Learning with a Macaw

[ParkersMom]

So we have had Keiko for about 2 months now...and we are still learning about her likes and dislike...However it seems that learning her dislikes always mean I'm getting hard bites...got 2 more on monday...had a guy over pricing gutters and she was very unhappy...my finger tip is still numb...

 

[Jtbirds]

Welcome to macaws, chunks of skin missing, numb fingers, dented fingernails lol all of the is part of macaws sadly.

Yeah my birds hate when new people walk into there room. God forbid they invade there space only family members or other bird people are allowed in. And dang they know when someone new walks in or isnt a bird person, they scream and some fly at them. they also hate when my neighbors get a new propane tank they hate that poor man and I will get hurt by some of them in that case.

Once you figure out her dislikes work with desensitizing her to them and it will make it easier. I'd say start taking her out places with you if you can and socialize the heck out of her. She will we way easier to handle and won't freak out over as much believe me

 

[JerseyWendy]

Have you had a look at this?
http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/25842-macaw-no-nip-training-videos.html

It truly works, I promise!

I can't say that mine bite me...it's more or less a pinching rather than missing skin. Ok, so Niko HAS broken skin before, but that was entirely my fault.

You will learn to read Keiko's body language. And yes, their mood can change in a blink of an eye, but you'll know by their posture and behavior (usually).

 

[noblemacaw]

I am always messing with Valentino's beak. I do those no nip beak hold things to my birds. I use to do it all the time with Diego, my Illiger's macaw. Diego was not a big nipper or biter but instead liked to "peck" you hard with his beak hitting you with it. He liked the sound it made hitting the knuckles but it hurt.

I have weird parrots. If you do the beak grasping thing be careful your finger does not slip in on the lower mandible as I have had this happen and my fingernail came in contact with the soft part that holds the tongue. I didn't cause him to bleed but he did squawk in pain. Poor parrot.

 

[ParkersMom]

Wendy i am working on no nip to teach her acceptable pressure...but this is more of a nervous lashing out ... As far as i can tell she isn't showing and warning signs...however she is a very nervous bird anyway and tends to always show some signs if you will...

 

[Jtbirds]

I'm sure she is just trying to get adjusted to you and the new home. It may take her sometime I mean it would take use months to get adjusted to a new home. They adapt quicker but still need time so I'd say that is we're she is nervous from.

There natural reaction when they get nervous or need to show warning is sometimes to nip. Like if you've ever seen live footage of wild macaws if they see a threat and thy are near a mate or flock member they am nip at the head or feet to warn them so sometimes this is something they do to use. They don't realize we aren't you know so happy about the warning though. until you teach them so.