Bad Macaw bite please help

[mtdoramike]

This forum provides far greater benefits than wasting time on "perspective" wars. I deleted my two posts and apologize for my tone and a poor choice of words.

However, I will not apologize for my thoughts in the aggregate. If any animal, dog, bird, cat, varmint ..... is in the midst of hurting you, so badly that you think "I might lose a finger" (and that animal will not let go), in MY view, you do whatever you need to do to terminate the immediate situation. Positive Reinforcement does not come to mind as an immediate fix.

We've all been through the bites, nips, scrapes, rough play, etc that comes with owning parrots, dogs, et al - that comes with the territory.

This was not one of those situations.

Again, I apologize for my tone and choice of words and hope that type situation never arises for anybody.

Thank you for this post, I believe that this was what you were intending to post the first time. I can agree that sometimes people feel that they are to blame for the attack and yes, quite often that is the case. But not always. Animals are like people in the fact that they too have bad days or days when they just want to be left alone.

I can also agree that no matter how much I love an animal, I will only tolerate a certain amount of abuse by them for what ever reason. To me, if an animal viciously bites me especially more than once, I feel that animal isn't happy with me. So I would find them another home, hopefully with someone whom they get along with better. It could be just a clash of personalities.

 

[thekarens]

Finding a more suitable home is one thing, snapping their neck is a whole other thing.

The first is doing what's best for you and the animal. The second is just plain animal cruelty.

 

[JerseyWendy]

If members wonder where their posts went, I "tried" to clean up this thread a bit, since "certain" posts were removed.

Please, let's move forward in a civil way. I understand we (those who know which posts were removed) can't pretend not to remember what was said, but let's try really hard to move forward, shall we? Pretty please...with sugar on top?

 

[Birdbrain91]

Wesley isn't a vicious bird he is a strong willed bird that is use to getting his way. I think his old family gave up on him and didn't have time to correct bad behavior when he matured.

I did so much research before getting him that I thought I was prepared and he didn't act like this when I visited him for months before the adoption was complete (it took 3 months for the adoption). You can read all you want but nothing prepares you better then experience.

Yes I'm a newbie with macs and have a lot to learn but I love him so much that I'm not willing to give up on him just because he is spoiled and acts "Large and in Charge".
I've seen the "Mush Mac" all he needs is a chance and some discipline.

If he doesn't get his way he will bite and lunge.

Call me crazy, but when he is on his tree and I have a treat I can say "Give me Kisses" and he will slowly reach out and give me a kiss. Sometimes he will even snuggle with me (not to often).

In writing this I realized I just have to have a pocket of treats with me at all times. So when he is playing nice I can give him a treat.

What are some good small heathy treats that I can use.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Slivers of almonds or small pieces of walnuts work GREAT for many big macs. They also LOVE pinenuts, but they are so very expensive.

 

[MikeyTN]

Birdbrain,

I'm always all about staying on topic, it was getting carried away and I didn't get to see what all happened before I sign back in this morning with 4 hrs of sleep and work 12hr shift all day today....hope he didn't get you too bad this time. Willie didn't do any major damage cause I know he could do a lot worse damage if he wanted to. When he knows I mean business is when he try to be funny. It doesn't work with me when I'm displeased. We sat there while I talk to him and make him drop his beak and no attacks. He behaved afterwards.

 

[Birdbrain91]

Lately he has been lunging all the time. He'll step up nice then lunge. When I try the 2 fingers on his beak I can never grab it. I just touch the top with one finger.

I know he is just pushing me around and needs discipline but how can you grab his beak if he's trying to bite you?

 

[goalerjones]

This thread is precisely why I got a Hahns macaw instead of something bigger.

 

[BeakFace]

Ouch, that hurts!

 

[BeakFace]

this thread is precisely why i got a hahns macaw instead of something bigger.

Funny the worst bite I ever had was from a quaker! It took a piece of me.

 

[BeakFace]

Wesley isn't a vicious bird he is a strong willed bird that is use to getting his way. I think his old family gave up on him and didn't have time to correct bad behavior when he matured.

I did so much research before getting him that I thought I was prepared and he didn't act like this when I visited him for months before the adoption was complete (it took 3 months for the adoption). You can read all you want but nothing prepares you better then experience.

Yes I'm a newbie with macs and have a lot to learn but I love him so much that I'm not willing to give up on him just because he is spoiled and acts "Large and in Charge".
I've seen the "Mush Mac" all he needs is a chance and some discipline.

If he doesn't get his way he will bite and lunge.

