Meet Curtis!

[Chase]

Hello all-

Well I have been searching high and low for a macaw that would be the right fit, and I feel I have done so! This is day two with him (day three if you count the day I got him). It was a 6 hour drive round trip to get him, and it was definitely worth it!

He is a tad cage aggressive, but he's already getting better. I have found that he has started trusting me because I bring him food and goodies

Anyways, he is an 18 year old Blue and Gold Macaw. He steps up (when you're firm, he thinks he can get away with being the boss), and his vocaubary is HUGE.

Well here he is. I'm so excited to finally have a macaw

 

[SailBoat]

Congrats, on the new member to your family.

Hope you have been reading BirdMan666 Threads and Posts regarding MAC's!

 

[Chase]

Congrats, on the new member to your family.

Hope you have been reading BirdMan666 Threads and Posts regarding MAC's!

I have been

 

[LeaKP]

He's beautiful! Oh congratulations!

 

[fowlstack]

A beautiful creature.. welcome and long life to you both!

 

[Allee]

Congratulations and a warm welcome to the very handsome Curtis!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Congratulaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaationzszszszszszsz!

By the way, just for the unexpected... If our birds got together... here is a Patagonian Conure/B & G Macaw cross... it was shared here a while back.

https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=1329724@N20&m=pool&q=chaz

 

[Puck]

Curtis is one handsome honey! Big congrats on your new buddy!

 

[Chase]

Thanks everyone!

It had been about 2 days since he had last seen my girlfriend, and he was not impressed to say the least. He has been relatively quiet, only screaming when a dog makes a sound and it startles him.

She made it home before I did and she said as soon as he realized it was her, he screamed. He became VERY cage aggressive as I was trying to take him out (I got stuck at work a little late so I was trying to interact with him). It was so bad that she had to leave the room and let Curtis calm down. He ran around his cage trying to see around the whole room and once he knew she wasn't there he was a completely different bird- stepped right up when he was told, quiet, dancing on my shoulder, it was amazing.

My question is, can this be worked on? I don't want my girlfriend to be afraid she will be screamed at if she makes a sound while she's at my house and I'm not there. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated

 

[brianlinkles]

He is a very handsome boy! However I would suggest that you keep your new macaw off of your shoulder. I don't believe in shoulder birds and putting a Big Mac up there is quite risky. Not only do you have to deal with the issue of height dominance but you are risking harm to your face.

 

[Chase]

He is a very handsome boy! However I would suggest that you keep your new macaw off of your shoulder. I don't believe in shoulder birds and putting a Big Mac up there is quite risky. Not only do you have to deal with the issue of height dominance but you are risking harm to your face.

Yea I know it's not good for him to be getting on my shoulder. It's a habit that he already has and I'll need to break him of that. Is there any suggestions, besides just not letting him do it?

 

[brianlinkles]

I would keep him down low around stomach height with your arm bent at a ninety degree angle so he can't climb across it to your shoulder. I would keep your thumb over his toe/toes so he cannot move if he keeps struggling to get up there. It will take a bit of time however you need to establish with him that this is not acceptable. If you allow it you are sending mixed messages. You have to be consistent.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Do you know if there has been any history between Curtis and a female? Something in the past?

Get her to go through the Tips for building a relationship/bonding and ask her to read Birdman's posts also. Ask her to start a zero and work up, hoping he will trust her soon.

 

[macawluv]

It sounds to me like you need to begin training him. I know the bird tricksters(bird tricks.com) are NOT popular here(and I agree they are way too salesy) but I have seen their "1 day miracles" and while no, there was not one miracle, each episode is a crash course with a person brand new to clicker training on how to do it and I found it to be worth the $40 as my husband was able to relate a little better than when we watch some of the more technical videos(which I prefer). Pick any bird trainer and buy their videos but clicker train your bird ASAP. Also feed him a low energy/proper diet to get the best attitude from him.

 

[deque]

Congrats, your in for an exciting adventure! Every Macaw is so different, figuring him out is half the fun.

Just beautiful

 

[LeaKP]

I know that birdman has posted threads here on macaws that are outstanding. He knows so much and is a wealth of information.

 

[Terry57]

Congratulations! Curtis is beautiful!

 

[Marileen]

What a handsome guy!
He has beautiful bright colors!

 

[Jerseyjeff62]

Congratulations beautiful macaw. Hope you have many great years together