I hope it works out too! If we didn't have a flock already I wouldn't mind unless I couldn't afford outrageous longterm medical care but I will feel horrible if we have to say no. My husband has wanted a military since he was 19 but I never really did, although I've never experienced their personality but she sounds so sweet and hopefully there's still potential there. We would still keep her even if we couldn't cuddle her but we're hoping we'll get her back to the sweetie that likes it. I forget who it was but I was so inspired and impressed by a member here. She rescued some small bird that was truly terrified of people. Every time she came in the room the bird would flip out in it's cage thrashing. Over time it would be fine with humans around, sing, talk, eat, and is happy. She cannot hold it, pet, cuddle, or give kisses but they have a bond all the same. It will get on the stick for her to put it on the playstand everyday and is happy tosee her. RReading that really opened up my eyes about what kind of bonds you can have with your fids. M6 husband felt the same way after I read it to him. Thanks to this woman's patince, perseverance, tolerance, acceptance, and love this bird is healthy, happy, and knows he's loved.
Well, one of the problems with Militaries is that they are beaky....
And ALL macaws, if they don't get handled enough, get pissy.
What happens with these guys, is that they get pissy because they aren't being handled enough, "express themselves" and their displeasure at not being interacted with enough, with their beaks, and then people start handling them less and less. Then the bird gets the "moody" label attached, and "biter" label attached.
This bird needs to be handled, and when it gets that interaction, the "mush mac" will come out again...
It's in there, you just have to work through the "pissy/angry" stage to find it.
My advice with these kinds of birds is always to bring the bird in, open the door, walk by and give treats, and what not, and wait until the bird starts craving attention from you. (Show me a macaw that doesn't like attention!)
THEN give it what it wants. Let the bird initiate the interaction...
Then interact in spades. Give him what he has been missing out on, nurturing guidance, boundary setting, games, and lots of love. Fill that void. The natural pair bond instinct will kick in at that point. That is how you create a "mush mac" from a "monster."
Just watch how fast he turns around...
Maggie hadn't been handled in EIGHT YEARS when I got her. She's been a mush mac since DAY FOUR. And that was more than five years ago...
So, yeah, not only does it happen, it's not that difficult.
Hope it works out!
