Possibly adopting Scarlet Macaw

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
I have been researching parrots to no end, and decided I wanted to go the shelter route for my new bird. I have previous bird experience and lots of free time. Upon visiting the shelter to see if I connect with any of the birds I met a scarlet macaw who I instantly meshed with! I went over and he said "up up up!" and he climbed right up on my arm. I had no idea this bird was extremely aggressive to everyone else that even walked by him, but he seems to have taken a real liking to me (feeling being mutual). By the end of yesterday he was evening lifting his wings for me and letting me scratch under the the wings.

I've become quite enamored by the big guy, and am going to head back to the shelter all day today to help volunteer again and hang with this handsome boy. He's been at the shelter a long time and my heart flutters at the idea of being able to give him a much better life of attention, patience, love, and lots of home made goodies. But I also worry because I hear how nippy scarlet's are, and apparently aggressive? I'm going to be going back a lot, but I decided to fill out the application last night and I really would love to hand it in today! What are your thoughts? What are some important questions I should ask the shelter?
 

plumsmum2005

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Wow, congrats on being chosen, really great. Will look for updates from you.

Questions, foods he will eat, sleep schedule, why is he at the rescue/past history, what is he like with people on the whole, preferences and dislikes, Avian Vet recommendation or it he already registered with one now? Are there any medical issues? Is he flighted or clipped? Will he go in a cage or is he free all the time?

It may be if he has been there a long time he has got used to the comings and goings and will find a home environment difficult to adjust to? Will they let you bring him back on days you volunteer for an trip out?
 
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hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
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He's been there for a long time, is my understanding. They have trouble with him because no one is able to handle him, he goes after everyone. That's why they were surprised when I was holding and petting him. He did nail my arm pretty bad, but we need to build trust so I'm not to worried about that on this tree play gym he loves (I'm thinking about investing in one for him). I'm hoping with a home routine where he actually gets handled a bunch and loved he will show me more of his sweet side, I know it's hiding in there.
He's around 12yo I believe. They don't like taking him out of the cage because it's very hard for them to get him back in, but they had him out that day. I also have a GREAT avian vet like 5 minutes from me, amazingly enough! Those are great questions!! I'll ask today and post my findings :)
They said I'd be able to bring him back in 1-2 months if it doesn't work out. I have the Prevue Hendryx silverado cage coming in about a week and I'm going out today to buy tons of toys. I'll post pics of the set-up when the cage comes!
 

plumsmum2005

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OP
hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
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100% I agree with you! I've really fallen for this guy, so I can't imagine a situation where I bring him back. I've read that article :) It was amazingly helpful. Not sure exactly how to do the beak push though..His name is Joey :) I have pics on my phone, I'll take more today at the shelter and post them :) Maybe some videos too! He does this amazingly cute trick where he takes his rubber ducky (He loves rubber ducks) throws it on the ground and goes "Uh oh!" I'll have to get a video of that.
I'll update some more after I get back from the shelter today. Planning to take off work tomorrow (I don't have crazy or long hours at all) to visit him again.
 
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hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
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So guys, I've officially been approved to adopt Joey!! Things have been going so well. I have visited him four times and he's been regurgitating for me... After he does it he gets overly excited and nippy, any advice with this? I'm also really struggling to get him to step up off of me. When I'm cleaning other macaw cages at the shelter he'll sneak up on me and climb onto me. He's very gentle when he does this, he just wants to be on me constantly. This wouldn't be an issue if he wasn't such a challenge to get back onto his perch. Any advice on this? I'll be bringing him home monday or tuesday. I found him a big java tree online.
 

plumsmum2005

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Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Control how much energy you greet him with, high energy will excite him and possibly led to regurgitating. Great he is pleased to see you. Calmly does it. He wants the attention first thing so you can make use of that as his reward to try some step up exercises. You may have to take a stand and tree around with you, it is natural that he will not want to be separated. Joey is probably a bit insecure, figures doesn't it? Sit and put your self in his position, what he has been through, may see things from better perspective and understand some behaviours. Use rewards and praise for good behaviours. Search Birdman's threads as he has explained the beak push again.

Are you up to speed on providing him with a really good diet, lots of fresh veggies and fruits etc?

Well done!
 
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hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
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Thank you, Plumsmom! I never thought about the insecurities for some reason, but that makes total sense.

I got zupreem plain pellets, fruit pellets, and the zupreem selects mix (to try to wean him over to pellets) he's on a seed diet and pellets at the shelter, but he doesn't eat any of the pellets and he only eats the pistachios out of the seed mix. I'm also going to try soaking the pellets in some fruit juice. And then for the meals I'm doing fruit and birdie bread for breakfast, some sort of grain reipe for lunch, and chop for dinner! Doing all of my cooking this weekend before he comes home :) He's going to be a well fed guy. What are your thoughts on that diet?
 
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hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
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and heres a quick pic of my boy
 
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PrimorandMoxi

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How awesome for you both.

Good luck.

be wary of the honeymoon phase
and be sure to set boundaries from the get go.
 
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hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
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thank you!

