Malikah Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Dee you made me cry. :*) What a beautiful post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 That was a beautiful post and i am hoping i am over the shock and sorrow of the news to be able to move forward and stop looking back to what if's. I am truly sorry for your loses, and pray that when faced with that time i can handle it with the grace you did. We have had some beautiful weather here in texas, 80's yesterday, so it was birdies day out! We would set them down and let them roam. Stewart likes to chase you, Oliver is our explorer checking everything out (as he runs to his daddy). I don't think either have ever had the freedom to do that. It will so much fun later on when they both are more comfortable with these outtings. Right now, Oliver will scream when someone walks by, one poor girl jumped out of her skin. He seemed to enjoy that, his head went up high his eyes were wide as if he was saying, " hey, did you see how i made her jump and scream? I'm good at this game!" I am attaching some pictures from yesterday! He had 3 big feathers growing in on his back, and now there are none. Don't know when he got them out but he did. Our breeder friend said to spray them with msg 2 x's a week but i am letting my neighbor try this, Oliver doesn't need that, he just started eating again and i am not going to put an ucky taste in his mouth so others can see how beautiful he is, i already know and don't need feathers to see it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 7, 2012 Author Share Posted March 7, 2012 This isn't much of an update today but, to me it is a wonderful step of progress! Oliver ate two orange slices and some apple this morning! Those were two things he ate before that he hasn't touched in weeks ( except to throw them out of the bowl ). His noses was stuffed and dry yesterday but after our steam and my sad attempt to put in his saline drops, it opened up a bit and started running. He wanted nothing to do with his shower Sunday but after seeing his improvement with the steam all week, and seeing the set back from missing one day, he will not be given that option again! Lol ( sure, like if that big beak comes at me i wouldn't back down ) I think since i am his nurse, he resents me, hates is a more accurate word. I can walk past him and he either swings his beak at me or raises his foot to hit me. I am rarely allowed by Oliver to even tickle his head. My husband on the other hand, when Oliver sees him, will lower his head for a tickle every time and all he has to say is wing and Oliver will raise his wings up for him to rub underneath! Oh well, i will be the bad guy if it helps him to feel better! I read in the health room yesterday about the aloe spray and all the benefits it has so i ordered Georges aloe spray and it has already shipped. I can not wait to start that for him. Maybe it will help his itching and he will leave his new pin feathers alone on his chest and back! Funny how the few coming in close to his hind area where it would be easy for him to reach he leaves alone. I hate seeing the little pin holes with a speck of blood on him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Oliver must be improving if he is feeling good enough to show his objections! lol Wonderful to hear he is eating better such a journey you are having with him and sharing with us. Those good days are what keeps us going when we have a health challenge weather ours or theirs. Best wishes & keep up the good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malikah Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I know how you feel, a tiny bit jealous but just so happy for him that he has found a human to love. ♥ I don't know if you saw it, but I posted that you can get aloe vera juice at walmart by the laxatives and such. I just picked up a gallon yesterday and it was less than $8. I don't dillute it, that's all I ever use to bathe my birds. Oh and when I had a naked bird I hung a big feather duster in her cage. Hey, duh, why didn't I think of that for Kito too! {{{murfchck}}} Gotta run to the store now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 7, 2012 Author Share Posted March 7, 2012 I did see it but was really afraid of the "how to" of mixing it. Did not realize to do it straight. God forbid i do anything to upset what balance we are achieving. I will be getting a feather duster, thats a great idea for him! Lol This guy cracked me up today with his trickery... He was calling me over to him while he was on his metal stand, ( he has been banned from the brand new wooden one, made out of the hardest wood that "even" macaws have a hard time chewing, HA ha ha ha, let me add here, no such wood exists) which he never has done before so i went over with glee in my heart! He wanted to step up, now my heart is exploding with pride. " oh what fun we have had, exploring things together, he does love me" i thought to myself. Welp, that wind was knocked right out of me when he would not step off. Turns out he didn't want me at all, he wanted the wooden tree stand and i had to give in as i was losing feeling in my arm from his squeezing harder and harder with each place i tried to set him on, and daddy wouldn't be home till six.... Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malikah Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 LOL! At least you are good enough to be "used" and he was gracious enough not to injure you (on purpose) for your kindness. Kito is (of course) afraid of her feather duster. I'm sure she'll warm up to it in a day or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 7, 2012 Author Share Posted March 7, 2012 I am sure when i get Oliver his duster, Stewart will be afraid of his own cage. I know greys are timid but he is really afraid of everything. It took well over $100.00 to find he liked a staw to play with, not just any straw, that one straw. I went and bought a bag and made him a toy out of them, nope. Bought him a straw toy, nope. We are back to no toys, a roll of adding paper is all he will stand and really just the paper, no cute paper holder. I swear next time we go to the bird store, i am taking him to pick out his own toys! ( not really, he isn't allowed to play with any other birds but Oliver ) These two guys are messes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 8, 2012 Author Share Posted March 8, 2012 He isn't a fan of dried fruits or bells... Lol.... His fun seems to be throwing all the different foods i offer to him at me, then he laughs. I will try some pasta tomorrow, although if he throws that at me it could put an eye out! Cooked pasta doesn't hurt! Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 8, 2012 Author Share Posted March 8, 2012 About 9:30 last night i got a call from the woman i got my birds from. It seems she had Stewart longer than she first told me. Suprise.. That does mean for us we do not have to wait 4-6 months to get him tested. She says she had both of these guys for over a year if not longer and all her birds and the babies she had have been well. She also spoke to the breeder she purchased Oliver from and she said his birds are tested before they are sold and he has had no positives on his birds. I am not sure if i believe him since pdd is not a part of the basic blood screening but if no one has told him of any troubles from what he has sold i have a little hope that he is just a carrier. Oh and her son in law has lukemia and has to give up his birds now for health reasons and she wants us to take his blue and gold macaw this week before he comes home from the hospital. I told her i couldn't do that, with this pdd in my home does she really want to risk putting his lovely baby at risk? I wish some of you guys lived closer to me to help me out with this! Oliver was a new man yesterday. He was playing and flapping around and being vocal again. What a wonderful sight! And boy was he eating, even after we put them to bed we could hear him chomping down on his roudybush! This morning we have that huge air sac back, first time in days but it hasn't slowed his energy. He has been running back and forth and all around the top of his cage. I tried to get him to step up for our shower and quickly got slapped away by his foot and he was off again running around! I thought i would try a scrambled egg for him this morning and to entice him add some snap peas that i shucked in it. It worked! Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Yay another good report, it does feel great when you see that appetite and good activity levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 8, 2012 Author Share Posted March 8, 2012 It does feel good! I just found out that Oliver know martial arts! I gotta karate chop from him. I was letting him pick out which nut he wanted from my hand as he rested on one foot. He picked his nut and in one swift movement, jumped on his other foot while chopping my hand with the other. That takes talent! I shouldn't encourage that but it took me so off gaurd, all i could do was praise and giggle at his new trick. We have some bad storms coming in and he seems really nervous, i can't get him off his cage to come into the main room. He just starts shaking everytime i try but then he growls when i leave the room. This is our first storm together so i don't know how he handles them. Anyone have any tips to help me put him at ease? I have Shrek playing for him right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 I would play what ever music he prefers and show no anxiety yourself, act normal and chat about the wonderful rain the pretty lightning ect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 The storms passed us by, i am pretty sure his nervousness is directed at me. It is official, he HATES me! I have been unable to handle him since the day he tricked me into putting him on the wood playstand. This morning has been the worse so far. No steam bath yesterday and looks like not today either, i am going to keep trying because his nose is really clogged again. I have tried to bribe him with walnuts, snap peas and almonds but no luck. My husband is all he wants and i hope after today he will be able to help me out with the "bad" stuff and not just be the good lovin guy! (He has his test and interview at 1 today and up until this morning has just been studying for a solid week.) Even Stewart is giving me a hard time! Maybe i need a vacation and they can sense it! Lol ok, no maybe, they have had toooo much mommy time, i am boring them now. Oliver has his follow up scheduled for March 26. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 With Macaws it often help you interact if you mirror their movements, head tips side glances little huffing sounds. Try and see if you get a more positive reaction from Oliver-like when you are in a foreign country and at least attempt to speak the language you get some credit for trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 Thank you, i will try that next time daddy isn't around. When he got home this evening, he went to their room and came right out with Oliver. When i put our dinner plates on the table, theirs included, he came right over to me and started eating off my plate. After i set my arm down on the table near him and he walked over and got up on my arm. When Pat is around, Oliver is as sweet as could be to me! I think he knows what he is doing! Lol Almost like he is playing us against each other. I got the aloe spray today, but Pat will be handling that this weekend. Let him get him use to it so Monday will go easier for me ( fingers crossed). We are going to be watching him close this weekend, his air sac was up and down all day today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 On Greywings advice i tried the copy trick this morning. