EVanskiver
06-01-2013, 03:37 PM
Good morning all!
Today I have a story to tell, and a question to ask which I hope you can all help me with.
Part 1: How We Met
The day we met Reptar, we were in the local pet store and saw a HUGE macaw cage that she had all to herself. I asked a bit about her and found out that she was just dropped off there by someone. She seemed content and whatnot and I could not afford the price tag they had on her at the time so we went on our way.
About 2 months later I think it was, we went back to the same store to notice the cage was gone, which was a nice knowing that she had gotten a new home. We get what we came for and stop by the bird section to see what they had and there was Reptar, in a hamster type cage being fed pure sunflower seed and her talons growing into the underside of her foot. She was a mess.
On the glass they had a price tag of $400 for her and again, I was not in the place to be able to afford that.
We go out to the car and talk and my SO tells me to go make an offer and see what happens. I went in, and asked a few questions I knew they wouldn't have an answer to (Health, last vet visit, sex, age, etc) and then promptly told them that the bird was in terrible shape and they had no right asking such a high price for a bird they knew nothing about. After they called the manager, I purchased Reptar for $150 and later that week, we went to the vet to get her talons cut and a check up.
Part 2: Life At Home
Ever since getting Reptar it has been a battle. Many vet visits and many bleeding fingers. We have no idea her past, only what has happened since we got her and she seems to be a very mellow bird. For the first few weeks after we got her, she would hang out with me, sit on my shoulder, do some sort of mating dance and just basically chill. Soon she became very bitey and we couldn't get near her without getting bit hard. We backed away and stopped trying to get her to be social and would leave her cage open at times for her to visit and she just would sit inside her cage and come out for very short periods of time before going back in her cage.
For a while we just decided that perhaps she was not a bird that enjoyed being handled. We had also been informed around this time that she was a wild bird that had been caught and brought into captivity based off of her ankle ring. For the last few months, Reptar has chilled in her cage, yelled at the world, said Hi as we walk by and talk with her, and still sits in her cage.
Part 3: The Epiphany
For a few weeks now, a family friend has come by and has hung out with Reptar, and she absolutely LOVES him. She talks with him, cuddles with him, lets him pet her, and all but hops in his pocket to go home with him. There has been talk with my SO that perhaps she would be happier with him rather then us as everything we have tried seems to leave either us bleeding or her still sitting in her cage.
I am well known on the bonding habits of birds and that they bond strongly, however, it just doesn't feel that Reptar has bonded with us. I guess the question I am asking is really just for some advice on the situation. Is her happiness a passing thing, will she turn mean to him like she did us soon after we give her to him? Is there a reason we lose blood and he gets cuddles? I am very confused and torn on the situation, so please, any advice would help greatly.
Thanks,
Edward
Today I have a story to tell, and a question to ask which I hope you can all help me with.
Part 1: How We Met
The day we met Reptar, we were in the local pet store and saw a HUGE macaw cage that she had all to herself. I asked a bit about her and found out that she was just dropped off there by someone. She seemed content and whatnot and I could not afford the price tag they had on her at the time so we went on our way.
About 2 months later I think it was, we went back to the same store to notice the cage was gone, which was a nice knowing that she had gotten a new home. We get what we came for and stop by the bird section to see what they had and there was Reptar, in a hamster type cage being fed pure sunflower seed and her talons growing into the underside of her foot. She was a mess.
On the glass they had a price tag of $400 for her and again, I was not in the place to be able to afford that.
We go out to the car and talk and my SO tells me to go make an offer and see what happens. I went in, and asked a few questions I knew they wouldn't have an answer to (Health, last vet visit, sex, age, etc) and then promptly told them that the bird was in terrible shape and they had no right asking such a high price for a bird they knew nothing about. After they called the manager, I purchased Reptar for $150 and later that week, we went to the vet to get her talons cut and a check up.
Part 2: Life At Home
Ever since getting Reptar it has been a battle. Many vet visits and many bleeding fingers. We have no idea her past, only what has happened since we got her and she seems to be a very mellow bird. For the first few weeks after we got her, she would hang out with me, sit on my shoulder, do some sort of mating dance and just basically chill. Soon she became very bitey and we couldn't get near her without getting bit hard. We backed away and stopped trying to get her to be social and would leave her cage open at times for her to visit and she just would sit inside her cage and come out for very short periods of time before going back in her cage.
For a while we just decided that perhaps she was not a bird that enjoyed being handled. We had also been informed around this time that she was a wild bird that had been caught and brought into captivity based off of her ankle ring. For the last few months, Reptar has chilled in her cage, yelled at the world, said Hi as we walk by and talk with her, and still sits in her cage.
Part 3: The Epiphany
For a few weeks now, a family friend has come by and has hung out with Reptar, and she absolutely LOVES him. She talks with him, cuddles with him, lets him pet her, and all but hops in his pocket to go home with him. There has been talk with my SO that perhaps she would be happier with him rather then us as everything we have tried seems to leave either us bleeding or her still sitting in her cage.
I am well known on the bonding habits of birds and that they bond strongly, however, it just doesn't feel that Reptar has bonded with us. I guess the question I am asking is really just for some advice on the situation. Is her happiness a passing thing, will she turn mean to him like she did us soon after we give her to him? Is there a reason we lose blood and he gets cuddles? I am very confused and torn on the situation, so please, any advice would help greatly.
Thanks,
Edward