The first day home is an important day for both you and your new bird.

 Removing from carrier – It is usually much less stressful for all if you just open the carrier and set it right next to the cage door or if the cage is big enough just set the carrier inside and let your bird come out when he/she is ready to explore.  This can take up to an hour or 2 and sometimes more.  If your bird was shipped you will have to have nail clippers or scissors to clip the zip tie on the carrier door.  Once he climbs out of the carrier you can gently remove it from the cage or floor so you don’t startle him/her.

 Food and water – Make sure the bowls in the cage are full of food and the water bottle is full.  Your weary traveler will be thirsty.  One bowl with Zupreme, one bowl with Roudybush and one bowl with apples, grapes, bird bread, etc.  OR you can mix the Roudybush and Zupreme in one bowl and put soft foods and bird bread in another bowl and the 3^rd bowl under the water bottle in case it drips or baby plays with it.

 Settling in - He/she will be very interested in the new cage, toys and his/her new surroundings.  He/she needs to familiarize him/herself with the placement of the perches, food bowls and water bottle.  I know it will be hard but let him/her get used to everything and perhaps take a nap before you try to interact with your bird.   Watch and observe his/her reactions to everything and assure your bird he/she is home and everything will be ok.  Talk to your bird.

 It may take a week or 2 for your baby to adjust to its new surrounding, new cage, toys you, your family and new routine.  Take it slow and enjoy every minute.  It will be a learning process for both you and your new baby.

Don't expect a baby macaw to come running  out of a carrier for you to you to hold them.  They don't know you and are in a strange place.  They have come along ways, left their sibling, familiar surrounding and their caretaker.  Although sometimes they will come to you, more than not they will be apprehensive and you will have to win them over.

Give a new baby a chance to breathe, rest and get used to it's surroundings.  Some will want you to hold them close and pet them but may be apprehensive.  You must assure them all will be fine and just hold them quietly.  Whatever you do DON'T allow the baby to get on TOP of it's new cage until it has been on the inside of the cage and you know how to get it to step up and are comfortable handling the new bird.  Not only will you have difficulty getting it down but you may cause an unpleasant experience for the bird right away.  You may want to take your new baby in a room away from any cage where it is quiet and just love and pet it so it will get used to you before you put it in it's new cage.  This could be done daily for the first few days in the new home.

First contact – It is important that all contacts with your bird especially the first day are positive and pleasant.  Remember a cage is a bird's home.  It is THEIR personal space.  It is only natural that they would be dominant over the space.  It is THEIRS.  NO ONE belongs in that space but the bird unless of course there is an emergency.  In an emergency which could be an injury to the bird or an evacuation situation rather than get bit or cause extreme stress you would ask the bird to step up and if he didn't you would immediately put a towel around him and get him where he needed to be.  Most generally if an animal is injured they will either try to bite you or will be helpless and let you do anything.

 Any other time you need to encourage your bird to WANT to come out of the cage and come to you at the door so you do not have to put your hand inside the cage.  All my birds come to the door when I go to open it because they know they are going to come out to play.  If they don't come to the door they don't want to come out and play so I just close the door and leave them alone.  It is THEIR cage and THEIR choice whether to come out or not.

Open the cage door and sit and talk to your bird.  Many will come right to the door and try to climb to the top of the cage.   Put your hand in the way and offer your other hand or arm to detour him from climbing to the top of the cage.  Once on your hand use the hold that is shown below.   Most generally when a baby bird comes out of the cage they want to do the flying in place flap so make sure you hold securely.  Your bird is not trying to fly away but wants to excercise.  After the wing flap hold your bird close to your body.  He is afraid of falling.  Put your arm around his back if necessary.

Walk away from your cage and sit on the floor, talk and play with your bird.  Get to know each other.   All may not go smoothly the first few days but keep trying.  This is a new experience for you as well as your bird.  Always remember this is a baby, just a baby.  He may seem big on the outside but he is just a baby in a strange place.  You must convince him you are a trusting person that is fun to be with.

 Feeding – Keep his food bowls filled with pellets.  At least once a day feed soft foods.  You must keep this baby eating.  Once a baby goes off his feed it can be serious and sometimes fatal.  Soft foods can be offered once or twice a day but pellets should be 90% of his diet.   I have provided you with a list of food for a just weaned baby.  Please review the list.

Covering the cage - NEVER totally cover the cage.  Always leave on a night light so he doesn't freak at bumps in the night.  If you have to cover because of loss of heat leave one side open so he can see what is going on. 

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