Help with Blue and Gold Macaw

[Scotty91]

I have had my macaw for about 8 months now. I bought him from another owner. He is currently 2 years old (that is at least what I have been told).
I have two problems with him as of right now:

1. At 6:30 every morning, he starts yelling. At first he just shouts a little but then he gets really loud and squawks for a good 20 minutes. Sometimes, at nights when I walk in the house, he starts to make noise and call for me. He is located in the corner of the dining room which is not viewable from the front door. My question is what is causing him to do this? Could something be wrong with him? I cover him every night and he still yells with the sheet on in the mornings.
He never used to do this but started doing it about a week ago. He also did it for a week about 2 months ago. What could be his problem?

2. I am very busy and can't always play with him. I get to see him for at least 30 minutes a day and feed him, but I feel like its not enough. I used to let him out of the cage, but he started making a mess and wouldn't go back in the cage. He has plenty of toys but barely plays with them. He requires a lot of attention and always wants me to come by him. Even when Im at home and trying to relax for a little, he starts to get loud and call for me.
What are some ways that I can train him to not need as much attention from me? I understand they need attention but I know some owners who have macaws that stay quiet frequently and don't always call for their owners. What can I do?

 

[Mattroma]

burds tend to get loud at first light. For my macaw I keep his cage in a separate room with blinds and curtains to keep it dark and quiet. He is not a fan of being covered and just pulls it down off his cage. My budgies need to be covered or they get loud. every bird is different and you may need to try several things to see what may help. Also keep in mind if your bird hears people up and other commotion in the house he is going to want attention too.

As for keeping in his cage all the time, don't. Macaws need to be out of their cage for hours during the day. He needs to be out or you may start to run into behavior problems. do you have a play stand for him? Also macaws are flock animals, social by nature. 30 minutes won't cut it. It could be why he yells when you come home late at night, he wants and needs interaction.
for the toy issue, how often I you change them? what towns are offered? You would get bored with the same toys every day and some toys you may just not like. variation and rotation are important. Remember toys don't have to be fancy, sometimes a piece a paper for him to shred is just as fun as the $30 dollar toy bought at the store.

 

[EAI]

1. Your'e experiencing his flock call. Birds have a direct instinct on the time, so once daylight hit he's calling out to his flock members (which is you). When you walk into the room he can sense you and is trying to get your attention. It's like a dog barking at you to play a game of fetch. Most people tend to ignore it until they settle down THEN take them out to encourage that being quiet and playing with toys is good and get's their owner's attention.
Have you tried responding when he does this? Maybe a chirp back? It could give him the idea that his flock is there so he doesn't need to excessively scream.

2. Honestly, Macaws and all birds should require more than 2 hours a day if possible. An hour a day at the bare minimum. Macaws however, should have around 5 hours dedicated IMHO. Did you have a designated space for him to hang out while outside his cage? Macaws are notorious for making large messes and tearing up households. If there's a spare room, you can make it into a bird room where he can stay out for longer periods of time. But you would have to make some really big restoration to the room to "macaw-proof" it.
How did you approach placing him back in his cage? What kind of toys does he have? Is there anything he can shred or destroy?
Macaws are part of the more "needy" birds that require lots and interaction and mental stimulation. If not they can become aggressive, and big beaks + aggressiveness = bad.
Again, the reason for the loud calling is because YOU are his flock and he wants interactions, if you try to ignore it until he settles down or you see him playing with his toys it should teach him that being quiet and playing gets faster rewards.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Welcome to the forum, Scotty91.

You've received some great information/advice already, I'd just like to add that you most likely have trouble getting your B&G back into his cage because he's kind of tired of having to spend all that time in there by himself.

Toys are a great thing, however, they don't make up for COMPANIONSHIP which he is craving IMO.

Yes, big birds = big messes, however, that shouldn't be a reason to not let him out a whole lot more.

