Hello from Arizona

Ki7hy

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Oct 18, 2016
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Chandler, AZ
Good day all. I'm new around here and thought I would post to say hello.

My name is Dave, and we just brought home a "re-home" B&G Macaw. We have small bird experience but this is our first big bird. He is supposedly 5 years old and he has been very social. We call him a "he" because that's what we were told he is but we honestly don't know. He came from a real hick town here in Arizona and his name was Cleatus but he didn't answer to it or care about that we were told so we let the kids pick a unisex name for him just in case. So now his name is Jolly.

He has been with us for the last two nights and it has been shocking. We set his cage up in our bedroom for now to keep him away from the dogs until he settles in. We planned to just leave him be for a few days so he could acclimate but he wasn't having that. He wanted to hang out. So out he came on a shoulder. He is super social and will go to my shoulder, wife's shoulder, and my oldest son's shoulder. I told my 10 year old to wait a bit before having him and he was fine with that.

Jolly doesn't let you touch him but he does like company. My wife thinks he's already chosen me as his mate. I'm not sure yet.

This morning we woke up, I was still in bed as my wife was getting up to get ready for work she put him on the bed. He immediately ran for me and was nudging my blankets with his head. Then he grabbed my finger a couple of times and wiggled it around. Very gentle mind you. I think he was trying to get me to cuddle but I didn't want to push it so I didn't go further with it.

So that's our story so far. Going to build a jungle gym for him the next few nights.

I've loved reading about your Feathered friends. Looking forward to learning and contributing here.

Have an amazing day.
 

Kiwibird

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Welcome.

Wondering what hick town you found him in. Theres just so many in AZ lol:rolleyes: (we used to live there). Sounds like your family are getting off to a good start with Jolly:) You get what you put into these birds, so lots of love and attention and he'll be a wonderful companion! Any pics of your new boy?
 
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Kentuckienne

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Welcome! We are also in the first couple weeks with a rescued B&G mac - and he was also instantly friendly. Ran up onto shoulders, squawks being picked up but didn't bite. The next day after he came, I was standing next to him while he was on a stand, and he bent his head down and fluffed his feathers. I figured ... oh heck ... and gently touched the feathers on the back of his neck. He loved it! He let me scritch him, then a few minutes later the jealous spouse did the same. He's totally good with it. I watch him, and if he is fluffing his feathers up it means he wants petting. Poor guy was chock full of pinfeathers as he hadn't been getting that for years. If we stop before he's ready, he will reach down and gently lift your finger in his beak. Sounds like your guy is cut from the same cloth - lucky you!
 
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Ki7hy

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We got him from a family in Glendale who got him from Wilcox about 6 months ago they said.

I've seen him puff up a bunch but didn't clue in on touching him. He usually does it when he is on the cage door.
 

Terry57

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Hello and welcome to the forum! I'm glad you joined us and I would love to see pictures of Jolly:)
 
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Ki7hy

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I'll get some pics up. We already have more than we probably should. I've been spending the last hour messing with a new Flickr account to try to post stuff but it's been a pain this far from my cell phone. I'll get it though.

I have an awesome video with him helping load (unload) the dishwasher. He prefers to unload. Any plastic items get thrown to the floor. When he sees it open he rushes to help out. Jolly needs a jungle gym.
 

GaleriaGila

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Welcome, welcome. The Rickeybird and I are New Mexico transplants... we moved up North (Cleveland area) when he was about 15. I don't know if he ever gets home-sick, but I surely do! Glad you found us.
 

Kiwibird

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Photo bucket works well with the forums and seems to be the photo sharing site of choice around here:)

Wilcox, that's way down south if I remember correctly. If you're in the Phoenix area/southern part of the state, you have an ideal climate for a nice outdoor aviary you could use a good chunk of the year. Lots of good bird stores around too, though it's been several years since I've lived in AZ and don't know what all is there anymore. But birds are so popular there, theres always great resources for toys, cages etc...
 
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Ki7hy

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Photo added above.

We have an extra cage outside. He came with two giant cages. An outside aviary would be awesome but at the moment Jolly doesn't fly. His wings are clipped and from what we are told he never has flown. We plan to fix that so he can get some exercise and I'm festinated with target training so we will work that in as his wings grow back. Plus safety from the dogs in a just in case scenario would be good.

We haven't found but one store here in Arizona only about 5 miles from the house. We haven't gone yet because we have just ordered what we needed so far. I'll head to Home Depot tonight for jungle gym supplies.

