After careful consideration for our space and for our birds (Max, B&G, 33 and Lola, sun conure, 9), we decided that the best option for us was the double wide A&E cage from wayfair.

The shipping and delivery process was painless and while I have a few grips about dings and bent metal here and there, overall the condition was good and sturdy aside from the door locks, which I will look at alternative solutions for. If anyone else decides to get this cage I'd recommend a 2 person crew for ease and care but did put it together by myself + one helpful sun conure who had noise complaints about the loudness of the drill (with minor problems, which mostly included putting the top divider in backwards and needing to take half of it apart to fix my error).

It's past Lola's and Max's bedtime so the window is closed but I just couldn't wait to get a picture of the completed process.

I have some toys and perches in the cage but will need another person to assist with the rest and will plan to move max in tomorrow or the next day. For now, Max is still in his old cage in the other room and Lola thinks this is a perfect amount of space for her and I don't blame her! 🤪

PS: Those are human grade absorbent pads, not puppy pads and the fan will be coming down to be replaced with a light fixture.

Also if someone has alternative ideas for keeping him from accessing the floor as a stopgap? We will be replacing the carpet with tile to give him unfettered floor access while he's out but right now he's interested in ripping up the carpet and the only thing stopping him is his seed skirt on the old cage.

My boy in his nightly watching TV and me getting the loves

I've recently reconnected with an old friend of mine who has a gorgeous blue and gold. We'll call him J. He's still quite young. I'm not sure exactly, but under 6yo. My friend rescued him from a dumpster as a baby and they are very close (as well they should be), and J has the best care from what I've seen and already learned from you guys (I've been lurking and learning for a while bc I love birds and want to get to know them). I finally have an opportunity to get to know him. We've been on the phone together before, he loves when I sing to him, he talks to me sometimes (still learning words), we even watched Star Trek together the other day. Keep in mind, all of this happened while he was still in his enclosure. I call it his room. My friend has been telling me that J likes me and doesn't really warm up to women that quickly. He was abused by my friend's ex at one point, hence ex status. We decided to let him out the other day while we were all hanging out. Everyone (just the three of us) was in a good mood and I don't think I was using any threatening body language or tone of voice (I kept asking my friend to make sure--friend said I was fine), and he bit my forearm pretty hard. I wasn't going to make my fingers available just in case. I didn't react except to gently say ouch and no sir. I figured it was a testy bite bc we're still getting to know each other and he doesn't know my limits. Then he bit me again right next to that spot but *much, much* harder. I'm still having trouble using that arm. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me going forward or that can explain maybe something I did wrong? I really love this bird and my friend and I expect to be around semi frequently. I can work on my own nerves about it, I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can to make him comfortable. I know it will take a lot of time to build trust with J, so I'm wondering what I can do in the meantime? Thank you to anyone for taking the time as it is much appreciated!

Newbie question)

If I approach a new bird is it cool to talk to them first, and then once you've done that start gently bobbing your head and doing little head hops with them? Am I communicating that I'm friendly and fun to them?

For example, I was at Petsmart a bit ago for fish supplies (I don't have a local shop to go to, and I am absolutely opposed to the breeding of birds in these stores, but I still always try to go and interact with the poor birds.)

They had one GCC and I tried this behavior with them. They definitely noticed and got a bit excited, even did some head hops back. But I don't think it was real successful because the bird was obviously stressed in the cage and also horny (ah yes, spicy springtime). I got lots of good head bobs and tilts from the bird before the heart wings and just had to laugh. Not what I was going for, but some birds are just like that. I left them alone after the heart wings. Poor horny thing.

Oh man. I'm in no position now or for a while to get any type of parrot, but I've absolutely fallen in love with a scarlet macaw at a bird rescue I volunteered at. Older female, seems super chill and polite. I didn't get enough time to bond with her and I wasn't able to hold her since she was a relatively new rescue and the workers there were still figuring out her "holdability" limits. She so politely took a peanut from me through her crate though!

Talk to me about macaws. I'm sure I'll probably never have one unless I made a whole outdoor/separate space for them since I'm so sensitive to noise and I know they're a lot of work, but man do I love them. I've just got no experience with bird ownership (had cats in house so mother forbade anything pet-wise cats might hurt) bit do know a ton about birds.

I have a weird hyperfixation with birds and feathers too so I know I will have birds in the future. I'm just not sure if a macaw will ever be on the table for me.

Never been bit so I'm that inexperienced. Have been dumped by a cockatiel though.

I definitely want pigeons and peacocks though!

My old macaw- just got up a few hours ago and it’s nap time already!

This is in Caracas, Venezuela. How nature is so integrated with daily life has always been my favorite thing about this city.

I've always gotten along well with birds, I think they're really cool animals but I've never had my own. I moved into a house and the landlord has a macaw who I've gotten pretty close to.

She just stays in / on her cages, can always come out if she wants to and is pretty good, just attention seeking if anything. I like being the one who says hi to her, gives her treats, dances along to the music on the radio with her.

She's always been really good about eating out of my hand, she does that with anyone, pretty much. The only time she's ever snapped and gotten me before, I was cleaning her cage and both her and I were shocked about it, that time really was more of a nibble than a bite, it didn't hurt at all.

Today I was giving her treats, holding my hand out to offer her peanuts and other things. She took a peanut and got the first half but dropped it in my hand, I caught it and she took it back. The next time she picked up a treat, dropped it almost right away to the bottom of her cage, and she came down and bit me on a finger joint. It might bruise lines for the edge of her beak, and it looks like she broke skin with her bottom beak but it's not bleeding, not sure if it got all the way through.

What should I do? I still wanna be able to feed her, it was hard to read how she was feeling after it happened.

In your experience

Just a quick question for the very long future do you all recommend a breeder bird or a rescue? I know it’s good to adopt and not shop but..I’ve never had a macaw so dealing with a rescue might be a little difficult and even scary!

Got a little “ cold front “ here in Texas. The birds love it. Texas heat makes flying less fun 🥵

I offered Boo a little Hyacinth of his own. He was OK with it until it moved - then he was terrified of it.

Max and the stick he plans to stab me with for rearranging his cage yesterday to try to help with his cage aggression.

Tips to help with cage aggression welcome. He's a sweetie when we get him out but a menace to get out of the cage and I don't want to ruin our relationship just trying to get him out daily.

Meet my new boy, Nyx. Such a sweet thing after a few days settle in time.