follow-up

Question
I have also started her on a roudybush daily maintenance pelleted diet. I was giving her standard petland discounts stuff originally but that has a lot of sunflower seeds...actually it is packed with them and I know that is high in fat and not reccommended.

I live in NYC and am surprised to find that there is not a wide variety of toys and items available for macaws. The toys that are available are very costly (30bux for wood blocks). I am looking into making some homemade ones. any reccomendations?

I also got her a mineral block that she doesnt really chew on and doesnt seem very fond of having.

She also got a shower today and blow dried, she was screaming, but after everything was done, she didnt seem mad. I'm not sure if she screams because she doesnt like it or because she is just a little hesitant.

The vet will be calling me Monday because he was on vacation. I have begun giving her some peppers as well. Need to get vitamins, what do you reccommend? She doesnt eat a lot of vegeatbles and fruits though.

I'm not sure about giving her meat though...I am a vegetarian along with everyone else in my family so I am a bit hesitant about that. Is it a must or is it ok if i dont?

What other things do you recommend to get her back in a complete and healthy state! (previous owner was neglectful)

She doesnt talk much either. she only says hello, and hop up. I think because she might not be fully healthy that's why she isnt attempting to learn new words.


Answer
Good job!  Let me try to address all you concerns and just remind me if I miss something ok?

Making your own toys is as easy as a visit to Home Depot or Lowes and getting a 8-12' plank of UNtreated hard pine. Ask and they'll cut it into manageable lengths for you, usually for nothing, but sometimes they'll charge 25cents or so per cut.  I have my 8' planks cut twice and then use my jigsaw (hand held electric) at home to make what I want to make.
 A drill with a bit big enough to make holes for regular, UNtreated cotton rope (sometimes you can find clothesline rope like this) to go through the wood is the only other necessity.
 I also use BRASS cup hooks (never, ever use anything 'zinc' around a bird - and you must assume that if the product doesn't specify what the metal is, it's probably zinc) - take a chunk of wood and put a cup hook in one end or the center and hang it in the cage. You'll figure out how to position the cup hook so the bird can't get to the hook or easily lift it up and send the wood flying to the bottom.
  There are also excellent sources of pre made toys online.  I have a supplier I use all the time - she's phenomenal, but is taking a break right now. When she's back up, I'll list her on my Services page of my site

 ANY pelleted food is better than an all seed diet.  ANY fortified, quality PARROT seed mix that doesn't include sunflower seeds is fine (never use wild bird or other bird seed which may be treated with something that could jeopardize your bird's health).  

 No vitamins necessary. Save your money.

As a vegetarian, explore new fruits and veggies with your bird.  Just because she's not eating it now, doesn't mean she won't later. They learn by watching and their tastes change, so don't give up and let her see YOU eating things and then offering her the same thing.  My girl Sadie has decided this season that she loves blueberries. Cookie has been seen with a strawberry. Believe me, this is news!

 In this weather it's probably not necessary to blow dry.  The sound of the hair dryer can be distressful to some birds.  So can the vacuum cleaner. I used to laugh and laugh when I turned the vac on around Sadie (she used to scream bloody murder!). Now, every time it goes on, Sadie clamors to ride on my shoulder and laugh about it to no end.  
 Some birds are said to be prompted to shower when they hear the vacuum. No one really, for sure, knows why.

 She'll use the mineral block when she needs it, although our Cookie has never touched one. We keep giving them to her anyway.  Cuttlebone is vital too. It might be the texture she prefers.  Install it near her food dish since they'll often use it to wipe their beaks off after certain meals.

No, they don't really 'need' meat.  Our girls enjoy chicken though. Now and then a piece of shrimp or fresh/cooked fish.  But since pelleted diets are remarkably well formulated - it's not necessary as long as she's eating that most of all.

Try clipping some freshly washed leafy veggies inside her cage - still very wet - this often encourages exploration.  Take a loud bite of a carrot and then hand her the rest (it works every time with ours). They don't want to miss out on something we apparently like.

 Now, as for a macaw and talking? They aren't the best talkers in the bird world.  I barely notice that anymore since there's so many other ways to know what they want and how they feel.  Cookie only seems to talk at night and then, not much. She's a great dog impersonator though. And she laughs like a mad man.
 Sadie still swears a bit from her previous homes, but mostly she will hear noise and yell "shut up!".  Sometimes she'll scream and tell herself to 'shut up!'.  I try to discourage it because I think it's just sad.
 Sadie showers when she's ready and not a moment sooner. We don't force it, we'll wait.  Today she got a bit wet, but didn't really cooperate. when they cooperate they spread their feathers and let themselves get drenched. They throw themselves into the whole thing and it's obvious that they're having a good time.  
 When they're not cooperating, we try to change their minds a bit, but after a few minutes just quit.  There's always another day.  In summer Sadie likes showering at least once a week, in winter she's rarely interested.
 Cookie is always ready for a shower though. We call her our little fish bird.  So it's also a matter of personality and how they've learned to associate it.

 Oh, and peppers are excellent! Just don't let anyone try to tell you it makes them talk.  Old wives tale. Birds don't really have a sensitivity to capsaicin, the stuff that makes peppers hot to mammals.  To a bird, a hot pepper is no more troublesome than a sweet pepper.

 OK, I think that's it.  Check my page for more ok?

www.4AnimalCare.org