Advice on newly adopted blue and gold?

We lost a beloved Amazon this spring, and decided to adopt a parrot because the plight of surrendered birds is so heartbreaking. Went to look at a B&G yesterday at a rescue place. Gus is 10-14 years old, was living in filth, wasn't handled for 8 years, had a serious infection. Turns out the rescue org had taken him for treatment at our vet, who is an avian expert. He was treated and declared cured. He has a spinal deformity from being malnourished when younger. He was affectionate with his rescuer, and while he was a bit fearful of us he did run up onto my shoulder from the back of the couch and let me walk around the room with him. He also stepped up for my husband and ran up onto his shoulder. We brought him home.

I don't know much about macaws, but he seems exceptionally sweet. He takes food from our hands, he resists being picked up but then sits for a long time on the arm and shoulder. Discovered the newspaper and shredded it while sitting on my forearm, the walked around the table and shredded it some more. Been sitting by his cage all morning and he seems very relaxed, preening and napping.

It seems like we are off to a good start. Gus may be slightly partial to me, but it would be best for him to bond more with hubby - I travel a lot, and the Amazon was his, and he's the one who really wanted to get another bird. He found Gus and is the official adopter. Do you think Gus might bond to both of us? The amazon was very much a one-man bird. He would step up for me, do tricks, and interact but I could never pet him. I would love to be able to cuddle Gus and scritch his head, but not at the cost of his bonding to hubby.

Any advice about settling a new macaw would be great. Have never spent time with one, and don't want to start any bad habits. He seems so sweet and gentle. Is this normal? Are macaws usually this sweet? The amazon was much more feisty! We hope he will stay this gentle and warm up to us.

Welcome, yes macaws are cuddle bugs! Read and reread
http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

Haunt everything Birdman666 and Henpecked!

Gus sounds absolutely adorable. Crippled and terribly abused. My kind of animal . Okay that made me sound like a monster. What I mean is that I can't resist animals who have suffered and are deserving of lots of love and patience. Ooh, pictures please!

Anyways, I'm glad you adopted him. From what I understand, a lot of humans would pass up someone with his history, but I'm glad you and your husband chose him over some young, charismatic parrot.

Just from my basic understanding of how the brains of parrots and most animals work, both you and your husband can be involved in Gus's life. It's just that during the first month or so, you're husband should be the main caregiver. He should train him, give him snuggles, and spend a good amount of time with him. You should also look after Gus and give him love, but you'll want to make sure he doesn't get too attached to you. You definitely want to make sure he enjoys spending time with you, though.

I don't know if I'm explaining this very well. You want Gus to like both of you, but you don't really want him to become overly attached to either of you because he could potentially end up resenting his least favourite human or something. You want your husband to be his favourite parent (like how human children have a favourite), but you also want him to love you and enjoy your company.

Okay, basically you'll want your husband to give him a lot of love, but you'll also want to preen him, feed him etc. The first couple of weeks, you'll want Gus to have a special connection with your husband. Depending on what Gus is like, you and your husband could both train him, feed him, etc., an equal amount. However, he could snuggle in the evening with your husband for a couple of hours before going in his cage for the night. Noah always looks forward to going on my shoulder and cuddling in my hair in the evening. It definitely brings us closer together. For Gus, perhaps the two of you could treat him equally and care for him, but let your husband be the one in the evening who has really nice snuggles before Gus goes to sleep. The end of the day is when bonds are really strengthened for many animals, and Gus will be comforted and protected before going to sleep.

I don't know a whole lot about macaws, but I think they tend to love everyone in the family if they're properly socialized. With amazons, I'm pretty sure there's a tendency for them to be a one person bird, and depending on how well they're socialized, they'll tolerate and settle for care and affection from other family members, or constantly attack anyone who isn't their favourite. I could be wrong. But yes, macaws definitely tend to be real snugglers, without being painfully needy like cockatoos can be.

You'll definitely want to make sure to teach him in an appropriate manner about his beak. Beaks are tools for eating, climbing, and showing love. Beaks should only clamp down on someone as the last resort, and they should cause only superficial wounds. Sometimes it's perfectly fine to take a chunk out of someone.

Gus seemed to be more attracted to me, so I tried to stand back a bit and let J take the lead. But then I fed Gus parrot kibble out of the flat palm of my hand, and he ate them delicately and made no move to nip. Then he bent his head down, and I couldn't help it - I sritched the back of his head. He totally blissed out: let me massage the millions of pin feathers on his head and back for a long time. I could walk up to him right now and do it again. So I am sitting across the room. J picked him up and while he was not quite as immediately affectionate to him, he did allow J to scratch his head, too. I adore this little bird, so it's difficult to keep back, but I don't want to risk him becoming averse to J. Oh, I hope he will grow to love us both in time.

