Shelby The Macaw

A catch up on how those creepy pin feathers are looking these days. They’re all grown out and dried up with the odd one needing my help because he can’t reach them. Macaw pin feathers fascinate me, and creep me out at the same time. But there is nothing more satisfying than crumbling that sheath away #parrotsoftiktok #shelbythemacaw #parrotcare #parrotsofig #parrots #macaws #freeflight #freeflying

HIS FACE 🤣🤣🤣 this made me laugh so much. Loki was absolutely loving his peaceful shower, alone, before Tommi turned up. As you can tell he wasn’t too impressed when his big sister turned up and shared the perch 😂😂 as soon as I took her out Loki went back to spinning around and was loving life again. Showering parrots is fun, enriching and enjoyable, but also essential for feather health. Different parrots prefer different showering methods too! #parrots #shelbythemacaw #macawsofig #macaw #parrotsofig #parrot #freeflying #training #macaws

Trypophobia warning!!! When a parrot goes through molting, it’s like they’re stepping into a new feathered suit. But here's where it gets a bit funny – imagine your parrot looking like it's trying on clothes too small, popping out these pin feathers that look like tiny, alien quills. These pin feathers, or blood feathers, are basically the parrot’s new plumage packed tightly in a protective sheath. Now, feather plucking is like a parrot's version of a bad hair day, except it can lead to some not-so-funny consequences. When a parrot plucks its feathers, it’s not just about looking a bit unkempt; it’s literally creating tiny holes where those feathers used to be. And yes, these holes can sometimes bleed, which is as concerning as it sounds. It’s like deciding to do a DIY haircut and ending up with a bald patch that needs medical attention! Keeping a close eye on your parrot during this time is crucial because, let's face it, nobody wants their parrot to turn into a patchy pirate. Providing them with plenty of toys, attention, and maybe even a bit of spa music (who knows, they might enjoy it) can help keep them from turning into feather-plucking aficionados but definitely visit a vet first! In all, while the journey through molting and avoiding the pitfalls of feather plucking can be a bit of a rollercoaster, it’s all part of the adventure of sharing your life with a parrot. Just remember, a happy, engaged parrot is less likely to turn into a feather-plucking artist.#parrots #parrotsoftiktok #fyp #Macaws #shelbythemacaw #macawsofig #parrotcare #freeflying

Talk about your bougie birds 😂😂 I have to stand here for the longest time listening to this awful machine whilst these birds let loose in the shower 😅 it really is Tommi and Shelby’s favourite way of showering now (Loki still only likes his warm indoor showers 🙄😶‍🌫️) and of course I can’t deny them what they want! I’d love to calculate the energy costs of keeping these birds who are treated like royalty . . . #shelbythemacaw #macawsofig #macaw #parrots #parrotsshowering #birdsofig #birds #birdlovers

All about partot holes 😂😂 the cloaca is not unique to birds, masupials and reptiles also have a cloaca, a hole that serves a multitude of purposes! I definitely think parrots descended from dinosaurs, what do you think?? #macaw #photography #beautiful #parrots #parrotsoftiktok #didyouknow #cloaca #shelbythemacaw

This jungle chicken loves his hot and steamy showers. The more powerful the better. Also, he rocks a centre parting 😂😂 #shelbythemacaw #parrotsofig #parrotcare #parrots #parrotsoftiktok

#stitch with @Coco and Leo the caiques such a sad story and my heart goes out to this poor lady and her birds. Please remove all toxic cookware from the home and keep your birds out of the kitchen ##parrots##shelbythemacaw##macawsofig##macaw##parrotsofig##advice##parrot

What are your bird’s most annoying traits??

Join me as I clip Tommi’s nails which tend to become very sharp very quickly and so need regular maintenance. I have been using clippers to cut my macaw’s nails successfully for many years now, and is not something you should attempt without guidance from a vet. Most people take their birds to a vet to deal with claw and beak issues and that is definitely something I’d recommend if this is new to you. Nail trimming is a positive experience for us, and all of the birds thoroughly enjoy it, because they know they get treats. Tommi especially used to find this process quite traumatic but I’ve managed to get to a point where I can easily maintain her claws myself without help, keeping it a calm and positive experience. Nails and beaks can be naturally maintained by offering plenty of destruction enrichment activities, Tommi’s nails don’t tend to ever get long but instead get SHARP making holding her an unpleasant experience, especially in winter 🥶 . . . #shelbythemacaw #macawsofig #parrots #parrot are #militarymacaw #macaw

There are many forbidden holes 🕳️ on a parrot, and ears are some of the more adorable 🥰 . Parrots aren’t able to hear any better than a human, but their eyesight definitely makes up for that. Next time you get the opportunity to tickle a parrot’s ears you may find that they give you a nice big yawn, or crop adjustment, which never fails to melt my heart. Loki’s ears are easy to find because the feathers surrounding them are so fine and almost transparent, and his ear holes do seem to be rather large 😅 #shelbythemacaw #macaws #parrot #birdlife #parrotlife #macawsofig #macaw #freeflight #funny #facts #ears

And the benefit of macaw friends…they liver foreverrrr #parrotsoftiktok #parrottraining #shelbythemacaw #macaw #parrots #macaws #freeflying

What is your opinion on Parrots having a relationship with children? I believe that it is possible for parrots and children to have a relationship with each other but there must be boundaries. Put in place early on. Children need to understand the potential dangers that arise from owning and interacting with a parrot and Parrots must also understand how to behave in the presence of a child. I always monitor my children around my birds and the other way round. I also encourage my children to interact with the birds in a respectful way by getting them involved in training when they feel comfortable enough to be involved. Children should be made aware of the dangers of a parrot bite early on and should be taught how to respectfully engage with a bird that could potentially cause harm. at the same time a parrot should also be trained in how to behave around a child. Ultimately if done correctly, I think a relationship between a parrot and a child can be a beautiful and lifelong bond. #an#animalsbondinga#parrotsh#shelbythemacawa#macawsofiga#macawa#parrotsofiga#parrotsr#trainingr#freeflyinga#macaws

We were invited to spend the day at Wingham Wildlife Park and had just the most special day. We fed the giraffes and the lorikeets, watched the free flying macaw team with Tony and Reece and made sure we visited every single one of the animals in the entire park. Such a great day, wonderful people and awesome park. Give @TikTok Tony 🦜 and @WinghamWildlifePark a follow from us xx . . . #shelbythemacaw #macawsofig #winghamwildlifepark #freeflying #parrots #macaws #familydayout

Did you know that parrots blush bright red on their thin white skin?? This can be as a result of excitement, fear, aggression of feeling hormonal, or even a range of other emotions we don’t fully understand. Parrots are PROS at reading body language and so blushing is a form of communication between flock members . . . #shelbythemacaw #parrots #didyouknow #fascinatingfacts #parrotcare