B&G behavior interpretation

[AndrewH]

As some of you know, I adopted a ~20 year old macaw about a month ago. I took my time getting to know her. She's now affectionate and allows me to scratch head/neck and pet chest. I can touch back and wings, but I avoid doing this (hormones and such). She also sits on my lap, rubs her head and neck on my arms and likes to wrestle. So, I know she's warming up to me.

Here recently, I will occassionally allow her to sit on my shoulder when the room is quiet and I know she is in a calm mood. She will perch there and I'll scratch her head and after a while she will get down on her haunches and basically "sit" on me.

Have any macaw people (or bird experts) seen this behavior? I'm wondering if it is trust and affection or mating behavior...

Also, as a disclaimer, I RARELY allow her on my shoulder, as I know I am putting my safety at risk! But again, I try to control the environment and hope that this helps build trust.

Thanks!

 

[Bobby34231]

Hey Andrew, I can't tell you how happy I am that your building such a good relationship with your fid, especially in such a relatively short time, I have to say that I'm not a big proponent of birds on the shoulder, especially the larger birds, that being said I occasionally do it when I have Quincy with me and I need to use both hands and its inconvient to place him down, he loves being up there, and for the most part behaves, he usually works his way towards my neck then squats down and places his head up under my neck and rubs his head back and forth, yeah cute you say, until for some reason he then stands straight up and gives a nice loud scream in my ear :11:, can't tell you if its sexually related or not, Quincy is only about 20 months and not 20 years as yours, but I guess it could be, not much help, but yes my macaw does the squat thing too

 

[AndrewH]

Thanks!

Maybe it's a macaw thing. I've also noticed that most macaws like to hang by their toes from the top of their cages...

I'm with you. Not a fan of the bird being on my shoulder. In fact, I've only allowed in 3 times. I plan to keep it something that I allow only as an exception to the usual rule of arm and lap holding.

By the way, I have her on Roudybush after trying Harrison's (I know it's good but she didn't care for it and it is really difficult to find a place to purchase) and Zupreem (she wouldn't eat the green and purple). All is well!

 

[Bobby34231]

lol....Quincy does that too, I call it his his "death defying hanging by one toenail from the top of the cage trick", I've tried just about all the pelleted diets, the zupreem he flings everywhere, he wouldn't touch the Harrisons, even tried soaking it in fruit juice, he picked at the roudybush, he finally settled on Tropimix, its a pelleted diet with dried fruits, nuts and seeds, the only thing usually left at the bottom of the bowl is the cocoanut flakes, don't blame him, I don't like cocoanut either

 

[pityu]

Hehe, i have a lovebird thars also doing that squat thing when his on a good mood. so its not only big birds like macaws And i can realy feel the relaxasion after he squats on my finger for example. It is definitly something possitive!

 

[mellykyitus]

hi, i only joined the forum yesterday, not sure if this is the right thread to add to but i had a qiuck question. i have a 14 week old blue gold macaw, i've noticed he sleeps on the floor of his cage, he's completely zonked out there and wondered if thats normal? he has naps on his perch too ut the majority of the time he's on the bottom?!

 

[AlexK]

My Grey squats on my shoulder quite a bit, especially if we are someplace unfamiliar. She's always done it and I can't see that it's a sign of anything.

Also so far i've never had a problem with having zo on my shoulder, other than the occasional fart sound in my ear.