advice

Hi all: I need some advice from experienced parrot owners since no one from my friends or family own one. I’ve had my Hans Macaw for about 3 years now – I’m single, and live alone, so I try to give him as much attention as possible. However, this past year has been a bit difficult. At first, he started to get aggressive (would bite, scream) – I did bring him to the vet for his annual checkup and talked about it with an expert. She gave me some tips to keep him busy when I’m away at work, which I tend to be from 8 to 5 or 6 pm (or sometimes even later depending on the day). I even looked up, and bought a video, on biting for parrots. I do feel that as he gets older now (he’s only 3) he has more energy. Things got a little better, but I feel that when I am busy, even if it’s just a bit (for example, I’ll be on the computer), he gets very aggressive. Today, I was on the phone, then when I hung up and went to play with him, he bit my hand (but he latched on and was biting really hard and wouldn’t let go). Unfortunately, I panicked a bit, so I hit him so he can get off me (not hard, but enough to feel really badly about it)…
I am starting to wonder if owning parrots is for the single person. Does anyone out there have any similar issues? How do you keep your parrot happy if you are so busy? At this point, I think am mostly feeling guilty because he is very social and wants to play, but I can’t always give him time. I love him so much I don’t want to give him away, but it’s been on my mind wondering if he would be better off. Am I overacting?

I don't know about macaws but it could be a mater of age.
going through puberty and hormones kicking in.
lots of macaw owners here, I am sure someone will confirm or have a better explanation.
texsize

I don't think you are overeacting. I think if you continue on the same path it's very likely you are heading into some really rough times with your fid. If you have the commitment & willingness to correct the problems now, you'll need the dedication & to put in time not only to correct the problems now but also to maintain it so he has a happy, fulfilling life .. if you do then get started. If not well why do you have a parrot then?

Someone with more knowledge and experience can help address the biting/aggression but personally I tend to believe it's more frustration / anger / boredom, not being shown boundaries, lack of attention etc. Learning to read his body language, keeping him busy, bite pressure training, spending time with him etc. I'm also not sure if it could be an age/hormonal thing.

Some more information may help
How big is his cage?
How many/what type of toys are available to him?
How much out of cage time does he have daily?
How much hands on/ hanging out with you time daily?
What's his diet like?
Where are you located? Are the temps/weather ideal to set up space for outside time as enrichment?
That's great that you took him for his annual checkup.. was it an avian vet & were there any health issues?

Parrots are a commitment. You have to make time for their care & well being. If it's not possible than you're probably going to have a lot of issues on your hands. Would you want to chill out in a cage alone all the time, watching your busy human?

michaelkhan said:

How do you keep your parrot happy if you are so busy?

Click to expand...

The short answer, I made a commitment when I brought a parrot into my life, I can't be so busy that I'm not fulfilling her needs and giving her the best quality of life I can that especially & including my time. If that means I miss out on other things.. so be it. If that means I get up earlier for morning play time on a day I know I can't be with her for a few hours.. so be it. Those times she is left to her own devices I ensure she has plenty of choices in toys etc. that she isn't stressing out or becoming bored.

Time is subjective ... just because you may not have time to stop & play with him hands on for long duration several times thru out the day.. he could be sitting with you while you're on the computer, watching TV, singing with him while you're getting a shower, dressing, cooking etc. there are a lot of busy times that can be used to socialize and give companionship during those days/times when life is hectic.
They can be busy with us occupying the same area so they feel a part of what is going on even if it's just hanging out doing their own thing. This is still quality time spent to them.

When you aren't able to be home it really is imperative that lots of play room within the cage, varying types of toys including foraging, shredables, destructible whatever fun toys can be found along with various types of perches. This helps keep them active, entertained & not just turning into perch potato's waiting for the next time you walk by or come home.

I can't ignore

michaelkhan said:

Unfortunately, I panicked a bit, so I hit him so he can get off me (not hard, but enough to feel really badly about it)

Click to expand...

I'm sure you feel badly but it's obviously concerning that your reaction was to hit him. That can't happen... you're talking about a very small being .. not hard? To a parrot that weights what 165 grams.. any hit is hard. I'd highly recommend that when you attempt to handle him that you have a toy, treat, something as a distraction to avoid the bite if you can't handle getting bitten. I implore you to keep control of your emotions .. the damage his beak can do is nothing compared to what you can do to him in retaliation. Please research bite pressure training, work with him to understand "easy" "no bite" "gentle" etc. I usually say handle away from the cage but in this case if you are prone to panicking and/or reacting physically then I'd say work with him at a stand or near the cage so you can quickly get him down before you react.

If you haven't read it yet I really like this thread Big Beak O Phobes Guide to Understanding Macaw Beaks

Of course there is a ton of other information under the Macaw forum section.

I am sure the more experienced parronts will be along to help.

The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs.



What video did you buy?

michaelkhan said:

Hi all: I need some advice from experienced parrot owners since no one from my friends or family own one. I’ve had my Hans Macaw for about 3 years now – I’m single, and live alone, so I try to give him as much attention as possible.However, this past year has been a bit difficult.At first, he started to get aggressive (would bite, scream) – I did bring him to the vet for his annual checkup and talked about it with an expert.She gave me some tips to keep him busy when I’m away at work, which I tend to be from 8 to 5 or 6 pm (or sometimes even later depending on the day).I even looked up, and bought a video, on biting for parrots. I do feel that as he gets older now (he’s only 3) he has more energy. Things got a little better, but I feel that when I am busy, even if it’s just a bit (for example, I’ll be on the computer), he gets very aggressive.Today, I was on the phone, then when I hung up and went to play with him, he bit my hand (but he latched on and was biting really hard and wouldn’t let go).Unfortunately, I panicked a bit, so I hit him so he can get off me (not hard, but enough to feel really badly about it)…
I am starting to wonder if owning parrots is for the single person. Does anyone out there have any similar issues?How do you keep your parrot happy if you are so busy?At this point, I think am mostly feeling guilty because he is very social and wants to play, but I can’t always give him time.I love him so much I don’t want to give him away, but it’s been on my mind wondering if he would be better off.Am I overacting?

