New Macaw

[pacoparrot]

I just brought home a severe macaw the other day. She was very happy with the selection of food in her new cage and I managed to get her to take a few almond halves from me without any trouble. The last time I offered her a treat she very quickly stepped up onto my hand after she took it. We went for a walk around the house and it ended in her jumping from my hand to my shoulder onto my back. I panicked a little because I didn't want her to grab my face or my ears but she stepped back down onto a tree stand once I brought her close to it. Any advice for bonding with this lovely little macaw? Should I just keep offering her treats and talking to her? It's been a while since I have had an unfamiliar big beak to work with.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome.

Who's the lovely Amazon?

Some basic reading we usually recommend...

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

General Parrot Information - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2012...n-parrots.html


As for Macaws... here's our Forum. Birdman666 is a treasured authority here, so his threads are a great resource.
Macaws - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community

 

[pacoparrot]

That's Paco. He died in 2017 unexpectedly. He was older when I adopted him back in 2008. He was a great friend and my first large parrot. I foster for a local rescue so I've see a lot of birds. I took a long break from fostering to focus on college and my eclectus named Darwin but the rescue is near full capacity again and I was asked to take this lovely lady macaw for the time being. I will be sure to read what you have linked me to.

 

[LeaKP]

Welcome! I’m not owned by a macaw but love to look at them and learn of them. The others here who have macaws will certainly chime in! The links above are a great place to start. More pics!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pacoparrot]

Here is a picture of her. Her name is Sweetie. She really likes to eat lol.

 

[wrench13]

Welcome. Our resident macaw expert , birdman666, has several stickies at the top of the macaw subforum, and and I highly recommend reading them, several times. He also has threads that specifically talk about working with Severe macaws, which REALLY should be read, several times.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and Sweetie, what a gorgeous macaw!

Macaws are typically gentle giants, but their beaks deserve as much understanding as respect. GaleriaGila shared all of the relevant resources, and one of the "sticky" threads covers this well: http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

 

[ChristaNL]

Elloh and welcome, you and your beautifull bird!
I hope you'll have fun (here and overthere)

 

[noodles123]

I know this isn't answering you question (I read this as I was leaving the house and I can't really reply). I just wanted to caution you against feeding too many almonds---they are fatty and some varieties contain trace amounts of cyanide.



I think 1-2 nuts a day is probably enough for most birds, but that depends on size and exercise level as well.


Here is a useful link:
Which Nuts Are Safe For Parrots? List of Edible Nuts

 

[noodles123]

I was strongly considering one of these at one point, but I haven't owned one (so take what I have to say with a grain of salt). I think you just need to make sure that she knows she can't push you around/resist when you want her off of you. If you tell her to step up and she doesn't, then make sure that (assuming she understands the command) you "win". The fact that you got her onto something is better than just leaving her there. Next time, I wouldn't let her up there unless you think you can get her down. If she climbs up anyway, I would probably risk the bite and sweep my hand across my back calmly yet assertively (to get her to step on)..but that is just me.


Treats, cautious proximity, familiarity and routine seem to be the best ways to approach bonding.

 

[MonicaMc]

YES to the treats! Use the treats to train her to do the behaviors you want her to do!

If you don't have to, then don't force her to comply! This could result in bites, and severe's already have a reputation for being difficult macaws! She doesn't sound like she is, so no reason to turn her into a difficult bird!


http://www.parrotforums.com/training/72250-free-training-resources.html

 

[pacoparrot]

So today she was most definitely not in a good mood. I didn't even attempt to offer her my hand to step up. Instead I had her step up onto a perch to go on her stand. She was all fluffed out and kept grabbing her tail with her foot and moving it around. I'm guessing she is hormonal? Would make sense because my male ekkie is full of hormones right now too.

 

[MonicaMc]

She probably is indeed hormonal. You can look and see if there's anything in her diet that's encouraging the behavior, maybe something in the cage?

And you can always teach her new behaviors that are incompatible with being hormonal. Various tricks, foraging behaviors, etc.