Hissing and regurgitating in young Macaw?

[LoveMyConlan]

Help me out here. I've never in my life heard a bird hiss like a cat. However, my 4.5 month old B&G does....occasionally it's just one hiss or might be 3 little puffs of hissing air.

He's not feather ruffled or pinning his eyes but he seems to do it when he gets a wind of excitement.

For instance, if I move my hand or a toy, he will open his mouth, hiss, and try to grab it. But all he does it grab gently and play with it. He also does this when he's sitting on my lap and will suddenly turn and grab my clothes to chew on them.

I also noticed after he eats he loves a good neck massage. However, Every time I do that or touch him he tries regurgitating on me.... At this age isn't that a bad thing? I always stop all attention at that point to try to stop him. He'll usually do that about 2-3 times.

Is this play or should I be concerned about both things? He's eating and drinking normally lots of energy. He goes to the vet today for his exams to make sure he's still 100% healthy

 

[itzjbean]

Hello! I have no experience with macaws personally but to me this sounds like normal baby behavior. The regurgitating is also normal, as many other species do this throughout life with their favorite human, however you are right to stop attention from preventing unwanted over bonding. I know larger species like cockatoos will, when they are really young and hungry, will make the begging/hissing noise. They should grow out of it over time, but maybe there are some macaw experts out there that can toss in their thoughts.

 

[TurkeyBird]

My 15 year old GW makes all sorts of hissing / blowing air sounds, always has. I just accepted it as another weird thing my GW does Its funny because he will act like hes going to say something then he just blows out air, he also does it out of excitement or getting startled with excitement. But all of this experience is only with one singular macaw.