Macaw Hormones

[kme3388]

I wanted to post about Blue’s hormones. He’s been challenging the past week as spring is happening. He’s at the bottom of his cage trying to find a darker place. He’s escaped a few times. I’ve reinforced his cage so he can’t anymore. Macaws are absolutely beautiful stunning creatures. Blue is by far my favorite parrot to train with. He picks up on stuff so quickly. He truly is a precious gift. I will never regret adopting him. I did want to post about his hormones however. WOW! This truly is a big powerful bird. He has gotten cage aggressive despite the fact that I did everything to prevent it. He even lunges, and try’s to bite me. Usually I put on a long sleeve shirt, and still ask him to step up as I know this big powerful bird will take advantage if I’m scared. He thinks he’s alpha, and unfortunately I have to show him that I’m alpha or he will run my house. He has such a strong personality in comparison to my other parrots. He really doesn’t back down if he is near his cage. He even lunges at my dog (German shepherd) who goes anywhere near his cage. Despite this being my first spring with Blue, and my first year dealing with macaw hormones I will never give up. Today I had him step up on a stick, and he’s in his shower currently. Although I don’t want to be bit by Blue I know that he needs a shower for his feather condition. Please anyone who wants a macaw do your research this parrot is not for the faint hearted.

 

[kme3388]

I thought blues hormones were bad before. Nope, it definitely gets worse. Because blue kept escaping from the front door of his cage i had to secure it. Yesterday I went to grab him water, and I always leave the water door open because that takes me a few minutes at most. He crawled through his food bowl door that was open to attack me from coming anywhere near his cage “territory”. He was lunging at my face from the top of his cage. I had him step up on a stick to get him back into his cage safely, and for my safety as well. He was going after my hands that were holding the stick, and he’s never done that. I had to move the stick in circles as he was on it to keep him off balance so I didn’t get bit. I’ve never quite dealt with a parrot who has no fear of attacking humans when hormonal/territorial, and almost seeks the fight intentionally. Obviously I ignore it, and just get him back safely in his cage, but WOW!!! The day prior to the event he was training, trying to give me kisses, and requested head scratches.

Second incident, I train with my parrots daily aside from my two who are a pair. They prefer each other over me. Since blue has been so aggressive due to hormones I tried to target train with hi, in his cage. He is breaking the wood target sticks. He went through 8 of them tonight. He’s grabbing them with his beak, and snapping them, right out of my hand. He knows how to target train nicely as we’ve worked on this since the day I got him.

I must admit he’s so cute, and I can’t resist giving him nuts as treats. Especially when he says “crackers”. I do give him more than I probably should. I know better as loading him up on protein to energize him is probably not for the best. He’s a captive bird, and probably doesn’t need all of that energy to fly for miles a day.

 

[smwboxer]

Abelarda the military macaw has a plastic trash bin that is her’s this time of year. She sleeps in it and is very protective of it. Soon, it will pass and the trash bin will go into storage until next year.