taking on a b&g macaw

[brinstrong]

A family friend has a macaw and She hand raised him for about 10 years. About 8 months ago our friend went into a diabetic coma and though she lived she did not recover and can not take care of her macaw anymore so they are looking for a good home for him. I have always wanted to mother a larger bird. I am just not sure how to go about this. Since my friends coma she acts as a child and the bird knows there is something different with her and he started to nip at her. Now I am good with birds but being that he is older will he adjust to me. And what can I do to make this transition easier for my new feathered friend if I decide to take him into our home? Will he love me like he loved her in time? What all should I be considering while making this decision? I want to think this throughly before I commit. I already have a vet and his large cage will be coming with him. Any help would be appreciated. This is a huge decision to make and I want to go into it with all the knowledge I need to know first.

[RMSacha]

Originally Posted by brinstrong

A family friend has a macaw and She hand raised him for about 10 years. About 8 months ago our friend went into a diabetic coma and though she lived she did not recover and can not take care of her macaw anymore so they are looking for a good home for him. I have always wanted to mother a larger bird. I am just not sure how to go about this. Since my friends coma she acts as a child and the bird knows there is something different with her and he started to nip at her. Now I am good with birds but being that he is older will he adjust to me. And what can I do to make this transition easier for my new feathered friend if I decide to take him into our home? Will he love me like he loved her in time? What all should I be considering while making this decision? I want to think this throughly before I commit. I already have a vet and his large cage will be coming with him. Any help would be appreciated. This is a huge decision to make and I want to go into it with all the knowledge I need to know first.

First of all, you can't expect anything from a rehomed bird... you take everyday as it comes and make the best of it. You cannot expect anything but, with time, patience and love, you can hope for a lot... Macaws are more "flexible" than 'toos and when rehomed, given love, attention, and all the essentials, they usually respond quite well.

If you decide to give this boy a new home, take some of his toys from his current setup and incorporate them into the new environment. Give him time but be there for comfort and communication... he will be looking for reassurance that it's all going to be okay.

Things to consider... Will YOU give him the love he is used to? Will you accept and love him if he doesn't warm up immediately to you? Will you give him the reassurance that its going to be okay? Do you have the 2 hours of time (at least) to dedicate to him? What will happen if he doesn't get along with your current flock?

10 years is not old for a macaw—he's in his teens now and he's going to be more confident than a baby and more opinionated...

I think you're doing a wonderful thing—too many older (than 2 or 3) male macaws end up in rescues—especially B&Gs. I think you are approaching this possible addition with the right attitude and I hope it works out for you and the boy...

Good luck with your decision.

[Copper]

My Sailor is 16. I brought her home with just the expectation that she would be comfortable. She now tells me hello every time I walk in the door, and calls for me when I am not in her sight. All I have to do is answer her, and she's fine. We can do playing with the beak, although random touches otherwise isn't there.... yet.
But her story is different than the one that you are thinking about taking on, so look at it from that aspect.
When in doubt, remember patience.

[brinstrong]

Well, Time I have, and patience too, after all I would have a lifetime to spend with him. I how ever always have a bird or 2 or 3 on me. I wear my flock a lot of the times. I would just make the time for him too. Thank you for the knowledge. Now when you are talking about reassurance, do you mean by talking to him? What would be a good way to reassure him? And would I just talk and wait for him to approach me? thanks

[belinda1978]

I rescued my male when he was 6 years old. He'd been in a home since he was 3 months old but for 5 of those years was kept in a cage and not allowed out. I just had to buy him I couldn't leave him in that environment. I was very alarmed when he bit and drew blood on the woman when she attempted to remove him from his cage but I still brought him home. he wouldn't come out and nipped at me everytime i tried to get near him with some advice to use a training stick to teach him to step up and kinda get him to move around he came around and was the most loveable little man in the world. Now its almost like i've had him his whole life. I agree with everyone about the patience part because I had to give him alot of time to get to know me and trust me. I think you would be fine considering you have experience with birds i didnt have any he was my first. good luck