Rescued Millie

[adingdangdoo]

I met a man whose friend had given him a military macaw he inherited from a relative in order to pay off a debt he owed. Neither man had experience with a bird at all. Their kids had tormented this poor animal, poked him with sticks inside the cage, the men yelled at him for screeching and sprayed him with a water gun. He was so miserable. I paid to rescue him from this house because the abuse was too awful. I have a lot of bird experience, but have never worked with an abused animal before. BB (that's his name) is a biter, a screamer and and worst of all, he molts REALLY often and all his feathers have stress bars. Anyone have any advice on how to bring him around? I have been trying to just get him used to the new surroundings and let him know we won't hurt him. He's watching me with the other birds, etc. I can touch him and he lets me pick off aglets if no one else is in the room with us. But there's no picking this guy up..not with a stick or a bandaged arm. I can't clip his wings or file his beak and he needs it. He's sort of institutionalized, and I'm guessing these people didn't ever let him out of his tiny cage (tiny for him, anyway). He will come out on his own after some prodding, but won't let me take him out yet. Any suggestions? Outlaw? Anybody have an issue like this?

[wildirish]

We have a Millie, from similar circumstances, named Pickle. It takes alot of patience! Millies can be tough birds to break through. If you are able to pet him some, you are doing good. Just take your time with him. Find out what his favorite treat is, and lure him with it. Sit near the cage and talk to him, Pickle is so curious by nature that she just has to come see what you are eating or doing LOL!

They will molt from stress, that and the stress bars will stop when he settles down. It sounds like he has bounced around some, which will also make him less trusting of the "new" home.

Good luck, and just go slow, he will come around.

[pinkparrot]

Hi I dont have much tip besides what wild irish said but, I wanted to thank you for takeing the time and money to help this poor bird out. even though he is scared Im shure he is alot more happy.

Here is a cool poem forgive me if you have heard it as im shure most of you have.

BAGGAGE
Author Unknown

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.
I'll open my baggage, lest I forget,
There's so much to carry, So much to regret.
Hmm... Yes, there it is, right on the top
Let's unpack Loneliness and Loss,
and there by my pearch hides Fear and Shame,
As I look at these things I tried so hard to leave,
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain!
I loved them, the others,,, the ones who left me,
but I wasn't good enough, it's easy to see...
Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack?
Or will you look at my problems,
and take me right back??
Do you have time to love me and help me come through,
To throw out old baggage and live here with you?
I pray that you will I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage,
WILL YOU STILL WANT ME???

[Copper]

I don't have a Millie, but some things don't change with abused animals.
Patience, patience, and more patience.
I've found that Harrison's does very good for helping the diet. As he finds himself in this more comfortable inviornment with less stress, he will begin to come out of his PSTD.
Once Angel-Rose (GW) was out of quarentine, I didn't push her, but she saw how the others enjoyed human company, and has become a different bird. She's been here 9 months, done a partial moult, and then a serious one this spring. No stress bars in the feathers at all. I was also told that she didn't like women, guess she just doesn't like certain ones.
Sailor, (B&G) on the other hand is 16 now, and she's just learned the words 'step up' and is getting the idea of it. She's had it rough. It will be 3 months that she's been here. She still isn't reall happy with towelling, but she doesn't fear it any more. She also was herded from place to place with a dowel rod... another fear. I wrapped it with twine, and just let it sit on her cage so she could grab it from the inside, as well as when she came out on top of her cage. She still doesn't like the unwrapped dowel, but is ok with the twine wrapped.
We have to learn to observe them, both close up and from a distance. It's not easy, and I would be lying if I said it was. Sailor isn't ready to totally trust, but she has relaxed her guard. Give it time.
Let him see you playing with a toy, but not pushing him to interact with it or you. Let him see you eating something, and offer him a bit, just by laying it down in his dish.
Respect his space and allow him his space, he will come to terms and want you to be a part of it.

[Sashagirl]

Congratulations on rescuing that Macaw.I have 4 of them 2 that were rehomed.One came from an abusive situation and she was very neglected.
Buzz(B&G)is now 13 years old I have had her for 3 years.Buzz has many issues she allows you to handle and touch her sometime.She use to allow me to handle her and then she would turn around and bite.Sydney(Harlequin)is about 10 years old was rehomed she has aggression toward people and other birds.She only allows you to pick her up from the floor and even then she can't be trusted.She constantly bites I've had her for 2 years.I've been working on the ones that I have but sometimes it's difficult.I wish you luck with your new FID.

Patience patience and patience.Move slow and talk softly.And try to spend a lot of time with him.

[Copper]

How's he doing?

[featherfanatics]

This has worked for me in the past with my abused amazon. I opened the cage door and sat down in the middle of the room with a book to read and IGNORED him! I did this for awhile every night and he finally got mad and climbed down to see what I was doing. I started setting a peanut closer and closer to me until one day he was finally on my lap. Lots of patient and taking things slow will get you along way. Good luck!