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I went in their room this morning to wake them up and Stewart was making his kissy noise for his morning kiss, of course i did that :-) , Oliver came out and went to his door and made a noise. Instead of my normal morning greeting i copied his noise. He made another noise, i copied it. This went on a few minutes then he started dancing around, again i copied his moves. The next thing i knew he ran down the door to the edge and put his foot up for me to pick him up. Not only that, he let me love on him AND he got his steam bath this morning. His air sac was pretty big again but after his steam and a few sneezes it went down and stayed down. So, if you have any suggestions on how i can get saline drops in his nose.... Lol Now for a little grey update. I got my first full body hug from Stewart this evening, he even rested his head on my arm. Last week i would have lost a finger if i even tried to touch him so i am walking on cloud nine today!! I have put in a few of todays pictures, you can see Olivers sore little nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 Wow was today a great day for us! I am still copying Oliver and for the most part, it is working! It was 80 degrees today and he wouldn't come off his cage but i didn't give up? My last attempt was successful and two ways. First, i was about to give up and told him that when he was ready, let me know and i would come get him to go out, before i got back to the kitchen there was a mumble from his room. My niece and i just looked at each other, then we heard it. OUT! He actually said out so went right back in there and he was standing there with his foot up. I took him out... Here are some pictures. He was so happy and proud and makes the funniest noise when he gets excited, i wish i could capture it in a photo. This has by far been our best day ever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Life is Greyt Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 He might just be the cutest bird I've ever seen...next to Chicke of course (Don't tell Chickie I said that!!) lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malikah Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Awesome! It makes me a little nervous to see him outside without a harness, but I know nothing about macaws. I went back and looked at the first pictures you took and to me it looks like he is putting on weight. Is that true? :::fingers crossed::: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 Thank you, we think he is pretty darn cute too, and i won't tell anyone you said that! As far as him flying, he can't. :-( He has a frozen wing and not enough feather to keep him air born if he could. The worse thing that could happen is him trying to fly but what you can't see in the pictures is daddy right under him to catch him if he did. It is funny you mention the weight because i thought the same thing when i saw these pictures and pulled up the older ones from the second day we had him. I can't tell either and as ashamed as i am to admit it i do not have a scale. He was going to the vet so often it wasn't high on my list of things to purchase. I do know that he was 800 grams on his 2nd vet visit in Jan and his last visit in Feb, he was 885 g. But after that was when he wasn't eating good bc of the antibiotics so i just don't know. He does eat a lot again and his crop seems to always have something in it so my fingers are crossed that he has. (how much of that in his crop is his perches, swings and wood and paper, i couldn't tell ya. Lol He is a stong little booger, he went thru a swing in one night and the new wood stand we made, it took 3 days for him to destroy his perches on that.) As good as the pellets are for him, that has to be the hardest food to monitor. How much is he really getting and how much is just made into dust? I just keep his bowl full! Stewart started something new too. Keep in mind i have just recently been allowed to "touch" him but yesterday, he was in his cage as i was changing water and food and he bent his head down. I asked if he wanted scritches and he just keep his head down so i gave it a shot. He let me scratch his head! I started crying, how silly of me but he is all of a sudden being a sweet heart! He also puts his beak between my fingers and acts like he is drinking, he has done that before but just for seconds, last night he did it for about 3 minutes. What is this he is doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malikah Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Oh duh, I forgot about his frozen wing. He looks so darn happy in those pictures. Awww, what a sweeetie Stewart is turning into. I'll probably cry too if Scarlet ever let's me pet her. It sounds like he is trying to feed you. Be careful not to encourage that too much so he doesn't get hormonal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 Ahh, that didn't cross my mind at all but i can see it now. Lol I just woke the boys up and they are already in a good mood! Must be birdie pancake Tuesday! Stewart is making the bang on a metal pot sound and Oliver is making his noises. Lol I better get to cooking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Some Macaws do enjoy just gently beaking your hand or fingers it is more a sign of affection and acceptance, kind of a way to build more trust at the same time. Good work murfchck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murfchck Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 It is my grey doing that to my fingers, does it mean the same? Oliver just kicks me lol, i don't think thats love yet, haha. He actually has been doing so much better with me. Today i did the dancing and head bob with him and he wanted out and to the kitchen. ( i may lose weight myself if i keep trying to dance like him ) I could not get anything done today chasing him and trying to keep him out of trouble. He is mad at me again cuz i had to put him back in his room so i could go to the store, needed some wine to relax, lol. I really mean i was chasing him. He was sooooo busy climbing here and there and everywhere he shouldn't be. Him feeling better came about quickly and i wasn't ready for his activity level thats for sure! But i welcome it all the same! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now