 

[thekarens]

I have to agree with what has already been said. A mac that is kept in its cage will eventually be "ruined." My personal opinion is they should have at least 4 hours out of their cage daily and more is better.

Parrots in general are messy and you can at least double that with macs. They are messy and they like to chew. It's something to think about, whether you can handle that long term because this bird will live a very long time.

 

[Birdman666]

I have had my macaw for about 8 months now. I bought him from another owner. He is currently 2 years old (that is at least what I have been told).
I have two problems with him as of right now:

1. At 6:30 every morning, he starts yelling. At first he just shouts a little but then he gets really loud and squawks for a good 20 minutes. Sometimes, at nights when I walk in the house, he starts to make noise and call for me. He is located in the corner of the dining room which is not viewable from the front door. My question is what is causing him to do this? Could something be wrong with him? I cover him every night and he still yells with the sheet on in the mornings.
He never used to do this but started doing it about a week ago. He also did it for a week about 2 months ago. What could be his problem?

As others have said, macaws and really all parrots,, tend to vocalize at first light.

What is probably happening is the bird is hungry and wants fresh food and water. If you get up and give it to him he will then be content to eat, while you go back to bed and sleep in.

The alretnative to that is to cover the cage at bed time, and uncover it in the morning. Please don't go overboard with the cage covering because long term it causes sensory deprivation and psychological problems.

If it's part of the every day routine, and you don't go overboard with it, then it's just part of the every day routine... bedtime. Goodnight.

 

[Birdman666]

Okay, there is an obvious edcucation need here:

First of all, you would not get a puppy, crate traion it, and expect it to be happy remaining in the crate for all but half an holur a day even if you did give it chew toys, and stuff to play with in the crate...

It goes against their basic nature. They need to get out and run around...

By taking on a macaw, you have taken on THE MOST TODDLEER LIKE of parrots. These are toddlers with feathers. Same IQ same attention needs as a 3-5 year old child. YOU CAN TRAIN THEM OUT OF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BAD BEHAVIORS, BUT YOU CAN'T CHANGE THEIR NATURE.

These are pair bond birds. In the wild you see them traveling in flocks of 30-40 birds, but they are almost always paired up 2 by 2. They do not stray far from each other. That is the sort of commitment adult birds are more than happy to make for "their person."

They are THE MOST interactive of the bunch. When they don't get good attention, they begin acting up because even negative attentnion is better than none. That's how behavior problems start...

FOUR HOURS PER DAY is the more or less accepted MINIMUM out of the cage time. Mine, frankly, haven't been inside a cage in years, other than cleaning day.

BIRDS THAT DO NOT GET HANDLED DO NOT STAY TAME.

BIRDS THAT GET LOCKED UP ALL DAY AND DON'T GET THE INTERACTION THEY NEED, TEND TO HAVE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS. They get mad. They scream, they bite, and they are reluctant to get back in their cage because they don't know how long it will be til they get out again.

STRUCTURED INTERACTION. The same basic thing happens every day, for the same amount of time. Time to go back now bird, lessens these problems.

THESE ARE LAP BIRDS AT HEART. NEEDS TO HAPPEN CONSISTENTLY EVERY DAY. THIS IS YOUR BREAK TIME... TIME TO JUST SIT DOWN AND PLAY WITH THE BIRD, AND FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE FOR AWHILE. iT'S ACTUALLY GREAT STRESS RELIEF!

Finally, macaws that are locked up too much generally tend to become cage territorial. This little cage is all I have left in the world, and I will defend it to the death!

So, as Karen said, this is a recepe for behavior problems.

My sweet Greenwing hadn't been handled in 8 years when I got her. She's been my velcro/lap bird since DAY 4... If you work with them they are amazing. If you don't they become amzingly difficult to handle...

On some levels it is just that simple.