Call me crazy, but when he is on his tree and I have a treat I can say "Give me Kisses" and he will slowly reach out and give me a kiss. Sometimes he will even snuggle with me (not to often).

In writing this I realized I just have to have a pocket of treats with me at all times. So when he is playing nice I can give him a treat.

What are some good small heathy treats that I can use.

Pine nuts in the shell.

 

[mtdoramike]

this thread is precisely why i got a hahns macaw instead of something bigger.

Funny the worst bite I ever had was from a quaker! It took a piece of me.

You were lucky, a macaw would have taken the whole finger.

 

[BeakFace]

Well I was taken by surprise with the Quaker. I volunteer at a bird rescue often, they probably have close to 50 MaCaws or more so believe me its all about boby language. I have 2 Palm Cockatoo's and true they could do some damage. The part thats scary is the MaCaws holding on. I don't think I have seen that nor do I want to.

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

The part thats scary is the MaCaws holding on. I don't think I have seen that nor do I want to.

Usually they don't hang on. They bite and they are done.

I would rather be bit by a Macaw vs. one that hooks in and then grinds like some do.

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

You were lucky, a macaw would have taken the whole finger.

Taking a whole finger off is a myth. One time I had to take Jody to the vet down by my sister as her nails turned into needles overnight I swear.

I think every vet she has been to over the years is surprised just how long and loud she screams for the whole exam. Getting her out of the crate she flips onto her back and the fight is on.

This Vet did not have anyone else to hold her so I did. Don't know how, but before I knew it she had grabbed onto the index finger on my left hand. If I remember correctly she was in the towel already so my finger was the only thing to clamp onto and that proved to me that biting off fingers (at least in an adult) will not happen. Now if it is a baby, that might be a different story.

 

[Birdbrain91]

Macawlover: that sounds like it hurt.

I think he would have been happy with just a long bite but I made it worse by trying to drop him. I learn something every day with him. Just when I think I'm getting the hang of things he changes things up.

No one can say living with a parrot is boring.

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

Pain, yeah, some LOL I still remember thinking that I must have passed a vet test, seeing that I was not screaming in pain or at Jody, just kind of took it in stride. It is not like you can do anything to her. The vet did go and get one of those ice pack things after he saw my finger and that did help.

Jody's medical record chart has notes in there that she is quick and loud. Wonder what else they have written on her LOL Heck, I am thankful no one has ever turned her away when I have come back with her again.

 

[Birdbrain91]

What kind of macaw is Jody?

That's funny about them putting in her chart "quick and loud" it's kinda like the Seinfeld episode.

I would feel so bad if one of my birds bit our vet but I know it would be the first time and not the last.

 

[MikeyTN]

Birdbrain,

I usually bring out the training stick when they do that then I go behind their head and push down with my palm then bend it down almost like your spelling a C with your hand. I will use the two finger trick like birdman suggest often, but sometimes I must do it this way when they're in the mood to attack. I think mine are hitting late hormones this year thus the biting cause I got nailed last night by Lola. When both are like this, hormones is kicking in, so I think yours might be doing the same.

 

[Birdman666]

Taking a whole finger off is a myth. One time I had to take Jody to the vet down by my sister as her nails turned into needles overnight I swear.

NOT A MYTH!!!

I've seen it happen. Someone lost a ring finger to a Military Macaw who was not amused by a stranger teasing it...

I watched a Female Hyacinth lop off a Male Hyacinth's toe, when he was getting frisky, and she was not in the mood...

I also know of a Scarlett macaw that caused a severe degloving injury to a woman's toes...

MOREOVER, there was a blue and gold, where a cat got in the house and was dumb enough to go after the macaw. WE KNOW THAT FOR A FACT BECAUSE THE CAT'S ENTIRE PAW was found INSIDE THE CAGE. Apparently kitty reached between the bars of the cage, and the bird let the cat have it, full bite pressure....

The point of the beak then got sunk into the jugular vein on kitty's neck.

Kitty died.

I have also seen two facial de-gloving injuries - one by a CAG, and one by a B&G macaw. Both required facial reconstructive surgery.

I have also seen two amazon finger de-gloving injuries...

I have personally been to the ER twice for stitches on my fingers, once where I very nearly lost my finger to a not bite pressure trained big mac, who fortunately, was not trying to hurt me, but was just holding on...

So, YES THEY CAN!!! THIS IS NOT A MYTH!!! AND BITE PRESSURE TRAINING A PARROT IS JOB NO. 1.