Both macaws were in velcro mode tonight...

[Anansi]

Great video, Mark. It's easy to see they love you every bit as much as you do them.

And props to your tech guru connection, Wendy, who got it posted up for us to see.

 

[ToMang07]

Two Mush-Macs, and a Mac Mush!

 

[GreatBlue320]

Awwwww... just love the mushy macs!

 

[Birdman666]

Gotta get a video of Sweepea playing on my lap, but I don't know how to do that, and play with her at the same time... (I'm sure that would look very familiar to anyone who owns a red front or a blue throat, cuz they pretty much all do the tip over on your lap and roll around number.)

 

[Taw5106]

Great video!

 

[thekarens]

So sweet!!!!

I'm pretty sure Zoe would have a heart attack if I tried to hold two macs at once.

 

[Birdman666]

My record down at the rescue was six big macs. two on each forearm, and one on each shoulder.

That week that I bird sat the other two, I pretty much spent the entire week as a human bird tree for four macaws.

It's what I do...

 

[ruffledfeathers]

So cute! I am surprised when people don't realize parrots are like this. But often non bird people are amazed that birds are so affectionate and have such personality. Gilbert likes hugs before he goes to sleep at night--that's the routine.

 

[Birdman666]

I am surprised when people don't realize parrots are like this. But often non bird people are amazed that birds are so affectionate and have such personality.

Well, frankly, most non-bird people approach them wrong to begin with. And the bird either gets scared, and get as far away from them as the cage permits, or they do the I'm gonna bite your finger off if you even think about it routine to drive them away...

You really do have to get to know them first.

 

[thekarens]

I am surprised when people don't realize parrots are like this. But often non bird people are amazed that birds are so affectionate and have such personality.

Well, frankly, most non-bird people approach them wrong to begin with. And they either get scared, and get as far away from them as the cage permits, or they do the I'm gonna bite your finger off if you even think about it routine to drive them away...

You really do have to get to know them first.

I think about that almost every time I take Zoe out of her cage in the afternoon. The first thing she does is clamp on my finger/hand (but not hard) and then step onto it. Then she likes to "fake" lunge at my face. I don't blink because I know how they are, but for non-bird people their reaction is to pull the hand back when the beak clamps on and to freak out at the lunge.

 

[Birdman666]

I think about that almost every time I take Zoe out of her cage in the afternoon. The first thing she does is clamp on my finger/hand (but not hard) and then step onto it. Then she likes to "fake" lunge at my face. I don't blink because I know how they are, but for non-bird people their reaction is to pull the hand back when the beak clamps on and to freak out at the lunge.

EXACTLY!

Sweepea has her little regurge thing, that looks like she's about to rip my fingers off, but instead is just banging her beak against my fingers to "feed me" before stepping up...

It would be easy to misinterpret what she was going to do. Pull away, and she'll hold your fingers to keep them there. Continue to pull away, she'll get mad... I WAS GONNA FEED YOU, AND THEN YOU WERE NASTY TO ME...

MAGGIE BEAK WRESTLES WITH MY FACE, NOSE TO BEAK... I'll walk by her cage, and get a big upside down beak in my face. ZERO bite pressure.

It's just a game. I know that. She knows that. The people who have spent time with us know that...

A complete stranger, probably wets themselves the first time it happens...

And that's really the biggest factor.

 

[deque]

Your a freaking rock star my friend. Great video.

 

[Birdman666]

Your a freaking rock star my friend. Great video.

I've only got two. You've got five.

I'd love to sit down on the couch with all five of them on my lap. That would be a rockin' good time.

 

[StephenAndKyleigh]

This video was really encouraging to me. I hope I can grow to have the love and trust of my macaw she comes home.

 

[Birdman666]

This video was really encouraging to me. I hope I can grow to have the love and trust of my macaw she comes home.

You've got a baby. This one is starting out in life as a lap bird. All you have to do is NOT SCREW THAT UP...

Seriously. Baby macaws are soooo easy! Beak wrestle with the bird on your lap at that age, and teach her not to bite... and she'll have that down within a matter of hours to weeks. Then give her a structured routine, and maintain that structure when she pushes the limits.

The more you handle them, the more they like it. Get her socialized with strangers. The more attention they get, the more they crave it. Once they realize strangers mean MORE positive attention, and are not a threat, they will interact with everyone.

There you go. Nothing to it.

Problem is, people don't do it.

The bird just sits in a cage, unhandled, until it gets angry...

Then it screams, and bites, and is "not mush mac."

 

[deque]

Not much of a chance the couch would survive, lol.

 

[StephenAndKyleigh]

This video was really encouraging to me. I hope I can grow to have the love and trust of my macaw she comes home.

You've got a baby. This one is starting out in life as a lap bird. All you have to do is NOT SCREW THAT UP...

Seriously. Baby macaws are soooo easy! Beak wrestle with the bird on your lap at that age, and teach her not to bite... and she'll have that down within a matter of hours to weeks. Then give her a structured routine, and maintain that structure when she pushes the limits.

The more you handle them, the more they like it. Get her socialized with strangers. The more attention they get, the more they crave it. Once they realize strangers mean MORE positive attention, and are not a threat, they will interact with everyone.

There you go. Nothing to it.

Problem is, people don't do it.

The bird just sits in a cage, unhandled, until it gets angry...

Then it screams, and bites, and is "not mush mac."

Great advice and that is what I plan on doing!

 

[Weezerj]

This video was really encouraging to me. I hope I can grow to have the love and trust of my macaw she comes home.

You've got a baby. This one is starting out in life as a lap bird. All you have to do is NOT SCREW THAT UP...

Seriously. Baby macaws are soooo easy! Beak wrestle with the bird on your lap at that age, and teach her not to bite... and she'll have that down within a matter of hours to weeks. Then give her a structured routine, and maintain that structure when she pushes the limits.

The more you handle them, the more they like it. Get her socialized with strangers. The more attention they get, the more they crave it. Once they realize strangers mean MORE positive attention, and are not a threat, they will interact with everyone.

There you go. Nothing to it.

Problem is, people don't do it.

The bird just sits in a cage, unhandled, until it gets angry...

Then it screams, and bites, and is "not mush mac."

Are you telling us you get out of it what you put into it?

I'd love to have had a baby that started out this way, but this isn't the way it happened....but its still seems to hold true, I work with him every day and day by day our bond grows and his comfort level grows.

I can scratch Loki's neck now almost anytime I want. A week ago he would only let me touch him during treat/reward training.