New here and just got new older Macaw!

[Lynn57]

Hi Everyone, I have never had a bigger parrot then a grey, but have always loved and admired the large macaw's. I have had a grey for 14 years and a Senegal for several. My grey decided years ago that he loved my hubby more and that worked great until he passed away. Second in line was my youngest daughter (32) whom he lives with now. They are only 10 min away so I get to see him a lot. The other day I was inquiring into possibly getting a buddy for my Senegal when I had the option of adopting a green wing female approx. 7-10 yrs old. I get a month to three months to decide if this might work. So I jumped at the chance. The people I got her from were her third owners They basically rescued her from a lady whom had 4 macaws and was starting a petting zoo and then ran out of funds. They said she was rougher looking when they first got her, (last July) but I think she is pretty rough looking now. They drove three hours to bring her to me yesterday and she seems very sweet, and a tad shy. But will step up when I ask her...the first time she put her whole beak around my fingers but applied only gentle pressure and then stepped up. I got to say it was a wonderful feeling! I'm sure I must have shut my eyes waiting for the pain..but nope didn't happen! She is a bit shy and will try to avoid getting picked up but when she is up she is fine. She is use to being loose on her cage and when I put her inside for the night she got quite panicky. I felt so bad but until I'm sure she and my dogs are okay together I will be doing that. They think she was wild caught because of no band, but I have my doubts.The terribly tragic thing about her is that her wings are pinioned. I just can't imagine anyone doing such a thing! So the poor thing has no ability to break a fall whatsoever. I'm very worried about this, but there is nothing I can do now and she of course probably never new she was meant to fly (at least I hope not) Her name was Rudy, but I have changed it to Ruthie. Anyways, enough rabbling on for now. Looking forward to chatting to you all!
Lynn

 

[Sterling1113]

Awwwwww what a poor baby! I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your husband, sounds like allot to go through for you(and the grey). It's nice he's in a home where he is happy and you can visit him though.
Welcome to the forum, also!!

She isn't too old! 7-10 is still quite young for a mac. She sounds like a sweetie.
(Excuse me while I google search "pinioned wings"...)
Good idea keeping her in her cage, especially with dogs. I personally would never let my birds have free roam at the same time as dogs, just because they can both be so unpredictable, I'd never forgive myself if an accident happened. And the beak of a mac is a force to be reckoned with, whatever the species may be!!(Human OR dog.)
My birds sleep outside the cage, but I don't have any other animals(aside reptiles that are caged) so there's not much worry to be had.
I'm sure with enough TLC Ruthie will become the bold beautiful bird that Macaws are. I look forward to hearing of her improvements and silly antics!
By the way.. I'm sure everyone here would love some pictures of Ruthie!! (Even if she looks sort of tattered, it makes for a great "before" picture!)

 

[Terry57]

Hello and welcome!
I am horrified that Ruthie was pinioned. It is unimaginable that a vet could think that was an appropriate thing to do.
I am so happy that she is with you now, and I really hope that the two of you bond in this time you have together
I'd love to see pictures of her!

 

[Mattroma]

Not sure where you live but in the United States there has been a ban on importing wild caught birds since the early 90s I believe. My Mac doesn't have a band because his parents had a history of picking at their chicks' bands. I have band the breeder avoided putting it on.
Sounds like she has had some bite pressure training but you should continue to practice with her.

I'm with sterling and had to look up pinioned and wish I didn't. I feel for the girl and can't imagine who would do that to a bird. I look forward to seeing pictures of Ruthie.

 

[Lynn57]

Thanks Sterling
Terry, I doubt they took it to a vet or that a vet would do it. They probably just did it themselves when she was a few days old. I'd imagine the breeder did it. People do it all the time to ducks and geese. Us humans have terrible ways of trying to dominant, control and own living beings with no thought to their suffering or needs, I'm ashamed to say.
Mattroma, I don't think she was wild caught. I'm in Alberta Canada and I'm in agreement with you that more then likely she was born here. My grey nor my Senegal are banded and they are for sure captive bred.
Love to post a pic...but how do I do that?

 

[Terry57]

Here is a good link about how to post pictures

http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

What a coincidence, I am in Alberta too!

 

[MarciaLove]

oh poor girl glad she has you now in time I'm sure she will settle in and get better! I would love to see pics! I also had to look up pinioned and oh my gosh I'm sickened that is horrible!! That poor girl to never be able to fly that's just awful!

 

[Lynn57]

 

[MarciaLove]

oh she's beautiful! She could definately benefit from some showers! I'll bet with a couple showers she will look much better!

 

[Terry57]

Awww, she is a beautiful girl. All she needs is some love and attention and she will just blossom for you Have you had her vetted yet? Hopefully everything will be fine for her healthwise, and she will settle right in with you.

