Christina

Harley, macaws are wonderful birds. They are, however, completely different in personality than greys. I do not have a severe but understand that you must have a strong will and alot of patience with these little dynamos. A smaller macaw with a large macaw personality. Here is a link to an article which gives the basic description of each macaw. Keep in mind this is basic, we all know how different out individual birds are. http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww45e.htm Here is another link to a macaw forum...these people know their birds...so jump on and ask some questions, they will offer alot of personal insite into the species that you can't get from an article. Most of the people on there love their severes and have nothing but wonderful things to say about them. http://www.birdsnway.com/boards/mt/mt.cgi I'm sorry about Harley and wish you luck in your search for a new companion.

OH, that is sooo cool! Thanks for the info. I can't wait for Finnigan's flight feathers to come back. The breeder only cut one wing when they clipped her. I know she wasn't completely fledged when they did it. the vet cut the other side similar but not as drastic. Now whenever she "jumps" she goes in a circle. It's the sadest thing I've ever seen. Our B&G is just finishing growing out his flights. We are working with him to teach him how to fly, but he is a scardy cat, so its slow going. However, on that note, maybe you guys can help with a our problem. Loki doesn't usually take off as he is just learning and doesn't usually take off unless something startles him. Now, we have a completely open house, where we have three sliding glass doors that open onto the screened in lanai. When the doors are closed there are blinds or curtains that are pulled so he knows not to fly there, but has taken off when they are open and doesn't seem to see the screen. He bumps right into and falls to the ground. He doesn't have a lot of speed yet, and the screen has some give...but we figured he would be able to see the screen. Anyone out there with experience with flighted birds? Is he just at this point, going, and because he hasn't really gotten his turning or agility down yet, he sees it but can't stop? Any suggestions on what we can do to make it more visible.

Congratulations! Can't wait for the pics!

Nevermind on the finger thing...I found it on Kibibi's novelty link! Thanks.

Where do you find your untreated leather? I keep looking for those shredder toys locally instead of buying them on the net...you know the ones that you put your fingers in each end and then you can't get them out until you relax? I figured the party store, but I haven't been able to find them there either.

I thought about putting her away, but truthfully, I don't want to. I want her to be able to handle different people and different situations. I don't want to make her so that any change in her life will bring about a panic situation...if that makes sense. However, I do agree, if its a situation where she doesn't seem to be able to settle down, then yes, I do agree, removing her to her room is the best thing. She and Loki have their own room, so its not a problem to take them somewhere quiet where other people are not around them, if she can't get any relief. However, I did run interference for her and she seemed to settle down.

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

Great idea! I was thinking along the same lines...one of those bird videos playing or something like that. Do you already leave a radio on for her? Do you have her forage for her food? I do that with Finnigan and it keeps her well occupied for some time looking for food and opening the paper cup or tissue paper its in. Also a bath area when you leave for some time, so she might take to bathing herself and then preening her feathers instead of picking at them.

I agree with everything everyone said. It's sooo exasperating to have to repeat the same warnings all the time, and to the SAME people! Jeeze, people, leave the bird alone. :angry: My husband uses the same technic as you Danmcq...he just holds Loki (B&G) all the time. Finnigan is more independent and would like to have to time on her net and stand, I let her, but had to keep going outside to shoo people away. These are adults too! I guess everyone is enamored with birds. I can't blame them, I just wish they would take more time to listen and learn about the animal instead of tuning me out when I'm trying to explain. Oh, well, I was thinking of making a pamplet that everyone had to read before being allowed to interact with the bird. Boy would they think I fell off the turnip truck then!:laugh:

What is "object permanence"? I agree 100% on the foraging. I was surprised how quickly Finnigan took to it. It seems she would rather search her cage for well hidden food rather than go and eat out of the bowl. I was very surprised. Everyone here has great ideas...and this forum basically gives you even more ideas than the video. That is the only reason I didn't care for the video. I am very interested in seeing your foraging tree Hannah_Rae. I made Finnigan and Loki both nets that they can climb on that I hung outside on the lanai...I am going to rig up some way to hang some food, foraging materials, from the net, so they feel compelled to use the whole thing to find food. I imagine that would expend alot of energy.

How do you handle the family that comes into town and knows nothing about birds? I like to have our birds out while strangers come into the house (stranger to them not to me!:ohmy: ) but sometimes its just such a pain trying to educate these people on bird behavior. They want to compare a bird to a dog. My mom was actually stalking poor Finnigan, I had to tell to stop where she was, don't move another inch after that bird (this is after Finni flew away from her). I tried to explain why you don't do that, but then it was just a "you spoil your birds...You need to discipline them." Blah blah. Everyone seems to want to touch the birds, but no one wants to learn anything about them. What gives? I do want my birds to be able to go to strangers, or at the least, be comfortable in their own home when people they don't know are around. But, sometimes, it stresses me out. Maybe its just my family. What are your thoughts? How did you handle it?

I also frequent the local small stores so they don't go out of business. However, I do like to keep toy making supplies on hand as my birds tend to get bored. I usually go to: http://www.parrotasylum.com/homex.html http://www.birdyboredombusters.com/ (this company is in Canada..USA residents have a little longer shipping time, however, they are very responsive.)

