Macaw Turns on It's Owner

[erinleacarrigan]

I have a Catalina Macaw named Autumn that I love dearly. She was very bonded to me and I would do anything with her. She followed me around the house, let me hold her like a baby, would give me kisses, let me scratch her head, etc... She actually got a bit annoying at time because she wanted me to hold her all the time. She was like a baby that wanted to be held all the time.

I had a friend who sometimes stays with me that was gone for a while and came back to stay for a bit. He has been around the whole time I had Autumn, but never had anything to do with her. When he came back for the last visit Autumn turned on me overnight. She only wants to hang around my friend Marcus and has literally attacked me (and drew blood). It was like one day she was my best friend and just changed overnight.

I can only assume this is hormonal behavior and wonder if her former owner (who was a man) had anything to do with his attachment to my friend. I have actually had her sit next to him on the bed (like she used to do with me) and an across the bed and try to attack me when I enter the room.

I love my bird and wonder if she will ever come back to me. Any thoughts or advice? I am the only one who feeds, cares for her, gives her treats, etc...I have been very good to this bird. She has a big outdoor cage, a large stand inside, a smaller cage on the front porch, etc... I just wanted some help on how to proceed. I have had birds and parrots all of my life, but this is my first macaw. "Autumn" is about 5 years old.

 

[Birdman666]

Was this an isolated incident? Or is this something that happens all the time now? Could the bird have just been having a really good time with your friend, and thrown a little hissy fit because he didn't want to stop?

If so, I'd say it was more like a toddler tantrum...

If it's a constant thing now, it might be more complex. I need more details.

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

Birds can and do change who their chosen person is. It sounds like your friend will not be with you permanently, so just hang in there and wait for him to leave and hopefully the Autumn you know and love will be back.

Some things we cannot control in life and who our babies choose is one of those things.

 

[erinleacarrigan]

This was not an isolated incident. My friend has been around since I got the bird last August, but has never had anything to do with her care. I do everything and she was just about "glued" to me when I was home, almost annoying, to the point that she would get mad if I put her down.

My friend was gone about a month and immediately when he returned she suddenly choose him. She literally attacks me, especially when she is sitting with him and I enter the room. This was a bird who only a short time ago would let me do anything to her and was like a child to me.

I know macaws go through hormonal changes so maybe this is a phase and it will pass. Her previous owner was a man (she still calls out his name "Eric") so maybe if I am patient and keep working with her she will "come back to me."

 

[Birdman666]

I'm guessing this goes back to the former owner... and it was an overbonding issue.

This bird is definitely "standing guard" over your sleeping friend. Look at the headfeathers and eyes in that second pic! THE TERRITORIAL INTRUSION LOOK!