Me and Mine

Hi there,

New to the forum and hoping to not get flamed...I've owned a Catelina Macaw for 9 years, we're both now 25 years old, and it's high time I grew up and learned more about her. I've recently purchased over $300 in training materials and footage, some working, other stuff needs work...

Basically I'm looking for a source of information for questions I may have where I can share our progress and miloestones.

History on Sam is she lived in a fish and tackle store until she was 16 years old - this is when I decided I wanted to try fishing and went and bought way too much fish stuff. In that purchase though, I met my avian soulmate. Sam's old owner was REALLY nervous about me visiting through the cage and feeding Sam while I was there, I came back and visited every day for 2-3 weeks just to be around her and finally asked if he would consider selling her.

Much to my surprise, she was in the store because his wife had developed an allergy to the feather dust at home - and after seeing our slow but building relationship go so well over the weeks, he agreed and I became the proud owner of a macaw parrot!

Keep in mind I was 16 years old and knew NOTHING about her other than she was gorgeous, friendly with me and she bonded with me fast. Over the last 9 years we've had our ups and downs, I've placed her in a temporary home for awhile as well, in which she got so upset she started plucking her stomach and back. Her legs have ALWAYS been bald, I assume that was from the stress of moving to the shop in her young teens, but after she started plucking last year I moved homes and put myself in a position to have her back.

Within hours she was settled, no honking, screaming, excessive chewing, and as far as I can tell she's growing back 30-40% of her feathers already.

This was actually a very short version of my life with Sam thus far, but I didn't want to bore everyone! Thanks for looking and you'll be sure to see me around Til next time...

Welcome to the forum! Lots of good people and good information here. Please share some pictures!

welcome, we love pics and its great that you are doing all this for sam, loads of macaw owners here that'll be able to guild you etc

and i love readin birdy stories

That must be awesome to have a bird your age! When I was bird shopping I was kind of looking for an older bird. I think it would be cool to have one as a lifelong friend, especially since I don't have very many friends my age (23)... LOL

I ended up getting Puck right before he turned 4, but caiques don't have as long a lifespan as macaws do. I've got at least 25 more years with him though!

Yes it is up and down with a perrot. I love you story and wish you welcome to this forum. Could you please upload pic, please!

Hey there Samsmom, I've done my share of hanging out in tackle shops also,LOL,Welcome to the forum,i'm sure you can learn lots here ,i learn new stuff everyday.So what if Sam's half naked ,post some pics, good luck,capt and Jake the YN

That's a really great story, and you sound like a great bird parent. Bird people are not bored by bird stories, natch. Welcome!

Thank you all for the very warm welcome! I don't have many recent pictures of Sam but I've uploaded 2 to my profile and album here



Sam on her chair at the table


I've already made a couple topics in the macaw section and Q&A section, can't wait to see replies! Thank you all for being so welcoming, not sure why I was worried...I assumed because I didn't do my homework before buying Sam I would be some sort of outcast? Better late than never though!

Sam is gorgeous!

Wow sam is a beauty! You sound like to two are doing well now. An Osnyder is right you are in the perfect place to rattle on your entire bird and bird parront story because 90% of us will read the whole thing. =) What can we say birds are a lifelong addiction.

Thanks! Just from those 2 pictures you can see how faded her feathers were and her plucked legs in the first pic, very happy with how much more vibrant she is coming through this molt! But thank you!

Another young parrot keeper here -- 24 years old -- and I didn't do my homework beforehand either. But mine was mostly out of my control -- I told my boyfriend's parents I was GOING to switch him over to pellets from an all-seed diet (they had tried once before, and caved in too soon) and they told me that he was now my responsibility, since he liked me better anyways.

Welcome! I'm sure you'll find any answers here you need. Remember to read back in the forums, too, and use the search tool. There's a LOT of info up here already.

Thank you very much, I often enjoy telling our story...finding Sam pulled me through a number of teenage struggles. Glad we made it through together! Also happy to hear I'm not the only young'un on here!

I cannot believe the information I didn't know before...I've learned so much in the last 3 months, crazy. Looking forward to continueing to learn about my feathered soulmate!

That must be awesome to have a bird your age! When I was bird shopping I was kind of looking for an older bird. I think it would be cool to have one as a lifelong friend, especially since I don't have very many friends my age (23)... LOL