 

[clofromco]

In my limited experience, and I do mean limited, I have found more interaction and free bird time in different rooms works well with my mac. He was kind of attention deprived when I aquired him. He is free for 5 hours during the week, until he puts himself to bed, and longer on weekends. He will move from room to room with me as I place him on a play perch or high backed lawn chair. Yes, they are messy. That is why a shopvac, broom and " steam shark" are always out at my house..

 

[clofromco]

Just a further note..if you think about birds and animals in general, most are social creatures. From dogs to chickens, donkeys and goats and even doves and crows. These macs have been removed from their natural environment, or bred in captivity. Instinct will always be there.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

I don't have a mac (wish I did, always wanted one) I have an amazon and she is out a minimum of 5 hours a day, some days more like 10 hours. She hangs out with me while I do chores around the house (except when the stove is on or cleaners are out and being used) She is happy being on top of her cage or on a play stand, or counter, on the back of a chair, or my shoulder, as long as she thinks she is a part of what I am doing. She even has a HUGE cage for a zon (it's more like cockatoo sized) so it wouldn't be so bad to leave her in it more, I just feel if I choose to have a bird I then choose to give that bird the attention and time she needs from me, I'm her flock mate.

 

[Scotty91]

First off, I would like to thank all of you for the responses. I am completely new to owning any pet, which makes owning a macaw a difficult time for me. Like I mentioned before, I am extremely busy with only one day off a week. I leave early mornings and don't get back till 8 at night. By that time its dark already and my macaw is usually quite or sleeping.
At this point, I am thinking of selling him. I feel so bad that I cannot provide for him. He belongs to a better owner.

 

[EnglishMuffin]

Hi Scotty,

I'm sorry to say that I think you have reached the best conclusion for your situation. As has already been said, pets...and especially parrots...and ESPECIALLY macaws...need a lot of interaction, exercise and playtime. I fear too long in the current situation he's in will end up with your macaw developing abandonment issues, screaming problems, possibly plucking problems, all which can take years to resolve. If you're not capable of devoting at least 4-5 hours every day to have him out of his cage and playing, then perhaps you're not ready to be a macaw daddy. I'm sure you've developed a bond with him since you've had him, and I've no doubt this is a difficult decision for you to come to, but it's a brave one, and in my opinion it's the right one.

Where are you located? I'm sure someone on this forum in the area could suggest a good rescue local to you that could rehome him for you, or help you find a suitable potential buyer, if you choose to go down that route.

 

[Delfin]

I have had my macaw for about 8 months now. I bought him from another owner. He is currently 2 years old (that is at least what I have been told).
I have two problems with him as of right now:

1. At 6:30 every morning, he starts yelling. At first he just shouts a little but then he gets really loud and squawks for a good 20 minutes. Sometimes, at nights when I walk in the house, he starts to make noise and call for me. He is located in the corner of the dining room which is not viewable from the front door. My question is what is causing him to do this? Could something be wrong with him? I cover him every night and he still yells with the sheet on in the mornings.
He never used to do this but started doing it about a week ago. He also did it for a week about 2 months ago. What could be his problem?

2. I am very busy and can't always play with him. I get to see him for at least 30 minutes a day and feed him, but I feel like its not enough. I used to let him out of the cage, but he started making a mess and wouldn't go back in the cage. He has plenty of toys but barely plays with them. He requires a lot of attention and always wants me to come by him. Even when Im at home and trying to relax for a little, he starts to get loud and call for me.
What are some ways that I can train him to not need as much attention from me? I understand they need attention but I know some owners who have macaws that stay quiet frequently and don't always call for their owners. What can I do?

I'm probably going to get in trouble for this.
BUT WHEN I READ THIS POST. I COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS BIRD WAS A TROPHY PET. THIS POOR BIRD HAS BEEN IN A CAGE ALL DAY. WHEN YOU'RE AT HOME AND TRYING TO RELAX FOR A LITTLE. HE CALLS OUT FOR YOU. WHAT AN INCONSIDERATE BIRD. UNDERSTANDING THE BIRDS REQUIREMENTS IS ONE THING BUT ACTUALLY ATTENDING TO THE BIRDS REQUIREMENTS IS ANOTHER. HE NEEDS A BETTER OWNER.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I'm probably going to get in trouble for this.
......

