Need advice on how to socialize my new family member

Hi- new to forum (posted in newbie section). I recently added Peewee to my family. She is a 27ish year-old Macaw, maybe a Catalina? I'll attach a picture and hopefully someone can help.

Peewee's former mom died two months ago. She was being cared for by the home health aide from that time until I took her in.. She has been in my home for 2 weeks. She survived a bout of pancreatitis (former mom made a birthday cake-hospitalized for a month), and she also used to eat steak, apparently. Her left wing was also broken at some point. It is healed now, but she cannot fly. Peewee's former mom had her for 17 years, and was owned by someone previously. I don't know anything about that portion of the history, all I know is that I am #3 (maybe #4?). I am feeding her a better diet now, and she is loving vegetables and fruit (in moderation, of course).

I have not let her out of the cage yet, and I guess this is where I am seeking input the most. She talks a lot, and seems to have good days. She still calls for 'mother' a lot. I don't know if this affects her interactions with me. She challenges me sometimes and will 'bark' and bite the cage. But she will also accept treats if I hand them to her through the bars. I am a veterinary student, and I borrowed bite gloves because I thought that might be useful. I put them on and just sat next to the cage and talked to her. Tried to hand her treat. I learned that bite gloves are apparently not ok because she was was really chewing on them when I tried to give her a treat.

I want to do this right. I want Peewee to be happy and well-socialized. As her former mom was very old and not well, she and Peewee spent a lot of time sitting and watching t.v. I am more interactive with my birds. How soon should I let her out of the cage? How should I approach this? Any advice or tips? I have a lot of questions, too many to list. Thanks in advance!

I am attempting to attach picture from her first day in her new home:

Could be catalina or miligold... many of the hybrids may look quite similar, especially in 2nd generation hybrids that have been bred back to one species so they are 75% one species and 25% another (instead of 50/50).

Vegetables and fruits can be a large portion of the diet, if you feed a variety of them.... more so on the vegetables.... grains, legumes, sprouted seeds, nuts and pellets are also all good for the diet.



My suggestion would be to start looking into positive reinforcement and clicker training. You've already started the process, you just need some guidance on how to do it! Some of the following links may be of help to you.


Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Help! My Parrot Wont Step Up!
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Respecting the Bite


Living With Parrots Cage Free: Bucky and Strider - Millet Eating Fiends!


A ?Bird Attacking? Question | Lara Joseph
A Question About an Issue with Nipping | Lara Joseph


Positive reinforcement | Learning Parrots

She is a milligold almost willing to bet 100% on that.

As for working with macaws you can't let them know they scare you or they will just begin playing the fun little macaw games they like to do. Macaws are generally playful, intelligent, amazing birds but they do like to use the scare tactics against you. once you get to the handling which will just take time and trust building what you seem to be doing great!

Then comes sociliazations which could be as simple as taking her to places with you that allow pets, you are a vet student and probably work or intern at a clinic as I do myself although I am a tech student. I take my birds into the clinic I intern at as they don't do other birds so I have no risk in this place and I keep them away from where cats and dogs ever come to. Let the people around interact with her, but always know your bird and here language so no one gets hurt in the process. Socialization is key to a happy bird IMO and ere are a lot of ways to fulfill this need and most of it will begin after she has bonded with you. Then you start socializing her with others

Thanks for the responses! How can I get her to be comfortable with other people, or should I just accept that as part of her personality? Is it possible she is still mourning/missing 'mother'? I don't know if she is calling me that or not. Sometimes she will yell very impatiently, "MOTHER!" if I am in the kitchen or otherwise not in the room. Should I wait to let her out of the cage until she is more sure of me, or just go for it?

I am confused a little by her behaviors. Sometimes she will do this nervous side-stepping, and then that will be followed by an attempt to regurgitate, which I always took as for a non-normal attachment behavior. Then she will swing her head back several times, and I don't know if that's threatening or what. I'll check out the links posted. Any other advice is also welcomed!

Im thinking Milligold too Will she step up on you ? If so thats great .If not see if she will step up on a perch .Then I would take her to a playstand [or I have even had great luck sitting on the floor of the bathroom] Let her come to you ,dont force her .Let her be curious about you. This how your going to build a good relationship. But as JT said your going to have to be brave.[wear a sweatshirt] Theres going to be lunges nips and *****ing from her. Im sorry if Im wrong on this but she looks thin to me. [maybe check that out] My macaw was sick last year and now thats what I look at when I check out birds. Take her out [macaws do not want to be in a cage].

Chickenstoo - Good luck with your transition. I am picking up an 18 year old Green Wing on Tuesday and will be going through similar scenarios as you! I will have to check out those links as well! She is beautiful by the way.

Pinkbirdy-my regular avian vet is also her vet. She lost muscle mass from her bout with pancreatitis. I've read her records. She was nearly dead. In the hospital for a month. I am hoping that with her new diet (which does not include steak or cool whip, lol) will help. I have not tried to get her to step up. I will try tomorrow.

I know I have to be brave, but as a future vet, I worry about a (pre) career-ending injury. Maybe she won't be bitey outside the cage. I think there is some cage territorialism.

She is so excited about all the new foods I give her: vegetables, some fruit, scrambled eggs...she wasn't getting these things before. Today is the first time I have seen her preen at all. Maybe she is getting more comfortable. I did get a very enthusiastic, "wow!" for the new toy I got her today.

Thats so funny , she told you she liked each toy . Spray her with warm water [she might like that ] Im sorry she was ill. Hopefully she gain weight with this new right food [ If not you always can give her parrot baby formula] Helps get things rolling. Im excited shes responding to you . You will find your way. You might be right about the cage thing. Thats why I said take her somewhere else . Keep us updated