I'm looking for advice for my rescue macaw

[Vegantaco]

Hi there! I was hoping to get some advice on a very troubled bird. I need some help!!

I have a 22 year old harlequin macaw who spent 12 years cagebound from what I know, and several years trading foster homes, several of which I was told weren't ideal for him. I went to a meet the birds event where I met him, and he stepped up onto my arm without hesitation and started opening his wings and puffing up at anyone who came near us. The foster mom he lived with begged me to adopt him because she had never seen him stand on any strangers arm before and he'd nipped a few people that day already but would eat from my hand. I agreed that he seemed like a sweet boy who needed love and patience and I finalized my adoption process (I'd been trying to adopt a 2yr old blue and gold for several months) and I took the bird home.

So far he is very testy and moody. I've only shut his cage once and he instantly lost his mind so I leave it open, he has his own master suite so I let him roam. I tried to use a broom to sweep up nut shells, and when he saw it he started screaming. He screams anytime a broom is in his sight line so I vacuum his room instead, this leads me to believe the poor guy was hit or pushed with a broom at some point. When he was cagebound he was often starved, and the family would put nuts in a carry case to lure him, hungry, from his cage to get him to the vet, or eventually to the rescue where I adopted him. Since I've gotten him home, he's been eating everything in sight but throwing up often or just splitting his nuts and spitting them out. He will not step up, and although he verbally asks for scratches and bows his head, when I reach for him he snaps at me. He only just got down from the top of his cage to walk around the house on the floor today for the first time. He fluffs up and spreads his wings anytime I walk in the house. He has trouble sleeping if I don't spend an hour telling him goodnight and asking if I can go upstairs. If I leave before he tells me go to sleep, he will scream if I go to my room. He is constantly nipping, and has bitten me and my wife pretty hard at least once.

This bird is very talkative, quiet for the most part, and beautiful. I'd like to give him the love he deserves, but I'm not sure how to tame him. Please advise me in any way you can. This guys needs a good home, and I'd be happy to be that home if I can.

 

[Jen5200]

Congratulations on being "chosen" by your bird. I'm so glad that he found you! I'm not an expert on macaws, but there are some wonderful threads in the macaw subforum that would likely be good reading - I found them useful with my conures. It sounds like this guy is open to building a bond with you and your wife, so you've got a great start. I would make that my focus while he's settling in. It sounds like you've made great progress already, considering his life so far. I just wanted to say welcome, and I hope you'll post some pictures of your new guy! I'm sure macaw experts will be along soon to give some actual advice

 

[itzjbean]

Hello and welcome to you and your new Harlequin. Poor guy, it sounds like your new mac has had a rough life so far. But then you came along! Horray!

You seem to be doing just fine so far. Realize that his rehabilitation will be a process, it will not happen overnight, and will simply take time. Several months to a year maybe to earn his trust and be able to handle him. BUT it will be worth it if you stick to it!!!

Remember that you can give him a good home, and he can still be happy without him being tame yet. With his history, you are probably right in assuming he was abused with a broom. Now you know what to avoid with him. No more brooms!

The best thing you can do for him is to provide him with lots of toys, things to do, and always make sure interactions are positive with everyone in the household. If he doesn't want to step up, don't force him! Let him sit there and enjoy not being in a cage. Walk by and offer a treat, then go about your way. Allow your trust-bond to grow without handling him first, (oh, this person is here and I'm getting a treat...I like that!) and being sure to set a consistent routine so he knows what to expect every single day.

Also, I can't stress enough about reading all of Birdman666's threads and posts about macaws, he's our forum expert when it comes to learning how to properly train, tame and take care of a mac! I'd also recommend checking out the story of Santina, an aggressive Greenwing macaw that went through a nice rehabilitation on Youtube, it could give you great insight as to how to proceed with the problems you are facing with your new rescue mac. Good luck to you, and DON'T GIVE UP ON THIS GUY!

 

[BeatriceC]

Patience. And when you think you've been patient long enough, be even more patient. We have a rescue scarlet macaw who came to us in pretty rough shape. We had to use protective gear to get near enough to feed her at first. That was in July of 2016. She's come a very long way since then, but she's still not anywhere close to fully rehabilitated.

It sounds like you're doing all the right things. You're paying attention to his cues and doing what you need to do in a way that causes him the least amount of stress. Slowly, and on his timeline, you'll be able to do more and more with him. You're doing a good thing. Keep doing it.

 

[Vegantaco]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I'm not interested in giving up on him yet, but I am feeling overwhelmed since I'd planned on adopting a socialized 2yr old and I took home a nutty little rainbow chicken. I'll probably buy some of the protective gear that BeatriceC mentioned, since right now i wait for him to be away from his dishes to switch them out and he likes to oscillate between slowly and carefully taking food from me and chomping my hand. All of this advice is so much appreciated.

 

[PrimorandMoxi]

I have a B&G max and he is not well behaved because of his former situation.

it is rough and sometimes he bites just to be mischievous.

but if he is biting while taking food form your hand,
you have to offer it making him stretch and reach with your fingers just out of harms way.

 

[Vegantaco]

Thanks!! He's a fast learner and he's settled in a lot already. He's been weird about taking food, though. He's been very gentle and sweet most of the time, but when he wants to, he'll randomly decide it's nipping time and try to fake for the nut, then reach for a finger after quickly throwing the nut away. I let my guard down today and he grabbed my thumb pretty good. He's been attacking our feet, and full on chasing us out of the room with beak open and wings spread. A friend of ours who's owned birds before came over to babysit him and was stricter with him than we have been. He'd tell the bird "NO" for lunging, and didn't give the bird as much space. Interestingly, the bird responded better to someone matching his aggression. I don't go near him when his eyes pin (which is rare). I thought he just didn't want to be touched yet, but when my friend yelled at him for trying to bite, he was able to pet his back. I've had birds, but none have acted like him, and he's my first adult rescue bird.