Taprock
Member
- Oct 22, 2015
- 279
- 2
- Parrots
-
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
My son has always wanted a bird and because of the responsibility we have always said no. He is a teen now and just lost his pet and has started asking about a bird. I agreed we could be co-owners as he IS a teen. We've done our research and I've had him talk to past owners, watch videos and read. We came up with a list of birds we think will fit with our lifestyle. Then we decided we wanted to get a rescue instead of a baby. Much more work involved but they need a home and we don't know what will happen tomorrow let alone 60 years from now.
Our vet office got us in contact with a lady who wants to rehome her Macaw. He is a Blue and Gold at least 25 years old and has had 4 owners. She has had Lewis 12 years. Owner #3 was a pet store that she witnessed hitting his cage with sticks when he screamed. They didn't really bond with him and we're happy to sell him. They said he was 13 at that time. I tracked down owner #2 who was also a pet store owner. He said Lewis was a young bird when he got him. He was friendly and he was used to do class room education and was great with kids.
So forward to present day. My first impression was that Lewis was angry and miserable. Talking with his owner she said he loved to roam the house, she doesn't like cages, loves showers, going for rides in the car and was great. On further questioning he WAS like that but has had an attitude about 3 years. She also mentioned a few years back she was gone and he destroyed the house. Her husband said no more roaming and he is now on a 4x8' hanging perch obstacle course. Essentially caged because he has only flown once. He is also badly plucked, his chest and legs are bare. She said he started a few years ago and hasn't found anything that helped except drugs and she didn't like them. He bit at her the whole time we were there refused to step up, but did accept peanuts and talk some. She is moving for the winter and his care now goes to her husband and grown child. They didn't seem excited.
Please tell me if I have interpreted this correctly.
I think his attitude/plucking is in part boredom and anger, he always had a busy active lifestyle until confined to his perch. We would use a cage, stand and hang his play ground in front of a window. We plan to get him branches if he will tolerate the sticks, a feather duster and mop to shred. We would also consider the meds if the changes don't help.
Work on step up. Since we can't use a stick because of his fear we thought we might put the stick inside a pool noodle.
Biting, grab his beak with a "no" and reward good behavior.
Trust, I guess just talking to him, treats and spending time. Hopefully it won't take forever to win hm over.
My big concerns,
First getting him to our house. No one seems to know how to get him to move or step up. His owner is already gone for the winter. How do I get him in a carrier? I hate for our first interaction to be me toweling him. Will that ruin our relationship?
Same thing for home, how to move him if he refuses.
I know I can plan on being bit but I'm concerned about if he draws blood. Blood makes me pass out and I don't want Lewis to have fun with the drama that would create. Last year our pig bit me, picture me streaking to the house with my hand over my head so I wouldn't see it and pass out. Is there any way to prevent severe bites?
Sorry it's so long! But I thought someone else might pick up on something I missed.
Our vet office got us in contact with a lady who wants to rehome her Macaw. He is a Blue and Gold at least 25 years old and has had 4 owners. She has had Lewis 12 years. Owner #3 was a pet store that she witnessed hitting his cage with sticks when he screamed. They didn't really bond with him and we're happy to sell him. They said he was 13 at that time. I tracked down owner #2 who was also a pet store owner. He said Lewis was a young bird when he got him. He was friendly and he was used to do class room education and was great with kids.
So forward to present day. My first impression was that Lewis was angry and miserable. Talking with his owner she said he loved to roam the house, she doesn't like cages, loves showers, going for rides in the car and was great. On further questioning he WAS like that but has had an attitude about 3 years. She also mentioned a few years back she was gone and he destroyed the house. Her husband said no more roaming and he is now on a 4x8' hanging perch obstacle course. Essentially caged because he has only flown once. He is also badly plucked, his chest and legs are bare. She said he started a few years ago and hasn't found anything that helped except drugs and she didn't like them. He bit at her the whole time we were there refused to step up, but did accept peanuts and talk some. She is moving for the winter and his care now goes to her husband and grown child. They didn't seem excited.
Please tell me if I have interpreted this correctly.
I think his attitude/plucking is in part boredom and anger, he always had a busy active lifestyle until confined to his perch. We would use a cage, stand and hang his play ground in front of a window. We plan to get him branches if he will tolerate the sticks, a feather duster and mop to shred. We would also consider the meds if the changes don't help.
Work on step up. Since we can't use a stick because of his fear we thought we might put the stick inside a pool noodle.
Biting, grab his beak with a "no" and reward good behavior.
Trust, I guess just talking to him, treats and spending time. Hopefully it won't take forever to win hm over.
My big concerns,
First getting him to our house. No one seems to know how to get him to move or step up. His owner is already gone for the winter. How do I get him in a carrier? I hate for our first interaction to be me toweling him. Will that ruin our relationship?
Same thing for home, how to move him if he refuses.
I know I can plan on being bit but I'm concerned about if he draws blood. Blood makes me pass out and I don't want Lewis to have fun with the drama that would create. Last year our pig bit me, picture me streaking to the house with my hand over my head so I wouldn't see it and pass out. Is there any way to prevent severe bites?
Sorry it's so long! But I thought someone else might pick up on something I missed.