Macaw Behavior? (New Macaw Owner)

[dalia]

Hi I'm new to the forum. So I've had a military macaw since winter break and I have a few questions. Coco (my macaw) seems to be a bit skinny.... She gets 1 cup of fruit and half a cup of seeds and pellets every day(she is a picky eater) Is it enough? Also I know macaws have their moods and she is molting now so she seems to moody. When she is angry her eyes pin and she bobs up and down talking very loud. Also she lunges at me and bites but she doesn't bite hard (maybe telling me she doesn't want to be pet?)I would have no problem with that but it's been almost a week with her behavior. Lastly she regurgitates a lot. About once every 5 mins. I'm confused because she is in such a bad mood, yet regurgitating. Please if anyone has advice please let me know Btw she is 9 months and the regurgitating stared last week. I got her checked up when I first got her.... When she was friendlier

 

[plax]

How old is your Military Macaw? And when did the excessive regurg'ing start?

 

[WharfRat]

how old is she and weight if you know it? With the diet you described, is it new to her and how does it compare to what her diet was before you got her? You mention winter break and it's only Feb., how long have you had her?

 

[MikeyTN]

If she's been there for awhile, it's time for you to look into getting rid of the seeds period and have her on all pellet diet along with fruits and veggies. Don't force the change unless she is eating the pellets pretty good, if she's eating it good, then stop the seeds all together. Do not feed any seeds for a long period of time, then you can use a few seeds at a time as a training treat.

Like what the others have asked, how old is she and how long have you had her? It is still within their mating period in which they can be pretty hormonal. Have you taken her to a vet for examination yet? If not, you should!

 

[dalia]

She is 9 months old and this has been going on for a week... I'm so frustrated with her and don't know what to do? Could it be mating season

 

[MikeyTN]

She's a bit young to go into hormone season yet. Macaws don't really mature until they're older. Willie didn't even hit his full maturity until he turned 10. And I tell you, it was vicious. He turned on me during that hormone season and attacked me pretty good. But he's back to his normal self this past season, not as bad this time. He'll be 12 in May so we'll see how he does when his season comes, usually October through December. He's done some hormone thing prior to 10 years old but nothing like his full maturity.

You only had her for a week? If that's the case, give her some time. Have you tried to train her to step up onto a perch? That's something you can do and get her away from her cage to a play stand where you can work with her. Sometimes they can be cage aggressive or just not used to you as she is afraid. So they try to lounge at you but she's bluffing, she's trying to scare you off. Just keep working with her as she's going to take quite sometime to get her to turn around.

 

[Turquoise]

You say Coco is a picky eater and she gets 1 cup of fruit a day. Do you try giving her any veggies along with the fruit? My macaws love grapes, apples, mangos, papaya and quite a few fruits. They do eat a wide variety of veggies and I give more veggies than fruit in their fresh bowl.

Also macaws need more nuts in their diet than some parrot species. They are high energy birds and can handle the extra calories unless you have the occasional 'couch potato' macaw. I give both nuts in the shell & I give mine shelled raw unsalted nut meats. I give mine a small amount of the shelled ones daily and the unshelled ones can be used in foraging toys for exercise as well as in their food bowls. My boys especially love pistachios and I have used them as training treats since they first came to live with me.

I think Coco just needs some time to settle in and know that her new home is a good one. She hasn't been in her new home long enough to know what to expect yet. With a little time you will both learn each others' ways and she should begin to bond with you.

 

[dalia]

Thanks for the answers but no her strange behavior has been going on for a week. I've had her since december. I have tried many vegetables and she picks it up and drops it. I', really worried about the excessive regurgitating