Greetings from Thailand

Hi,

I am a new member from Phrae, Thailand. We have a 3 year old Blue and Gold Macaw which we love dearly.

Phrae is in the north of Thailand, lots of culture, mountains and good food. I love to drive around here with my motorbike and discover new things.

Hoping to get some information from the community looking forward.

Best,

Markus

Welcome aboard Markus! You may be the first if not most recent member from beautiful Thailand!! Love to learn more about your macaw and adventures.

Thanks Scott! I lived a year in Del Mare / San Diego. Great area!

Although I have only 1 bird right now I want to add some more birds soon, this is where I will need the advise (how to socialize with the existing Macaw etc.).

Happy I found this forum.

I'm 20 minutes north of Del Mar, lovely but expensive town!!

Adding additional birds can be challenging depending on whether they are similarly sized, or smaller species needing reasonable separation unless very closely monitored. Unless you want more macaws, the primary options size wise are larger cockatoos. That may present significant issues with dander and personality. Generally, the best reason to acquire additional avians is because you want them, not as "company" for existing. No guarantees any two or three birds will like one another, another risk is they may closely bond and leave you as "odd man out." All generalities, your experiences may vary!

Yes Del Mar was expensive but great, fond memories of hiking around Torrey Pines and miss some of the restaurants (Thai food is great but sometimes you also need something else ).

I am adding some smaller birds (a pair of Hahns Macaws) but will keep these separate. The main issue is that my female Macaw is heavily bonded with me and I want to try and introduce a companion. I failed to find a suitable bird her age so I am getting a male green wing macaw baby. I don't necessarily want to breed (birds are just my passion) but I guess it will be tricky to bring in a male baby which hopefully will grow into being her partner. Any tips for this process ?

Thanks a lot!!

Welcome to Parrotforum!
Thailand is a truly wonderful Country.

With Parrots of extreme long life, one should always consider the Parrot easily out living you and/or your need to move. Having more than one Macaw can become difficult to care for plus provide medical care. Avian Medical Professionals are rare and difficult to find any medical person who can provide minimal care.

Regarding your moving, Import /Export law is become ever more demanding and to move a single Parrot can become difficult, moving several even more difficult. Assure you fully understand what is needed.

Hi, welcome
I hate that the current trend is to sell unweaned macaw babies. Im sure this trend is persistent in this species because they take a long time to wean......and breeders want to turn a profit. These birds live for 50-75 plus years, and raising, weaned and just after weaning are arguably the most important time in their lives. Mistakes made during this critical time are linked with do many behavior problems.

Welcome to you!

Will the baby be young weaned juvenile or unweaned, requiring you to hand feed? If the latter, please read attached link. A lot can go wrong quickly if your choice is unweaned unless you have specialized training. That said, Green Wings are my favorite species of macaw. Great personalities, tend to be more gentle. No experience with Hahn's.
http://www.parrotforums.com/breeding-raising-parrots/74363-so-you-bought-unweaned-baby.html

Hi again,

thanks everybody for your replies! If anybody ever comes to the north of Thailand send me a message!

I am not entirely sure re weaning. The farm we buy our birds from is https://www.facebook.com/farmnokthep, they only sell birds after they are over 4 months old and they are fully covered with feathers. They even have employees who do nothing else than to play and train the young birds. It is the best farm we could find in Thailand and they do full health and gender checks. All their birds are free flying including their Hyacinth and white macaws. They owners truly love their birds.

Having said that I still have to give the formula for some time. I did it for our current bird (which is also from Nok Thep) and I think she turned out fine as far as I know. I mean she is more or less free flying and apart from the occasional nibble well behaved. Only thing which worries me a bit is that she is maybe too bonded with me.

Re age, I am 50 and just retired and the rest of my life is hopefully spend taking care of our birds, my wife is 10 years younger so we hopefully have some time left.

I just worry a bit how to introduce the green wing to my blue and gold, I mean after what amount of time, I don't want to force it and create a problem.

Thanks everybody!

Best,

Markus

Appears to be a nice farm, may sell birds just before weaning is completed. There are exceptions to every "rule," properly informed and trained buyers can accommodate touch-up feeding. Some believe it enhances bonding, others dispute!

Fifty is a nice age to retire! Experienced yet young enough to enjoy and make a difference in the world.

Introducing a future young GW to your well bonded B&G will take a deft hand. She may view this as competition or perhaps welcome with outstretched wings. Impossible to predict but involvement from the beginning may help ease the transition.

Markus said:

Hi,

I am a new member from Phrae, Thailand. We have a 3 year old Blue and Gold Macaw which we love dearly.

Phrae is in the north of Thailand, lots of culture, mountains and good food. I love to drive around here with my motorbike and discover new things.

Hoping to get some information from the community looking forward.

Best,

Markus

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Hello and welcome