looking for some advice

[mollybird]

We just became the owners of Molly, a greenwing macaw, and are looking for some advice.

Molly is not a friendly bird. She will not allow herself to be touched, but will take food from us. If it is not something she likes (peanuts, walnuts, some sunflower seeds) she lunges. We're trying to feed her pellets, but she wants little to do with them.

She came with a cage that is way too small. We opened the top and just let her climb around. She is afraid of pretty much everything. I mounted a branch to the top of her cage for her to climb on and it took four days for her to touch it. She really likes the freedom of being able to climb around.

Her PO said he toweled her when he needed to move her, but she took one look at a towel and freaked out. Similar reaction to a perch we brought in for her to step to.

She an old bird. We tried contact USDA to get information about her age. All they could provide was that she was imported sometime before 1992. But she appears to be old and set in her ways. She also hates her band and is frequently chewing on it and trying to get it off.

Her PO was a smoker and judging by her raspy breathing it sounds like she may be suffering from the effects of it. We'd like to get her to a vet, but don't want to stress her more by trying to get her into a cage for transport.

When she first came, she seemed most open to our 12 year old son. Now she seems to be bonding with my wife even though I'm the one that spends the most time with her.

So, my question is, can someone recommend a training technique to curb the lunging and possibly get her to a point where she can step to a perch (or arm) and be touched?

 

[MonicaMc]

Often, a quick fix is typically not the best answer. It will take time and learning her body language as well as earning her trust. You can expect it to take several weeks or even months.

Positive reinforcement/clicker training is the way to go. There are great trainers by Barbara Heidenreich, Susan Friedman, Melinda Johnson and Karen Pryor. I really enjoy the videos by Barbara, Melinda has a *great* book on clicker training and how to do it.



If Molly is sick, it's better to stress her out and take her in to an avian vet for fecals and blood work rather than not doing anything about her being sick, or just waiting. As I see it, it's better to get it out of the way, then work on taming and trust issues, since a visit can be stressful, and if you work on taming/trust before then, you may end up going back several steps after the visit.

 

[MaraWentz]

Target or stick training teaches her to touch not bite a stick or perch for a reward. Teaches her to go to certain place to reach the stick and slowlymshorten the stick while the days go by so she slowly gets used to your hand and eventually she will be touching or tapping your hand instead of a stick for a treat

 

[Riio]

If Molly is sick, it's better to stress her out and take her in to an avian vet for fecals and blood work rather than not doing anything about her being sick, or just waiting. As I see it, it's better to get it out of the way, then work on taming and trust issues, since a visit can be stressful, and if you work on taming/trust before then, you may end up going back several steps after the visit.[/QUOTE]

I agree, take her now rather than later, for her health and because if she does get mad it wont set you back very much. Then start the training and trusting. Good luck

 

[JJones1719]

There are a couple of things I would advise you not to do and advise on what to do.

first take down the branch on top of her cage.
Never allow the Macaw to be on top the cage, you want your Macaw lower then your eyes when outside the cage. Puchase the largest cage you can find. Purchase a T stand or play gym for her and let her play outside the cage them. Allowing the Macaw on top of the cage can lead to cage aggresion towards you and your family.
Allowing her on a t stand or play gym allows you to be in control over her.

Like the other posts, you have to stay in control. Macaws are experts in reading ones body language so if you show fear or back down from her, she wins, you lose.

Look for signs from her. If she allows you to hand feed her a treat, tell her that she is a very good girl. if she lunges, say NO in a firm loud voice, she must learn the word NO along with the action she performed, so she learns that the action is unwanted and no treat.
Read her body language, if she lowers her body, wings a little open to the side, eyes change in size, feather fluff up. These are aggressive signs and she perhaps may bite you.
Approach her when she is calm. sit by her new cage, listen to the radio or watch t.v. allow her to get used to you.

Bonding can take minutes, hours, days, months, and even years so I hope you understand what you have gotten yourself into and it really depends on the Macaw if she will allow you into her world and see you as part of her new flock.

Remember, everything you do is also new for her and if she is an older Macaw, then it will take time for her to trust you.

I would also advise you that one day, you are going to get bit so expect it. The one thing you have on your side is, the Green Wing macaw is extremely smart and quick to learn and are known as the gentle giants once you are able to win over her love and effection.

Keep her on a schedule, this means put her to bed the same time, wake her in the morning at the same time, feeding throughout the day at the same time.

As far as pellets are concerned. mix them into her fruit and veggies, almonds, walnuts, palm nuts are the best choice here. Try not to offer peanuts as they are loaded in fats.

The more she comes over to you, the faster you can hold her so never give up, she is so worth it. Keep writing us on things you have tried and did not work so we can advise you on a better or different way of doing things. Thanks and best of luck Joe

 

[triordan]

Good advice Joe!
We have had our GW for just over two years now and it took a while, mostly because I didn't have experience ~ 1st bird for us...ask questions, join a bird club, ask more questions, volunteer at a rescue that has Macaws, ask more questions!
Good luck!

 

[RescueMe]

Sparky, my Blue and Gold, is just now getting to the point where she will step up to my roommate. She would not have anything to do with him for the last 6 months and is now at least not intentionally coming after him. He is a bit timid with her which hasn't helped, but he has persistently given her treats and talked to her and not pushed the issue with her. She has also gotten better overall with consistent calm handling. We have worked with some trick training to give her confidence and have her on a good diet.

I would recommend that you get her to a vet sooner rather than later, if she has an illness she is at serious risk, plus a healthy bird will be in a better position to learn and have positive interactions. If he band is bothering her, you can have it removed by a veterinarian and discuss microchipping for identification. If she is difficult to maneuver you can lure her with nuts and yummy food to get her in a carrier or to move her from room to room.

My biggest suggestion is to not try to work with her while she is on her cage. Make it possible for her to come to you and seek positive interactions with you instead of you trying to remover her from "her" space. I use a rolling playstand to move a bird with trust issues because it allows the bird a choice of food, toys, something positive, instead of causing a negative or pressured situation. Birds are creatures that rely on trust in their relationships for survival. Their flock mentality can work for or against you. If you are a positive flock member they will be open to relationships, whereas if you are a "predator" or negative influence they will not be willing to bond or even tolerate you.

Good luck and remember that birds form lifelong relationships so take your time and allow it to develop.

 

[Alwese]

My first bird Doogie was a rehome and was a serious biter. I considered him a challenge and I was not about to be defeated in my efforts. It takes a lot of time and love and in the end you will be richly rewarded. She is scared to death and just reacting it the only way she knows to protect herself. Let her cage be in a place where she can see and hear all the household activity and talk softly to her all the time, even sing. You eventually will be rewarded with a lifetime family member.