Brand New baby Hahns Macaw and I have some questions

[Dooley]

Hello everyone,

I just adopted a baby male Hahns Macaw. He is just over 2 months old and I was wondering when I can start to train him? He just wants to snuggle underneath my chin whenever I take him out of his cage. If he is not under my chin then he wants to be on my shoulder, which I heard is not a good idea because it means he is trying to dominate me.

I have not found a treat that he likes yet. I have tried to feed him fruits and vegetables, he seems to only want his Zupreem diet. I bought some Nutri Berri treats that are rather large and he seems to enjoy them. It is just that they are a bit large for a treat everytime that he does something good.

What does your Hahns Macaw enjoy for a treat? What age should I start training him? He knows step up and is trying to say the word already. I am working with him on kisses and step down. He does not want to ever go back to his cage unless he is hungry or thirsty.

Is it worth it to get training material or should I just use positive reinforcement whenever he does an action I would like to see again. I want him to be able to wave but he just wants to step up.

Well thanks fo reading, I can't wait to get to know everyone.

Cheers,

Brett and Jack

 

[Von1983]

Hello, welcome!

Congratulations on your new bird - he sounds gorgeous! (I take it he is Jack? )

I don't have much experience of macaws but there are some brilliant members who will be able to guide you.

The only advice I personally can give is to buy a reputable book about the breed. They're packed with info specifically about them and are BRILLIANT for when a question just pops into your head. (I use mine for all my pets ALL the time lol).

Have fun!

 

[Spiritbird]

While I do not have a Macaw I do know that with most young birds you can at least start to train the step up. You place your hand correctly and then say the step up. Even if he does not get it right away you are exposing him to the training. We would love to see pic when you get a chance. These birds are adorable.
Good luck and study all you can about the bird.

 

[antoinette]

Congrat's with your new bird, Macaw's are beautiful birds
If you are trying to teach him to wave, it's actually quite easy.
Where ever he is standing, touch his claw, with your finger, and lift your hand and wave, saying wave wave.
When ever you interact with him, continue doing this every day.
You will be surprise how quickly they learn.

Below is video where Mishka my AG was busy with a training session, where she learns to dance dance, turns 3 times, then high fives and waves. Since then she has learnt to shake hands (fingers) as well. Her treat was yoghurt, she will do anything for yoghurt.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSi5aQ4naRI[/ame]

 

[greycloud]

Congrats on your baby! Great video and step up advice. You can definitely work on the step ups and step downs. Is he fully weaned or still being handfed?

 

[Aussie Ben]

Welcome to the forum, this is a wonderful community.

Great advice from above members.

As for letting him on your shoulder, the 'height dominance' thing is a myth in parrots and as myths usually do, it has somehow become 'fact'. Parrots use height for security, not to display dominance. I would hold off letting him on your shoulder, just for the time being, till you get to know him better. Their beaks are very much capable of a painful bite, even at a young age. It should be a privileged for him to sit on your shoulder and you want to have control so you can get him off if you need to. I have read stories of birds that become glued to shoulders and get so comfortable that they become aggressive when you try to get them off. Once he has learned to step up well, then you can start thinking about the shoulder.

Good luck

 

[Dooley]

Thank you everyone for the great advice! I will continue to consistently work at the step ups and step downs for now. I will continue to offer praise as I have not found a treat that he is crazy about.

Once he has mastered these two commands, I will then teach him the wave. He is fully weaned but, he does enjoy his formula and it is a great bonding experience.

Once I figure out how to use my camera and this forum I will make sure that I post some pics.

Thanks again,

Brett and Jack

 

[Spiritbird]

Ant this is one of the best videos of Mishka. I will work on the hand wave again. I read in a training article for professional trainers that you should not show the treat ahead of time as it is too distracting to the bird. What do you think about that idea??

 

[madparrotwoman]

Hi Dooley and welcome to the forum.

I have a hahns macaw, they are simply adorable to look at but are known for being a little nippy at times. You are absolutely doing the right thing in handling him a lot while he is still a baby as learning trust is a big thing with the hahns but I wouldn't encourage you to allow him on your shoulder as if he does decide to nip you their beaks are very sharp!
My hahns is on a diet of mainly tidymix, which is a good quality seed/cerial/nut mix which also includes dried sweetcorn, banana slices and other fruits. This is suplimented every other day with fresh vegetables such as carrot, broccoli, beans, sweetcorn and peas. On the alternative days he has fresh fruit such as apple, grape, orange and banana. Once a week he is treated to corn-on-the-cob but he also enjoys a little of what we are having, toast and cerial are favourites. You could also try your with scrambled egg once a week or add cuttlebone for calcium intake. Mine won't eat either and so I also a calcium suppliment twice a week to his water. I have heard that spouting mixes are good but Argyle won't touch it lol. Zupreem and nutriberries are all good.

As for training, it is never too soon to start and positive reinforcement is the way to go. Enjoy your baby.

 

[antoinette]

Thank you everyone for the great advice! I will continue to consistently work at the step ups and step downs for now. I will continue to offer praise as I have not found a treat that he is crazy about.

Once he has mastered these two commands, I will then teach him the wave. He is fully weaned but, he does enjoy his formula and it is a great bonding experience.

Once I figure out how to use my camera and this forum I will make sure that I post some pics.

Thanks again,

Brett and Jack

Brett, Mishka is almost 3 years old, I still continue feeding her handrearing formula. She has x2 ml from a syringe every morning. She absolutely loves it. There is so much goodness in it, I though why stop, and it helps the bonding process. My vet suggested I continue with it, if ever I need to give any med's, she would not be afraid of the syringe.
Enjoy your bird, they are so precious.

 

[antoinette]

Ant this is one of the best videos of Mishka. I will work on the hand wave again. I read in a training article for professional trainers that you should not show the treat ahead of time as it is too distracting to the bird. What do you think about that idea??

This method works for and myself

When I started training her, I offered her the yoghurt, knowing I would
get an immediate reaction, and I certainly did.


Different strokes for different blokes !!!!!!!!!

Making the training session more exciting, by offering a reward, and soon you will have fantastic result.

You know your bird better than anyone else, whatever method works for you go for it.

 

[nofearengineer]

Sounds like you have an awesome baby bird on your hands. They are so sweet at that age. Go ahead and train him, but be even more patient than with an older bird. Just because a 2 month old parrot looks exactly like a 2 year old parrot (minus the eyes), try to remember they are just like a silly, innocent, clumsy puppy.

As for the shoulder issue, just think about all the pirate captains you've seen with the eyepatch and a macaw on their shoulder. Hint: they probably didn't lose the eye in a battle.

I would limit shoulder time to when they have earned it, and when you can tell they are in a perfectly relaxed state of mind (you will learn his body language in time). Your eyes are even more irreplaceable than your birdie.

 

[Dooley]

I want to actually thank everyone for all the information you have shared with me. I am on a mission to find a treat that Jack likes.

Thanks again,

Brett and

 

[Bobby34231]

As for the shoulder issue, just think about all the pirate captains you've seen with the eyepatch and a macaw on their shoulder. Hint: they probably didn't lose the eye in a battle.

OMG thats just to funny!....... :11:

 

[Aussie Ben]

As for the shoulder issue, just think about all the pirate captains you've seen with the eyepatch and a macaw on their shoulder. Hint: they probably didn't lose the eye in a battle.

OMG thats just to funny!....... :11:

:18:HAHA that is funny.......I wonder if its true lol