Advice for Rosie the GW and her Mom?

[kendrafitz]

Hi Everyone,

So I can't believe it, but next month Rosie will have been part of our family for a year already! We didn't take her home until August, but we started visiting her daily in June. I can't believe how fast time is flying. It really is like having a baby in the house.

I could use some advice with her. She has become extremely attached to me, since I handfed her and spend almost the whole day with her M-F (with the exception of errands, etc). This in itself is a bit of a problem since she gets really jealous when I pay attention to everyone else in the house (husband, 2 kids, 2 dogs). I have been trying to include her and bring her over to give kisses to my "good boy Connor", etc. She will play along, but does not appreciate anyone coming and cuddling with me otherwise. The biggest problem we are having is I have just become a vendor at flea markets. So Rosie is home, out and playing on her tree, hanging with the rest of the family. From what I am told, Rosie is ok for a bit but then screams whenever she hears a car that sounds like mine, hears a noise in another room or anything that could possibly be me. The screaming is the really loud macaw scream and it goes on for long periods of time. I am not sure what to do to get this to subside? The kids have tried playing with her, ignoring her, etc. I usually get a call from one of them with Rosie shrieking in the background asking how much longer I will be gone. It is driving everyone (& probably my neighbors since windows are now open) nuts and I'm sure it's not fun for Rosie either.

I have considered bringing her with me to the markets, but am not sure if that is a good idea or not. I have a harness (which she despises) and a clear acrylic travel case for her. I could bring one of the dogs wire crates and possibly get a big java tabletop stand. I have a canopy, so I could have her under that. Just figured some of you may have advice since I don't really take her out all that much, except for her backyard cage when we are outside. I don't know if 6am to 3pm is too long of a day for her?

Thanks for taking the time to read this very long post. I am just not sure what to do with my little ornery ball of energy. I have to add that ornery or not she has a very firm grip on my heart! :07:

 

[horsesculpter]

I don't know what to tell you on the screaming when you aren't home but we take Sunny everywhere. She sits happily in my booths in trade shows and she loves flea markets as a visitor not a vendor though. She is a very bold bird and handles new experiences well. That might not work for every macaw but I would sure give it a try.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi Kendra

I agree with Horsesculptor. Try and take Rosie with you, so that she can broaden her horizon. Different places, different people may make a difference on how she perceives things. I think it certainly is worth a shot. Perhaps she won't despise her harness so much once she realizes she's going for an adventure. If it doesn't work the first try, don't give up. Try again.

I'd also recommend that when you are home, don't let your entire world revolve around her (I know how difficult that is ). She knows what she wants (YOU) and she knows how to get your attention. Does she step up on your husband or children? Does she take treats from them? Does she play any games? Perhaps they can play games with her (foraging fun, speech lessons, read to her, etc.) Distract, distract, distract.

She sounds like's she has started going through her terrible twos a bit early. That time, too, shall pass.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Ok, I made a boo-boo. She is NOT going through her terrible twos yet, she's only turning 1.

Perhaps she's just not wanting to get out of her baby stage?? Can you try and teach her to play independently instead of wanting to be with you 24/7?

 

[kendrafitz]

Thanks horsesculptor & jerseywendy. I will try taking her to the market and see how it goes. I have been worried that it may be too cold at 6:00 when I start but hopefully it will warm up enough soon.

Rosie will step up for the kids and my husband when I'm not with her. If they try to remove her from me she gets annoyed. My son or husband get her out of her cage about 1/2 the time in the morning. So she isn't aggressive with them. But she always prefers me. My kids will play with her, read to her and give her treats. My husband gives her treats and talks to her but prefers not to hold her for any length of time. I think the beak still freaks him out a bit.

Most of the day I am working and she is on her stand or her tree. So she is playing by herself, but I am around. I "cuddle" with her and preen her probably for an hour or two total a day. Is that too much? Should I have her in her cage instead of out with me?

Also, she is STILL molting. She doesn't have any bald spots, and seems to be losing her feathers in order. First was her head, then neck, some tail, now wings, back and tail. But it is a process that has been going on almost a year. So she is cranky when new feathers are breaking through. Her flight feathers have finally come in (the clipped ones came out) and she is starting to try to fly. Once she flies decently I will bring her to get her clipped. Anyway, I was thinking the molting may be making her more cranky?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Yes, I'm sure the molting is making her somewhat cranky. It's got to be itchy for her with all those pinnies.

I personally don't think you are cuddling her too much. I think she seeks reassurance from/through you, and I really believe she will outgrow the "neediness" in time.

I can't believe she'll be a year. Does that mean I got older, too? :54:

 

[kendrafitz]

Ok, thanks Wendy. I hope you are right. The screaming is making my family nutty. Since I am not home to hear it, it isn't that bad for me. Except for everyone yelling at me on the phone and once I walk in the door to pay attention to Rosie so she will FINALLY stop SCREAMING!

LOL! Yup, time is just flying by! She is actually a bit over a year. Her birthday was April 1st.

The kids and I joke that she was my husbands April Fools Day gift, since he was reluctant to be a bird daddy at first.