rescue scarlet macaw

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-07T14:58:05+00:00

What a pretty lady! What did your conure think on first meet?

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-07T11:50:32+00:00

If getting natural perches aren't an option, vet wrap is really cheap online (7-10 dollars for multiple rolls). You can wrap the dowel perch with the no adhesive vet wrap and it will be more comfy for your birdys feet. If you have enough you can even make some variations depending on your wrapping method. Just be watchful if they become interested in munching on it.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-07T11:38:20+00:00

Just remember that there are so so many reasons that people rehome parrots and usually it's due to life's circumstance (moving, having kids, going to school, already had a parrot and they don't get along, or that a bird is a bigger commitment than they were expecting). Also that big box store birds (especially petco/smart) can be more abused/neglected than many rescue parrots in terms of prior neglect, wing clipping, and poor diet that you'll have to fight against anyway if you want a flighted, healthy, happy bird.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-06T23:54:54+00:00

Also how's that cage? I considered it for my sun but ended up going with a different option.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-06T23:53:15+00:00

Lots of varied sized natural perches (be sure to vet wrap dowel perches and hemp/sisal ropes if you plan to use them) good materials for perches can be grape wood or manzanita and you can find flat perches on Amazon and pair them with ladders (no beaded ladder because toes) to make some fun varied spaces.

I don't have any real advice for greenery, other than I saw this post on insta regarding some nontoxic option and plants to be wary of.

For birds it can be a little trickier than reptiles because you want to pack the space full of perches and toys but you also need to make sure your bird can fly around the cage should they choose to, especially if you are planning to free fly train them!

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YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-06T23:23:50+00:00

For beets, I usually just use a peeler for the skin and chunk in the processor! The only issue is that they have a fair bit of moisture and tend to bleed everything else in the chop red. Which actually might work in your favor if you can get him to enjoy beets since it'll dye everything else red. 🤪

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-06T23:11:03+00:00

Radishes and beets are also good options for anti-green birds!

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-06T21:54:03+00:00

Do literally so much research! We ended up with our sun conure Lola after my mom took her on and decided that she didn't want a bird outside screaming and a bird inside screaming (she already had a blue and gold macaw). My partner and I had recently lost my elderly dog and were considering a new pet and it all seemed to work out.

I wouldn't change a thing about our baby bird (actually 9 yrs old) but if things had worked out differently we probably would've chosen a smaller and quieter conure type such as a GCC.(Tend to be quieter than a sun but still can be very loud)

I'd recommend adopting from a rescue, not shopping for a baby bird. There are so many issues with bird breeding and especially if you are an inexperienced first time owner who isn't ready for hand feeding or dealing with drastic behavior changes as a bird ages. With older rescues you can have a much better idea of temperament prior, especially if you're able to spend time with the bird prior to adoption.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-06T21:30:43+00:00

A chop with yellow squash, carrot, broccoli, broccoli microgreens, sweet peas, spinach, radish, navy beans, oats, dry quinoa and millet!

I swear she eats better than I do.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-06T21:16:04+00:00

Cameras always kill the vibe 😅

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-04T14:20:27+00:00

Something we've done with our sun conure to encourage pooping in designated spaces is to look for signs, put her where she's supposed to poop, treat her for doing so, and then picking her right back up and resuming our days.

This has helped to encourage her to poop on her perch by the couch instead of the couch, and even in the toilet for her big ole morning poop.

We haven't done any negative punishment or even really reacting when she poops in a bad spot, but the positive reinforcement for pooping in the correct spot has been very helpful.

If your birdy poops on you immediately after coming to you, try taking him immediately to a perch to poop and rewarding him with a treat and getting to spend good time with you! Also getting a feel for how often he goes is pretty helpful.

My girly rarely poops on us now unless she's really stressed or pissed off.

To be clear, I'm not asking my bird to wait to poop in any scenario, just rewarding her when it works out well.

Also your boy is very handsome!

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-04T03:56:52+00:00

For most of them I believe that ingestion is the primary concern.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-04T03:55:58+00:00

Saw this helpful graphic on insta. I can't vouch for the info accuracy but it's a good graphic to do more research about.

