I need some advice ...

[liz]

How much can you hear from the nasty families apartment?

A bird is quieter than a teenager. Even a macaw can't outblast a teenager.

Before I knew my neighbor(the one I got Rambo from) when she went to work I could hear a kid in her house. One day I climbed up and looked in her window. I was nose to beak with Rambo. He had sounded like a kid playing.

[brfussne]

How much can you hear from the nasty families apartment?

A bird is quieter than a teenager. Even a macaw can't outblast a teenager.

Before I knew my neighbor(the one I got Rambo from) when she went to work I could hear a kid in her house. One day I climbed up and looked in her window. I was nose to beak with Rambo. He had sounded like a kid playing.

I think it's so cute how they sound (and act) like little kids ahah! I can't hear much from the nasty family except slamming doors and their washer/dryer. The professor above me I can hear quite a bit. I never hear any talking but sometimes I can hear his tv. I usually just hear his washer/dryer that's right above my patio, and I hear his shower/sink pipes. I don't know what our apartment walls are made out of. I'm assuming it's dry wall, or plaster. I know it's not cement.

[CinnamonParrots]

Oh you guys work so hard on the replies, on the days I check my posts, no one every replies this quick Lol!

Alright well I'm not sure how aware of this website Birdtricks.com this forum community is, or if anyone follows these guys on facebook, but I really do love their birds and the people that train them, I recommend you checking them out and their youtube vids. Their training videos are super expensive, but they seem to have helped a lot of people

correct positive reinforcement and condition can go a long way! They were my motivation to switch my birds onto organic pellets/harrison's pellets, flight training, recall training and target training. Ofcourse Kiliparrot's videos on youtube also motivated me a lot! But these guys have experience training birds that were not friendly in the beginning so I hope you can investigate and check it out.

Macaws are loud, no matter how big or small. Screaming is also quite difficult to deal with, but it can be "fixed" and controlled. I've seen a vet who taught her umbrella cockatoo to scream on command so that she could get it out of her system on the vet's terms Lol. It was great!

But I remember you mentioning that you're moving soon -- you can keep visiting the bird but wait until you move? Perhaps that will give you guys time for bonding and time to fix the noise situation or accommodate it rather?

there's also this rescue http://www.zazushouse.com/Welcome.html they take in macaws mostly, they have an outdoor, and indoor aviary dedicated to macaws so maybe you can get in contact with them because macaws are mainly their speciality, as well they have a special needs section where they take in macaws that were plucked and they are wonderful too!

I hope this helps, and with regards your name dilemma, I usually name my animals after I get to know them -- I like that you try to name them from their place of origin which is really awesome! Sometimes, the name can make the bird, but the bird can also conjure up its own name Sometimes, birds won't go into breeding or nesting behaviour, and because it has been plucking, it may not want to lay eggs if it's a female. Macaws also mature sexually a bit later, I mean my green-cheek conure is going to be 7 in January of 2012, and she has not laid an egg yet, but displays some mating behaviour sometimes.

And the inconsistent "background stories" you're getting, keep in mind, not all employees are informed the same, some are new, some have been there just as long as your bird. Perhaps get in contact with the manager or even owner? or talk to someone who's been there for a bit longer. But usually a change in housing, diet, environment and some TLC will improve a bird's life.

[brfussne]

Oh you guys work so hard on the replies, on the days I check my posts, no one every replies this quick Lol!

Alright well I'm not sure how aware of this website Birdtricks.com this forum community is, or if anyone follows these guys on facebook, but I really do love their birds and the people that train them, I recommend you checking them out and their youtube vids. Their training videos are super expensive, but they seem to have helped a lot of people

correct positive reinforcement and condition can go a long way! They were my motivation to switch my birds onto organic pellets/harrison's pellets, flight training, recall training and target training. Ofcourse Kiliparrot's videos on youtube also motivated me a lot! But these guys have experience training birds that were not friendly in the beginning so I hope you can investigate and check it out.

Macaws are loud, no matter how big or small. Screaming is also quite difficult to deal with, but it can be "fixed" and controlled. I've seen a vet who taught her umbrella cockatoo to scream on command so that she could get it out of her system on the vet's terms Lol. It was great!

But I remember you mentioning that you're moving soon -- you can keep visiting the bird but wait until you move? Perhaps that will give you guys time for bonding and time to fix the noise situation or accommodate it rather?

there's also this rescue http://www.zazushouse.com/Welcome.html they take in macaws mostly, they have an outdoor, and indoor aviary dedicated to macaws so maybe you can get in contact with them because macaws are mainly their speciality, as well they have a special needs section where they take in macaws that were plucked and they are wonderful too!

I hope this helps, and with regards your name dilemma, I usually name my animals after I get to know them -- I like that you try to name them from their place of origin which is really awesome! Sometimes, the name can make the bird, but the bird can also conjure up its own name Sometimes, birds won't go into breeding or nesting behaviour, and because it has been plucking, it may not want to lay eggs if it's a female. Macaws also mature sexually a bit later, I mean my green-cheek conure is going to be 7 in January of 2012, and she has not laid an egg yet, but displays some mating behaviour sometimes.

