New cage for a new Mini Macaw

[macbrush]

Now sure if this is the right place to post, since its not really about the cage itself.

Anyway, I have this Junior for about a week now, he came with a small plated metal cage which he's been living for all his life (1 year). I have a much bigger stainless steel cage, its been sitting below my grey's cage for ages empty, now I want to put it to use. I wasn't in a hurry, but I found out that Junior likes to nip the cage bars, and since its just plated, there are some rust at some of the joints, also I heard horror stories about birds getting poisoned by nipping a plated cage bars for too long.

Should I attempt to move Junior that quickly? Or should I wait for a bit more until he's really comfortable going about my house?

Another question, would that be problem if the cage is relatively dark? I will provide lighting, but since its sitting below another cage, lighting option would be limited, probably a UV light by the top side of the cage. Well, I live in a very small village house, so putting the cage somewhere else would be impossible.

Thanks
Kenneth

[Eric&Rebecca]

I wouldn't say they horror stories they are very real risks with rust and yes its a very large risk. If the current cage is rusty then you're going to need to move him, especially if he's nibbling the bars. Stainless steel cage would be much better, I would move him He'll settle in soon enough but I can understand your concerns.

Just make sure you use the same perches so he has a degree of familiarity he should be ok.

[macbrush]

Thanks, I bit the bullet and got him into the new cage today. I tried to introduce the cage progressively, like put him into the cage and reward, kept the cage door open... etc.

Now its bed time, and he's clinging on top corner of the cage for hours. My friend told me its normal behaviour for Macaws, and you know he's over it once he's started perching normally. Is that any truth in it? Anyone have experience with Macaws can confirm this? He's been in that position all night, and I am starting to worry.

Cheers
Kenneth

[Pajarita]

No, it's not really normal behavior. The problem is that the cage is low to the ground (it's a breeder's cage, isn't it? the kind where one is stack on top of another one?) and birds don't feel safe there. For them, the higher they perch, the better, more secure, more relaxed they feel about it. Please put him in a cage higher than that one. It's stressful for a parrot (they are canopy birds, you know) to be low to the ground.

[janetafloat]

....and you know what I'm going to say...yes, it was too soon! Another big change when he hadn't had chance to adjust to the big chances that have already happened. I know the old cage was far from ideal and your intentions are nothing but good, but another week or two in it wouldn't have been the end of the world, and it sounds like the new set up is far from ideal too. Sorry, not trying to give you a hard time, but repeatedly stressing your bird in the first days/weeks you have him can backfire (developing behaviour problems or sickness).

[macbrush]

Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately, I have already threw out the old cage. The good news is though the cage is near the floor, its actually 6" above the ground, and since it really is a cage for much larger bird (32" tall), after reading you guys' suggestions, I moved 2 of the perches a couple of inches higher near the top, now Junior is sitting on one of them very comfortably.

I guess I am lucky that Junior is a really brave and curious little guy, he's fitting in very well. Its so funny that when my grey was watching us training, his look was like "are you nuts?!", "Don't do it!", "DANGER!", "BIT HIM NOW!"... LOL

[Pajarita]

Weeeeeeeell, I would not say 'comfortable', he is most likely resigned to it but not liking it. Please consider getting him a cage where he can be at eye level with you, it will decrease his stress considerably and both you and him will benefit from it.

[Eric&Rebecca]

maybe it is too soon but I wouldn't have risked the rust... heavy metal poisoning risk would have been there so I would have changed it later. The cage sounds like its too low to the ground as Parajita says.

[Eric&Rebecca]

....and you know what I'm going to say...yes, it was too soon! Another big change when he hadn't had chance to adjust to the big chances that have already happened. I know the old cage was far from ideal and your intentions are nothing but good, but another week or two in it wouldn't have been the end of the world, and it sounds like the new set up is far from ideal too. Sorry, not trying to give you a hard time, but repeatedly stressing your bird in the first days/weeks you have him can backfire (developing behaviour problems or sickness).

Yes but the cage was rusty and he was nibbling the bars. Sorry, but he had to be moved or risk heavy metal toxicity. 2-3 weeks is long enough exposure for it to affect is health more profoundly. I think its a case of the lesser of two evils.

Although now it seems this cage isn't the ideal shape of at the right height for the bird. :-/