[DCas]

Good Morning! My name is Donna, I'm 36 years old, married with two kids, two dogs, and two cats. I've been a bird lover all my life. I've had some experience with large birds, as my dad owned a Greenwing Macaw all my life. Buddy passed away about 2 years ago at the age of 75. Also I cared for a friends Moluccan Cockatoo for a year when he was put on active duty overseas several years ago during the Kuwaiti conflict. (That was an adventure, let me tell you!) I also have owned a Cockatiel, who passed away at age 17.

When the Cockatiel (Slick) died, I was so heartbroken that I shied away from birds for a long time because I was so attached to him. It's been about 5 years since I've owned a bird now and I'm longing for one. Sargent, my dad's GW was a wonderful bird and my Husband and I have decided we'd like to try a Macaw. We've also decided to try hand raising one. The closest breeder to us sells them at 3 to 4 weeks and the buyer finishs the weaning. I know this is a very difficult thing to do, and I want to be careful so I've been combing the internet looking for articles and people who can guide me. I found this place and in my reading noticed that a few here have and are hand raising Macaws. I was hoping you all would be willing to help me as I think someone with experience is much better than a book to read.

There are a few specific questions I know you are all going to ask so let me see if I can cover them beforehand. I live in a 3500 square foot house. We own it and have room for the bird. We also have a backyard big enough to set up an outdoor aviary. We have the funds to care for the bird and I will be its primary caregiver. Hubby owns his own business and he is established enough that we can be fairly certain we're not going to wake up one day and I have to go back to work. My marriage is intact, has been for 13 years and isn't apt to break up. My children are 8 and 9 and they know from Sargent how to treat a large bird. We have a brand new avian vet that just moved two towns over. Well, not brand new, he's been here for around 6 years now, but until then the closest was bout 4 hours away. Now we only have to travel about 45 minutes. I have not met him but my dad has and said he's a good vet. I have never hand raised a bird, (although I have bottle raised a cat and a dog)nor do I have contact with anyone who has. Dad got Sargent at age 20, my friend got his 'Too at age 3, and I got my 'Tiel at 8 months. This is why I need to be pointed in the right direction.

Have I covered all the bases? Feel free to ask anything I may have forgotten. The desicion is made about getting a bird and I put a deposit down with the breeder for her next batch of Blue and Golds. I don't have the bird yet, so I have plenty of time for preparing. I'm hoping someone here can point me towards the right books, equiptment, etc, or better yet, take me under their wing? LOL! Trust me, I am well aware of the commitment that has to be made to one of these birds, which is why I am out here trying to find out all I can ahead of time.

Thanks everyone!