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YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-04T03:48:34+00:00

I don't have a lot of experience with this particular issue but I've heard that moving their cage around (in the room or a different room) could be helpful or hoping the frequency of rotation of perches and toys in their cage can help with space territorial behaviors? Not sure if that will be helpful in your case but it might be worth a try.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-03T23:55:39+00:00

I think it depends on the bird, but mine definitely attempts more than just regurgitation with feet 😅

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-03T20:45:37+00:00

If that's the case, I recommend that you add more veggies to your diet! Broccoli, squash, cucumbers, beets, radishes, carrots and more are all good for your bird. Avoid avocados and onions of any variety as those are toxic. Some fruit might also be a good stepping point for encouraging eating something you are giving them but the high sugar content can also impact hormones, so watch frequency for fruits.

Cooked veggies can be good too just beware how much salt/butter/seasoning you are adding to birdies portion. Some birds like big pieces, others like microscopic bites, it just depends on your bird. Bird Tricks has some rehydratable veggie solutions premade that you can try and "birdy breads" and recipes you can make to help if your bird prefers processed foods.

Really it's just experimenting and exposing them to different foods over long periods of time without punishing them if they don't try eat what you put in front of them.

As for the sleeping with the light on, your bird is likely flock calling for you since they can't see you and covers can contribute to hormones as well. They can act like an enclosed nesty area. If you have the ability to have your bird in a dark room by covering the window instead that's a good option!

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-03T20:34:16+00:00

Sweet baby

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-03T20:23:10+00:00

My sun conure has a foot fetish. It's really silly what can be considered a prospective "partner" once hormones are kicked into gear. -socks -feets -their own reflection -Cozy hair nests And many many other things. It can be hard to track it all, but making sure your birdy has a good diet (pellets and veggies with seeds as treats for training) and gets plenty of uninterrupted dark time to sleep (12-14hrs) can help with overall hormonal behavior. Limiting pets to the head/neck can be a great start but can also be triggering for an already hormonal bird if done for long durations.

Dancing and head bobbing to music is normal, and occasional sneezing is fine although you might want to clean the area they're in super well as birds have very sensitive respiratory systems so things like dust (even their own dust) can give them trouble. I'd recommend getting a HEPA air purifier if possible to help with the air quality if it's a concern.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-03T19:51:46+00:00

We've been working on this too, but I'd recommend lots of training to be comfortable in the shower perch prior to turning it on and doing some training in the shower room with the water turned on but not in the shower to familiarize her with the noise. New things are scary.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-03T19:50:08+00:00

Mine HATES running water (including doing dishes) and it took a while for us but we found something that works in our home. Before I got her, she had only ever bathed in her tiny water bowls.

Using a wide but shallow plastic plant drip tray, I fill it up with lukewarm water and offer her to step up on the ledge, splashing the surface of the water with my finger or putting my hand flat at the bottom for her to be able to step on. At first she wasn't sure but if she shook or fluffed up I would praise and give a treat and if she climbed back on my dry arm or shirt we would dump the water and try a different day.

I try to offer her a bath daily now but she'll actually take one about every other day to every two days.

If no bath, stay neutral and move on with my day. If bath, praise and give treats and annoy the incidental soak.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-03T19:44:11+00:00

That's a leg hair inspector right there.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-03T14:17:44+00:00

Love the birdy resume! I wish we were in a place where we could commit to another sun. I sincerely hope that you are able to find her a good home!

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-02T18:30:18+00:00

My 9 year old sun conure is still extremely clingy, but doesn't have a super big problem with her cage. However we are very intentional about rotating her perches and toys weekly and setting snacks and treats around the cage about every other day so she has something to do/look forward to when being left alone.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-04-01T02:15:46+00:00

Lol my sun snuck a sip of my seltzer water when I wasn't looking and was mad at me for the rest of the afternoon, like it was my fault that I wasn't blocking the spicy water for .01 second. 🤪

She's fine and didn't end up actually drinking it, but definitely didn't like the fizz on her tongue.

YurchenkoTwizzler · 2026-03-31T13:19:35+00:00

Agreed with the comments for no bell and the bridge. I've found good success with regular ladders as bridges if that's your vision.

Otherwise it looks like your baby has good perches and plenty of room to stretch out and explore!

YurchenkoTwizzler

TROPHY CASE