Merlin

An email from Sue Davis

Thanks so much for letting me know about Harley's Perch.  I learned a lot, laughed a lot and cried some too.  As a bird lover, you probably already know what made cry.

I'd like to warn anyone considering buying a macaw to learn from our mistakes.  1) Know the breeder, check them out both in person and references  2) Please consider what animals are already in the house.  Birds and ferrets DON'T go together!

The pictures of Harley are awesome.  She looks just like Merlin, our Harlequin.  My husband had his heart set on a Harlequin, and wasn't willing to wait for one - he wanted immediate gratification.  He bought one (honey, it's HALF the price of the others) from a 'breeder' that wouldn't give him directions to her home.  He met her at midnight in the parking lot of a convenience store.  He says he felt like he was making a drug deal instead of buying a bird.  The "breeder" (I use the term lightly)  told him it was 8 - 10 weeks old and on 2 feedings a day.  When my hubby arrived home that morning with the bird I swear it wasn't more than 3 wks. old.  Pin feathers and skin, nothing else.  Well, it was so ugly only a mother would love it.  My husband was afraid something would happen to it and he didn't want to get attached, so my mother's instinct took over.  I learned how to hand feed from a breeder friend of ours.  Merlin went to work with me every day (fortunately I work in the Biology Dept. of a university and animals are common place.   He was on 4 feedings day and after about the first week I was madly in love with this little guy.  When he was six weeks old our son forgot and let the ferret in the house.  While I was at the grocery store it got in Merlin's cage and when I arrived home, poor little Merlin (about 6 wks old) was up against the back of the cage, wings spread and making all the frightening sounds he knew how to make.  The ferret had reached in with his left claw and cut Merlin's head, along the left side, across his eye and ear.  Blood was everywhere and Merlin was frantic.  I grabbed a bath towel and sat on the floor, trying to  talk in a calming voice, and finally he allowed me to pick him up and wrap him in the towel.  My other son held him while I rushed to the vet.  Fortunately we have an excellent Avian vet just a few minutes from the house.  It tool weeks before we knew whether he would make it.  He lost over half of his body weight and needed round the clock care, which I lovingly provided.  Still, dad was afraid to become attached.  I held Merlin for hours every night, rocking him and singing to him like I did my babies.  Well, today Merlin is 18 months old and weighs about 1400 grams.  He's gorgeous and happy, and he loves his daddy too.   Of course, I'm the one he cuddles with and dad's the one he plays with.

 

Merlin says "I love you", "Hi, Merlin" "up, up", "Hi, hello", "Mama!",  and "UH-OH".  He's learning more every day and getting quite an adorable personality.  Very smart.  He know what 'outside' means, and 'bye-bye'.

I thank God that we were all able to Merlin through his traumatic start in life.  He brings love and laughter into our home everyday.