Behavior problems with my Blue & Gold Echo

[rsaskey]

Ok everyone. I need some advise. We have a 7 month old Blue & Gold named Echo. When we first got Echo she was good with everyone. We have had her for about 4 months or so now. Well now she doesn't really like anyone but me. If my fiance goes up to her to pick her up she tries to bite her. She doesn't do it in all attack mode but as soon as she gets her fingers close to her she reaches out with her beak slowly and bite's her pretty good. She does the same thing with everyone else who comes over to the house and tries to let her too. Now here is the twist tho. She will let everyone give her a treat no problem but not touch her but me. At first I thought it was just my fiance being scared of Echo but now I see Echo being a but to everyone. Echo can still come out of her cage and everyone can walk past her and she's fine. They just can't try to get into her personal space. I was told that Blue & Golds where good family.birds and thats what I read about them too. Don't get me wrong now. She isn't going anywhere regardless but I would like to know if there is anything we can do to get her to let other people handle her again. Everyone even talks to her daily and all. So i'm not sure what happened. She does this even when i'm not home too.

 

[RescueMe]

I would work on some clicker training with her. Practice step ups with treats with you first, then with your fiance teaching her that stepping up is a fun thing. This way she has positive associations with stepping up and new people.

 

[rsaskey]

She steps up fine. She was even stepping up fine with everyone else too. Now it's just that she tries to bite everyone else when they get close to her

 

[RescueMe]

I meant for her to practice stepping up with others so she is distracted from biting and sees others as positive.

 

[Ronald]

Use the rescue method. It worked with our Quaker.

You have to stop all interaction with him except for when you are following the steps below.

1. You take him to a room he doesn't frequent often and put him on the floor, then walk out.
2. Your fiance should then go pick him up and bring him to you standing next to his cage. He shouldn't bite while on the floor except maybe the first time or two. When your fiance hands him to you, she has to move her hand quickly because once he is on you he will turn to bite her.
3. Most important part.... Both of you praise him.

Repeat.

 

[MikeyTN]

Let me get this straight, she will step up with everyone but she bites when they have her close to their body? Or is she biting when your around? Especially when your holding her.

 

[JJones1719]

Macaws tend to be a one person bird in most cases. My Green wing Neleno as a baby would go to everyone and anyone, now that he is older, he will only allow 2 people to handle him, My vet and myself.
There are training methods out there that you can try to change the behavior but unless the Macaw wants to change, your most likely going to end up with a one person Macaw.
Most Macaws even if they are a one person bird will take treats very sweet but hands off.
Best of luck to you. Joe

 

[rsaskey]

She will not let anyone else handle her at all now. When we first got her she was fine with everyone. Now I am the only one who can pick her up and handle her. Everyone can give her treats fine but that's all. If they get close to her without a treat she tries to bite them.

 

[MikeyTN]

I'm gonna have to go with Joe on this one. My macaw would go to me, a dog or a cat, but NOT another person or bird! Some macaws are good with everyone while some are just a one person bird. Willie did go to my vet which it shocked me at first, but after she did the nail trimming on him, she tried again and Willie told her no right away by screaming at her and tried to bite her. I did do the nails on my own to begin with until I had no one willing to hold him down for me, but he forgives me easily even after nail trimming. He LOVES the dogs though as he rarely ever tries to attack them.

 

[rsaskey]

Ok thanks for all of the info.