Making baby steps with our new Green-Winged

[junglenutcracker]

It’s now been a week since we’ve had our GW. She’s quite comfortable with my wife and readily steps up for her. With me, it’s a different story. She lunges and bites. I don’t think she does it out of aggression as much as of fear. Of course, who knows her past...this is always difficult to know with a re-home- what is the real history of this parrot’s life? Realizing that I have an uphill battle on my hands, everyday I spend a lot of time speaking to her, always moving very slowly and offering a treat which she takes from my hand. In the past few days, I’ve been able to stroke her toes through the bars of the cage without her trying to nip me. Afterwards I offer her a grape. I’ve been gradually offering her smaller pieces so that she feels comfortable (and me too!) having my fingers closer to her beak. This morning, when I was alone with her, I used the same approach (advancing slowly and talking to her softly) and tried to get her to step onto my arm which was wrapped up in a towel (as per birdman’s suggestion in another post). I moved my arm very slowly towards her all the while talking to her and keeping eye contact. When she saw the towel she justed freaked and jumped ontop of her cage. I decided to get rid of the towel and instead inserted some rubber padding inside my sleeves to cover my arm.
When she calmed down and came to perch on her opened door, I again raised my arm and she began to feel it with her tongue and beak...but did not step up. She raised a foot and when I got closer she climbed right back on top of her cage.

Well, I’ll log this as a mini-progress in our relationship. A baby step.
Hopefully she’ll get more comfortable in the weeks to come. Patience, right?

 

[Mariar]

With every baby step comes a smile. I am also getting there slowly..very slowly with my severe macaw. She was never handled or let out of her tiny cockateil cage.she doesnt talk much but we've at least got her to step up onto a braided rope..she also isnt a fan of towels..today i snuck a kiss..heres a pix. And being patient is all you can do...they need us as much as we need them..right?

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I think your doing great !! Do something with just you and her everyday . If you could get her out and away from the cage. Try going and sitting on the bathroom floor [something to work towards]. I know how each little thing is a big deal !! Its an honor to be considered their friend .

 

[junglenutcracker]

Well, as they say one step forward, two steps back. Tonight our darling was very aggressive and lunged a few times towards my face. And I thought we were coming along fine! Was it something I said? Well, maybe she was just in a bad mood today and tomorrow will be different. Let’s keep trying. Gotta remember...patience, patience, patience.

 

[Birdman666]

If your wife can handle the bird just fine, then do the disfavored person training.

Have a playstand or training perch in another room away from the cage. Your wife picks the bird up/alone and works with the bird a little, then sets the bird down on the training perch, and leaves the room closing the door.

Then you come in, and you do the basic step up and touching exercises.

Then your wife comes back and takes the bird back to the cage.

Do this for 15 minutes or so a day, and usually within a week or so the bird will step right up for you...

Lunging macaws... two fingers controls that beak. Just deflect it to the side (casually push it away before the bird can latch on), or hold it with two fingers until the bird calms down. Show the bird that you are not afraid, and are willing to exercise control if you have to. The behavior usually stops at that point.

Birds that bite are not allowed on shoulders. They are arm birds.

Once your routine is established, everything gets easier.

 

[junglenutcracker]

If your wife can handle the bird just fine, then do the disfavored person training.

Have a playstand or training perch in another room away from the cage. Your wife picks the bird up/alone and works with the bird a little, then sets the bird down on the training perch, and leaves the room closing the door.

Then you come in, and you do the basic step up and touching exercises.

Then your wife comes back and takes the bird back to the cage.

Do this for 15 minutes or so a day, and usually within a week or so the bird will step right up for you...

Lunging macaws... two fingers controls that beak. Just deflect it to the side (casually push it away before the bird can latch on), or hold it with two fingers until the bird calms down. Show the bird that you are not afraid, and are willing to exercise control if you have to. The behavior usually stops at that point.

Birds that bite are not allowed on shoulders. They are arm birds.

Once your routine is established, everything gets easier.

Thanks birdman, I’m deadset on making this work and am convinced she bites more out of fear and being territorial about her cage than out of pure aggression. Can you explain a bit more about the “two fingers” approach. She strikes lightning fast then latches on with pressure. I have difficulty seeing how one can “catch” that opened beak when it is in moving in quickly towards you! Unless you’ve got ultra quick reflexes!

 

[Birdman666]

Generally speaking, you assume he's gonna, and beat him to the punch. But, I've been working with aggressive big macs for so long that it's kind of second nature to me... it's a learned skill. I generally know what they're going to do before they do it...

If you can't control the beak with two fingers then plan B is to use a closed bent fist, that doesn't give the bird anything to latch onto. When he lunges, just meet him head on with the ball of your palm in that fist, and push the beak away before he latches on.

Or meet the "lunge" head on with the palm of the fist, and push back. Usually in the process of pushing the beak back, you can get a thumb and the side of your fist on the beak, then you've got it... While he's distracted with that, swipe your hand under his feet. If he turns his head to protect his feet, you get his beak with two fingers, and now you've really got him...

Have the closed bent fist at the ready and just assume he's gonna...

Remain calm. DO NOT SHOW FEAR. SENSING FEAR IS USUALLY THE TRIGGER...

Also, use the towels wrapped in ace bandages around your arms, under your shirt when working with this bird. Bites no longer do damage. You're more confident when handling them. The bird picks up on that.

Once he does it a few times, he does it. It's all about getting them over the hump. Then do the step up training and touch training. By then, the trust is established and the bond starts. Then you start playing games with the bird... and just like that, he's done a U-Turn and is SEEKING OUT your attention. Now you have the opposite problem. PLEASE! DON'T SET ME DOWN.... I WANNA STAY WITH YOU....

 

[Mariar]

Birdman your advice is awesome ..I'm the favourite one in the house,my lil sissy will hide behind me when my fiancé try's to play and interact with her when we are both sitting on the couch.she still lunges at him pretty bad..and every once in awhile with me ( we still can't touch her but she'll step up on our arms) I'm going to try the fist thing..right now we just blow on her real hard and she stops. Today she's super cuddly with me..nuzzling my neck, regurgitating her food ,and giving kisses and sleeping on the arm rest next to me while resting her tail on my shoulder. I feel this is huge, considering we've only had her a month

 

[junglenutcracker]

Thanks Birdman. Newbie Macaw owners like me are fortunate to have you on this forum! Thanks for coaching us.

 

[junglenutcracker]

After a week of daily mini training session, she is finally (albeit reluctantly) stepping up onto my arm. My wife, ”the lucky chosen one” brings her out on her play stand in a neutral room then leaves me to be with the bird for about 20 minutes. It’s been a long process so far but I am determined to make it work. She’s been attacking my protected arm quite fiercely but the attacks are now becoming less intense (you should see the holes she’s punched through my sleeve...good thing I had a thick foam underneath!). She sometimes lowers her head and rubs it against my sleeve. So, I think this is going in the right direction!