New Macaw Problems

AlexK

New member
Jun 24, 2010
11
0
Kentuckiana
Parrots
Zoey (ZoZo), Timneh African Grey
Hello Everyone, this is my first post and I have a few questions about a Blue and Gold Macaw that my girlfriend and I just got.

First, i'll give you a little background. My girlfriend has had several conures and cockatiels over the years, and I currently have two Indian Ringnecks. She works at a veterinary office, and I do quite a bit of volunteer work rehabbing injured Birds of Prey, as well as educational programs about Birds of Prey. I think it's fair to say we both have at least a limited understanding of keeping exotic birds in captivity.

My girlfriend has been wanting to get a large bird for quite a while now, and has been on the lookout for a macaw that needed rehoming through various rescues and websites. We happened upon quite a deal the other night, an 8 year old Blue and Gold Macaw with a wonderful temperment and a VERY large cage, for a relatively small rehoming fee. We borrowed a truck and started on the 3 hour drive to pick up the new addition to our family, Indy.

When we got to the house where Indy was staying, we got her full background story. She had been a one owner bird for the past 8 years, fairly well socialized around people, but her owner had developed terminal cancer, and at this point asked a friend who handled a lot of rescue and rehoming to find her a good home. This is where she was now, she was less than a week out from her original owner. She was well behaved while we were there, stepping up onto the womans arm, not biting or doing any large amount of screeching, just being in general a well behaved bird. She had at one point had her wings clipped, bu all her flight feathers have grown back in at this point.

We got her home, set up her cage, and put her into it to sleep for the night. On the car ride home she had been talking a little bit, quietly say hello and chittering to herself and she sat in a large cat carrier for transport. We turned the lights out, covered her cage, and went to bed.

Today after we both got off work, we decided to let her explore her environment a little bit. The first thing she did after we opened her cage door was to climb over to the bed where we were sitting, and raise her foot up. My girlfriend slowly put her hand out and said "step up." Indy stepped onto her hand and sat there for a few minutes, then climbed up onto her shoulder. We were sitting next to each other, and Indy climber from her shoulders, over on to mine. We don't particularly want her to be a shoulder bird where we can't keep an eye on her, especially not on the first day or us having her. So I slowly put my hand up and said step up, which she did. I sat her down on my knee and she happily sat there looking around. From here, I very slowly rubbed her tail and back, she is currently molting and has a lot of new feather growth. I tried to rub around her head but she pushed my hand away with her beak, although didn't bite me.

Up until this point, she hadn't shown any aggression at all. Well, my girlfriend layed back on the bed, and Indy instantly stepped over on to her and tugged at her shirt, then climbed onto her chest very quickly and bit my girlfriends upper lip. Not hard, but enough to be very uncomfortable. My girlfriend tried to sit up, and Indy leaned over and bit her finger, again, not hard, but an uncomfortable nip. I managed to get Indy onto my hand and she spent the next half hour or so sitting on me staring at my girlfriend. Eventaully, my girlfriends mom came to see the bird, and instantly Indy loks at her and says "C'mere" clear as a bell. We ended up sticking Indy back in her cage for a little while, unsure of how to continue.

Later on all 3 of us were in the Room where Indy is kept and Indy was constantly looking at my girlfriends mom, saying "C'mere." We opened Indy's cage and she got out and climbed on top of it. She was puffing up at me and doing what I assume is some type of display, although I don't know. She would stand straight up and put her wings out. Not all the way but she would seperate them from her body without stretching them. I assume she was only doing this in my direction because im the only one taller than her cage, but I don't have any idea, truthfully. My girlfriends mom went up to the cage slowly, and through a series or slow movements, eventually managed to touch Indy as though they had known each other all their lives, she could rub her head, pick her up, run her finger across her beak, Indy even leaned over and licked her face while she made kissing sounds. Eventually Indy climbed up onto her shoulder and then everytime I moved, Indy did the wing display, if I got anywhere near her, she would lunge out and attempt to bite me. She was also eye pinning almost constantly.

I'd like to know what's causing this biting, what the display means, Why she was very friendly towards me and then suddenly completely hostile toward me, and I'd like to know how I might possibly fix these behaviors.
 

