I had posted to the new members page about bringing Diamond home and it was suggested I post to the macaw page.

I was going to wait a week to update but am looking for some input.

As we move into day 3, things with Diamond are progessing however he hasn't ventured far from where he first walked out of the travel cage and up the side of his new home to a ledge. I have managed to coax him about 3-4 feet from that spot with treats and he then goes right back. All well and good but it's getting cold. Granted he's been outside for years in this climate but I don't believe it's been good for him. I built a 2'×2'×3' box out of 2x12's with the idea it would proved good insulation from the cold. Problem is he hasn't gotten close to it.
He hasn't gotten over to his food and water either so I've been feeding him larger nuts by hand and holding his food and water bowls for him while he easts and drinks. He has walking access all the way around his cage (is 6'×12'×7' big enough to call an aviary???). Our interactions have been very positive. He's allowed me to touch him twice for brief moments and last night saw the first tail wag ever. It was something I had believed he didn't do or I just didn't know what it looked like but it's a full on wag of the tail?

What I'm wondering is should I force him over and into the box despite the possible set back that might cause?

Any and all help is much appreciated.

Here is a pic of Diamond. He loves to show me his "pretty wings". (Couldn't seem to rotate it)

Hi what type of macaw do you have and what is his history?

Welcome to the forum, I am sure you will find lots of people, who will do their best to help you

I would never force a new bird. This may make the bird distrust you and it can have long lasting effects on your relationship.

If the bird has to be moved for it's own good and coaxing is not possible, I would ask another person to put a towel in Diamond and let the other person move the bird. The downside to that, is that the bird may hate the house, by the way it has been introduced to it.

More information about the bird, the cage (photos helps a lot) and the climate would be good. And as Macawluv said, information about the species and its history would also be helpful to guide you better

Diamond is a blue&gold macaw. I decided not to force him but have been trying to entice. I wish I would have released him in the box. The spot he first climbed up to has been his favorite spot and is also where he sleeps. We are in northern California. It can get down to the high 2o*s on occasion. Right now it's 48*. It typical for it to be in the 50s range in the day and is often in the low/mid to high 30s at night. He came from close by so very little climate change. He been here for about 10 days and has recently begun to explore his cage.

Diamond has seen me for maybe 2 years but I have establishing a relationship with him for about 8months. We have made good progess since he's been here. It's been great!

Until...

...last night. We all were on the deck tallking with Diamond, I shared some of my dinner with him etc. Then, as I was standing outside of the cage he lunged a bit at my wife as he does here and there. Seems harmless enough. She sings and talks to him a lot and he seems to enjoy it. So as I walked by he sort of lunged at me and I said "no" firmly, but not harsh. Oh boy! I've never seen him so pissed off. He started talking in complete sentences, (which he rarely does when he thinks you can hear him) half gibberish but filled with things like " shut the @%#* up, I don't want to talk about it mother #$*er". "Get out @#%*er" on and on and on. It went on for about 30 minutes and continuous. A lot of it is so fast I can't make it out and some of it is very clear. I clearly really REALLY upset him. I've said no to him before but more of a softer "no, no Diamond" and he's not reacted improperly.

He then spent quite a while of more just talking and mumbling (as apposed to 30 minutes of frantic yelling) but its all bad. Quite an insight. Every morning when he wakes I listen to him with a monitor (he doesn't know) and after several days he'd stopped saying "mother @#$*er" and had added things we say like " hey buddy" "I love you" "what's up" "hi baby". I wonder what tomorrow will bring. Pretty bummed though. He really mad at me. In all the months I've been interacting with him he's never been like this.

Here's some pics...pre pissed off.

Attached Thumbnails

     

I have no experience with this type of interact with a Parrot. To me, it seems like trying to interact from afar. More like interaction with a caged farm animal or Zoo animal. None of the up close interaction that would be common with a Parrot that was housed indoors as part of the family!

Parrots are highly social creatures and long for interaction with their group /family. They are not creatures that commonly exist alone /separated from others. Nor do they do very well socially in that kind of existence.

Yes, I understand and know that Parrots can be housed outside and can adjust to cooler temperatures. But that is not the World that they originally came from, nor is it healthy for them without changes, i.e. heat sources.

I am unsure of what type of relationship you want to have with this MAC. I am certain that what you have seen so far and what is coming will be based on this MAC's efforts to obtain 'some level of interaction' even if it is poor interaction. Very likely the source of the swearing that you are now seeing as a result of like care from the prior owners.

Please advice what kind of relationship you want to have!

FYI: I strongly recommend that you read the first three Threads in the MAC Forum and a base line of understanding and working with your MAC. Also read anything in the full list of MAC Threads and Posts from Birdman666.

I suspect, not being a Mac owner ever but having had greys for many years, he's letting his feeling out. May be some tough sailing for a while (be watchful if thebeak) but if you persevere there will be a wonderful friend come out of all this. I had a grey that I fostered was much the same. He pouted, shouted, murmured and complained. I kept a strict regime of treats, love, schedules, predictability. He did blossom after almost a year. Look at the Mac forum if you haven't...lots of great stuff there. All the best!

I have built and had a great relationship with Diamond over the last 8months in his previous home. Talked about it a bit in my new members post "bringing home a blue and gold macaw".

Diamond has had a mostly rough couple of decades. Some good. Had a mate for a short time that passed about 2 years ago. He's been outside for many, many years. He's reacted and interacted better with me than anyone in a very long time. We wanted him to have a better home and would like to get him inside someday but he's pretty cantankerous and minimally needs to be willing to step up, be touched and have some manners. He's made a lot of progress in the short time he's been here but we've got a long way to go. He's already changed his screeching for attention to verbally calling for me. It only took 2 days to break him of this. I listen to him with a monitor when home.

His next step will likely be a bridge to a window at the kitchen where he could come in. He's just not going to be allowed to come in and take over at this point.he's attacked people in the past.

Well, I was going to go on but he's calling for me now.

Thanks LeakP, your post showed up after I posted. Also thank you Sailboat. I have great hopes For Diamond.

I strongly recommend Birdman666 writings in the MAC sections (both his Threads and Posts) as a foundation for you to quickly develop a deep relationship with your MAC.

A strong point to start from is: It is 'NEVER THE FAULT' of the MAC, It is 'ALWAYS THE FAULT' of the HUMAN! Understanding EVERYTHING from this position will quickly allow you to see what you are doing or need to do to create a positive relationship with your MAC! Your MAC is reacting to the poor relationships and treatment it has been subjected too! There is no reason for your MAC to expect anything different from you! So you and your family are going to have to make all the effort.

If you think about your statement that: He has too change! It is not him reacting too you! Its the only reaction from the poor past treatment that he has received!!! So, you have to prove to him that you are TRUST WORTHLY for him to even begin to want to trust you! Etc... Etc... Etc...

Understand that you start from a bad place!!! But, with a deep and committed effort on your side, including your family, know that there is a WANT in him to LOVE you and your family!!! It is up to you! Buck it up and Win him over, I promise you it will be worth it!

Again, read Birdman666!!!

I second the advice to read Birdman666's postings! Below are a few links that may help you better understand and interact with Diamond:

Big Beak O Phobes Guide to Understanding Macaw Beaks...

Tips for Bonding and Building Trust

Bond forming

Hope these threads help!

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