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

Trigger warning for trypophobia. If I were to pluck one of these pin feathers out it could result in blood loss, and of course it would be super painful for the bird. However so many people were extremely intrigued at what it would look like when one of these gets removed (which of course is not supposed to happen at any point - baby feathers, also known as pin feathers, are meant to be left in place for the feather the grow healthily) and unfortunately I am actually able to show you what it looks like. Shelby, my blue and gold macaws, plucks her feathers out, more specifically she pulls pin feathers out. It’s not yet known why or what causes this, and there is a stigma attached to this, with awful members of the bird world making nasty comments about the owners of birds that pluck, but I can assure you I’ve done everything I can to find answers. When a pin feather is removed, left behind is a gaping hole, that exudes blood, and of course the process of painful. I’ll keep fighting for Shelby and her health, and I’ll do a video soon on some of my current experiments to support her. #shelbythemacaw #macawsofig #macaws #parrots #feathers #didyouknow #dyk #pinfeathers #facts

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

The net I used in my garden was purchased off of eBay. I was able to select the size I wanted and so measured my garden to ensure I got the right size. I actually ordered my piece way too large but at least I have plenty of spare netting 😅 The net allows my birds to spend time outside, when the weather permits, to get sun and fresh air, without supervision. It means they’re safe, and contained whilst also benefitting from a large space within which they can fly, climb and have fun. I take my macaws out to free fly, and they’re trained to return to me, and so technically I could be without the net, but I choose not to be without it. It gives me great peace of mind. I had it installed by professionals using stainless steel rope, and giant posts. The macaws can chew through it, it’s not indestructible, however they don’t tend to do that unless they’re super bored or desperate to go back to their aviary. Although they can be unsupervised out there, I never leave them out there when I’m out of the house, I’m always home. That’s just too much of a risk for me, and a lot of the time I enjoy sitting out there with them anyhow. ESPECIALLY in summer! #parrotsofig #macawsofig #parrots #shelbythemacaw #freeflying #freeflight #parrotcare

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

Replying to @Rory 🤍 to my lovely followers, please feel free to let Rory know exactly what life for my birds is like. #freeflight #shelbythemacaw #parrotadvocate #worldparrottrust #parrots #dunstabledowns #bekind #macawsofig

Meeting a horse close up and personal for the first time! The rider was so so lovely and the horse was incredibly brave coming face to face with these screaming, colourful, noisy jungle chickens. Towards the end the horse did bolt BUT i think it was also because there was someone wearing a bright orange t shirt jogging along the road straight towards the horse and it terrified him more than the birds did 😅 #shelbythemacaw #macaws #horse #parrot #parrotcare #parrotsoftiktok #freeflight

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

Were you aware of JUST how affectionate parrots are?! Loki is such a cuddle bug, he is a hybrid of a scarlet macaw, and out of all three of my macaws he is definitely the most physically affectionate. Parrots are amazing at reading body language, and detecting changes in our moods, so when we’re uptight they can be too. But when we’re relaxed, that is when you’ll see a more calm and content pet parrot. #parrotsofig #macawsofig #parrots #shelbythemacaw #parrots #macaws

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

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

Sammie meets the big guys! I introduced my little African Grey to my three macaws today, outside in a big open mutual space. The reason I haven’t allowed this before now is because I really wanted Sammie to settle in before putting her face to face with the macaws as it could have been too much for her to cope with and caused her too much fear. Sammie is less than half the size of the big guys and so leaving them alone together is never going to happen, but outside supervised time like this, for a few minutes, is fine. #africangreyparrot #africangrey #shelbythemacaw #macawsofig #macaw #parrots #freeflight #macaws

Comment down below if you want to see what is left of this haul in 24 hours time! I can guarantee the floor of these macaw’s aviary is going to be COVERED in destroyed pieces of wood #shelbythemacaw #macaws #parrot #parrotcare #parrotsoftiktok #freeflight

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

Rating how good my birds smell out of 10! Do you agree? (Generally parrots tend to always smell absolutely amazing) #shelbythemacaw #macawsofig #parrotsofig #parrots #macaws #ratingthings

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

HORMONES!!!! 3…2…1…Hormones incoming. Its almost spring, THE most challenging time of the year for all parrot owners, and in addition to that it is almost the time of year when most parrots are rehomed. Hormonal parrots result in bites, aggression, excessive noise, plucking and a whole host of behaviours that we deem “negative” but are in fact completely natural. This isn’t a fun time for parrot owners, please have us in your prayers. This bite was DEEP, and it was because my dog dared to walk towards me which Loki viewed as an attempt to steal his wife (me!) #shelbythemacaw #macaws #parrot #parrotcare #parrotsoftiktok #freeflight #hormones

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