Still waiting for my baby b&g . . .

[Stizby]

I received an e-mail from Cooper's breeder last night:

"I took Cooper to meet Dr. Beasley on Tuesday and he did very well. He was a jewel. He passed all the preliminary tests and we should have the results of the lab work by Friday and of the psittacosis test by the end of next week. He is doing much better at being by himself. Sunday night was terrible, but they have both settled down since then and neither one is thrashing around in their separate cages anymore. They are both also eating very well and I expect to cease trying to hand feed them in the next couple of days. They are mainly nibbling at the food and making a mess now. Maybe Cooper will be ready before I go to Idaho after all. We'll assess it more in the next couple of days."

Cooper has had some stops and starts when it comes to his handfeeding. I am kind of surprised that she has had to continue handfeeding him this week because when I was there on Sunday afternoon, she reported that he had taken only 1 spoonful of formula the night before and doubted he would want any on Sunday night. Oh well, I know that macaws do not wean on a schedule.

The breeder is leaving for Idaho on the day after Labor Day (her husband is staying behind to tend to the birds) and so I am really hoping Cooper will be ready to come home with me sometime over Labor Day weekend. Otherwise, he won't be able to come home until mid to late September. The waiting is agonizing . . .

[Lungfish]

Hopefully the hand feeding will end soon. I'm sure the waiting is tortuous!

[The Outlaw]

Stitzby:

I know its tough to wait and wait, but until your bird is eating no formula at all for at least 2 weeks, don't take it home. What will you do if it reverts to total handfeeding and your breeder is away? Its better to let nature take its course. Again, you'll have this bird for many, many decades. Having babies revert is stressful to everyone involved. And, once they have been taken home, most good breeders won't allow them back into their homes in order to protect other babies on premise from possible disease. If I were you, I'd think no sooner than mid September. In the meantime, why not build him a lovely new playstand or maybe make up some toys. That will keep you busy and focused. Before you know it, he'll be home and you'll be all ready for him.

[Stizby]

Outlaw:

This breeder will not release her birds until she is confident they are fully weaned. She made that clear the first time I talked to her. So, as much as I might wish he were with me now, first, I know she wouldn't let me, and second, I know that would not be best for him.

But honestly, the little bugger has been stringing me along for about 3 weeks now! That was when he first stopped taking any handfeedings. Then the breeder separated him from the other baby, and he regressed. Then when she stabilized him from that experience, she started keeping him in a smaller cage rather than the large flight cage he had been in. You guessed it, he regressed again. So, here we are waiting to see if he finally gives up the handfeedings this week.

As for when to take him home, I am really leaving that up to the breeder. She is not a breeder who seems anxious to shove her birds out the door. I know that there are some who do. Cooper is not quite 4-1/2 months old and I have read that some are weaned as early as 4 months. I think he is going to be closer to 5. Although, she has warned me that it can be as long as 6 months!!! Gawd, I sure hope it won't be that long!

As for building him a playstand, I have already done that. Trust me, this birdie is coming home to a fully equipped home. His cage is together and totally outfitted, I got him a large playstand and suspended a huge boing over it. I have gotten a large shower perch for him. I have purchased his food from the breeder and I have even already cooked up some mash for him and got it in the freezer. Can you tell I'm anxious??? I swear, sometimes it feels like Christmas will get here before he does!!! I'm telling 'ya, I just stink at this patience thing.

[The Outlaw]

You have an excellent breeder. Its very common for BGs to hold out to 5 months and even 6. In fact, I really think they should be completely weaned for no less then one month before they "leave the nest". Regression is such a stressful experience. My Sailor regressed and I had to handfeed him 4 times a day for another month. I was TOTALLY unprepared as he'd be "fully weaned" for 21 days at that point. Some of these babies are just insecure. In fact, of the four BGs I have, he is still the most insecure and unpredictable. However, he's my most beautiful macaw.

[Stizby]

Well, I would sure hate to go through what you did with Sailor. Were you able to visit him at his breeder's before bringing him home? I have been visiting Cooper on a weekly basis for just about 2 months now. I spend, on average, 2 hours with him. A couple of times I was able to be there for 3 hours. I am hoping that his familiarity with me will reduce the stress of his coming home with me. But I know that he will be stressed from having to make adjustments to living in my home.

By the way, talk about "adjustments", I am anticipating that a few will have to be made by my current flock. I keep talking to them about "Cooper" coming home and try to include his name in my talking to them every morning and night. I don't know if they understand what I am saying, but I figure there will be no harm in doing so.