Bi-polar Macaw?

[Surfincr]

i doubt Elvis really is but want to run this by the group. i can spend all day visiting with elvis and he/she will give me the cold shoulder but will watch everything i'm doing. if i get a towell and take elvis to another room he/she will sit with me and as long as i am slow moving will let me pet him/her. i understand thats generally signs of cage agression and i get that but on days i go to work when i get home elvis comes right up to the bars when called and wants his/hes head scratched (and surprisingly its not a come here so i can get you game elvis actually wants to be petted) and also wants to lick me(no idea why, this bird loves his tongue, tasting everything and sticking it out and blowing at you).

So my question is am i missing something?


also i know with some birds/animals there tend to be specific behaviours for males and females are there any for macaws? When my aunt was visiting (has been rescuing parrots for probably 30+ years and was a wildlife conservation officer) said feels it looks like a female. the other day in its new cage elvis was swinging her tail back and forth under one of the toys several times

 

[Birdman666]

1. How long have you had this bird?

2. How much does this bird get handled?

3. How well is he trained in terms of step up/no bite/control bite pressure?

Sounds to me like he still has trust issues, and just needs to be handled more.

 

[Surfincr]

1. How long have you had this bird?

2. How much does this bird get handled?

3. How well is he trained in terms of step up/no bite/control bite pressure?

Sounds to me like he still has trust issues, and just needs to be handled more.

1. this is the middle of week 4
2. elvis generally tolerates about an hour of handling each day before getting cranky, but allowed out at least 4 hours a day
3. away from the cage elvis does very well, especially with come here and step up, getting out of the cage almost impossible.


Definitely still has trust issues, it just throws me for a loop that elvis wants attention as soon as i get home but if i go upstairs change out of my work clothes (i work in an office) and come down wearing jeans and a shirt elvis acts like a completely different bird.

 

[Birdman666]

Yeah. She's just in the still getting to know you phase...

Time and handling will make these behaviors go away.

She was probably just cage bound... the more she gets used to being out and away from her cage, the easier this will be.

Right now, she's still getting used to the idea.

 

[Surfincr]

Yeah. She's just in the still getting to know you phase...

Time and handling will make these behaviors go away.

She was probably just cage bound... the more she gets used to being out and away from her cage, the easier this will be.

Right now, she's still getting used to the idea.

That makes sense. elvis just got moved from a 30 x 30 x72 cage to a 40 x 32 x 76 cage which made a world of difference to her while spending time in the cage. actually when i asked if she liked the new cage her response was "its ok for Elvis" word for word.

 

[Birdman666]

They understand certain things. And it just floors you sometimes...

 

[Surfincr]

As an update you were right Birdman. she started to settle in very nicely but i found that i had to switch tactics on training and working with her. after following a lot of the advice out on there with be confident/be ready for a bite/ towel and take to another room etc.. what wound up working the best is just giving her space along with sharing food/treats and just chatting here and there. Made huge progress this way where she actually comes over for getting scratched and even being able to reach in and have her step up on me with no problem.