How do I deal with this?

[darkling]

Hello, hope everyone's have a great Sunday!

I'm back again with another question! I picked a name for my greenwing, by the way. He is Hannibal. His former owner fed him chicken nuggets and once I got over the horror that my baby is a cannibal, I decided Hannibal would be the perfect name for him. hehe

Anyway. We're getting on pretty well. He takes treats from my hand and when I first come into the living room in the morning he greets me with all sorts of cute, friendly sounds.

The only problem I have right now is that he pinches me. All. The. Time.

I'm honestly not sure when I should try to get him to step onto my hand. I've tried a couple times and he either retreats back into his cage or he tries to bite me so I figured maybe he's just not ready yet. So I open his cage and let him out and then I go sit on the couch or do whatever and darned if that bird doesn't come over to me, as quiet as can be and then find some exposed bit of skin and pinch me with his beak!

When this happens I push his beak gently and tell him no in a firm voice but how do I stop him from doing it in the first place? And why is he doing it anyway?

The other thing he does that I don't understand is he will act like he really REALLY wants attention from me when he's out of his cage. He will lean waaaaay out towards me or even lift one foot out towards me as if he wants to step onto my arm or something. He's even preened my hair when I was changing his food bowl ... But if I lift my arm up so he *can* step onto it, he reacts by trying to nip me or he scurries away as fast as he can.

We're still really new to each other. I haven't even had him a week yet so I don't push anything because I know he hasn't really had a lot of time to learn to trust me. He's just doing things my boyfriend's blue and gold never did and I'm not sure why or how to deal with it.

Any suggestions?

Am I in over my head here?

 

[JJones1719]

Macaws will nip at you when they want your Attn. Lifting their foot can mean two things, either they want to step up onto you or they are pulling you in for a quick bite. Getting a Macaw to step up onto your arm really isn't the best way. You should make a fist and offer your hand to see if he will step up, you almost have to press lightly into their belly to knock them off balance and say step up. Once your get your Macaw onto your hand or wrist, pull them into your body close but don't let they near your face, just in case they bite. Make sure you have a treat ready for them if they step up so you can reward them fast. They will soon learn that stepping up is a good thing and a reward follows.
If you are sitting down and your Macaw comes over for a quick nip or bite, have their favorite toy close by, put the toy between you and your GW.
If the bitting continues or if you allow it, this behavior will be very hard to break. You may even have to try time outs, this means back to their cage for a 5 min time out. No more then 5 min at one time of the GW will forget what the time out was for. Let us know how you make out. Thanks Joe

 

[darkling]

So the pinching means he might actually be interested in me?

I'm waiting for a couple of books on macaws to arrive but its nice to be able to come here and talk to someone I know actually has a bird.

We're still in the getting to know each other phase of things. I was afraid the nipping might have meant he just didn't like me. I don't want him to be miserable here.

 

[Crackers]

I recommend Good Bird Inc for training.

Here is a link:

http://www.goodbirdinc.com/parrot-store-dvds.html

I recommend buying the DVD "Parrot Behavior
and Training #1" as your first DVD. Barbara goes over the basics of training and she shows how she deals with a large biting macaw with rewards. She also shows you how to deal with the negative behaviors. I would also recommend her other videos and books as well. Keep in mind this DVD just gives you the basics but it necessary to understand how use the training and how to reward the basic behaviors like step up.

 

[Pedro]

I also recommend Barbara's DVD'S & Books. I also agree with Crackers comments. IMHO i feel to many people jump into buying a large parrot without a second thought of first learning some basic behavior & training. The most important i think is also how to handle a large parrot correctly. Some will buy & be to frightened of that beak to go anywhere near the bird.

I have a client that has bought a pair of hand reared eclectus about 2 years ago but is terrified of them. He now wants to purchase another single bird for a pet. I introduced a very young weaning hen to him & everytime the bird moved he almost had a heart attack. I really feel that this person should have an aviary in his back yard & just admire his birds.

 

[darkling]

I'm not terrified of him but the bites certainly aren't pleasant.

