Gee this makes me mad. Macaws here cost an arm and a leg, and to think what people can do to them makes me very angry.

Lisa, did you have to post the details? Can't stop thing about it now!

Hope she takes a liking to you! Sorry, not much help.


Murray NZ

The bird in question collapsed overnight and was rushed to the vet, where she's hanging on by a thread. The good news is that she was adopted by a parrot rescue group who are assuming financial responsibility as well, and will find her a permanent home with a trusted, experienced bird person should she survive.

The wildlife folks who had her first still want me to meet her former housemate, a younger male greenwing who is supposedly in better shape both physically and mentally though coming from the same abusive situation.

Sorry about that Murray, i couldn't stop thinking about it either. i'm very sad that she's been through something so horrifying but glad she's in good hands now and honestly a bit relieved.

lisa
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgement."

Patience. A quiet environment. Let her see you interacting with your own bird(s), but just talk quietly to her without contact. If she was hand-tame, she'll let you know when she's ready for closer contact maybe when you're feeding/cleaning the cage she'll climb to the front to be near you. Keep the cage away from water sources, and probably from the sound of water. If you have plants near the cage that require watering, move them into another room.Cracker Jacks, oatmeal/raisin cookies, and peanutbutter cookies work well as 'bribes.'
My Blue Crowned Conure was the most traumatized bird I ever worked with - her original owner had been reported to a rescue agency for abuse and neglect, and when the charges were verified, she was seized. I got her @ 3 days after that. Her cage had a packed-solid 2 inch deep accumulation of bird, mouse, and rat feces. I was only fostering her until a legal decision was made as to her disposition. It took alot of time and patience before she really began to believe that I wasn't out to hurt her. In that time we really bonded, and I chose to adopt her permanently. We've been together 15 years.
Was it hard? You bet! Was it worth it? At times I thought 'no' but I never gave up.
Good luck this week-end. And bless those who help the ones who can't help themselves.
Sara
Southeast Vermont USA
Paper Crane, I will write 'peace' on your wings and you will fly all over the world.

Thanks, Sara, good suggestions. i was thinking of course to keep hoses and brooms (another punishment method used on these birds) out of the picture but i hadn't thought about the sound or sight of water from other sources.

Three of my four birds came from abusive situations but this story just floored me.

i think you're probably right in that the same principles apply - patience and letting the bird make the first moves.

lisa
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgement."

If you have the time and the eneryg and the inclination to rehabilitate this bird, then I say go for it. The world will be a better place for it.

And I know you have the inclination, or you wouldn't be asking for input. :-) But only you can say whether you have the time and energy. I hope so, because it would be really neat, but with four birds already I certainly wouldn't fault you for letting someone else take on this job.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA

Lisa-from Nate's comment I see you've done it before. Some are easier than others - the degree of abuse and/or deprivation, innate intelligence, and breed characteristics all have to be taken into account. Macaws are smart, sassy, territorial birds. Everyone would agree they're not for beginners. But all that aside, you might consider fostering/rehabilitating the bird. There are alot of personal rewards in getting a bird to calm down (oh, forgot about that- unhappy/stressed macaws can make an AWFUL lot of noise :-( ), learn to trust, and then go to its 'forever' home. In deciding - to yourself - to do this, it takes some of the pressure off of you to make this bird perfect for you and your home. You'll demand less of the bird thereby reducing your own frustration level. And this reduction of pressure on both you and the bird might work in both your favors. As happened with Shera, who started as a foster, if working with the bird shows favorable results, and if bonding occurs, you can then make a decision to keep him.
Hope this helps.
Sara
Southeast Vermont USA
Paper Crane, I will write 'peace' on your wings and you will fly all over the world.

Lisa - any updates on how the female Greenwing is doing? Any more thoughts on taking in the other macaw?
Sara
Southeast Vermont USA
Paper Crane, I will write 'peace' on your wings and you will fly all over the world.

Bumping this to the front.

Debbi
NZ

Debbi, so nice to have you back.
i'm very sad to report that the female, Ruby, died in hospital two days after her collapse. The male, Blaze, was adopted by the wildlife folks who rescued him and is doing very well, finally getting some love and care.
lisa
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgement."