I have a bonded pair of Severe Macaws since about 1988. I did not have much info on them as the owners did not speak much english. They were living in a dark basement room with no windows with a couple who's daughter didn't want them anymore. When I went to see them they both ran away from the couple and huddled by the side of the cage where I was standing. At the time I had 2 Conures and was not looking for another bird but had heard about these 2 needing some help. Seeing the conditions they were in I could not leave them and 34 years later they are still part of my family.
I have a feeling they may have been wild caught. I know for sure at least one is female because there have been eggs some years back. For the most part they have gotten along great and were never handled very much as they never bonded much to any of their human family. I was always fine with that and never pushed, just let them live a good healthy life together. I do spend lots of time with them singing, talking and even hand feeding treats etc, just not much physical contact. This has worked out well as they are at the very least 34 years old and seem happy and healthy.
Lately they have been fighting now and again. The dominant one I call Fred will sometimes grab the other I call Ginger and pull her off of a food bowl or a pearch. Other times Ginger will just start grabbing at him while they are sitting on a perch together. I have seen them rumble to the cage floor fighting and it isn't always easy to stop them. The other night I heard a ruckus and she had him in the cage bottom biting his foot. She drew blood. Nothing bad and after cleaning it, he was fine and it is healing up well. This morning I noticed she has a small would above her eye. I'm not sure if it was from the same fight or another one.
Most of the time they get along fine. They sleep cuddled up next to each other and sit and spend time together and apart doing their bird type things, jabbering, playing with toys, tossing food around and standing on their heads in the food bowl lol.
Is this fighting a normal thing for an old bonded pair? I am concerned but should I be? Is there ever a time that a long time pair should be separated? They don't ever want to be without the other. I'd appreciate your thought and suggestions.
I have a feeling they may have been wild caught. I know for sure at least one is female because there have been eggs some years back. For the most part they have gotten along great and were never handled very much as they never bonded much to any of their human family. I was always fine with that and never pushed, just let them live a good healthy life together. I do spend lots of time with them singing, talking and even hand feeding treats etc, just not much physical contact. This has worked out well as they are at the very least 34 years old and seem happy and healthy.
Lately they have been fighting now and again. The dominant one I call Fred will sometimes grab the other I call Ginger and pull her off of a food bowl or a pearch. Other times Ginger will just start grabbing at him while they are sitting on a perch together. I have seen them rumble to the cage floor fighting and it isn't always easy to stop them. The other night I heard a ruckus and she had him in the cage bottom biting his foot. She drew blood. Nothing bad and after cleaning it, he was fine and it is healing up well. This morning I noticed she has a small would above her eye. I'm not sure if it was from the same fight or another one.
Most of the time they get along fine. They sleep cuddled up next to each other and sit and spend time together and apart doing their bird type things, jabbering, playing with toys, tossing food around and standing on their heads in the food bowl lol.
Is this fighting a normal thing for an old bonded pair? I am concerned but should I be? Is there ever a time that a long time pair should be separated? They don't ever want to be without the other. I'd appreciate your thought and suggestions.