5 year old B&G Macaw...extremely hyper

First time bird owners jumped in the deep end and got a Macaw. We've had him just over a week and he goes non-stop from breakfast to bedtime. He's extremely vocal but not in the way we've seen other parrots. He screams throughout the day for attention when no one is around (understandable) and occasionally while we are with him but he also makes ear piercing, high pitched "squeaks" that sound more like a dog barking. These are normally when he's playing and seems to be a "I'm really happy" noise. Is this common?

As far as the "non stop" behavior, he's chewed through $100 in toys in 1 week, he hangs and swings from cages and perches by his beak constantly, he runs upside down in his cage and across the top and sides...he just doesn't take a break at all...constant motion, no naps to the point where he's fallen off perches 3 or 4 times trying to hold the perch with his beak then flipping off to hang underneath it. It's like he's on speed or something and my wife suggested we just leave him in his cage for a few days before he has a heart attack. Is he just super excited to be in a new house with a new family or could it be something else?

Some other information that may be helpful:

He was in a cage half the size of the one he has now with no toys or interaction before we got him. He was on a straight seed diet but we've switched to fresh veggies, fruits and pellets with some nut snacks. He seems exhausted and sleeps like a rock from about 7:30PM to 6 AM.

Any help would be much appreciated...if he would just calm down he would be perfect.

Oh dear...well he is enthousiastically adjusting.

The screams will get to you...have you invested in the low-cost earplugs you use in airplanes or at concerts yet?
They can be a sanity-saver!

(I was with my macaw at the vets yesterday- the assistents always wear them for protection when they have to handle them)

He probably will calm down...
you have an extra handicap of course: with 5 years old he is starting or in the middle of puberty-- so he might be difficult anyway for a few short (or long) years to come, after that you will have the greatest bird ever that will be a lot chiller than he is now.

Does he really get his 12 hours of sleep?
Sometimes (combined with the stress of all those new things going on) lack of sleep - just like in little kids- can bring out the hyper-worst in them.
(Since he is new I think he will not be sleeping very soundly anyway - still getting used to the new sounds in the house at night etc.)

I would just try and give him a "siesta" -
make the afternoons as boring as possible-
no direct interaction (you can read a book of do computerwork or something like that - no music etc.).
They are most vocal (usually) at sun-up and sun-down (the human: morning, early everning), so use those for interaction time, you can slack of a bit during the day... he will follow.

The screaming for attention is probably going to take a bit - pick a contactcall you would like to hear (mine does "hello?") and ONLY react to that and ignore the screaming like it did not happen.
(answer the first scream with the contactcall and ignore all others.. he will get it)
Every reaction he gets from you is a gold star - so handle them wisely

If he keeps going bananaas all the time, you can try to swap his drinking water for chamomile tea - it will take the hyper off a tiny bit.
If he hasn't slowed down in about 2 months you can always ask a CAV for help, but since it's only been a week ... let him work it out of his system.

read up on the macaw section and for extra great tips the huge one in the amazon section.

For now: protect your ears and be Zen
He will calm down eventually.
(especially if he gets a relaxed example, so enjoy)

Thanx ChristaNL, there’s some great advice in there for owners of any sized parrot really. I always love reading your posts, I’m gonna try the contact call tactic on ScoMo the Quaker, he’s a little screamy right now. Love your work

Some of what you are describing is normal, such as going through insane amounts of toys. I have friends that literally buy untreated 2x4 boards and cut them (or not) into blocks. It’s a lot cheaper. Not saying don’t also buy toys, but it helps satiate that crazy chewing time.

I agree with above as far as contact calling, screaming for attention, etc, as well as teaching the bird that during certain times of the day he can be calm. I would NOT recommend leaving him caged all day to calm down. Energy doesn’t just go away, it needs to be expended. And he won’t give himself a heart attack exercise is important! Wild macaws fly 20+ Miles a day! So your best bet is to find good ways to exercise both mind and body. The more you work the mind, the calmer both mind and body will be.

Which brings me to training! I highly suggest you start trick training. Training gives that big bird brain something to think about! A puzzle furthermore I would start with things like recall that will allow you to leave him flighted in the future so that exercise is easier to get. I would also highly suggest ordering an Aviator Harness and beginning the training process ASAP. Outings are a GREAT way stimulate that brain and allow him to expel that energy so he can relax.

Continuing to look at energy as something that builds up until it gets out, I would cut his fruit out completely. There is not a single micronutrient that you get from fruit that you can’t get from veggies, but you know what fruit has lots of? SUGAR! That is, ENERGY! Doing veggies/sprouts only (and nuts! Macaw’s need nuts) is a much lower energy diet.


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yup like others have said sounds like a very happy Macaw in the throes of enjoying life!