Kentuckienne said:

. I adore this little bird, .

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This bit made me smile From the mouths of Macaw owners! Had to scroll up and make sure we were talking about the same species. Congratulations on your new arrival

FWIW I am the main caregiver of our mac Zoe, but she still prefers my wife. As long as it's just us she's as snuggly as can be, but if Karen is home I'm chopped liver.


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Its not only macaws that can 'share' their love, our YSA Salty is pretty good with my wife during the day, hanging out on her shoulder, letting her give treats, singing with her, and doing some tricks, but as soon as I come home, it's Mommy-who?? She still can't get him to accept scratchies, so you guys are ahead!

I've been reading up on Gus's condition, kyphosis. He has a large deformity in his spine, a big hump on the lower part. When I rubbed his head yesterday, I noticed that he had a ton of pin feathers all over the back of his head and neck, and large ones down the middle of his back. J thinks his spine must not be very flexible so he is unable to preen them himself. They must be itchy - no wonder he blisses out when they get preened for him. Maybe that's why is is so quiet - does it hurt him to yell? Does he have trouble breathing, does that make him feel tired? Does it hurt him to move around? He can't tell us. It makes us feel very tender toward him. He is so apprciative of attention and of touch. It's different from what we expected - we both missed the energy and talkative noisy presence of dear departed Ollie (a blue-front Amazon) and wanted to bring some of that back into the house. But Gus is very quiet, doesn't talk at all, barely squawks now and then. Maybe this will change as he becomes more comfortable and realizes that this is the way it is, he gets to be the only adored parrot. Maybe he will always be quiet. What he lacks in volume he makes up for in sweetness. He accepts love, he seems to really appreciate attention - in slowly increasing amounts. What were the chances of finding a bird who would accept us both? Most of the rescues seemed to be problem birds in the sense of "hates men" "hates women" "prefers men" "will allow one person to touch him through the bars" and here is a little sweetie who let both of us carry him around and scratch his head in the first 24 hours? It makes me feel fiecely protective. I'll talk to the vet, who did so much to extend Ollie's time with us, to see what might make his life better. He needs beak and nail trimming, and follow up to make sure his infection is really cured, but maybe there is something to help his stiffness. I imagine his back/joints may cause him pain, and perhaps there is some bird-safe anti-inflammatory treatment that might alleviate that a little. Funny - he's not what we expected but maybe just what we need. It's lucky for him that we are both home all the time and can give him attention and care, and it's lucky for us that we (hopefully) won't have to fight over who gets to be chopped liver. Oh, and he's not beaky at all! He will sometimes touch with the outside of his beak ... He is very careful to accept food slowly and without nipping .. He doesn't lunge or snap ... When he uses his beak for balance he just puts the point of the top bill down and doen't pinch or hold. He nipped J on the way home - he was sitting next to the travel cage and put his hand through the bars, so that doesn't count. If we are respectful and ask nicely before picking him up, petting him, etc. he responds very gracefully.

I guess that's a long post but this is my first time with a macaw and my first time with a bird that allowed me to touch him like this, so I'm obsessed.

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Gus in all his glory

Your story touches my heart and brings tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for adopting Gus. It sounds like he is finally getting the life he deserves. He will bring you and hubby lots of joy.

My heart is bursting with both sadness (for what he's been through) and joy (for the new life he has). Thank you...

Kentuckienne said:

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Gus in all his glory

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HI Gus !! You are looking quite handsome and pretty happy !

This is a day of firsts. My first macaw shirt poop. First time seeing Gus talk with his beak: we were sitting on the screen porch. For some reason he relaxes instantly out there. Head scratching. If you stop the preening, and he wants more, he reaches down and puts his beak ever so gently around your hand and lifts it slightly. Had to repeat this several times over the course of the day to be sure that's what was happening. And then he got in the shower for the first time. We weren't sure how he'd react, but he was looking at the water so J took him in. He flapped his wings and twisted his head and got as wet as he could. We'll have to fix up a shower for him on a perch in the tub because we don't have a macaw size shower and he was flapping big time, wings and tail out full. I got a five second video of him sitting on top of the shower wall afterwards and wanting to go back in. I never thought it possible for a bird to open up so quickly. [ame="https://youtu.be/i5GBzp4ZMCc"]https://youtu.be/i5GBzp4ZMCc[/ame]

