is responding to me and how much of her historical training seems to be coming back I am holding off. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do. In only a week I am in love.

PS... so far my favorite thing is when you give her something she really likes to eat she goes "mmmmmmmmmmmmmm". I smile every single time.

Forgot to add.. a very nice woman read my post on facebook about rescuing Gracie and sold me that stand and a load of big bird toys for $100.... I had just priced them; that stand was $500 originally and was only used 2 times. I couldn't believe my luck on that one.

What a wonderful update! Gracie sure is one lucky gal to have found you!! (AND vice versa, too)

How sweet Gracie is. I bet she is just loving her new home! It sounds like she's adjusting well, so if you wanted to order DVDs, by the time they arrive it would probably be a good time to start distracting her from plucking with training Even if she hasn't had much training, I'm sure she'll pick it up very quickly. Macaws are very intelligent and usually very willing to do all kinds of things to please their owner (when the owner is kind to them and treating them right).

My Maggie hadn't been handled in 8 years when I got her...

She was also a throwaway. FOUR DAYS LATER she became my constant companion...

I have no idea why people throw these birds away, but I don't know how it's possible to love (or be loved by) a bird more than I do that one.

So, this is yet another one of those "happens all the time, stop me if you've heard this before."

Bottom line: They behave differently when they are happy, well loved, and well cared for. Neglected macaws tend to be angry and unhappy, and they are not shy about letting the world know it. Instead of "fixing" the problem, they dump them.

Maggie has a small spot on her stomach that looks like it might not regrow feathers. She's never plucked since I've had her...

"Birds with baggage" is a myth. These birds are often so grateful when they finally find love and care, that they end up being the most bonded birds of all. All living things respond to love...

Hey, my most bonded bird EVER was left by the trash can to die... someone through that bird out like she was garbage!

And when she finally did die, it nearly killed me... cuz she was that amazing!!!

I stopped asking why a long time ago. The answer would probably only make you angry anyway.

Fantastic update! I absolutely love Gracie's wing wave. She looks very comfy on her beautiful new perch surrounded by love, attention and toys.