Thanks for all of the friendly welcomes. We are hoping we have a place to go for some support when/if needed and hope to gain the knowledge to support people in my situation in the future. With the reading we've done thus far we hope for a mostly smooth life with this messy bird. He's home now. For a very very long time.
 

Marileen

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Welcome!!!!
Nice to have you with us!
:):):):):):)
 

Scott

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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Welcome, thanks for joining, and especially for acquiring a re-homed bird. Beautiful picture, wishing you a nice long and happy life together!!
 
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Ki7hy

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I thought I would give an update for morning 3 with Jolly.

This can't be how it goes for everyone right? I think we hit the B&G lottery. From day one that bird wanted to hang out with us. This morning the wife again got up before me as usual. She took the bird out of the cage and placed him on the bed like yesterday morning. Jolly stoops down in his best raptor hunting position and cruises through the bed to get me. He finds my hand and starts wiggling it around with his beak again like yesterday. So I decide to try and stroke his head. No problem at all. He liked it, I took my hand off his head and he was moving his head up and down super fast then let out his excited scream (short and quieter than normal). After that we pet some more on the head and it was time for me to get up. Was a good morning with Jolly. I'm just shocked at how easy this has been. My wife and I expected the worst.
 

Scott

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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
I thought I would give an update for morning 3 with Jolly.

This can't be how it goes for everyone right? I think we hit the B&G lottery. From day one that bird wanted to hang out with us. This morning the wife again got up before me as usual. She took the bird out of the cage and placed him on the bed like yesterday morning. Jolly strips down in his best raptor hunting position and cruises through the bed to get me. He finds my hand and starts wiggling it around with his beak again like yesterday. So I decide to try and stroke his head. No problem at all. He liked it, I took my hand off his head and he was moving his head up and down super fast then let out his excited scream (short and quieter than normal). After that we pet some more on the head and it was time for me to get up. Was a good morning with Jolly. I'm just shocked at how easy this has been. My wife and I expected the worst.

I hope this is permanent behavior, but please understand the concept of "honeymoon" is VERY common with parrots! Jolly is in an entirely new environment, he will be on best behavior while assessing his people.

On the other hand, many parrots start off with an either shy or aggressive stance, so you may indeed have hit the parrot jackpot!!
 
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Ki7hy

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Good to know. We won't let our guard down. We have always had small birds (still do) and they have always been shy. Definitely not social. My wife's sister, brother, and his wife came over last night and they all held Jolly with ease. Jolly got super excited with her brother like he does with me. Must really like men.

I wonder how long the honeymoon phase will last.
 

Scott

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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Fantastic, what an awesome bird!! I would take great care to socialize him equally with women, and be aware of possible intent to "bond" with you to the possible exclusion of others. The happiest household is when a large parrot views most everybody as friend!!

All of this caution notwithstanding, Jolly seems exceptional!!
 
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Ki7hy

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He definitely will get socialized. My wife has 7 siblings and most still live in state. Plus they have spouses and then they have kids. We often times will have 10-15 people over for a BBQ and all of them will enjoy some bird time for sure.

We had read birdmans Macaw beak sticky in the Macaw thread long before I joined the site and have just been following that. We have never been afraid, mainly because we just plan to be bit, and we have treated him like a two year old human since he's been in the house. Setting boundaries, sticking our hands in front of him with a stern but monotone "no". So if there is indeed a honeymoon period we should still have solid boundaries written for him ahead of time and we will just stick to it.

I think he will settle in nicely. My two son's and I will be getting a jungle gym finished tomorrow and a bird stand that we can move from room to room done as well. Going to hit the desert for a nice manzanita branch for the stand. Should be a good time for the boys and I and a good home for Jolly.
 

Scott

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Aug 21, 2010
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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
You and your family are the poster parronts for planning, preparation, and assimilating the many lessons of our members. :)
 

nsegal

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Dec 2, 2016
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Hi Dave,

We are Michael and Nina, wanted to share a little more about who we are. We left Hawaii a couple of years ago and were unable to move with our B&G Macaw. We just bought a home here in San Diego and have been wanting to share life with birds again. A couple of days ago, we expanded our family to include a four month old cockatiel, Paco. And we would be excited to share our home with the INR/Alex's if that seems like a good fit. We are looking for forever friends, and are homebodies so we could give them lots of love. Thanks!
 

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