Coqui won't let us out of her sight ... help please

[Lindylou277]

I inherited a 9 y/o BG about 5 weeks ago. She spent the first 8-9 yrs of her life in a large outdoor aviary with no company.
we went through the first week of adjusting to a new environment and screaming.
Then one day we did some training on a table with a towel (to keep the training perch from sliding). She got off the perch and started to chew the towel, running her beak along the soft surface of the towel and then she started doing the "chicken scratching" thing.
After that day she was manic like for 2 or 3 days. Now she won't even let us out of her sight. If we walk away from her line of sight she starts screaming.
Im just not sure if this is hormonal or adjusting or if she is just afraid if we go away she will be alone again as she was for 8 years? When we are in her line of sight she is happy and chatty as can be. We are getting really tired of having to be with her constantly except for sleep time. Its 5 days now.
If its hormonal ... how long will it last?

 

[plax]

I inherited a 9 y/o BG about 5 weeks ago. She spent the first 8-9 yrs of her life in a large outdoor aviary with no company.
we went through the first week of adjusting to a new environment and screaming.
Then one day we did some training on a table with a towel (to keep the training perch from sliding). She got off the perch and started to chew the towel, running her beak along the soft surface of the towel and then she started doing the "chicken scratching" thing.
After that day she was manic like for 2 or 3 days. Now she won't even let us out of her sight. If we walk away from her line of sight she starts screaming.
Im just not sure if this is hormonal or adjusting or if she is just afraid if we go away she will be alone again as she was for 8 years? When we are in her line of sight she is happy and chatty as can be. We are getting really tired of having to be with her constantly except for sleep time. Its 5 days now.
If its hormonal ... how long will it last?

Macaws are very flock oriented creatures, and Coqui likely considers you her flock mates. I also suspect that her spending a great deal of time alone in the past has contributed to her concern about being alone in the present.

You might try talking to Coqui from those areas of your home that she isn't able to see. If you respond to her calls with vocal reassurance when you're not near her, and if you do so consistently and over a long enough period of time, there's a chance she may progressively become less agitated when you leave her immediate area. She may simply learn to accept your being somewhere else as the normal routine.

While you won't see instant results, you might try the above method. Ideally, as time passes she will become less and less objectionable about you stepping away from her (i.e., she may ultimately become a more secure, well-adjusted parrot).

 

[Lindylou277]

I inherited a 9 y/o BG about 5 weeks ago. She spent the first 8-9 yrs of her life in a large outdoor aviary with no company.
we went through the first week of adjusting to a new environment and screaming.
Then one day we did some training on a table with a towel (to keep the training perch from sliding). She got off the perch and started to chew the towel, running her beak along the soft surface of the towel and then she started doing the "chicken scratching" thing.
After that day she was manic like for 2 or 3 days. Now she won't even let us out of her sight. If we walk away from her line of sight she starts screaming.
Im just not sure if this is hormonal or adjusting or if she is just afraid if we go away she will be alone again as she was for 8 years? When we are in her line of sight she is happy and chatty as can be. We are getting really tired of having to be with her constantly except for sleep time. Its 5 days now.
If its hormonal ... how long will it last?

Macaws are very flock oriented creatures, and Coqui likely considers you her flock mates. I also suspect that her spending a great deal of time alone in the past has contributed to her concern about being alone in the present.

You might try talking to Coqui from those areas of your home that she isn't able to see. If you respond to her calls with vocal reassurance when you're not near her, and if you do so consistently and over a long enough period of time, there's a chance she may progressively become less agitated when you leave her immediate area. She may simply learn to accept your being somewhere else as the normal routine.

While you won't see instant results, you might try the above method. Ideally, as time passes she will become less and less objectionable about you stepping away from her (i.e., she may ultimately become a more secure, well-adjusted parrot).

I will try that technique. I have been trying to whistle when she screams ... trying to change the behavior to a whistle ... but that has not worked yet either. I'll switch to your technique. I am a very patient person. However, these days i'm looking forward to sunset more than usual. hehehe Thank you.

 

[Camyluv14]

id try to talk while your out of his sight loud enough for him to hear you try that for a while and i think your bird would get used to it

 

[MeganMango]

It might be because she is relatively new and hasnt sorted out a routine. Mango my red belly gets like this sometimes. If I leave the room he screams for me, even if there is someone else to interact with. He goes through what I call insecure stages. This was a real issue for about two weeks shortly after we got him, and for a couple of days after I got back from vacation. He has days when he is still insecure, but now that he knows Im coming back hes not so bad. What does your new baby have in her cage/stand to play with? When Mango is really insecure I put lots of tricky foraging toys in his cage. When he got bad after I got back from vacation I completely emptied his cage and moved everything around. New perches, new toys and new locations. It really helped to take his mind off me.

 

[Lindylou277]

It might be because she is relatively new and hasnt sorted out a routine. Mango my red belly gets like this sometimes. If I leave the room he screams for me, even if there is someone else to interact with. He goes through what I call insecure stages. This was a real issue for about two weeks shortly after we got him, and for a couple of days after I got back from vacation. He has days when he is still insecure, but now that he knows Im coming back hes not so bad. What does your new baby have in her cage/stand to play with? When Mango is really insecure I put lots of tricky foraging toys in his cage. When he got bad after I got back from vacation I completely emptied his cage and moved everything around. New perches, new toys and new locations. It really helped to take his mind off me.

Great advice! Thank you. We have established a routine and it was focused on Coqui and me. Over the last week I have been busy and my husband took over the routine. And it's ok until my husband gets out of sight.
I'm stymied with the foraging toys for macaws. Any advice?

 

[Lindylou277]

I inherited a 9 y/o BG about 5 weeks ago. She spent the first 8-9 yrs of her life in a large outdoor aviary with no company.
we went through the first week of adjusting to a new environment and screaming.
Then one day we did some training on a table with a towel (to keep the training perch from sliding). She got off the perch and started to chew the towel, running her beak along the soft surface of the towel and then she started doing the "chicken scratching" thing.
After that day she was manic like for 2 or 3 days. Now she won't even let us out of her sight. If we walk away from her line of sight she starts screaming.
Im just not sure if this is hormonal or adjusting or if she is just afraid if we go away she will be alone again as she was for 8 years? When we are in her line of sight she is happy and chatty as can be. We are getting really tired of having to be with her constantly except for sleep time. Its 5 days now.
If its hormonal ... how long will it last?

Macaws are very flock oriented creatures, and Coqui likely considers you her flock mates. I also suspect that her spending a great deal of time alone in the past has contributed to her concern about being alone in the present.

You might try talking to Coqui from those areas of your home that she isn't able to see. If you respond to her calls with vocal reassurance when you're not near her, and if you do so consistently and over a long enough period of time, there's a chance she may progressively become less agitated when you leave her immediate area. She may simply learn to accept your being somewhere else as the normal routine.

While you won't see instant results, you might try the above method. Ideally, as time passes she will become less and less objectionable about you stepping away from her (i.e., she may ultimately become a more secure, well-adjusted parrot).

I get it. She needs to hear her flock even if she can't see us. We'll try it. Thank you.

 

[JJones1719]

Welcome to the forum, I agree with the advise given but would like to add my 2 cents.

I too went through some bouts of screaming when leaving the room, leaving for work, and just out of sight from my GW.
I read somewhere to give treats when your Macaw is quiet. I started this while in the birds sight. Then I would leave the room out of sight from the Macaw, then come back pretty quick while my Macaw was still quiet then give another treat. Each time I left the room, I would allow more and more time to go by before returning and while my Macaw was still quiet and give a treat. I would also do this when leaving my home. Approx 2 weeks after this training, I noticed that my Macaw stopped screaming, was excited when I cam home of entered the room and no longer have to give treats.

I also own a SI Male Eclectus, He was my first Parrot and he too went through this not wanting to be alone time. I used to work from home so while in my Office at home, I would whisper to my Eclectus and he would whisper back. Sometimes my Macaw will perform this act as well. Best of luck to you. Joe

 

[Lindylou277]

Welcome to the forum, I agree with the advise given but would like to add my 2 cents.

I too went through some bouts of screaming when leaving the room, leaving for work, and just out of sight from my GW.
I read somewhere to give treats when your Macaw is quiet. I started this while in the birds sight. Then I would leave the room out of sight from the Macaw, then come back pretty quick while my Macaw was still quiet then give another treat. Each time I left the room, I would allow more and more time to go by before returning and while my Macaw was still quiet and give a treat. I would also do this when leaving my home. Approx 2 weeks after this training, I noticed that my Macaw stopped screaming, was excited when I cam home of entered the room and no longer have to give treats.

I also own a SI Male Eclectus, He was my first Parrot and he too went through this not wanting to be alone time. I used to work from home so while in my Office at home, I would whisper to my Eclectus and he would whisper back. Sometimes my Macaw will perform this act as well. Best of luck to you. Joe

What a great idea for the long term. Thank you.

 

[MeganMango]

It might be because she is relatively new and hasnt sorted out a routine. Mango my red belly gets like this sometimes. If I leave the room he screams for me, even if there is someone else to interact with. He goes through what I call insecure stages. This was a real issue for about two weeks shortly after we got him, and for a couple of days after I got back from vacation. He has days when he is still insecure, but now that he knows Im coming back hes not so bad. What does your new baby have in her cage/stand to play with? When Mango is really insecure I put lots of tricky foraging toys in his cage. When he got bad after I got back from vacation I completely emptied his cage and moved everything around. New perches, new toys and new locations. It really helped to take his mind off me.

Great advice! Thank you. We have established a routine and it was focused on Coqui and me. Over the last week I have been busy and my husband took over the routine. And it's ok until my husband gets out of sight.
I'm stymied with the foraging toys for macaws. Any advice?

I know you can buy them, but they can be expensive. I am not sure about macaws, they are fast learners and have very strong beaks. I often give Mango a walnut in the shell and put a little hole in it. It takes him all day to get into it, but I think a macaw would snap that in half in seconds. I also put favorite treats inside muffin liners and hide them in his cage. I think you need something more complicated though. I have bought a couple of little things from here. I really like this website, and the shipping goes really cheap on occasion if you live in the US.
FORAGING TOYS by MY SAFE BIRD STORE

Some of these are real puzzles, I can imagine them entertaining your bird for hours.