I haven't got much to expand upon that Christa and Sage have already said. A good tip might be to see if any neighbors or friends would be willing to donate cardboard boxes and other stuff that's safe for him that he can destroy

strokedmaro said:

First time bird owners jumped in the deep end and got a Macaw. We've had him just over a week and he goes non-stop from breakfast to bedtime. He's extremely vocal but not in the way we've seen other parrots. He screams throughout the day for attention when no one is around (understandable) and occasionally while we are with him but he also makes ear piercing, high pitched "squeaks" that sound more like a dog barking. These are normally when he's playing and seems to be a "I'm really happy" noise. Is this common?

As far as the "non stop" behavior, he's chewed through $100 in toys in 1 week, he hangs and swings from cages and perches by his beak constantly, he runs upside down in his cage and across the top and sides...he just doesn't take a break at all...constant motion, no naps to the point where he's fallen off perches 3 or 4 times trying to hold the perch with his beak then flipping off to hang underneath it. It's like he's on speed or something and my wife suggested we just leave him in his cage for a few days before he has a heart attack. Is he just super excited to be in a new house with a new family or could it be something else?

Some other information that may be helpful:

He was in a cage half the size of the one he has now with no toys or interaction before we got him. He was on a straight seed diet but we've switched to fresh veggies, fruits and pellets with some nut snacks. He seems exhausted and sleeps like a rock from about 7:30PM to 6 AM.

Any help would be much appreciated...if he would just calm down he would be perfect.

Click to expand...

Thank you. So nice of you to jump in and get your feet wet with a big clown. Macaws are so much fun.

Your baby/tween is so excited to be in a bigger place and have something to play with. Can you imagine being a child having no toys and all of a sudden someone brings you toys? It is like a kid at Christmas (or an adult with a new video game).

You've gotten some excellent advice so far. And yes as first time bird owners you jumped right into the (very) deep end!!

Macaws aren't for everyone. They are super intelligent, and as a 5 year old he is just beginning the process of maturing and will likely be going through some hormonal changes. There is a reason so many are rehomed, a lot of people take them on but then realize they either can't stand the noise, can't clean up after them, can't keep up with training or handling, etc.

It's possible that the energy is from the change in diet and the atmosphere. He may just be extremely excited to have some legitimate care and attention for once, and toys! They can be excellent companions but as you have learned it is not going ot be as easy as sitting him on a perch all day to watch the family from afar.

Is he flighted? If he isn't clipped and is able, it may be wise to get some of that energy out by flight training him in the house.

Macaws live a long time, and I think you will figure out quickly if a macaw is the right bird for you. Sounds like you've got him on a great diet so far, keep it up!

Make sure to read all of Birdman666's posts about macaws, he has some great great info on macs.

Congratulations! My rescue is a quaker and she screamed a bunch the first month! Now it is very very rare for her to scream... A few days is very early to know your birds personality.

itzjbean said:

Make sure to read all of Birdman666's posts about macaws, he has some great great info on macs.

Click to expand...

THIS

Also agree that he hasn't been with you long enough. Everything about a parrot happens slow except for the bites

This settling in could take many months.

Good luck and thanks for giving a big bird a chance for a better life.

I totally agree on cutting out the fresh fruit, as it's not providing him any nutrition at all that he's not going to get from his pellets and his fresh veggies. I would increase the amount and different types of fresh veggies you're giving him, and eliminate the fresh fruit from his regular, daily diet. Fresh fruit should be a treat, just like the nuts are, as all of that "natural" sugar is turned right into fat; however, in the case of your guy, it's only further fueling his physical energy by being added to the hormones and his excitement...

SilverSage nailed it; the entire reason he's most-likely behaving this way is because, as you stated, he's spent the entire first 5 years of his life being locked inside of a tiny cage with nothing to do, nothing to think about, etc. So now suddenly he has a huge cage, lots of toys, and is allowed out of his cage all day...All of which is wonderful for him and is necessary, but right now it's totally new to him and he doesn't know what to do with himself, it's all so new and wonderful to him. It's a good thing! And no, he's not going to stroke-out or have a heart attack, lol, he's a young teenager going through puberty, and what he is suddenly getting at your home is exactly what he should have been getting all this time but didn't. So the very LAST THING you want to do is to just once again lock him inside of a cage all day long...All that this will do is "recharge his battery" again, and then the next day when you let him out of his cage he's going to be twice as crazy and physical...So please don't make him regress...

Just keep doing what you are doing, and his new-found energy will slowly dissipate over time. A lot of this is just because all of this is so new, after all, it's only been a week. So I'd be willing to bet that within the next few weeks a lot of his initial excitement is going to taper-off...But he's still a 5 year-old Macaw going through puberty, so regardless of anything else he's going to have a ton of energy. But what you are giving him as far as lots of out of cage time, lots of toys and things to do, etc. is exactly what he needs...

