Rio - Our First Drop-off Surrender
I commenced documenting my rescued macaws on Facebook, which led to an owner of a blue and gold macaw, named Rio, requesting if I would accept her bird. I willingly agreed.
Rio’s History
It was revealed that Rio’s only previous owner was the ex-husband of this considerate lady. He abandoned her, their children, and his bird, Rio, after at least 20 years. Rio had formed a strong bond with him and was also comfortable with her eldest son, who constructed a custom large cage for her. Unfortunately, due to the busy schedules of both the female owner and her son, they were unable to provide Rio with the necessary time and attention, resulting in Rio exhibiting feather-plucking behavior.
Rio reportedly had a Rottweiler companion for numerous years, engaging in activities such as riding on the dog’s back around the house. However, the Rottweiler was no longer present in the home which may have contributed to the feather plucking behavior.
Homecoming
Upon her arrival, Rio was accompanied by her cage, food, and toys. Her diet primarily consisted of a seed, peanut, and red pepper blend from the bird store, supplemented by some fruits and vegetables. It was also mentioned that she had an extensive vocabulary. I procured a new cage similar to those used for our other birds and relocated her original cage to the backyard for repairs, cleaning, and rust removal.
So many changes
Rio required an adjustment period to acclimate to us and our other birds. I arranged for a comprehensive veterinary examination, which included DNA sexing, a complete contagious panel, and a fecal exam. Generally, Rio was in good health, necessitating only a brief course of antibiotics, along with substantial dietary changes and supplements. She also underwent beak and nail trimming. We observed that one of her wings did not fully extend, prompting x-rays, which revealed no breaks or fractures. A subsequent veterinary opinion suggested that she might have sustained a muscle or ligament injury while interacting with the Rottweiler, which remained unnoticed. Consequently, Rio is permanently unable to fly.
Follow up vet visits
Within six months, there was a noticeable improvement in her lab results and her ability to grip perches and crack nuts. Over approximately one year, she developed full trust in us and adapted well to her new environment. We recently acquired a significantly larger indoor cage for her. Initially, she was reluctant to accept it, but she has since begun to adapt. Rio is exceptionally intelligent and highly destructive; we have had to repair two of her cages, and she destroys wooden toys within a week. Although she cannot be left unsupervised outside her cage, she reliably protects the flock.