Suddenly aggressive

[Elsha]

So I'm at a bit of a loss with Buddy. We inherited/adopted him about 5 months ago. He has always been the type to throw a tantrum like a toddler, but generally friendly most of the time. Also, although he clearly always preferred me, my husband, mother in law and a couple of close friends were able to help me with cage maintenance and changing his food and water. For 2 weeks in February, my mother in law and a family friend alternated days spending time with him without incident.

About 2 weeks ago that changed...

Now, if anyone but me goes near his cage, he lunges at them and tries to take a hunk out of their hands. If the same person approaches him while he's in the family room on his perch, he's cautious, but friendly enough; even willing to take snacks from their hands. Near the cage, forget it. Their hands are dinner.

The problem we're currently facing with the cage lunging (other than the stress of a sudden change in behaviour), is that my husband and I have a couple of trips coming up this year (the first of which is in mid June) where someone will have to come in and feed/cage clean/play with Buddy. If they can't get near the food and water without losing a finger...we have a major problem.

Any advice? Hints?
Thanks in advance all...

 

[Bandespresso]

A quick fix would be to stick train him (if he isn't already) so your family members can safely remove him from the cage to feed/change water/clean. Most birds take to stick training super quickly!

I'm sure some folks will have answers for taking care of the actual cage aggression. I haven't dealt too much with cage aggression so i will let the more experienced members help you out!

 

[Elsha]

Thanks for the reply.
Unfortunately I think stick training is out as an option...
We tried to do that at first and the poor guy freaks whenever a stick goes near the cage. I have the feeling his previous owner used to hit the cage when he shrieked (I've also heard him mumble something that sounded like "shut up") :-/
Thankfully he's slightly less aggressive with a friend of mine (who was willing to try trial by fire tonight), but still no improvement with the hubby. We tried the towel tricks expressed in other posts.
Any other advice still greatly appreciated..

 

[Sambamama]

Your comment that stick training is "out as an option" is worrisome: this indicates a human issue and not a bird issue. Sorry to be so blunt.

No matter what his age, Your bird can learn, together with you, if you are willing to seek the assistance and put in the time necessary to bond with him. Your relationship is young, so you have lots of opportunity to grow a lovely one with him.

If you are willing to put into this relationship then you can get A lot out of it. If you skimp, then you will always have a shallow one.

 

[Birdman666]

Territorial aggression is not uncommon for macaws. How much out of the cage time is this bird getting?

He won't step up for an arm wrapped in a towel?! Stopping him from biting with two fingers?

Have you tried wrapping the towel under a loose fitting shirt so he doesn't know it's there?

Overbonding component? How often does he get handled by others?

 

[June2012]

Your comment that stick training is "out as an option" is worrisome: this indicates a human issue and not a bird issue. Sorry to be so blunt.

No matter what his age, Your bird can learn, together with you, if you are willing to seek the assistance and put in the time necessary to bond with him. Your relationship is young, so you have lots of opportunity to grow a lovely one with him.

If you are willing to put into this relationship then you can get A lot out of it. If you skimp, then you will always have a shallow one.

I think it's because he's traumatized of sticks and the like that they wish to not do so. Of course, Birdman got his bird to be okay with brooms...

 

[Christinenc2000]

Your comment that stick training is "out as an option" is worrisome: this indicates a human issue and not a bird issue. Sorry to be so blunt.

No matter what his age, Your bird can learn, together with you, if you are willing to seek the assistance and put in the time necessary to bond with him. Your relationship is young, so you have lots of opportunity to grow a lovely one with him.

If you are willing to put into this relationship then you can get A lot out of it. If you skimp, then you will always have a shallow one.

I think it's because he's traumatized of sticks and the like that they wish to not do so. Of course, Birdman got his bird to be okay with brooms...

I could not use Stick training with my Mac. He was so scared of any stick held in your hand.

 

[Birdman666]

your comment that stick training is "out as an option" is worrisome: This indicates a human issue and not a bird issue. Sorry to be so blunt.

No matter what his age, your bird can learn, together with you, if you are willing to seek the assistance and put in the time necessary to bond with him. Your relationship is young, so you have lots of opportunity to grow a lovely one with him.

If you are willing to put into this relationship then you can get a lot out of it. If you skimp, then you will always have a shallow one.

i think it's because he's traumatized of sticks and the like that they wish to not do so. Of course, birdman got his bird to be okay with brooms...

that took over two months...!!!

 

[June2012]

your comment that stick training is "out as an option" is worrisome: This indicates a human issue and not a bird issue. Sorry to be so blunt.

No matter what his age, your bird can learn, together with you, if you are willing to seek the assistance and put in the time necessary to bond with him. Your relationship is young, so you have lots of opportunity to grow a lovely one with him.

If you are willing to put into this relationship then you can get a lot out of it. If you skimp, then you will always have a shallow one.

i think it's because he's traumatized of sticks and the like that they wish to not do so. Of course, birdman got his bird to be okay with brooms...

that took over two months...!!!

Oh dear. XD

 

[Rolo]

Rolo - my B&G macaw was not aggressive, although he did misbehave and destroy things before. Now I have figured out a way to let him know our displeasure when he does something he is not supposed to. He ruined 2 LED TV's, 2 laptops, 1 iphone and a whole door before we managed to control his behaviour.

I have a red mop that i use to clean his area and in general to wipe all the floors etc. I noticed he is terrified of the mop! I used certain phrases when he does something bad and just grab the mop (not do anything with it). Now, whenever he begins to do something he is not supposed to i say the words "shall i get up" without even holding the mop and he automatically flies to his cage. It is adorable. My wife thinks i shouldn't use fear to make him obey, but IMO without the concept of fear in our pets, we are slaves to their will.

I've never ever let Rolo be in distress and he is happy, and now he knows what makes us unhappy!

 

[Bandespresso]

Your comment that stick training is "out as an option" is worrisome: this indicates a human issue and not a bird issue. Sorry to be so blunt.

No matter what his age, Your bird can learn, together with you, if you are willing to seek the assistance and put in the time necessary to bond with him. Your relationship is young, so you have lots of opportunity to grow a lovely one with him.

If you are willing to put into this relationship then you can get A lot out of it. If you skimp, then you will always have a shallow one.

I think it's because he's traumatized of sticks and the like that they wish to not do so. Of course, Birdman got his bird to be okay with brooms...

I could not use Stick training with my Mac. He was so scared of any stick held in your hand.

Tons of birds are terrified of sticks. It is really common especially with mistreated birds. There is no need to push him when there are so many other solutions. If possible, stick training outs great because it helps the people who are nervous more than anything.

Buddy is probably feeding off of your family members fear and tracking advantage of them.