Hi does anyone know of any macaw forums that are as great as this one?, or could someone here who has a B&G answer a few questions for me?
first he is only 14 weeks old so he is by his self but can hear the other birds and makes his cute sounds all day long!
my question is he is still a little wobbly and I am scared for him to perch on the play gym cause he looks like he is going to fall off but that is his favorite part of the cage of course,
also all my birds are clipped because of kids opening doors and things but Champ isn't yet I am not sure how long this will be okay once he moves out to the living room so I wanted to get some advice on that I have read alot about clipping and know alot of pros and cons, actually going to have him chipped but that dosen't solve all my problems but what about a leash or harness?

I have alot more questions but I will post later!
thanks for all your help with everything!

Big bird babies are naturally clumbsy but they need to be allowed/encouraged to perch to strengthen their legs and feet, something you can do to help them out is make sure you have large diameter perches so they don't have to grip so tightly and to have different textures of perches available. If your bird seems like he falls a lot then I'd do several things. To keep him from injuring himself in the fall I'd place towels or a folded blanket underneath where you have him perching and that way should he fall its softer to land on.

Something that you can do to help him with improving his strength and his balance is to allow him to sit on your arm and do short little movements of your arm so that he has to spread his wings to help maintain his balance. Nothing too drastic and not in rapid succession. Move your arm up and down and side to side so he learns to correct his balance from all different directions same as with how the wind would wiggle a tree limb etc. This does several things it improves their balance, it exercises their wings, feet and legs.

If you plan on trying to harness train him, NOW is a great time to get him used to wearing a harness, it will help because he's so young he won't know that it isn't normal to have you putting one on and for him to be wearing it. Young birds are much more adaptable to things like that than trying to train an older bird to a harness. There's sure to be a lot less blood letting (yours ) by starting them off young. And if you get in the habit of always putting the harness on before you take him outside it won't be a big deal after a while. Just help them by equating or placing a word on the harness so he learns that to "go outside" or "go bye bye" "Go for a walk" means he has to have his harness on. And if being outside is an enjoyable experience for him then he won't fight you so much to put the harness on.

Man thank you so much for the info, I really want to do the harness now is there one that is better than the other?, I have folded an old blanket into the bottom of the cage although messy it is better than having him perched, my hubby went to get some big perches today, the one that came in the cage won't stay in place so I took it out and he perches okay on the one on the playtop for now!
I guess we will learn together, right now he is very trusting which suprised me alot I heard alot of horror stories about these guys but he is being great!
Thanks Again for all the suggestions I will try them all.

I’d recommend the Aviator Harness! Congrats on the new fid!

14 weeks old is quite young !! Is your B&G weaned yet? I would be amazed if it is. Heck it could barely be fledged yet. Most macaws take 5 months or more to wean. Anyhow, post any other questions you might have, we are glad to help. As for macaw forums, I have never had much luck finding one, so if you do, be sure to share. Most are so general, not such a broad mix as you find here. I have a Scarlet and a Red Front Macaw btw.

Thanks Casey's mom, that is the one we were looking at.
Xanthus, he is weaned eating Zupreem pellets, and eating like a pig!
Thanks again.

Just wanted to say... SO Where is a photo of your Big Beautiful Baby....

I am working on it now trying to use my daughters camera and don't know how to upload them into my pc yet!