Thank You

[Debbie292d]

She looks lovely and very young in the picture. How are you dealing with his plucking?

I have been around a lot of blue and golds. This is my daughters blue and gold.
View attachment 3969580

I will have to find the picture of the blue and gold that I fostered, he would mow the grass with me, he was a blast!

Indigo (Indy) was a wild caught macaw that I had for more than 40 years but I don't know how old he was. He died at the Vet, either they gave him to much medication to put him to sleep or he had a reaction to it. It is a pretty sore subject with me, they put him to sleep for a checkup because they weren't comfortable working with a large bird. They wouldn't let me hold him but they didn't mind killing him!

So beautiful!

Sophie started it first after owning her for five years. We tried everything, even Harrisons expensive food the vet recommended. After five years of doing everything known to man, we opted for the last suggestion, get her a pal. We went to an avian rescue 2 hours away three times, then brought him home with cage and all. We had our choice of beautiful unplucked birds, but thought we already have one so why not just have two and maybe they'll help prevent each other from plucking. That didn't work. They pluck them as fast as they grow them so I've given up. They're back to Roudybush pellets which are good but way cheaper than Harrisons.

I'm so sorry about what happened to Indy. That's horrible!

 

[LoneStarBirds]

So beautiful!

Sophie started it first after owning her for five years. We tried everything, even Harrisons expensive food the vet recommended. After five years of doing everything known to man, we opted for the last suggestion, get her a pal. We went to an avian rescue 2 hours away three times, then brought him home with cage and all. We had our choice of beautiful unplucked birds, but thought we already have one so why not just have two and maybe they'll help prevent each other from plucking. That didn't work. They pluck them as fast as they grow them so I've given up. They're back to Roudybush pellets which are good but way cheaper than Harrisons.

I'm so sorry about what happened to Indy. That's horrible!

I am very sorry to hear that. I know how heartbreaking it is for the owners. I have worked with a few birds that behavior and/or feather problems. I only have one bird that eats pellets but not exclusively.

 

[Debbie292d]

I am very sorry to hear that. I know how heartbreaking it is for the owners. I have worked with a few birds that behavior and/or feather problems. I only have one bird that eats pellets but not exclusively.

She was hard to convert. We have an aviary aka temp chick pen that they get whole nuts and a few sunflower seeds when they go out there. No nuts in the house anymore.

 

[LoneStarBirds]

She was hard to convert. We have an aviary aka temp chick pen that they get whole nuts and a few sunflower seeds when they go out there. No nuts in the house anymore.

I didn't understand. I didn't convert anyone, when they came to live with me I just gave them real food and whatever pellets they were use to getting. They gave up the pellets on their own, I didn't do it. Only Izzy still eats pellets, Chloe and Dexter don't and Dexter was 14 years old when I got him. Almost the minute he got real food he dropped the pellets and never ate the ones they sent when he came home with me, same for Chloe but she was a lot younger. Kayla and Keaton I got as babies and have never had pellets.

No nuts in the house?

 

[Debbie292d]

I didn't understand. I didn't convert anyone, when they came to live with me I just gave them real food and whatever pellets they were use to getting. They gave up the pellets on their own, I didn't do it. Only Izzy still eats pellets, Chloe and Dexter don't and Dexter was 14 years old when I got him. Almost the minute he got real food he dropped the pellets and never ate the ones they sent when he came home with me, same for Chloe but she was a lot younger. Kayla and Keaton I got as babies and have never had pellets.

No nuts in the house?

Twenty some years ago, the feed Sophie was on was some parrot food that was seeds. She was on that for five years when she started plucking. I had taken her to the vet who said to get her off that and onto Harrison's pellets. That was a feat! She'd take every pellet out of her bowl and whip it on the ground.

I used to let them have whole nuts in the house for treats when I lived in town and had an oak hardwood floor. Somewhere I have a video of her tossing one to my former little fox terrier, then she'd eat one, then she'd toss her one, etc. It's hilarious!

Once we moved out here to the boonies about eight years ago, I stopped doing that and kept them just on the pellets, bananas and other fruits, and sometimes food scraps if not salted.

They get whole nuts if they go outside in their aviary, weather permitting.

 

[LoneStarBirds]

Twenty some years ago, the feed Sophie was on was some parrot food that was seeds. She was on that for five years when she started plucking. I had taken her to the vet who said to get her off that and onto Harrison's pellets. That was a feat! She'd take every pellet out of her bowl and whip it on the ground.

