Pre-training DOs and DON’Ts:
DO determine what you bird’s favorite treat is by offering a choice of a few small pieces of different nuts and take note of the first one she eats. That will be the treat you use for training and she will only get that treat when you train.
DON’T freak her out by suddenly presenting a target stick. You need her to willingly come over and touch it which won’t happen if she is afraid of it. Gently introduce it by keeping it passively in your hands whenever you approach her cage.
DO encourage her to come to the side of the cage when you visit with her early on and entice her to accept a treat from your hand.
DO begin training while she is in the cage once she has begun to show relaxed behavior in your presence. There is no time frame to impose on her readiness to begin training. She will be ready when she trusts you enough to approach you.
DON’T ever force training on your bird! That is the best way to ensure she never participates in it willingly.
I AGREE WITH ALL OF THIS, BUT THE BEST TIP WOULD BE TO ENTICE THE BIRD, BY PEAKING THE BIRD'S NATURAL CURIOUSITY, AND MAKING IT A GAME... MACAWS LOVE GAMES... PEEK-E-BOO WITH A TOWEL OR A BLANKET IS A UNIVERSAL TRUTH. THROW IT OVER YOUR FACE A FEW TIMES FIRST. PEEK-E-BOO. THEN AFTER TWO OR THREE OF THOSE... DO SWITCH OFF, YOU THEN THEN BIRD...
Other general tips:
Be sure to name your bird right away and use the name often. Because birds mimic our language and come to associate items with their labels, their name is your verbal connection to them. You will likely have nicknames for your bird at some point, but for now make a choice and use only that name.
A very good method of getting your bird to relax around you is to sit quietly nearby and read. This will give your bird a chance to observe you being relaxed and non-threatening. You can every now and again quietly address her, calling her by name.
You are going to be anxious to learn about your new bird and you will best learn by watching her. Try not to stare at her, though. You are a predator. Your staring will be highly creepy to your new bird.
(THIS IS GOOD ADVICE IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN A BAR...
NOT SO SURE I'D BE QUICK TO BREAK EYE CONTACT WITH AN UNTRAINED LARGE MACAW, THOUGH.) NOTHING WRONG WITH MAINTAINING HEALTHY EYE CONTACT IF THE BIRD ISN'T FREAKING OUT AT THE SIGHT OF YOU...
Your bird, no matter what her species, is an individual and will act according to her own nature. She will not have read her manual before coming to live with you. Her success or failure will be determined by how well you do your job as her guardian.
EXACTLY, SO WHY DOES THIS GUY MAKE HIS LIVING SELLING ONE SIZE FITS ALL MANUALS?! (And obviously, if it didn't work, then you just didn't do your job as a guardian. It's all your fault! Guilt! Guilt! Guilt!)
ERR... UUUHHH... THAT'S THE UNIVERSAL TRUTH RIGHT THERE. TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOUR BIRD, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR BIRD RESPONDS TO, THEN DO THAT!! ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.... IF SHE DOESN'T RESPOND TO ONE THING, AND RESPONDS TO SOMETHING ELSE, DO SOMETHING ELSE...
You may have heard about a “honeymoon period” with your new bird. With humans, that term is generally a reference to a time frame prior to when one person starts taking another for granted. With birds, it is the period before a bird decides he is not happy and begins to rebel OR has learned how to effectively manipulate his human’s behavior with his own actions. At this point it will be apparent that the bird’s behavior has changed. However, the honeymoon never really needs to come to an end, and it won’t if you are paying attention to details.
THIS IS ALSO TRUE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT...
I DON'T THINK OF IT AS A HONEYMOON PERIOD.
WITH A MACAW, YOU GET A TESTING PHASE AS SOON AS THEY FIGURE OUT THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE EATEN FOR DOING SOMETHING WRONG...
YOU HAVE TO PASS THE TESTS TO HAVE A WELL BEHAVED BIRD.
THEY WILL PUSH THE BOUNDARIES WHERE THEY CAN, JUST LIKE CHILDREN. MACAWS REQUIRE A FIRM HAND, AND CLEAR BOUNDARIES. (I BET YOU'VE NEVER HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE!) DO THAT AND YOU GET A WELL BEHAVED BIRD. DON'T DO THAT, YOU GET A BIRD THAT TENDS TO ACT UP...