I also frequent the local small stores so they don't go out of business. However, I do like to keep toy making supplies on hand as my birds tend to get bored. I usually go to: http://www.parrotasylum.com/homex.html http://www.birdyboredombusters.com/ (this company is in Canada..USA residents have a little longer shipping time, however, they are very responsive.)

I use a professional exterminator. It isn't too expensive but its worth every penny. Of course, I hate roaches!

I use a professional exterminator. It isn't too expensive but its worth every penny. Of course, I hate roaches!

Good to know BMustee! Thanks for the input and the great topic Nychsa. I think I'll still keep seperating them though. That is funny about the tails, my two are constantly grabbing for one another's tail! They are a hoot.

Also keep in mind that citrus is high in iron, if you feed pellets, be careful, as they can get too much iron. Finni also loves oranges. Actually, she is very willing to try anything that I am eating or cooking. Now if its just in her bowl, it might get the "toss"! :woohoo:

Also keep in mind that citrus is high in iron, if you feed pellets, be careful, as they can get too much iron. Finni also loves oranges. Actually, she is very willing to try anything that I am eating or cooking. Now if its just in her bowl, it might get the "toss"! :woohoo:

Okay, I confess, I bought the video on active foraging, I think the vets name is Scott Echols who made it. I wasn't overly impressed with the video but he made alot of sense in that we just give our birds food in a bowl and then wonder why they are bored. He suggests a foraging tree, if anyone is interested I will explain this concept (which is the only thing this video is about, so if you want to know, I'll explain and you can save your money on the video if were thinking of buying it). Although I don't have one of those I did decide to "hide" food throughout the birds cages and see what they do. I use plain tissue paper and paper cups. I have to say, at first Finnigan didn't touch this stuff. Now, when she watches me place things in her cage, she is all but fighting me to get in there and search about. Some items have a nutriberry, others a grape or a piece of broccoli, maybe a peanut hanging from a string she has to pull up to retrieve. She seems very excited to get in there and search and destroy the paper to get to her "prize". she has gotten to the point that she goes to her food bowl as a last resort and seems to be very busy all day. My blue and gold also fights to get into his cage since we started this process. He climbed on the outside of his cage this morning and pulled his prize to the outside of the cage through the bars and tore open his cup and got his french fry. Yes, I do put some junkie treats in there too...its nice to shake it up! Has anyone else tried this? If so, what were your results?

Very interesting topic. I was hoping for a bit more input from people who have multiple birds of different species. I have a grey and a b&g...the b&g, like BMustee described her pit of macaws, is one laid back dude. Finnigan is a bit more high strung (okay, alot and she tries to back Loki down all the time). Finni and Loki will do the beak thing...but they have such a large size difference, that I usually back them away from one another if they get that close. I just can't decide if they are being friendly or working up to a confrontation and I don't feel comfortable waiting to find out.

On topic of your husband, Finnigan doesn't like my husband, but he gets in there, and offers the back of his hand so she can't really bite him(she is a TAG, so she is smaller), and tells her to step up, and eventually she does. Now, she clicks and lunges but he is in there. Sometimes he offers her a distraction (toy or something like that)that she takes while he tells her to step up and she does. I have witnessed their interaction and it seems like Finnigan really does NOT like him at all. However, when I'm not home, she has a bit of a different attitude and will accept his hospitality much more readily. I even have come home and she is sitting with him watching him work. He says she is fine when I'm not there. If your husband is interested (that is the key), he can probably forge a respectable relationship with Harrison thereby breaking up her day and freeing you from guilt. I think its the same kind of thing when people tell you what great kids you have...and you are thinking...my kids? :ohmy:

DebT - my grey loves to bathe herself on a wet plant. I have one of those hanging viney plants (sorry, no green thumb here, I don't know what its called but its one that you can't kill) that I take down and water, making sure all the leaves are wet, and she jumps on that sucker and flaps and carries on. I just watered my plant one day and Finni was wandering around and just did it. Seems natural to me, maybe Fawkes would take to that as well. Sorry I can't be more help on plucking issue.

We were flying the other day and a lady had her amazon with her. He was out of his crate and just as pretty as could be while waiting to board. She said it was his first time flying but so far, he seemed very calm and he had already gone through screening.

I second Birdmom's advice. I would at least call the vet. I live in Tampa and my bird has gotten in the pool...much like BMustee...I hit the water, clothes and all to get him so he didn't have any time to swallow any water. We did just as you did, wash down in the shower, but I would probably place a call to the vet at the minimum. PS...how did you find her in the trap? Was she making noises?

I would say its a molt also. My blue and gold does that to his feathers probably a month to three months prior to molting...he looks a MESS! But then the most beautiful feathers come in right where he messed the other ones up...he ends up with shafts just like you described. I watch this and wonder if he is taking an inventory of which feathers need to go. Sorry, I always say my B&G...but Finnigan, my grey is only 7 months old...so I don't know much about her yet. :unsure: