well, her current cage isn't shiny though. but i can tell she IS attracted to shiny things. she will totally love the stainless

We get the large stainless steel carabiners at Home Depot to hang their large toys. Our GWs and Hys take that on as a daily challenge to drop their large hanging toys. Of course, it is equally as fun to try and out smart them and attempt a new course of action.They normally win!

My GW and BG both love manipulating shiny things. Midori the BG has completely taken apart 2 cages! She is actually far more destructive than the GW, not quite as strong but alot more persistant! I've tried those caribiners, didn't last long LOL Now I just use pliers to tighten the quick-links so far thats all that works. They sure like to keep us busy trying to outsmart them! I know just what you mean!

Try these!

Stainless Steel Carabiner - Autolock: rescueDIRECT

I have two Hyacinths - Piaui is 15 months old and Maverick is 16 years old. We got Piaui from a the breeder that breeds for Parrot Jungle in Florida (I think it's called Featherlust Farms). We are Mavericks third and final home. Maverick is an X-breeder and his original owner sold him because, like his parents, plucked. The couple we got him from kept him in a room by himself for six years with little or no interaction. He was very cautious of us but would accept mac nuts when offered. Playtime he would just "watch" it's took him a couple of months to "accept" us. He will play with toys every so often, he likes to dance but not "play" like Piaui does. Piaui will play with any and everything he can. He loves to play with toys on the floor and the bigger the hanging one the better. When it comes to strangers they are shy, but once they get to know you they will climb all over you. When they talk each has a distinct voice, Mav will babble in the morning and Piaui will babble all day. Piaui also loves to cuddle, he loves to lay on his back in my arms and put his head just under my chin and we watch tv this way.

Cage wise nothing can keep Mav in. He's pulled several bars off a kings SS cage. I also would not get another octagon cage, terrible for cleaning. He also knows how to let himself out! When he does he lets Piaui out only. I've come home numerous times to have two blue heads look at me as I walk in the door. Thankfully they only play on Piaui's cage.

Mav loves his mac nuts but will eat other foods - apples, fresh fruits & veggies. Oh and nutterbutter cookies! Piaui is a bit for difficult, he loves his mac nuts but is picky on other foods. I discovered anything that looks like pasta and mashed potatoes he'll eat!

You very rarely find Hyacinths up for adoption. We lucked out having a friend that has connections.

Our Angel is 3 years old. We named her after the "Blue Angels" because she shares the colors of the flying group.

We had done some research before deciding to share our lives with a Hy. We visited this one bird store in NJ. The man and woman had 3 Hys. Two were hopefully going to be a breeding pair for them and the other was a rehomed Hy. His name was Gucci. He followed me all over the store and I think my heart was won when he climbed all the way up to my shoulder from the floor.

Angel was supposed to be someone else's bird. My husband had spent 2 months playing with her every time we went to get food for the other birdies. The person backed out of the sale and since Angel's hatchday was the same as Jim's birthday it was a match made in heaven. We got a good deal on both her and the cage.

Angel came home with us before she was weaned. The reason is another story but she was still on 2 feedings a day. Hys are pretty delicate and their immune system is not as developed as the other large macaws. More Hys die within the first year of their lives than the other large macaws. She developed several yeast infections of her crop before she came home so I was a little anxious about feeding her. She did fine but was reluctant to wean. I think she was just lazy. I started to give her the feeding in a bowl and once she had to work for it she gave it up. It was kind of like getting a baby to give up the bottle and drink from a cup.


She is the sweetest bird. Absolutely anyone can handle her. I would even trust her with the grandchildren, she is that gentle. She will come down to the bottom of the cage to play with the dogs as well.

Angel is just starting to develop her vocabulary. She mimics our one GW Hedwig. I think GWs have the best vocabulary of the larger macaws. She is just learning to say I love you. It is so cute. She does like to babble and that will drive you crazy.

Angel can rattle the windows with her holler when she wants something. If I go downstairs and she is on her stand she will let me know that is not acceptable. She also will stand on her bowl when it is macnut time and scream till she gets them. Other than that she is pretty quiet. She has a bell on her stand that she sings into and uses it like a microphone.

She is a picky eater when it comes to fresh fruit and veggies. She will only eat the dried fruit and nut mix we give her. She does like her pellets though.

All in all I think a Hy is a wonderful bird to add to the family. I would consider adding another some day if the situation presents itself.

Good luck Jared. I think you would enjoy sharing your life with a Hy.

I have never really researched Hy's that much. I had no idea that were that expensive. Did I read it correct? 10k, ten thousand dollars??
Mark

you read correct, much to the despair of my credit card they are worth every penny and then some.

Emily could not have said it any better.Well worth every penny we will ever spend on her too. I would call a Hy the labrador retriever of Macaws and maybe even all birds. If we can ever add one I'm certain we would jump at the chance but the timing money wise has to be perfect . I have only come across one other bird that I would say can hold a candle to a Hy and in case you are wondering it's JR and Gary's BP2 Shadow. He was and I'm sure still is just amazing to be around.

12k at Avalon plus 2k for a cage plus (guess?) 20 dollars a week in Macadamia nuts or roughly 1000 per year to feed plus several hundred a year in toys. Maybe 1500-2000/year upkeep and 14k initial expenditure. Now you see why I included the bit about needing a higher salary as a prerequisite.

Still cheaper than sending a kid to college