 

[JJones1719]

Green Wing Macaws are known to he the Gentle Giants of the Macaws next to the HY Macaw. You will have to work with your Green Wing and so not show any fear. Keep in mind, Wild birds read body language very well in the wild and so do our Pet Macaws and other Parrots. If you show signs of being afraid, this becomes a game for the Macaw. Nipping and biting for the Macaw will become noting more then a game to watch you run away or move quickly away from them. Stand your ground and do not give an inch. you will also have to be demanding of your Macaw, they must learn that you are in charge and the alfa, just as you would with anyother pet. once they know and learn this, they will look to you for protection, bonding, and care provider. it does not take long for a GW who is very smart to figure this out, so don't give to much time not trying to hold them. It is said that if you do not get your Macaw onto your arm after the first 24 hrs, getting your macaw onto your arm will be very hard after the 24hr time period. If i were you, I would go for broke, I would reach into the cage or wait until your GW comes out and make them step up.
It really is like night and day once the Macaw gives in and gets on your arm. They change almost change right away and the bond starts. Have rewards ready before picking up your Macaw.
You may want to visit a local bird club in your area, call a local breeder or rescue who can come over to your home to help you get your Macaw onto your arm.
I met this guy online who purchased a B&G Macaw, The Macaw was approx 5-6 years old, never held before as the original owner was too scared of her. Evertime he would reach into the cage, she would take off towards the rear of the cage or corner and lung at him.
I met up with this guy for lunch, sat down for a while and went over the correct way to handle a Macaw. I then followed him to his home, we went up to her cage, she high tailed towards the back of the cage and even hissed. I reached into her cage, closed my fingers into a fist, pressed gentle against her lower belly just above her legs, she stepped up, I handed her off to this guy, brought her into his body close, the Macaw was a different Macaw in a matter of seconds. Now they have a very good relationship and steps up without having to ask her. Just remember to keep your fingers closed so the Macaw cannot get them into their beak. A macaw cannot bite you if you make a fist and your skin is tight, if they do, do not pull away, press towards the back of the macaws throat and they will let go. Please keep me posted on your progress. Thanks Joe

 

[darkling]

My 24 hours already passed. Ugh.

I found more information on clicker training though and I really liked the looks of it. I'm definitely going to give it a try. I didn't want to rush him or force him to be near me if he wasn't ready but I guess I went overboard with that.

I did observe his former owner flinching away whenever either of her birds reached for her. She said that he used to step up but she hasn't been able to spend time with him lately so he doesn't anymore. He doesn't lunge or hiss at me. He's a lot quieter than I expected him to be as well. I thought macaws were loud.

I really appreciate the advice.

I thought offering him my arm to step onto would be more reassuring but it makes sense about the hand now that you explain it. I think he does want to be more close to me. He tries to step onto my head when I'm near his cage and he's out. (I know better than to let him do that though.) And he preens my hair whenever he can grab a strand. If I'm across the room from he'll act like he's going to fly over to me but he hasn't actually done it yet.

So while I'm here, I have another question.

I think his cage might be too small. I'm not sure of the exact dimensions but he just looks really cramped in there. Especially with his toys. What size does a greenwing need? (I work from home so he gets a lot of time out of the cage and he'll get even more once we reach a point where he'll step onto my hand.) Where should I go to get a good cage for him? Should I wait awhile before getting him a new cage? I know he considers this one to be his "home" but home is starting to look a little tight.

 

[Lesleybird]

Hi, We have had our new Harlequin macaw for 2 months, now 10 months old. After about 6 weeks she would come out of her cage without playing games and hanging onto something in the cage or biting us. Read that almost all macaws snap at your hands and fingers when you are near the cage. Finally I just let Marley bite because she always reaches the arm and grabs it with her beak to make sure the arm is a steady place to step on. If one takes the arm back really fast when the reach for it with their beak then they don't trust your arm to step up on. For the first three weeks or so a lot of her biting was out of fear of her new parents. Finally after two months of having her she is stepping up and getting out of her cage without a fuss because she wants to come out and play with us. A big macaw nip usually isn't too bad unless they are scared to death and bite out of fear. I get nipped a little by Marley, but I don't have any bad bites that have left marks or holes in my flesh from her. I think that for the first month or so before she knew us well enough not to fear and to trust us ours would bite from some fear of the new humans. Give your bird a week or two to get used to you before you get too frustrated. This fear in both of you won't last forever. Hope you have the book "Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior" by Mattie Sue Athan on your book list. I have six large parrots and I use this author's books advice over any other author's. The lady knows her birds. I don't ever use food as a reward. The only reward my birds get is attention, praise, petting and cuddles, and it is enough to get them to do what you want and to behave unless you want to teach tricks or something.
I have never tried this, but a lady that owns a bird shop says that to get a bitey bird out of it's cage to wrap your forearm in a towel and let it step up. Over time only cover part of the forearm and less until both you and the bird are not afraid to interact with a step up. It took me 6 weeks to get Marley to step up on command and now she sees me from across the room while on her climbing tree and she raises her foot in the air to tell me she wants to step up. She has me trained now.