greycloud

New member
Mar 21, 2010
1,034
1
Baltimore, MD
Parrots
Sammy-Umbrella Too-rescued,
Dexter-CAG-rehomed handicapped,
Sterling-CAG-rehomed retired breeder.
Sunshine-12 yo CAG-adopted
Congrats on your new B&G! Indy sounds like a typical macaw! When rehoming a bird we must remember that coming into a new home is very traumatic, especially after 8 yrs in one place. New surroundings, new voices, new sounds, different activity. Stress plays a big part hear. First let me say do not allow this bird on anyones shoulder! At this point in the relationship she is not trustworthy and she does not trust any of you. She can definitely do damage. Keeping her on you hand while you are sitting or standing with your elbow down and slightly away from the body will help help keep her in place. Block her with your hand or a small stuffed animal if she tries to climb up your arm.
No laying down around her. No putting her on the floor. These both put her in a position that she wants to be up on you. Absolutely no petting on the tail,back or wings! At 8 yrs she is sexually mature and this is very stimulating to her and can cause agression and frustration. When holding a macaw I always recommend that you keep a toy or small stuffed animal close by to place at her beak if she attempts to bite or gets overstimulated.
Your GFs mom may remind her of her past owner, or just the fact that she is an older woman then your GF and you might make her feel safe.
When people rehome this is what I recommend. Start by building a bond with the bird. It is not all fun and games. You have to earn thier trust and until you do things can explode rather quickly. Keep her in her cage or on it, as long as she stays put. Pull a chair up and talk gently to her. Read her books and show her pictures, sing. Nothing exciting just calm. Drop a treat in her food bowl or offer by hand. If she tries to bite stick with putting in the food bowl. Praise her when she is intently listening to you. If she lunges or attempts to bite or screams, turn you back till she is behaved. Treat her as soon as she behaves. Ignore all unwanted behavior, praise all wanted behavior. No direct eye contact. Working with birdsof prey (i also did in the past) you know that parrots are prey and you are predator. Keep your head slightly turned and eyes just glancig at her off and on. When you or you GF work with her like this keep it at 15 mins about 2 times a day. You should be the only one in the room while doing this. GF maybe in the bedroom. After a break and GF works with her then you make yourself absent.
This is not an easy fix and will take time and patience for her to trust you. I wish you much luck and happiness and commend you on adopting an older bird.
 

Aussie Ben

New member
Jun 8, 2010
1,099
Media
7
4
South Australia
Hello, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new addition. Great advice given by greycloud there. Hope you stick around and post some pics at some stage.
 

Spiritbird

Banned
Banned
Aug 20, 2009
5,749
Media
10
6
GC knows what he is talking about and has given you advice that I hope you follow through with. Moving too fast in the bonding process can cause behavior issues.
 
Last edited:

HRH Di

New member
Jan 9, 2010
1,537
Media
3
9
McKinney, TX
Parrots
Max - Alexandrine, Jade - Red-Front Macaw, Ruby - CAG
Greycloud always has good advice...

Rehoming is hard. We're in the process of rehoming an Umbrella Cockatoo and, believe me, it's a daunting task and seems like Popcorn develops a new personality daily. But he's getting a little better. I have hope.
 

antoinette

Supporting Member
Jul 6, 2009
13,114
Media
9
18
Sunny South Africa !!!
Parrots
African "Grey"
"Mishka"
Male
7 Years old
Welcome on board, sure you going to enjoy it here. Always great to hear a bird has been adopted. You have a long journey ahead of you, be assured help is always available :)
Good luck & remember we love sharing pic's
 
OP
AlexK

AlexK

New member
Jun 24, 2010
11
0
Kentuckiana
Parrots
Zoey (ZoZo), Timneh African Grey
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Thanks a ton for the advice everyone! We're making a little bit of progress, she's still displaying and lunging at me but she will gently take treats from my hand and will step up for my girlfriend every time. Indy has been talking more and more since we got her home, she seems like she's getting somewhat more comfortable. We built her a perch out of PVC today. I'll try to get some pictures of her tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the advice!
 

Affinityx

New member
Jun 27, 2010
15
0
Indiana
Parrots
Zoyyie the TAG~
Crush the Sun Conure~
Oyster the Black Capped Caique~
Scallop the White Faced Cockatiel~
Hello, this is Courtney. I am the girlfriend! I have pictures in my album of Indy and our Indian Ringnecks.
 

antoinette

Supporting Member
Jul 6, 2009
13,114
Media
9
18
Sunny South Africa !!!
Parrots
African "Grey"
"Mishka"
Male
7 Years old
Hi there Courtney, and a big welcome.
Browse around so much to share and learn.
Will check out your pic's now now.
Enjoy your stay, sure you will be happy here.
 

Affinityx

New member
Jun 27, 2010
15
0
Indiana
Parrots
Zoyyie the TAG~
Crush the Sun Conure~
Oyster the Black Capped Caique~
Scallop the White Faced Cockatiel~
Thanks! We love them a lot and hope they warm up to us without wanting to bite!
 

Affinityx

New member
Jun 27, 2010
15
0
Indiana
Parrots
Zoyyie the TAG~
Crush the Sun Conure~
Oyster the Black Capped Caique~
Scallop the White Faced Cockatiel~
I call the male Jak and the female Cras. Those are our initials, haha. We haven't decided on permanent names yet because we have only had them for a month. When good names come to us we will let everyone know!
 

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