This is the Class of 2007
If you have an interest in our babies please feel free to contact us either through email at obaviary@hiwaay.net or you can phone us at 205-415-1444
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As a small breeder, I normally only have a few babies for sale at any given time. We've had a great fall season this year. Pebbles and Comet, the Scarlets, have filled the house with baby Macaws, and my Congo African Greys made a contribution to the group too. So I've been blessed with Scarlets and African Greys this year.
Pebbles doesn't feed her chicks so the Scarlet's were pulled around 2 days old. Its a challenge to raise chicks that small. It entails round the clock feedings and some pretty intensive care in those first days of life. Here are the first two Scarlet's at about 5 days old.
 | To me, their survival is nothing short of a miracle when face to face with their fagility. There were so many long hours in those early days, but they are worth the effort. They grow so quickly, almost right before your eyes. I monitor their growth with daily weight checks. I always weigh first thing in the morning while the chicks are completely empty. These little guys should be gaining weight daily. Lack of weight gain is an early sign of a problem |
| The pictures to the right were made through the month of September. The chicks stay in a simple brooder, with so many it wasn't hard to keep them warm. These early pictures show that, for the most part, they are a face only a mother can love. They are not cute in the way of most baby animals. They are clumsy and gauky. Wrinkled up like little old men, heads that grow twice as fast as their bodies and feet that grow apace with their heads, the ugly duckling has nothing on these babies. |
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October brings the Greys some down covering and they start to enter a cute stage. They have the sweetest faces with their black beaks and black eyes. The Macaws do not have a cute stage to enter. As soon as the down is in, the prickly stage of growing all those feathers begins. The babies loved to be preened in these stages because the new growth can be uncomfortable. It's exciting to watch this big Scarlet Macaw begin to finally take shape before your eyes. All those long nights of feeding, and looking at this ugly baby you would wonder if it was really going to make a beautiful Macaw.
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| But time marched on and November was soon upon us. They had grown into bigger brooders and had learned to escape those. By now they were experimenting with their beaks and playing with food, if not actually eating it. Cheerios, baked sweet potatoe, apples were all being offered. They were learning to climb and balance on a perch. And the beauty that had been so questionable only a few weeks earlier was suddenly being gloriously confirmed.
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They all have such distinct personalities and are so much fun to watch as they grow and develope. All of the Greys are
very vocal and animated. The largest Grey Baby loves to wrestle the big Macaw. The big Macaw loves to lay on his back to play with the others.
I have walked through the bird room on more than one occasion and had the wits scared out of me by seeing that big baby laying on his back with his feet up. They love attention, and are friendly with anyone that comes by. I am putting together a flight cage outside to prepare for the next stage, which will be flying. I'm sure that's going to be quite an adventure.
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If you're interested in purchasing any of these babies, please click here to request more information. Its always my hope that they go into homes that are committed to living with them long term. The decision to purchase one of these large destructive, loud rascals should never be made lightly.
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FLYING DAYS
They've all grown so fast. Here we are in December and they are fledging out and flying great. They've mastered taking off, and the all important art of landing instead of crashing. They are so beautiful and fun, even though they are quite spoiled for their play time. They get very excited to see the carrier brought out because they know it means a trip to the flight cage.
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| These little guys were hatced in November, 2007. They are Scarlet Macaws, Pebbles one of my hens was double clutching. Of course Pebbles doesn't feed her chicks so these sweeties were pulled within 12 to 15 hours of hatching. The big bird pictured above is their full brother. They are growing so fast, its hard to believe they were such little chicks only 5 weeks ago. Their brother who hatched in September is quite the flyer, and is already trying to talk. His a big bird, with a big personality. Cookie my other Scarlet hen decided to go to nest in December. She is currently sitting on three eggs. You can click here to see pictures of her on the breeder page, actually in her nest box and her eggs. She's VERY tolerant of allowing me around her nest. |
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Play Time in the Bird Room
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As you can see there is plenty of action when these guys are out getting their exercise!!! They are all so accomplished as flyers and are so well behaved. They do not invade the house, they stay in the bird room to play. Its a loud chaotic time as they chirp, chatter, scream, flap, flutter and fly around. The older birds all watch, and I think they are all glad to be IN their cages. Poor Coco catches the brunt of it, the babies love to play ontop of his cage. |
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Everyone's Growing up
| The little babies have grown so fast. It is hard to believe they are now making the strides so quickly to being grown birds. We're feathered, we're trying new foods, we're trying to perch, and flapping wings to prepare for flight. Wow, what happened to the little babies? |
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They do not stay babies long, and in a blink they are big gorgeous, rowdy, silly Macaws. What a joy to watch these guys make their journies. |
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