And the inconsistent "background stories" you're getting, keep in mind, not all employees are informed the same, some are new, some have been there just as long as your bird. Perhaps get in contact with the manager or even owner? or talk to someone who's been there for a bit longer. But usually a change in housing, diet, environment and some TLC will improve a bird's life.

CinnamonParrots, I try to reply whenever I see that someone else posted to keep everyone informed & answered questions or comments. I HAVE heard of birdtricks.com & have seen some of their Youtube videos. I actually haven't done much research on them so I had no idea they charged for their videos .. But what videos I have seen I thought were pretty good! I also had no clue they had a forum or community ..

As far as good goes, I already bought Totally Organic Pellets & Totally Organic Seeds for sprouting. GlassOnion recommended Totally Organics, saying it was the best and after I checked the ingredients, it REALLY is the best. The only "questionable" ingredient it had in it's pellets were sunflower hulls.

As far as the Macaw's screaming goes, that was my inital fear ebfore I even put a deposit on it. I knew that as a Macaw it had the potential to be loud. The first 3 days I visited it, the Macaw was quiet. No screaming at all. Only a few chirps, whisltles and hellos. Then on the fourth day it had a screaming fit and it was very loud. My husband said it was too loud and our neighbor upstaires, who is a college professor would hear. I don't want to disturb him, and with him being an older gentleman I don't know what his "respectable noise level" would be before he would complain. The there's the nasty family next door. I don't even want to know with them. I do plan on keep visiting the Macaw. Hopefully it just had a bad day, and won't be loud again ...

I however, did find a wonderful female Senegal Parrot who is already tame in case the Macaw doesn't work out. We got to hold her and she was so freindly, and already knew "step up." My husband heard her chirp quite loud and he said she sounded perfect, not loud at all. I'm sure she could be loud if she wanted. I've heard that Senegals aren't usually loud but can be when they want to be (like most birds hah)

If I can't save the Macaw, maybe the rescue you posted can. I'll have to get in contact with them if I can't help the Macaw.

I never knew female birds wouldn't lay eggs. I figured if they didn't, it was health related, such as egg binding.

Thank you so much for the input CinnamonParrots!!

[GlassOnion]

Don't buy from bird tricks, I know of many people who say that it's a complete waste of money and that the material is just a copy of other training resources. Barbara Heinreich from Goodbird Inc is extremely famous for behavior/training and has her own magazine. Sally Blanchard is a famous behaviourist and has written some very informative books on parrot ownership. Check out Goodbird Inc and Sally Blanchard's books- what they offer is very resourceful to understanding parrot body language and maintaing a healthy relationship with one.

[Zanizaila]

A bird is quieter than a teenager. Even a macaw can't outblast a teenager.

Oh yes they can.
I was a teenager fairly recently, with two teen-siblings.

And if a teenager is making noise, s/he won't be rehomed because the neighbors are complaining.
And people in general have a much greater tolerance for screaming kids (babies, teenagers or in-between), than birds.
The same with other animals. If a dog destroys something, it is a "mean animal". If a child does the same thing, people say "It's just a child, s/he doesn't know any better!"

To those of you who don't know, this is what the large psittacines sound like... (And always remember that speakers or a headset can never copy the real sound.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlrbZjNHCmM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLD-ZPoUGyA

[chadsnyder]

The wonderful thing about birds is the variety and you really don't know what to expect with a species because each bird is unique. I agree that you should consider a hand fed budgie or green cheek. Have you thought about a Parrotlet? They are small, active and if you have the time are a go with you anywhere type bird. Mine is not noisy but is vocal. He has learned tricks and throws a party when I walk in from work. Hope it all works out! Let us know!

[liz]

The wonderful thing about birds is the variety and you really don't know what to expect with a species because each bird is unique. I agree that you should consider a hand fed budgie or green cheek. Have you thought about a Parrotlet? They are small, active and if you have the time are a go with you anywhere type bird. Mine is not noisy but is vocal. He has learned tricks and throws a party when I walk in from work. Hope it all works out! Let us know!

Rambo and Myrtle are afraid of parrolets and lovebirds. Those little guys have no fear.

[Shelby]

I HAVE heard of birdtricks.com & have seen some of their Youtube videos. I actually haven't done much research on them so I had no idea they charged for their videos .. But what videos I have seen I thought were pretty good! I also had no clue they had a forum or community

BirdTricks puts up some videos on YouTube, freely available to anybody, and at no cost to watch. They also have DVDs and books you can buy that cover training and behavior more in-depth than the YouTube videos. Jamieleigh from BirdTricks has a blog, and BirdTricks has a blog that everybody in the company adds to. I've found that going through their blogs and YouTube videos has been quite informative (and free). Michael's Kiliparrot channel on youtube and training blog are also really great. I believe that Barbara Heidenreich (spelling? haha) also has a YouTube channel.
There is so much that these great trainers put out on the internet for free that using those resources is a great way to get off on the right foot without spending any money.

[Munchy]

I love the look in the eyes of the Yellow collared Macaw, I hope someone rescues it from the pet store.