Macaws Acting Abnormally in Their Relationships

parrotsarelife

New member
Nov 5, 2019
2
2
Ok, here we go. I'm new to this site and I've had this problem with my macaws so I thought this would be a great place to post a question.

I own three Blue-and-Gold Macaws, a male whom I've had for 7 years and is 8 years old and a male and female pair I've had for 3 years with the male of the pair being approximately 11 years old and the female 13 or 14, I really don't know they were rescues given to me.

Anyway, a few years ago I tried to introduce my very human-friendly male#1 to the pair. It worked out for a couple months until he bit male#2's toe that resulted in a broken nail and excessive bleeding. From that point on, I've kept male 1 in a different room for two years.

Last winter, I moved and I still had the macaws separate (except the pair) cages but in the same room. I noticed that the two males started to get really talkative towards each other over the last couple months and I decided perhaps they can be let together. It worked for a couple weeks without issue but last week, I let them out and the two males ganged up on the female in a aggressive manner and I had to keep the female on my shoulder during the entire duration the macaws were out. Male 2, the one who's been with her all her life still acts normally towards her when they are in their cage but will proceed to attack her when they are out of the cage along with male 1. Hormonal?
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
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USA
Parrots
Full house
Welcome to the forum. Problem not many people have experience with a pair and a spare lol.
From what I understand the mate male will attack the female to make her move away from the rival male.
The two males might be able to hang out as long as the female isn't around.
My Quaker Neptune is bonded to my female GCC, he has started to do this when my new ( unknown sex but think male) Quaker comes near.
If he drives her off he is perfectly content to hang out with the other bird.
I posted an article on parrot behavior on my Ornithology thread, it might have touched on that, or it was a different article I read..
 

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