Is this normal macaw behavior?

[cstambaugh]

My 10yr old GW has a toy which he absolutely loves, and I dont know what to think or do about it.
He is very defensive over it. Always regurgitating to it, talking to it, wrapping himself (cuddling) with it, etc.
If I take it away, he seems OK. If I bring it out for him, he will do anything to get to it. If he's with it, he'll almost never step up, and will act like he's going to bite (but he never does).

Is this normal? If so that's fine, he doesn't do this with any other toy.
Should I always keep the toy with him, or should I rotate it out? Him being defensive over it is the scariest issue.

 

[Birdman666]

This is a hormonal thing. They all pretty much do that at a certain age... with something, or someone...

I would leave this one alone, if it were me. I wouldn't take it away from him unless it was such a problem that anyone getting near the toy got bit...

 

[Kaylea]

Wow My blue n gold hasnt done that before...she is only 10 months old tho..It sounds like hes made the toy his friend..

 

[cstambaugh]

This is a hormonal thing. They all pretty much do that at a certain age... with something, or someone...

I would leave this one alone, if it were me. I wouldn't take it away from him unless it was such a problem that anyone getting near the toy got bit...

Thats what I figured. Just making sure.
Just dont touch the toy and you wont get bit lol.

 

[cstambaugh]

This is a hormonal thing. They all pretty much do that at a certain age... with something, or someone...

I would leave this one alone, if it were me. I wouldn't take it away from him unless it was such a problem that anyone getting near the toy got bit...

Thats what I figured. Just making sure.
Just dont touch the toy and you wont get bit lol.

 

[Birdman666]

Wow My blue n gold hasnt done that before...she is only 10 months old tho..It sounds like hes made the toy his friend..

Ummm.... yeah, he's made the toy his "friend" in the 16 year old pubescent teenager locking himself in the bathroom for an extended period of time sort of way...

Bluntly. Your bird "has needs." He's using the toy to meet "those" needs. Don't mess with the toy and nobody gets hurt...

Mess with the toy, and he'll find another toy or something else. Males are worse than females about this, but I have two females in the house, and they also have certain "friendly" toys...

You don't really want to interrupt them when they are playing with their "friendly" toys.

 

[Mirren]

I wonder if my husband's Eckie would like a toy like that, instead of using me as a substitute. I've told him I'm not having his eggs, but does he care? I suspect not! Lol

 

[cstambaugh]

I think its the combination of being able to bite it, it being able to be wrapped around him, and most of all the bell.
I always joke he's training to stand in front of walmart this season because he'll sit there with the bell in one foot and ring, ring ring ring ring (puke) ring ring ring (puke). hahaha

Here is a vid of him before he went cageless doing his store front charity impersonation.Video