Gus has both a better and a worse past than I knew. We got a copy of his records from the vet. He just turned 14, we got him just after his birthday. His first vet visit was in 2006 when he was not quite a year old, and then he was seen very frequently until 2006, then two visits in 2008, then nothing until 2016 when he was picked up by the rescue. During that time he was treated for either one resistant or several separate infections, including an eye infection. Many tests for Aspergillosis, endoscopy, x-rays. His person spent several thousand dollars on his care - he must have been beloved. Then nothing after 2008. The humans got divorced, and Gus began his life in the cage in the back in the corner in the dark. I won't judge. Obviously someone cared about him a great deal, and that may be why after all that time in solitary he is still sane and loving. When the larger travel cage arrives, we'll go see the vet in person and get the whole scoop. Please, cross your fingers and claws and wish for Gus to be fully healed of all those past infections, and we'll do what we can to make sure the rest of his life is as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

Wow, it's official. I LOVE GUS!. And he seems to intrinsically know how you feel about him. Wonderful, and keep us all posted!

From one disabled macaw owner to another: bless you.

These little guys and gals (mine's a girl) need love just as much as the prettier, fully abled birds, if not more. My little girl is missing a wing and is severely plucked, and has major anxiety and OCD issues, but caring for her gives me so much more joy than anybody could ever know. She's an amazing bird. (She's also sitting on my knee a little irritated that I'm looking at the funny rectangle thing and not devoting my entire attention to her).

Gus found some wonderful people. He sounds so happy with you guys.

BeatriceC said:

From one disabled macaw owner to another: bless you. These little guys and gals (mine's a girl) need love just as much as the prettier, fully abled birds, if not more.

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With Gus we got the blessing first and the good deeds will have to catch up. We found he has deformed legs as well ... He kind of sits on his whole right leg, and the left I'd bent, and he moves gingerly. He doesn't like to climb down the cage to get to his food bowls, so tonight I held the food and water dishes up for him. And then he wouldn't step up, the bugger. I'm going to make some orthotic perches for him, maybe that will help. But he's not much trouble, and he's still pretty in his crooked little way. I don't know if I could manage a featherless baby - RESPECT!

Kentuckienne said:

I don't know if I could manage a featherless baby - RESPECT!

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I love my little naked chicken. Love really does see past cosmetics. I would like to get her to stop plucking because it's better for her health, but if she never does, or if she's damaged the follicles too much to completely refeather, that's okay too.

I think it's just the same as with you guys and Gus. We met her and it was love at first sight, regardless of the physical issues.

I too have received a "used" B&G macaw. I meet up with a lot of other parrot owners with their parrots once a week in an indoor riding arena, so the parrots (and their humans) can socialize with each other and fly free in a safe environment. My macaw is much more clingy and loving than the "normal" macaws. If i want to use my arms for something else, Sugar will hang on to my clothes on my chest and "hug" me until my arms are free to hold him again.

I believe the rescued macaws are intelligent enough to know, that we rescued them and are much more appreciative than the macaws, who have never experienced hardship.

The other macaw owners don't have as affectionate birds as mine. Not that they are not really fond of their owners, but they are a more "rowdy" and test boundaries a lot. My Sugar will do his best not to do wrong (which is not "normal" macaw behaviour). He does not eat bottons, zippers or clothes in general. He also never chews on furniture, doors or any other thing not his toys (except for one corner of a dresser, where he will chew once in a while to show he's upset with me for some reason, but even that has a smaller mark of 1x1 inch)

From my experience the rescue macaws are easier to deal with given that you have been able to show them, that they believe you will be good to them.

The only thing I will say to be aware of, is you will have to treat your Gus as a bird with PTSD. That has been my way of dealing with Sugar and that has made his behavior in the beginning easier to understand. He can still have a few relapses, for instance when he has been to the vet, then things can be dangerous for a day or two, but other than that, he is the most loving bird.

I always feel so happy when good people will do what you have offered Gus, a second chance at a good life. I think you will feel as both BeatriceC and I feel, that the love and affection you will get from your Gus, is a reward on to itself. I wish you all the best wishes for you and your new family member

PTSD is good. Gus is absolutely sweet. At some point, he may have been "housebroken" because when he needs to poop, he gets agitated and if we put him back on the play stand he poops there. If he's on his cage, he moves over to the side to hang his little butt off the edge. Or maybe from living in a filthy cage, he wants to get away from his poop? So far we've tried to make every day better - he doesn't have to go in the cage because someone is here, we have time to preen and preen and preen - but he does need to go back to the vet, and he will have to spend time in the cage. If he can remember training from ten years ago, maybe stressful things could make him remember the solitary years. Do you have any suggestions for minimizing that? Should I cover his travel crate, have a special food treat ready for when we get home with him?