I used to let them have whole nuts in the house for treats when I lived in town and had an oak hardwood floor. Somewhere I have a video of her tossing one to my former little fox terrier, then she'd eat one, then she'd toss her one, etc. It's hilarious!

Once we moved out here to the boonies about eight years ago, I stopped doing that and kept them just on the pellets, bananas and other fruits, and sometimes food scraps if not salted.

They get whole nuts if they go outside in their aviary, weather permitting.

Okay, got it, I just didn't understand. Mine all eat in the morning their servant (me) fixes them breakfast and fills up all the bowls. Then when I get home I move everyone outside to their cages/aviaries. Outside all they get is their water bowls except for Miss Izzy my DIVA, she gets a bowl with a little bit of pellets, a couple of pistachios and couple of pieces of dried fruit. I hate the food outside because it brings the ants and the outside birds into their cages. I try my best to avoid all that. Izzy sounds her alarm if their are any intruders near their cages, that girl doesn't miss a thing! No one comes for the pellets! The birds won't eat them, the ants won't eat them and the squirrels won't eat them. The only thing I know that will come for the pellets is the fungi!!! Pieces of pistachio, dried fruit or a banana chip are a HOT commodity around here with the local birds and ants!

 

[Debbie292d]

Okay, got it, I just didn't understand. Mine all eat in the morning their servant (me) fixes them breakfast and fills up all the bowls. Then when I get home I move everyone outside to their cages/aviaries. Outside all they get is their water bowls except for Miss Izzy my DIVA, she gets a bowl with a little bit of pellets, a couple of pistachios and couple of pieces of dried fruit. I hate the food outside because it brings the ants and the outside birds into their cages. I try my best to avoid all that. Izzy sounds her alarm if their are any intruders near their cages, that girl doesn't miss a thing! No one comes for the pellets! The birds won't eat them, the ants won't eat them and the squirrels won't eat them. The only thing I know that will come for the pellets is the fungi!!! Pieces of pistachio, dried fruit or a banana chip are a HOT commodity around here with the local birds and ants!

I forgot about pistachios. Sophie can say that word, among other things...noodles I forgot too. I just can't find a deal on unsalted pistachios but I haven't looked in ages so thanks for the reminder, I shall!

Ants are why I just put whole nuts in the aviary. That's all they get there, as if they care. They're in heaven!

 

[007Sean]

She looks lovely and very young in the picture. How are you dealing with his plucking?

I have been around a lot of blue and golds. This is my daughters blue and gold.
View attachment 3969580

I will have to find the picture of the blue and gold that I fostered, he would mow the grass with me, he was a blast!

Indigo (Indy) was a wild caught macaw that I had for more than 40 years but I don't know how old he was. He died at the Vet, either they gave him to much medication to put him to sleep or he had a reaction to it. It is a pretty sore subject with me, they put him to sleep for a checkup because they weren't comfortable working with a large bird. They wouldn't let me hold him but they didn't mind killing him!

I know the feeling, had a pet Javalina, that the vet removed his scent gland with no problems but when he had to have his hooves trimed he put him to sleep for ever! Was a sad day! He use to follow me around like a dog, would climb up into the LazyBoy and watch TV with me. I still miss that pig!

 

[LoneStarBirds]

I know the feeling, had a pet Javalina, that the vet removed his scent gland with no problems but when he had to have his hooves trimed he put him to sleep for ever! Was a sad day! He use to follow me around like a dog, would climb up into the LazyBoy and watch TV with me. I still miss that pig!

I am so sorry, hearing the stories from other people just brings back the hurt and the anger. It really just pisses me OFF! If you get hurt while holding your pet you can actually sue the Vet but if they kill your animal it is near impossible to sue them! Talk about a racket!

I took Kayla my green wing to the Vet when she was 7 or 8 months old and the very first thing that the Avian Certified Vet said to me when she walked into the room was, "great a macaw my least favorite bird"! I'm gonna keep my big mouth shut on my response, it really isn't for public consumption, if you know what I mean. I did help her get the word out to everybody who owned macaws

I have a long list of non-negotiables for the Vet and it is something that is brought up on the first call. If there is any hesitation or unanswered questions I keep moving!

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Glad that you have joined this fun and poultry loving along with other pets community.