I don't like the name that you picked because it is the name of a serial killer in a famous movie. Don't think you want to name a bird after a serial killer??? It's your bird though, do what you want. Lesley

 

[Hound73]

Hello, hope everyone's have a great Sunday!

I'm back again with another question! I picked a name for my greenwing, by the way. He is Hannibal. His former owner fed him chicken nuggets and once I got over the horror that my baby is a cannibal, I decided Hannibal would be the perfect name for him. hehe

LOL, its not cannibalism. I feed my parrots baked chicken about twice a month.

Good article on the subject.
Why parrots eating chicken isn’t cannibalism | Heckled By Parrots

Anyway, the only thing I have to add is do not inadvertantly present your thumb while a large parrot is perched on your arm. I gives them a great target.

 

[darkling]

Hound, I loved that article! I had no idea that humans and chimps are more closely related than parrots and chickens. That's really cool! Now I won't feel bad for feeding Hannibal bits of chicken. I gave him some egg this morning and he loved it.

Lesley, I named him Hannibal after Hannibal Lector so it was kind of intentional. I apologize if I offended you. I understand what you mean though and I know I have a warped sense of humor but also, I really just like the sound of the name Hannibal. I think it sounds regal. He's a total clown but he has his regal moments too.

It seems like there are as many different ways to train your parrot as there are parrot owners. I think I'm going to try clicker training first just because it seemed like the gentlest way to go about it. I figure we've got years to bond with each other, right?

I don't find myself getting frustrated with him at all. He's just got this really silly personality and he's such a ham. I do get frustrated with myself when I know he wants something from me and I'm just not understanding him.

He probably thinks I'm a complete idiot half the time. He just gets this look in his eye like, how can you not know what I'm asking for here? And then the light bulb goes off in my brain and I swear he's congratulating me for a job well done.

 

[JJones1719]

Darkling, You really just have to go for it, if he bites, he bites. I'm telling you that once you get him onto your arm, he will be a different bird, so just go for it already.lol you can do it.
Just remember that once you get him onto your arm, hand, wrist, bring him in close to your body but away from your face.
You said that if you are across the room, it appears that he wants to fly to you. If he is lowering his body and wings shaking a bit, this is his way of begging to be near you so go to him fast before he changes his mind.
I wish i was near you so i could help out and get this wonderful Macaw onto your arm, I would in a heart beat. you really don't know what your missing.
Please discribe in more detail what his body language looks like when you are near?
Also watch his eyes, if they get really small fast, look out, this means that he will bite you hard while his feathers are raised.
If his eyes are narmal and feathers laying the way they are supposed to and if he raises one foot or lowers his body and shakes his wings, pick him up ASAP. Please keep me posted. Joe

 

[nickis715]

I know this is an old post, but I have a similar problem with my greenwing. She will be a year old in June. She pinches me when she comes in for a cuddle then grabs my hand and tries to regurgitate on me. Ever since she was a baby she has pinched me, I always said "no" firmly and moved her beak away. I tried time-outs. Im not sure what else to do, it hurts. I'm pretty seasoned with not showing fear or re-acting to her bite, but these aren't normal "I'm done with you" bites. They are "I want to cuddle on your chest and chew my foot" and somehow each time I get a pinch. It's a little frustrating and makes me not want to cuddle lol

 

[nickis715]

Plax, you said Salsa "used to do that all the time" does that mean she grew out of it?? I'm keeping my fingers crossed, my girl is VERY mouthy!