Shelly Yokum

Some birds will pick their person, but she is still a baby, don't give up on her just yet. Work slowly with her. If you drew back the first time you were bitten, then that is why it continues. If all possible don't give a reaction, and in a firm voice tell her NO! Go to another room to do the ouchy dance. They love and strive on drama. I would try talking to her while in the cage. Share your food with her. Everytime you pass by her, give her a treat. She will then become to trust you. Try getting your wife to back off, and you be the one to provide for her. You start feeding, watering, cleaning her cage. Let her get use to you, and see that you are not going to hurt her. She is looking at your wife as her mommy, because she fed her and so on. You also need to learn the body language it is posted in the forum by Dave. You can also google parrot body language and see a huge list of them. Yes, on another note, please don't think of your bird as money spent. They are expensive, but to me they are well worth it. Just be patient with her, give her time. It takes some bird longer to warm up than others, and getting a male instead, is no sure way of thinking that it won't be the same way.

Bless its little heart, that looks so sore and painful. I hate to hear things like this. I am getting my baby right after I move, so I am hoping the first week in June. I hope she will not have these boo boo's, it will scare me to death, and where I am moving, the avian vet will be over an hour away. So the macs are getting a check up before we go.

I live in almost downtown, Louisville KY. I am not really a city girl, but Due to certain circumstances, I thought I would try it. I have been a little scared living here by my self, for my husband is a truck driver and I think I only married a pay check, because he is never here. To give you an idea of the neighborhood that I reside in. I am the only white person, in this area. When I first moved here I was living in a motel looking for a place that would let me have my animals. When you rent its not always easy to find a place that is affordable that will let you have your pets, specially in the city. I had a doberman, that was shot 04/06/11. So my nerves are through the roof. The police shot him in our own yard, for those that don't know the story. So moving is away from here if the next step. Now that I don't have my dog, people are using my yard as a cut through. I like my privacy, and it really ticks me off they wonder through my yard, peeking through windows, and probably looking for something to steal, as for it wouldn't be the first time. So this morning watching tv, and of course surfing the net, Roy lets out a long continuous scream, much different from the morning and evening little scream. I jump up to see what was to matter and sure enough, my yard is the cut through once again. He knew that was not right, and let me know that someone was trespassing. I gave him high praise. It still amazes me on how smart these critters really are. I may not have my barking dog any more, but I have my screaming macaw. That person should be really glad that my bird wasn't outside, I think Roy would have stood his ground, where the dog would have barked and wagged his tail.

That is just the cutest thing I ever saw. That would be a messy face winner in my book. So sweet and innocent looking, could just love it for hours

I have my macaws potty trained. Roy the ruby, goes in the box under his door, and Prince b/g will go on his perch. When Roy gets mad at me is will aim it to miss the box. If I am holding them they will clutch harder, so I take them to the trash or perch and they will go.

I thought it was interesting, and thought everyone would want to know.

I don't have my grey yet, but for my macaws I keep a concrete perch in their cage, positioned where they will step on and off. This keeps them filed down for me. If they become to a sharp point to where it hurts to hold them its time. Don't try this yourself. Take it to breeder or vet to do this, and some pet stores will trim. If u do it yourself, keep some quick stop. flour or cornmeal handy for it is easy to cut them to short.

That was sweet, and great to know that hard work don't go unnoticed here.

that is just awful high. You don't live in the states either sexing here is only $23. shew I couldn't ever afford to take mine to the vet if it was that high. They would have charged me a grand with my big boys.

I would say that they had a hard day at the office and were ready for bed. Ouch on that bill, why did it cost so much? mine only cost $110 per bird to have the works.

I was watching tv the other day, and saw some natural ways to clean, so I became interested. I hate the smell of vinegar, but use it almost everywhere, because I don't want to harm my birdies. This one remedy, I stubbed my nose at, but I tried it. IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY. Take a cup of hot water, put in 4 tea bags and let it sit, for about 30 mins. Then take a paint/pastry brush, and bush it on your floors then take a dry rag or even paper towel after 3 o 5 seconds and dry it up. Your light scratches will be gone. Sure beats using a buffer and wondering where to put the birds until its all done. I promise this really works. No smell, no harm, clean floors. To make them shine, add some olive oil to to a damp rag or mop.

I would love to take both your birdies, but you live way to far away. I hope that you find really good loving homes for your babies.

I would take it to a vet to see if its ok, and nothing broken.

I feel the same way. My husband is a truck driver, and about this time year before last he took a huge pay cut to keep his job. We had our pay cut in over half. They closed terminals so we had to move over 400 miles so that he could keep his job of 10 years. In the move our rent doubled, and everything went on the rise. Every time I go the store, I look at the prices and think, the pay is getting smaller, and everything else is getting higher. I don't see how we are suppose to eat with this world, the way it is. Our savings is gone, my child is wearing worn out hand me downs. My car has needed a tune up for quit sometime. I have often thought about getting a job, but for minimum wage, I would only being paying for gas, food, and daycare, and putting us in a higher tax bracket. So what are we to do???

as many know I have 2 macaws, one is very picky, and the other one will eat anything that isn't nailed down, but will still try if I am not looking. They both will eat what ever I eat, because if mom eats it ... it has to be good.

Valentine will be ready to come home as early as next week. I am worried about binging her home. I will be moving this month, or at least I want out of here by the first of next month. I just can't stand it here, after what happened to Rocco. Should I wait? I want her so bad, but I don't want to stress her out, in her first home. I don't want her to go through the change of leaving the breeder, coming here, then being set up in a new home. Am I the only one that thinks this would stress her out? Since I know that my CAG is a little girl, I will probably call her VAL for short. The breeder has no problem holding her a little longer for me.

hello and welcome. Congrats as well. There are great people here, who really care about us and our fids. I have never felt more love, and concern than I have on this site.

that is to cute

I personally would not adopt one in your situation, unless you know its back ground. A too is very loud, but only if you make it from when its a baby. If you give it a lot of attention, for a while then don't it will scream, and possibly pluck its self. You never know the back ground, of an older one. They are not known to give warning bites. When they bite they draw blood. Something to be very careful about around a small child. They also give off a lot of dandruff, that could cause allergies to your newborn child. I would get on as a baby, and let the two grow old together. You always want the biggest cage you can afford and have room for. Cockatoos need a lot of attention, toys hanging and foot toys. WIth a baby on the way, your going to be tired for the first year, and very busy. I think if I was you I would wait, but its your call. I hope this has answered some of your questions.

OH that makes me so mad. I hate it when people look at their pets as dollar signs. GGGGGGRRRRRRR I really wish there wasn't people like that. I pray she got a good home.

nothing like like getting by with staying up late with mom and dad. You sound like me trying to get my son to bed. It is so cute, how they seem to understand what we say.

BLESS ITS HEART. Didn't anyone else notice that he needed a trim? Gosh, what some people let happen to their babies.

Congrats to all. She is beautiful, and I am glad she found you. That is some kind of diet. I would never give my fids a jelly bean, what were they thinking????

That is too cute.

I needed a a good chuckle, that was precious.