Dumb question: With boundary setting, is it mainly just putting him down if he becomes too excited, nippy. And holding my ground (or walking away?) when he does the big bad bird routine? Are there other boundaries I should look out for?
 

plumsmum2005

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Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
He is a lovely boy, give him a head scritch from me.

Remember that socialisation is important, will you harness train Joey?

Picked up the following for you re diet although sounds like you about have it under your belt.

A Macaw diet consisting of a good parrot mix which includes formulated foods, a variety of seeds, dried fruits, and nuts is generally regarded as a suitable base to provide nutrition and variety. Along with this, provide a daily supplement of fresh fruits and vegetables


  • Supplemental foods include all types of fruits such as apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, oranges, bananas, mangos, papayas, and even berries such as strawberries and blueberries are enjoyed. Many vegetables including carrots, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, dark green leafy veggies, many garden vegetables, and even dandelions and chickweed are good. Do not feed avocado as it may be toxic to birds!
  • Treats
    Offer nuts for treats, such as macadamias, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and filberts.
  • Proteins
    Additional proteins can be offered such as sprouted legumes and cooked chicken or meat.
Think about your first few days with Joey as it is harder to undo a bad habit/behaviour and we humans can be tempted to let things slide in the honeymoon period of settling in and then realise there is an issue that needs to be addressed. Something to think about. Have you got plenty of chewing materials in, I understand phone books are brilliant.

Have you read this? http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

You do not want to reinforce a bad behaviour and do what you said that works with Joey, softest approach is tried first, until he settles you won't know how much he will push you? With my 'too I am able to invite him in for a cuddle and that calms him down immediately when he gets a bit OTT. You will develop a tool that works with Joey be it affection, a toy distraction etc.

Keep posting!
 
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itzjbean

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Wow, congrats!! So happy for the two of you. You seem on the right track for everything -- cage, toys, diet -- can't wait to hear how it all goes for the two of you. Keep us updated!!!
 
OP
hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
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His cage comes Monday so I'll be posting a pic of it when it's all set up, I also found him a huge Iva tree on fb marketplace i pick up today. He comes home Monday.
I am going to harness train him as soon as he settles in, in the mean time I'm having the vet do his wings (which I hate the idea of but I feel it kinda necessary until he is harness trained) so I can take him outside and enjoy the fresh air!
 
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hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
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Will give a lengthy update later, but I was able to bring him home today!! Really struggling with getting him off of me? I got him this beautiful java tree but for the life of me I can not get him to step up off of me, any advice? I've tried treats and everything.
 

plumsmum2005

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Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Perhaps allow him some time to just bond with you, he has deserved it being without a home for some time? I suppose in his eyes it might seem that you are trying to push him away? Can you get him to focus on a toy but sitting with you? Cover the furniture and place him next to you and hope that will settle him a bit, the odd scritch and talking to him will help. You are going to be learning about each other a lot in the next few days. Have you taken him on a tour of his new home, explained the rooms to him, even your choice of furnishing etc LOL.

They are probably not described as mush macs for nothing.
 
OP
hnb

hnb

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Joey, Scarlett Macaw
Born: 6/2/99
Brought home: 8/12/17
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You're totally right. I love having him on me, I just thought I should work on getting him off, but he is probably insecure and in need of just some love. He has been on me all day today which was so nice,, he's getting way more cuddly. He does get overly excited though and nippy at times. Not sure what to do in those instances if I can't get him to step up on his cage?
 

LordTriggs

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His cage comes Monday so I'll be posting a pic of it when it's all set up, I also found him a huge Iva tree on fb marketplace i pick up today. He comes home Monday.
I am going to harness train him as soon as he settles in, in the mean time I'm having the vet do his wings (which I hate the idea of but I feel it kinda necessary until he is harness trained) so I can take him outside and enjoy the fresh air!

DON'T TAKE HIM OUTSIDE WITHOUT A HARNESS!

Even when clipped birds can and more often fly when there's even the lightest breeze. Only take them outside in a cage or wearing a harness. You don't want want to lose such an incredible bird over a silly mistake like that.

You and him seem to be the perfect match, he's already letting that lovable side out to you, it's definitely his insecurity which is keeping him clinging to you. Really you just need to let him learn that you're not leaving. How much do you know of his history? From that behavior I assume he was doted on for a while and then something happened causing him to be neglected. Plenty of treats and loving to keep him a happy boy and hopefully let his confidence grow
 

plumsmum2005

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Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
You're totally right. I love having him on me, I just thought I should work on getting him off, but he is probably insecure and in need of just some love. He has been on me all day today which was so nice,, he's getting way more cuddly. He does get overly excited though and nippy at times. Not sure what to do in those instances if I can't get him to step up on his cage?

Let him know if it is too much, I use the word 'enough' with Plum. It is going to take time to work out those boundaries which he will need to know and your own way of communicating them. Try the step up exercises on his stand, back and forth with treats and praise. Just a couple of minutes at a time to start. Hoping this will make the cage step up easier. Understandably he is going to be somewhat resistant to going back in I suspect and it is up to you to try and show that it is OK, it isnt forever. :)
 

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