Nah, I actually think you said out loud what many of us were thinking. :54:

 

[Anansi]

First off, I would like to thank all of you for the responses. I am completely new to owning any pet, which makes owning a macaw a difficult time for me. Like I mentioned before, I am extremely busy with only one day off a week. I leave early mornings and don't get back till 8 at night. By that time its dark already and my macaw is usually quite or sleeping.
At this point, I am thinking of selling him. I feel so bad that I cannot provide for him. He belongs to a better owner.

Hello, Scotty.

Yes, I think rehoming him would be the best choice. The current structure of your life simply does not allow for a pet like a parrot. Especially not one as dependent on stimulating interaction as a macaw. It's easy to see other people with parrots and come to desire such a pet for oneself, but what you don't really get to see is what goes on behind the scenes to create that kind of relationship. You really do get out of it what you put in. And that takes time.

My schedule often gets rather hectic as well, but I have family members at home who can (and are willing to) take up the slack on those nights that I get home late. But absent both the time and an adequate support system to cover you when your available time falls short, there's just no way to achieve the kind of relationship that you're hoping to foster with your mac.

So yes, I do believe that you have made the right choice. I would say that at this point, your final responsibility to your mac, your parting gift to him, should be to ensure that he goes to a good home. As EnglishMuffin suggested, reaching out to people on this very forum would afford you the opportunity to do just that. Whether you are seeking to rehome him, or sell him, there are subforums on this site dedicated to hosting such threads. Try to be discriminate in who he ultimately goes to, and if you have any questions about the process, or would like guidance in avoiding scammers and flippers and such, please do not hesitate to contact any of the mods. We'll be only too glad to help him find the best possible home.

Please keep us updated.

 

[4dugnlee]

I also think that your best solution would be to rehome your macaw. I can't think of any pet, aside from maybe a fish, that would require only 30 minutes of attention per day. Can I ask, what made you decide to get a macaw in the first place? I truly hope you do the right thing for your bird here. I' m not trying to be mean so if that's how it sounds then I'm sorry. I think you just bit off more than you can chew and this is your chance to make it right. Best of luck to you.

 

[Selph85]

I have had my macaw for about 8 months now. I bought him from another owner. He is currently 2 years old (that is at least what I have been told).
I have two problems with him as of right now:

2. I am very busy and can't always play with him. I get to see him for at least 30 minutes a day and feed him, but I feel like its not enough. I used to let him out of the cage, but he started making a mess and wouldn't go back in the cage. He has plenty of toys but barely plays with them. He requires a lot of attention and always wants me to come by him. Even when Im at home and trying to relax for a little, he starts to get loud and call for me.
What are some ways that I can train him to not need as much attention from me? I understand they need attention but I know some owners who have macaws that stay quiet frequently and don't always call for their owners. What can I do?

Time out of the cage doesn't have to mean by your side the entire time. You can let him out, let him sit in the room with you, get him some foot toys. Show him how fun they can be. We caught one of the big buckets of toddler legos (Legos about the size of my hand). He will pack those and throw them for us to go get. We can put them together and he can pick them apart. Just give him a variety of things to get into. Do you eat dinner? Let him eat with you! Make some bird friendly food and let them eat with you. You don't have to stop everything you are doing and give them undivided attention 5 hours a day. They will grow closer and more trusting of you the longer can afford though. This can make other tasks easier in the future (Wing/talon clipping, bathes, travel). A play stand is a great way to have them out of the cage and around you. Just talk to them. Tell him/her about your day. Give them a head scratch when you walk past them. Just include them in the household hustle and bustle.