Grumpy Bird?

I brought home two very mistreated macaws last week. It wasn't expected or planned. A situation just arose and it needed to be taken care of (you can find their story in the introduction forum for new people)... anyway long story short, they have been WONDERFUL! Truly, with the situation that I brought them from, I really expected them to be vicious... or at least to bite. But NOTHING like that has happened. They have been sweet and affectionate. One waves "hi" and talks. The other is very dainty and SWEET. Though I feel I should add that if they are in or on their cage when I approach them I have to be cautious not to upset them until they are on the perch. Once away from the cage, they are as good as gold!
I've pretty much made up a routine in the morning, I get them up, open their cage, and put them on their training perch and work with them a little on target training. This has been going REALLY well. But this morning, I had a very sick child so I had to let my 15 yr old turn on the lights and open their cage... She fed them, but she's not allowed to handle them on her own yet so they were pretty much left to themselves until around 3:30.
Now in less than a whole day everything has changed. It feels almost as if the male is punishing me for not being there this morning. He pecks my hand/arm if I ask him to step up. He wouldn't take any food from my hand (both have been doing that from day one). I even thought he was going to try to take a chunk out of my hand tonight when I went to put them to "bed". Though, to his credit, he really had the chance but didn't clampdown hard when he got me.
So I guess my question is really several questions. Is this a result of me not working with them this morning? Is this the "honeymoon" season ending and now I just have to work with a grouchy bird? Is there anything I can do to deter him from actually biting me? Thoughts on how to minimize their stress? Do I Hold of on our morning routine for a while? I don't want to damage these guys any more than they already are!
Thanks!

I've read you shouldn't spend an excessive amount of time with a new bird if you don't plan on spending that much time with him forever. They expect you to play with them for however long, and get angry with you if you don't.

I don't know though. Sometimes I have to go somewhere for the day and my bird doesn't really care if I break our schedule. He's kinda laid back I guess. I suppose all birds are different.

But trust me it won't last long. He'll be angry for a day or so and then be back to his normal self. Don't worry 'bout it & good luck!

Macaws can be clingy emotional birds. If I had to guess, it was because you didn't handle him, and he expected it.

Large macaws do best when they are patterned. This is when we get up. This is when we get handled. This is when we eat. This is when you play on your own. This is when you go to sleep.

Then maintain the pattern. Consistently.

These birds were kept in a hell hole, and were starved for attention. Now that they have it they will over-react the other way, when they don't get it. Once they get on a regular schedule and get comfortable again they will calm down.

Read the posts about do birds pout? [The answer was yes, by the way!]

They are brand new and confused. The first week was definately a honeymoon. A bird's personality doesn't show up for a couple weeks. I would SLOW it way down. It sounds like you are expecting them to act like they've lived there for years. I'm surprised you haven't been bit.

I would leave them in their cage for a few weeks to get them used to being in your house. Don't take them out, don't move them onto other stands. Just talk to them and give them treats through the cage bars.

I think the problem is just that you moved too fast.

I saw the pictures you posted of the birds on your family's shoulders. I would be VERY careful putting birds you don't know very well on a shoulder. They could bite their ear or face.

I'd use the search feature for the forum. There are a lot of good suggestions for this situation. Personally leaving them without interaction for a couple weeks is a bad idea IMO. Macaws are like toddlers. I'd get into a routine and stick with it ( this is the time we eat, this is the time we play, etc) Macaws will bluff you if you let them.

Good luck and don't give up!

Well, at least we now know why she was grumpy...

Going from crap food to decent food upset her digestive tract! She just didn't feel good...

Goes back to my original premise: THIS BIRD IS TAME AND LOVING...

It's not a honeymoon thing at all. She was just telling you she didn't feel good.