Advice needed- new bird getting too attached?

Max has been home for almost a week now and settling in amazingly. There’s only one thing that concerns me-

He might be getting too attached/interested in my other Macaw Katie [emoji33][emoji33][emoji33]

Some history on Max, 10 years ago he had a pair, a military Macaw. The rescue didn’t have the whole story but they were separated. If it had been more recent I would definitely be on guard.

My Katie is bonded to me and has no interest in Max other than saying hi to him then moving on. But I’ve noticed when I take her out he climbs off his perch, cage, wherever he’s on to get close to her. When I take her out of his site he immediately calls out to her non stop. He’s a quiet bird and this is the only time I’ve heard him yell. (She ignores his calls btw)

I definitely don’t want to let him bond with her, what are ways I could do this?

Should I move her cage out of his site?

Thank you, all advice appreciated!


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Notice the seductive look Max is trying to give her in the background [emoji23]


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She is lovely, at least his taste is good!


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LeaKP said:

She is lovely, at least his taste is good!


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Click to expand...

Haha, I do agree with that!!! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]


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Our rescue birds~

23 yr old Katie - Catalina Macaw
34 yr old Max- GW Macaw
1 yr old Nibbles- GC Conure
ADOPT DON’T SHOP [emoji172]

You just have too do your best too keep them apart,being in the same room the male green wing will never give up.

Uh oh! I am also curious as how to prevent them from bonding, perhaps birdman666 will chime in as he has a flock of macaws with both genders so maybe he could give you insight with this. Macaws naturally want to pair-bond, its instinctual to want to find a mate so perhaps Max is in bonding mode. Keeping them separated as much as you can should work, and supervised play. They can still form a friendship but if allowed to bond may end up bonding more to each other and you become a third wheel! lol

Well, if your bird is bonded to you and not responding, then it's unrequited love.

The GW is probably missing his bird buddy... and trying to transfer that bond to another bird.

They can still be partners in crime without having mating issues. My two beak wrestle with one another and chase each other around the cages/bird room all the time.

Birdman666 said:

Well, if your bird is bonded to you and not responding, then it's unrequited love.

The GW is probably missing his bird buddy... and trying to transfer that bond to another bird.

They can still be partners in crime without having mating issues. My two beak wrestle with one another and chase each other around the cages/bird room all the time.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice!! Should I just keep them apart? They play in the same rooms most of the day, but I have to supervise because he will climb down his perch and onto hers. I’m always there to move her before there’s contact. It’s a constant keep away game I play with Max [emoji849] He is quite the persistent gentleman caller!! [emoji23]

He’s taken a liking to my husband, so once he gets home he spends one on one time with him. Max does call for Katie for a few minutes but then is easily distracted and can play without her in his sight, my husband is the key.


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Our rescue birds~

23 yr old Katie - Catalina Macaw
34 yr old Max- GW Macaw
1 yr old Nibbles- GC Conure
ADOPT DON’T SHOP [emoji172]

You might be fighting a losing battle. You have a healthy male and female bird playing together, bonding and sexual arousal is most likely going to happen.
Re-home one, you don't want them to go to far and start breeding.
In my opinion breeding hybrids should never be permitted, and all existing hybrids should be adopted and registered.

Adopt dont shop

:xmas_roll

Timneh said:

You might be fighting a losing battle. You have a healthy male and female bird playing together, bonding and sexual arousal is most likely going to happen.
Re-home one, you don't want them to go to far and start breeding.
In my opinion breeding hybrids should never be permitted, and all existing hybrids should be adopted and registered.

Adopt dont shop

:xmas_roll

Click to expand...

I'm going to have to politely disagree with this. Rehome one? What's wrong with two birds who like each other? NOTHING! Even if they do breed, you can prevent babies happening, they still have to lay eggs and incubate for the babies to even be born. Nothing wrong with a pair that likes to fornicate in my opinion. You don't necessarily have to have babies but they can still have fun trying, lol. My cockatiels aren't allowed to have babies but continue to breed. They are a bonded pair.

In the 'hybrid' case the same can be said about breeding dogs -- LOTS of mutts out there, yet people continue to breed them and sell the puppies for profit. I do not condone this, nor would I ever consider buying one of these - just bad breeding -- but I love hybrid macaws. Their colors are what gets me. Most of the time they end up infertile, usually after G2, but I myself don't see a problem with this, owning a bird, as long as the person doesn't try to sell the offspring for an outrageous amount of money and you don't try to breed them yourself. The prices some people charge are what I hate about hybrids, I've seen Camelots (Scarlet x Catalina) go for $6000....ugh.

I will just speak for macs, if you keep them together and they bond your chances of losing the same or closer relationship with her would probably happen.
Maybe your best friend or family member could adopt the greenwing, then you can always visit him. You will also get a lot more space back and peace.

The rain forest is REALLY shrinking and wild parrots are at risk! Macaws should not be hybrid or any other rare parrots because it will pollute the blood line simple as that. Parrots are often re-homed and records of the birds are lost, and too many macs breeders are hybridizing macs so good bloodlines are at risk too!
Look at this YouTube Brookfield Zoo pair of greenwings, I'm not a genius but those are great bloodlines, come on!
:xmas_lol2

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKe1h3IYSYk"]Aviary Adventure at Brookfield Zoo Wild Encounter - YouTube[/ame]

I understand where you are coming from Timneh. I am a huge proponent of adoption not breeding.

All my birds have been rescue birds, Max sat in the rescue place for 2 years, his health diminishing. I cannot rehome him.

My Catalina is also rescued and I am her 3rd home, but final home ❤️

I do understand the risk of them bonding, but as long as I give them loving homes is all I care about.

Max is almost 40 and Katie is 24, they are definitely on the older side for breeding and my intent is to keep them apart. They each have their own space- play perches, cages, stands etc.

It’s all I can do for now, rehoming is just not an option, and I definitely would never breed any of my birds. There’s rescues full of birds looking for homes ❤️


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Our rescue birds~

23 yr old Katie - Catalina Macaw
34 yr old Max- GW Macaw
1 yr old Nibbles- GC Conure
ADOPT DON’T SHOP [emoji172]

Timneh said:

You might be fighting a losing battle. You have a healthy male and female bird playing together, bonding and sexual arousal is most likely going to happen.
Re-home one, you don't want them to go to far and start breeding.
In my opinion breeding hybrids should never be permitted, and all existing hybrids should be adopted and registered.

Adopt dont shop

:xmas_roll

Click to expand...

Just wanted to add that although I appreciate your advice, I completely disagree with re-homing either of my birds.

Is your advice based on how my relationship would change with my Catalina? Or that you believe me to be ok with breeding them?

A bit harsh to give this kind of advice don’t you think? Especially since I rescued them specifically to give them a better quality of life.

My intent would never be to breed any type of birds, even if they were young. And if I lose my bond with Katie, as long as I was able to give them both a loving home, it’s a risk I’d rather take.


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Our rescue birds~

23 yr old Katie - Catalina Macaw
39 yr old Max- GW Macaw
1 yr old Nibbles- GC Conure
ADOPT DON’T SHOP [emoji172]