Need help!!! 9 1\2 week greenwing macaw

Hello everyone,

I apologize in advance if this has been covered. I just found this site and register for some help and insight. Ok, so I have had my greenwing for about 4 days now. I still keep in touch with the breeder on a regular basis. He was doing the hand feeding until I was ready and we were both confident I could handle the care for it. Feedings are going great, and the bird is healthy but... after 4 days it is now showing huge signs of agression. I contacted the breeder and he stated it was just being a baby. I can tell the bird is frightened by all the signs ... and need help on ways to gain it's trust. I'm not just talking about a shy bird or scared. This bird is in fight or flight stance with me... it will let me feed it and pet the head sometimes.... yesterday he was even cuddled up to me on the recliner watching a movie while I was petting him and trying to get him hear my voice in a soft peaceful way... but all of a sudden today was horrible ... started to get nippy with me so I left him alone and came back and was settled down. Today I was sitting in the chair with him and he slowly crawled up my chest which I'm glad he's walking for exercise and using his mouth to grab my shirt and pull him self up and them lunges at my face in a full attack mode.... i didn't react to it I knew it was about to happen so I simply put him back in the container and left him alone for a bit more... i was able to come and pet his head later to ensure him I mean no harm and he's ok. But .......... all of a sudden tonight he's hissing and also kinda making a barking sound at me and eyes are pinned like crazy with its wing slightly back and trying to leap at me and bite ... it reminds me of a rabid dog.... and I'm just confused if this is normal or not and steps I can take to help tame it and allow it trust me...

Welcome to the forums.

I’ve never, in my entire life, have heard or seen of a baby big mac showing any signs of aggression at that tender age. He may be fearful, yes, but please don’t mistake his fear as a sign of being vicious. Of course they use their beak, especially since he can’t perch yet at this age, so the beak is being used to explore anything and everything.

How is he housed, and how often do you feed him? You mentioned a 'container', are you talking about a Tupperware container?? Could you be mistaken his ‘lunging’ with a sign of him being hungry?

Big macs are by no means easy to raise, especially since most of them have quite the feeding response. Would it be possible for you to take him back to the breeder and have her finish raising him? If you live within driving distance you could visit with your baby often, so that he will get to know you.

No.

Babies are usually very docile. That stuff, if it happens at all, usually comes later in the "testing" phase.

Are you sure his "lunging at your face" wasn't just an excited baby bird asking for his dinner? Even an adult parrot can get a bit over excited about its food! As for being "nippy" these animals are very tactile, as their beak is their main way of exploring (especially as babies when everything is new to them). That doesn't mean he's a bloodthirsty monster when he comes at you, he may just want to play or see what you feel like. Even adult parrots are tactile in this way, and to the inexperienced person may look like they are ready to remove a limb, but are really wanting to play and interact or possibly even wants to climb on you and needs to use the beak to stabilize himself (and won't hurt you). Our bird loves to play "rough" and if you didn't know better, you might mistake his playing for vicious behavior.

Is you bird doing something similar to this video that may make you think he's being "vicious"?

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fih98qJ5pNE"]Baby Macaw playing - YouTube[/ame]

If so, that's how they play

If I had to guess I would say this is more about HUNGER. GW macaws wean much slower than other parrots including other macaws. How many feedings is he on? How much are you feeding at each session? Are you feeding a formula designed for macaws with higher fat? Being stressed over hunger will make a baby crabby and more fearful acting please answer the above questions and hopefully I can be of more assistance.

I would have guess it was just hungry too. It happened even after feeding. .. i generally wait about 30 min after he eats and after first bathroom before I pick him up to get him out of the container (2 ft wide by 3 ft long)... so I know he can't be hungry, I feed him 3 times a day first 120 ml lunch 120ml dinner 180 ml not too fast either, I make sure to let him breathe.

As for the video. ..... i wish it was like that lol.. he does tend to play with me a bit sometimes.. but these are all the signs of and older bird lashing out... and I've never heard of it either at this age... a great visual would be when a friendly dog approachs a cat that get scared and gets the defense stance while hissing at the dog and then fully attacks the dog.... i know this is going to take alot more time and work than another bird to tame down... but I have never seen anything like this....

Do you guys think it could still be a depression issue?
The breeder was raising him with a cockatoo and 5 other parrots I can't remember the name off my head but they are green with yellow top... do you think me taking him from the other birds is why he's lashing out at me?

shawn72chevelle said:

....
Do you guys think it could still be a depression issue?
The breeder was raising him with a cockatoo and 5 other parrots I can't remember the name off my head but they are green with yellow top... do you think me taking him from the other birds is why he's lashing out at me?

Click to expand...

No, I don't think it has anything to do with depression. I still don't think he is 'lashing out' at you.

To play it safe I'd let him rest for at least an hour after having eaten. Accidents can easily happen with a full crop.

Does he have anything to snuggle up against, like a soft, plush toy?

Lastly, is there a way for you to videotape what you describe as 'attack mode'? A visual would greatly help. You can upload a clip to YouTube and then simply insert the YouTube link for us all to have a peek.

No. I don't think it's a depression issue at all...

Could be a very insecure and fearful parrot.

I've never seen one that young act like this either.

It's highly unusual. Every baby big mac I've ever worked with has been docile, and somewhat less than fully aware at this age...