Click to expand...

This bird is a major commitment probably life changing - Yours! How would you feel if you had been left alone all this while and then your owner was busy? You need to turn this round and think about it from your birds perspective. Does he have a tree to hang out on so if you have stuff you must do in the evening and it cannot wait until he has gone to bed he can be near and play with toys on it, you can talk to him etc. He needs interaction. If you had a young child how would you approach that? Not dissimilar. I think you need to really think this through and now is probably best before he is much older and see what you can do to improve this situation. Do you have any family that could pop in to see him in the day. Would need work but can work. The phone thing is probably jealousy mixed with I'm pi$$ed at you for ignoring me, can you blame him really? Have you got to know his body language? He will have been showing that he was not happy but you carried on regardless,

BTW I know of someone who has a rescued Hans and he is really screwed up by the treatment in his past home(s), started plucking, still on-going and now requires mega amounts of attention from his owner. He cannot be left and is with her 24/7.

Does your bird get any socialisation out of the home, this is good for them. We all go four walls crazy don't we?

Please read everything you can, go through some training with him, harness training also, please please, please improve his life. He will give you it back 1000 fold but you have to invest first.

Please do not think I am just being mean because this is well intended and for both you and Jazz's benefit. Please do not be afraid to ask more questions or talk it through if you need to we all will help!

Links for info

https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/species/hahns-macaw/
http://birds.about.com/od/macaws/p/hahnsmacaws.htm
http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-species/profiles/hahns-macaw-2.aspx

You have gotten truly great advice in the above Posts! Invest in your MAC and you will have a lifetime of joy ahead of you!

michaelkhan said:

Hi all: I need some advice from experienced parrot owners since no one from my friends or family own one. I’ve had my Hans Macaw for about 3 years now – I’m single, and live alone, so I try to give him as much attention as possible. However, this past year has been a bit difficult. At first, he started to get aggressive (would bite, scream) – I did bring him to the vet for his annual checkup and talked about it with an expert. She gave me some tips to keep him busy when I’m away at work, which I tend to be from 8 to 5 or 6 pm (or sometimes even later depending on the day). I even looked up, and bought a video, on biting for parrots. I do feel that as he gets older now (he’s only 3) he has more energy. Things got a little better, but I feel that when I am busy, even if it’s just a bit (for example, I’ll be on the computer), he gets very aggressive. Today, I was on the phone, then when I hung up and went to play with him, he bit my hand (but he latched on and was biting really hard and wouldn’t let go). Unfortunately, I panicked a bit, so I hit him so he can get off me (not hard, but enough to feel really badly about it)…
I am starting to wonder if owning parrots is for the single person. Does anyone out there have any similar issues? How do you keep your parrot happy if you are so busy? At this point, I think am mostly feeling guilty because he is very social and wants to play, but I can’t always give him time. I love him so much I don’t want to give him away, but it’s been on my mind wondering if he would be better off. Am I overacting?

Click to expand...

Hello, Michaelkhan.

First off, Let me acknowledge the first step you've taken in reaching out to us for help. You obviously care very much about the welfare of your parrot and are hoping to find ways to improve his quality of life. Parrots are highly intelligent and properly caring for them tends to take more of an investment in time and commitment than most other pets. But it's only in reaching out and asking the kinds of questions that you have that one can expect to learn how to be the best possible parent for them. After all, even some of the most experienced parronts started out where you are. No shame in that, so long as you are willing to do what is necessary to turn it around.

As has already been discussed, hitting a parrot is never acceptable. But I understand from your post that it was pretty much an instinctive reaction to unexpected pain and not an intended action. While I've never hit any of my birds, my first reaction to an unexpected blood drawing bite was not ideal, either. I flicked my hand to get the bird off of me. It happens. Since then, though, I've learned greater control of my reactions. And judging from the guilt you feel, I bet the same will hold true for you.

As for whether a single person with your hours can successfully care for a parrot, I'd say the answer is yes. But you do have to dedicate a few hours daily to your bird. And while much of this time should be interactive, some of the time can also be more of a proximity thing. If your guy is a shoulder safe bird (which right now your guy probably isn't since he's having a bit of a biting issue at the moment), he can ride your shoulder while you do household chores or watch TV. If he isn't, you can set up perches in each room of your house so that he can be around you even if you are busy doing something else.

Another trick is to try to give him a lot of the interactive time first. Especially with physically intensive activities. If he's flighted, flight drills and teaching games of fetch are perfect for this. Get him good and tuckered out. After he's expended a lot of his excess energy, he'll be a lot more sociable and less antsy. If he's not flighted, games of target training and fetch still help, though you might have to find ways to make it more challenging and interesting. Also, if not flighted, you can get him used to wing flapping for exercise.

If he does bite, you can "punish" with timeouts. If he does a testing nip, you can tell him "No" in a firm, yet even, voice. A repeated infraction would lead to a 5-10 minute timeout, where you put him in his cage and either turn your back or leave the room.

As for Monica's statement: "The only bite that can't be rewarded is the one that never occurs," here is a link that goes into a lot more detail about what she means: http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

And here is another link on biting that you might find useful: http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/58911-bird-bites-always.html

When you're not home, make sure there are lots of toys and foraging activities to keep your mac busy and entertained until you return. And if he doesn't know how to play with toys, take the time to play with those toys with him. It might take some time, but he'll eventually get the idea.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.