You might try making him some foraging activities so that he has a "job" to do. Once they get focused on doing a job, they usually won't stop for hours, and this not only keeps them occupied and uses-up their energy, but it also keeps them from screaming...So things like making him foraging boxes filled with crumpled-paper and things he has to dig through to find the in-shell nuts you hide throughout is a good one. Also for Macaws and Cockatoos, puzzles are usually good. Blocks, or games where they have to put blocks into holes, etc. All of these will use both his mind and body...

Well, the deep end is about right!
Great advice and support. i can't add much, except to agree with all the possibilities and encourage you to enjoy Birdman's expertise.
A week is about like a nanosecond for a newly-liberated-and-loved parrot, so you won't really know WHAT you've got for at least a few months, I'm thinking...
I'm so glad you're here.

Report: Cutting out fruits seems to have calmed him down quite a bit so thank you for that!

Another couple questions: Neo loves using his beak for everything and I think I may be encouraging it unwittingly. I think he think's I'm his mate...he tries throwing up on my fingers when I have him step up and he bob's his head up and down pecking at my fingers when I have him step up. He doesnt really bite but puts my fingers in his mouth and squeaks like he's happy. The only way I can pet him out of his cage is when my thumb is in his mouth I can touch his head or neck with my other fingers. Consequently, he's constantly using his beak on skin, cloths ect and deals some nasty nips. What should I do to get him away from using his beak on skin?

Second, we're having a hard time reading his body language. I had him on the couch the other day just exploring and had him step up with no problem. He was headed for my wife before I had him step up and he sat on my arm with one foot up towards my wife like he wanted to go to her. She asked him if he wanted to step up and he looked really enthusiastic about it waving his foot around as she got close. He stepped up to her immediately but within about 5 seconds he bent down and bit her between his feet so hard she screamed...she's had 2 kids and didnt make a sound so I know it hurt bad. All indications said "I really want to come see you" and yet he bites. He also dances and gets really excited to see the kids but they are too scared to interact with him because he's constantly using his beak...gentle with my fingers with the occasional good pinch and the death grip on my wife. I'd like to instill some good beak behaviors somehow....but how?

The biting is probably telling her...
she took too long getting him
he actually wanted to bite you but you were too far away
he was somewhat scared by sitting on you instead of her, so he was blowing of steam
he has an itchy feather
etc.
etc.
etc.


I just got beaked firmly (I do not count it as a bite if it does not draw blood or leaves bruises) because... I was in the macaw cage filling the foodbowl (and removing soild papers), Sunny was in the other cage for a bit.
So I either got lunged at because she was unhappy with me rearranging the cage, stealing her food (specially the stuf she does not want to eat, but is still hers/ or something like that).
It could be because she wanted to be at her bowl and could not (plenty to eat in every cage, dummie!) at the time being - or because I asked her to step up while I put my body between her and the cage she wanted to be ...

Anyway- lunging is not allowed, so we had a little chat about that (well: I corrected her verbally and stared her down, she lunged 2x times more, I decided to probably get bit but not let her intimidate me ...and she just stepped-up! Birds .....)


You know you can train him to do the step-up without using the beak at all- so there is one.
All I can say is: work with the bitepressuretraining till you are all sick and tired of it.
Accidents will happen, but you'll get a bird that will behave better.


All I can tell you: watch the eye.
not just the pinning but a more elusive quality: they can look hard of have a soft, gentle way of looking at things.
As long as the eye is soft you (and the kids) are completely safe -> it only happens when the bird is not fired up about something (internal of external).

Most animals do this- it about inner tension and a lot of tender/pliable flesh+muscles.
Look in the mirror, keep expression neutral, and think of something that really makes you mad - or think of something/someone you love dearly -> 2 different faces, same expression.
(hard eye / soft eye)
It's so subtle, but hard to miss ( anyone can learn to read these / look at pokerplayers f.e.)


Parrots are *very* expressive in that area (and read us a lot better than we read them).


I have no solution for the "beakyness".
I read that this is a rather beaky species- I was amazed about the amount of licking going on as well!
Unfortunately- I am a hands-on person, so teaching my birds "look but do not touch" is beyond me.
The beak is about exploring, the beak is about communicating, the beak is about caring, the beak is about telling people off, the beak is about eating, drinking ...well.... life!


"no biting" should become an ingrained habbit.
And apart from repetition, repetition and more of the same... I do not know what else to do.
- I wish Mark (Birdman666 ) would have more time here, he knows macaws so well.
.