 

[kendrafitz]

Congratulations! She is beautiful!!

 

[Anansi]

She truly is a beautiful bird, Lynn. Like so many others here, I had to look up pinioning as well. And I was angered by what I saw. I'm just hoping the trial run between you and Ruthie becomes a more permanent arrangement, because I'm rooting for her to have a happy and loving home.

Pinioning. Smh. Unbelievable.

 

[Shannon35]

What an absolutely precious & special girl! Thank you for saving her. With time & patience she will repay you with unconditional love :smile015:

 

[RavensGryf]

Ruthie is beautiful. I know she'll appreciate your home better than her previous life. That's too bad, but at least she's with you now.
I had no idea ducks and geese are being pinioned. I suppose they find it more convenient than clipping their wings so they don't fly off the farm or property? Sad.

 

[Sterling1113]

Ruthie is beautiful. I know she'll appreciate your home better than her previous life. That's too bad, but at least she's with you now.
I had no idea ducks and geese are being pinioned. I suppose they find it more convenient than clipping their wings so they don't fly off the farm or property? Sad.

Yeah; Also; places like zoos that have waterfowl (or other land-dwelling birds that are flighted) will usually have their wings pinioned, too, so that they can roam or be in enclosures without a roof. (Flamingos, peafowl, etc.)

 

[Lynn57]

Thanks everyone! I know it's only 24 hours, but I'm sure she will be here for a long long time. I do desperately want to shower her, but she seems terrified of the spray bottle and I of course don't want to scare her. So I just sprayed my little Mulder the Senegal and let her watch from a safe distance. Later I did took her into the empty bath, going in with her and just running the water a bit out of the tap not the shower head. She was quite nervous but stayed on my hand and accepted it. Poor thing, it must be terrifying to be afraid of someone or something and want to fly away but physically can not.
Someone mentioned in a earlier post about pressure bite training. Can someone please explain what that is step by step? Thanks so much.
Lynn

 

[Lynn57]

Here is a good link about how to post pictures

http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

What a coincidence, I am in Alberta too!

I'm just south of Edmonton. You aren't all that far!

 

[Sterling1113]

Thanks everyone! I know it's only 24 hours, but I'm sure she will be here for a long long time. I do desperately want to shower her, but she seems terrified of the spray bottle and I of course don't want to scare her. So I just sprayed my little Mulder the Senegal and let her watch from a safe distance. Later I did took her into the empty bath, going in with her and just running the water a bit out of the tap not the shower head. She was quite nervous but stayed on my hand and accepted it. Poor thing, it must be terrifying to be afraid of someone or something and want to fly away but physically can not.
Someone mentioned in a earlier post about pressure bite training. Can someone please explain what that is step by step? Thanks so much.
Lynn

I don't do much bite-pressure training with my fids since they're much smaller(and less threatening!) than a mac, but I can try to explain it for you!
I know a member here(Anansi) does something called "wobbling", where I'm sure you know that birds, macaws especially, like to "beak wrestle" which includes playing with you, using their feet and their beaks, but at a reasonable pressure. Well, at any point while they are perched on your arm/hand, if they give you a bite that has an uncomfortable amount of pressure, give a slight wobble, throwing their balance a bit.
Be careful not to shake too violently, making them fall, especially with pinioned wings it could damage the trust that is already there. It just helps the bird realize that too much pressure = loss of balance, which is quite undesirable among birds. It's hard to discipline birds, but also a stern but not loud or threatening "No" should go with it.
I'm not sure how wobbling will work with a bird with pinioned wings, but if you don't feel comfortable with that method, just a stern "No" and moving the bird to a perch/the cage for 5 minutes or so until they've calmed down, then taking her back out with praise.
And I'm sure you know it's good to always reward good behavior. Gentle beaking while playing/climbing is good, enough to hurt/make you uncomfortable is not.
I'm sure somebody with better instruction will come along, it is kind of late though, so I figured I'd give you a brief explanation for now

 

[Mattroma]

Search for the thread "soon to be a B&G parent with a few questions" Birdman666 explains bite pressure training and a few games he plays in the thread.

I tell/remind my macaw when he gets too rough just by saying "gentle", and he ease up. If he doesn't he goes back on his stand.

 

[BirdyMomma]

Congratulations on adopting Ruthie.

Please try clicker training her. I do it with all of my birds, and they are extremely bonded to me because of it. Depending on what tricks/actions you teach them, it provides both mental and physical stimulation.

Also, I too have birds and dogs. After the first accident, we learned the hard way, that they must be kept separated and never allowed even the possibility of coming into contact with one another.

I look forward to hearing of your progress with her