Bird woman's flock

[Bird woman]

There not puking up on me anymore , each other the problem is my macaw which was always no problem is now getting absolutely viscous with me. I have to bribe him with nuts to get him out of the room to get Mathew the new macaw into his cage for bed time. I've been struck at , dive bombed and chased by Huey and now Mathew try's to defend Huey when I have to run him out of the room. I'm sure things will. Settle down or there both going to find themselves with a good wing clipping. That will take the wind out of there sails. I'll only use that as a last resort but defently going to happen if the dive bombing doesn't stop. Huey weighs over 1500 grams he's huge and very muscular, could do some damage. Well we will. See how it goes. Scared monster stuff BW

[Wolf]

Sounds to me a lot like you may have both a male and a female and that they are both a bit hormonal and are bonding with each other. If this is true then clipping wings is not going to solve this although it will confine it to the ground. But I do understand as they can be more than dangerous enough without the option of flight. With those big bolt cutters on one side of their faces they can do a lot of damage very quickly. I do not envy the position that you are now in. Have you tried to let them remain out of their cages at least until it gets dark enough for them to go to roost? It might be the safest way to put them to bed at night.

[Pajarita]

Yes, are they DNA'd? That might shed a bit of light on the issue... Also, have you considered allowing them to be together? One more question: How long have you had Huey? Because I have found that it takes each of them about two years to what I call 'find their place in the flock' and any change before that can alter the dynamics dramatically - usually for the worst! Which brings another question to mind: you have been adding new birds without waiting the two years in between, right?

[Bird woman]

I'm going to have to have Huey sexed, Mathew is sexed male. I've had Huey 16 years no problem and never caged. My new set-up allows him to be free and weather permitting able to go outside right off the bird room. I really don't mind if they want to be together but this possessiveness is pretty dangerous. I won't allow any of the too's or greys out around the macaws as I'm afraid they will get hurt. So after breakfast I clean both avairys and get everyone where they belong and then let Mathew out with Huey outside. Mathew is still housed apart I can't risk putting him in the bird room . I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to take the game room and redo it for the macaws and just let them have there own space , I've been meaning to do it anyway just forced to now.this is an extremely large room with a big bank of Windows that leads out onto a huge covered patio. I'm going to replace Windows with big sliders and build another outside encloser attached. Then they can have it all to themselves. BRATS ANYWAY !!! And no I don't keep birds away from each other for 2 years they are started to be introduced as soon as quarantine and blood work is clear. I've never had any major problems and any small squabbles or anything like that has always been worked out with space. All the birds have there own areas to go to where others aren't allowed and this is one of the very first things I teach the new birds as they pick there own space. Example Lilly's space is the spare bathroom tub in encloser , she has her own toy set up stuff in the tub and nobody else goes in there when she doesn't want to be bugged,not even me sometimes that's her space. Rikis got the main front room , and lumi , max have one of the spare rooms where they retreat to when they don't want to be bugged. The greys hang in the kitchen they all will share spaces except Lilly she won't share the bathroom not even with human company. the bird room is where all of us will hang , watch tv and just chill. Well gotta go the bare-eye just came out !! I'm excited ! BW

[Pajarita]

No, you misunderstood my comment about the two years. It's not keeping birds apart for two years, it's not getting a new bird within two years of getting the last one -unless you can't help it, of course. This is something that rescues cannot do, of course, but it works much better for private aviaries because, by the time a new bird comes in, the others are all feeling quite secure and settled into the routine.

[Bird woman]

I wish I had the luxury of not taking more in but I'm sure , just like you I can't turn any animal away in need. This world is full of neglected , injured , abused and abandoned creatures and I have all my life done what I can to care for whatever comes my way. I even have a wild skunk that's mama got killed that I got special milk and food for and have been feeding it twice a day . The cat that I took in 6 weeks ago plays with it outside and I'm sure that's going to back fire on me when the cat gets sprayed. . Right now MR.JR. Shrunk thinks it's fun tumbling around on the ground with the cat but I'm sure one of them is going to tire of the stalk and grab ass game and I hope the cat gets tired of it first. Things are pretty crazy right now as I'm having to spend a lot more quality time with my flock and one on one time so nobody feels left out. Things will settle down they always do. Until then I'll keep a bottle of Xanax on hand BW

[Pajarita]

You can have the skunk de-scented...

[Bird woman]

I would just as soon let it be wild and take my chances. If I had it de-scented then it would not have any natural defenses and I don't want it in the house. There's to much craziness right now anyway. that's all I need is a skunk in the mix. I was able to hold the new little bare - eye twice today he finally decided he needed some cuddles and I was happy to accomidate him. He is so soft , I've never had a bird with such soft feathers. Can't wait to be able to shower him and let him get out in the sunshine.I don't want to push and break the trust we are starting to gain by forcing hi to do anything that scares him. Slow and easy has always worked best for me. How's mouse doing ? Time to get the rather large flock cleaned up and ready for bed , you have a great evening. BW

[Pajarita]

Mouse is still alive but I asked my husband to drown him later today. He is not doing well, the swelling is still huge and it has concentrated on the lower part of his belly, a hard and huge lump that has to make his life miserable and, to put the icing on the cake, a big mouth opened up on the inside of his thigh so he has to be in constant pain, the poor thing! My husband was not very happy about it though (he can't even touch our own dead animals) so I think I am going to call both my vets and ask them if they have some kind of a strong anesthesia gas that would kill it...

[Bird woman]

If you can't get anything from the vet , the exhaust from your car will put him to sleep painlessly. I'm so sorry to hear about mouse but you gave him a good shot at life. Hope things get brighter for you ! BW.