Mouthy Mac
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Birdman666
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2013
- 9,904
- 264
- Parrots
- Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Some macaws are very "beaky." They are very tactile with their tongues and their beaks, and explore the world that way.
This sounds like an "attention getting" behavior. As in I want to be the center of attention. (Put down the phone and play with me!) Sometimes it's a jealousy thing. (Don't pay attention to that guy, I should be the one you pay attention to.) Sometimes it's a warning... "that thing over there makes me nervous and you're getting too close to it."
If you're not the "favorite person" it might be, "put me down, my person is back. I wanna go to that guy."
What ever it is, I personally just anticipate when the bird is likely to do this to me, beat her to the punch and swipe the beak away with two fingers and distract him, while giving the command "no pinching."
If the bird pinches too hard (i.e. bruising or drawing blood), I tend to just let go and drop it to the floor. Then let the bird sit there for a minute, ignored and begging to be picked up... "Be nice!" Then pick the bird up again, and if he's still pinchy, down he goes again.
You also need to do some beak play exercises setting this bird down on your lap, and beak wrestling with your fingers, and communicating the moment you feel the bird is putting too much pressure on them. Pull away stop the game, tell the bird firmly "That's too hard!" And wait awhile before resuming the game.
This sounds like an "attention getting" behavior. As in I want to be the center of attention. (Put down the phone and play with me!) Sometimes it's a jealousy thing. (Don't pay attention to that guy, I should be the one you pay attention to.) Sometimes it's a warning... "that thing over there makes me nervous and you're getting too close to it."
If you're not the "favorite person" it might be, "put me down, my person is back. I wanna go to that guy."
What ever it is, I personally just anticipate when the bird is likely to do this to me, beat her to the punch and swipe the beak away with two fingers and distract him, while giving the command "no pinching."
If the bird pinches too hard (i.e. bruising or drawing blood), I tend to just let go and drop it to the floor. Then let the bird sit there for a minute, ignored and begging to be picked up... "Be nice!" Then pick the bird up again, and if he's still pinchy, down he goes again.
You also need to do some beak play exercises setting this bird down on your lap, and beak wrestling with your fingers, and communicating the moment you feel the bird is putting too much pressure on them. Pull away stop the game, tell the bird firmly "That's too hard!" And wait awhile before resuming the game.
ShellyBorg
New member
The beak play has really helped my girl figure out how hard is OK. She went from drawing blood the second day to now just a couple weeks later, no bit at all. If I am pushing her to hard she squawks and will snap at me, but no bite. It really came down to communication and learning about it other.
Or like human children who test everything by putting it in their mouth, then test their new teeth and your patience by biting everything until corrected.....
An 11mo macaw doesn't really know that the pressure it exerts actually hurts you and when it elicits an "ouch" from you, it has received your attention.....sounds like nobody has been conducting attitude/boundary classes at your house, sounds like it might be a good time to read up on touch and/or clicker training for both of you...there are also several decent on topic videos on youtube.....
Good luck.....
Birdman666
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2013
- 9,904
- 264
- Parrots
- Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
At some point, the pinching thing becomes a test. Can the bird get you to do what it wants, by pinching, or worse, biting you.
You don't want to flunk that test. THAT is exactly how you create a monster!
If you don't train the macaw, the macaw WILL train you.
You don't want to flunk that test. THAT is exactly how you create a monster!
If you don't train the macaw, the macaw WILL train you.
Birdman666
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2013
- 9,904
- 264
- Parrots
- Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
ShellyBorg
New member
She do not post you were a bad owner, she is just saying that you need to do some training. There are some great videos on YouTube. Keep a eye on the ratings, if there is a lot of thumb downs go to the next one.
Sorry you took it that way.....never meant any derision.....you asked a question and I offered an honest answer.....there was no indication of any type of bird experience you might have.....so I assumed I might be replying to a first time bird owner.....
I just re-read my post & do not see anything in it that should make you feel as though you were a terrible bird owner.....if you are referring to my inclusion of "sounds like nobody has been conducting attitude/boundary classes at your house, sounds like it might be a good time to read up on touch and/or clicker training for both of you," you would be surprised at the number of people who start out with a new bird and are shocked that they need to do any training.....I listened to a customer berate a pet store clerk over the fact that her "hand raised" love birds would bite her and when the clerk tried to explain that bonded/caged together birds often are less friendly than single birds, the customer was further upset that she was expected to do any sort of training.....
After the customer left, the clerk related that the customer had specifically asked for two peach-faced and had waited several months until they culd get the birds in.....
Again, sorry you took my response other than the way I offered it.....
Last edited:
JerseyWendy
New member
- Jul 20, 2012
- 20,995
- 26
Please relax! We are a VERY friendly forum, and I promise you weco did NOT mean any harm at all.
We're all here to help and learn from each other, and bird owners (of all people) know that a HUGE sense of humor and thick skin is an absolute "must have".
Hi. I do not have a big Macaw, just a little Hahns, but even at 13 weeks she will test me, and nip if I am not paying attention. I don't think Weco meant any harm. There are behavior modifications that can help. For instance a lot of people do not realize by placing your thumb on their foot you are telling them you are in Charge, or by keeping them higher then you are you are telling them they are in command. And, by reacting to a nip by saying ouch or pulling away, shows a reaction good or bad so it becomes a game, same as yelling when they scream. Best to ignore during bad behavior. When they hit a certain age, they go through what is equivalent to terrible twos, it is a stage but if not handled properly can become a long term issues. youtube is wonderful, like someone recommended. I have used it for a recourse of info o. Many different topics. Like I said my only experience with a Macaw is my mini, but I was a mommy to a U2, who sadly I had severe asthma with, but through educating myself I was able to raise a very well adjusted and well mannered too with no plucking or screaming issues. Reading, and listening to a lot of good advice helped greatly. Boo was eight when I rehomed her to a family that lost their birds to a gas leak. i took my time two years to find the right home no money exchanged hands, just a contract, home visits, follow ups, references and a lot of tears. i thank God for forums like this and mytoos that really helped in explaining the thought process and behaviors of these wonderful creatures. Simple corrections you would not think could make a difference do and they can be a life saver, the difference between keeping you bird or later rehoming when you cannot handle their behavior anymore and starting early makes a world of difference in preventing before it starts. I myself would be interested in learning about the clicker training, I have heard about it, but do not know how it all works. They use it a lot in dog rescue, which I am actively involved in. Good luck with your baby.
kendrafitz
New member
I have a GW, Rosie who is just about 18 months. She is very mouthy and has been since we met when she was 2 months. She doesn't hurt me, but she likes to lightly chew on me, my clothing, etc. I have read and been told that it is normal behavior for young Macaws, that is the way they explore. If she got too rough when she was very young, I would lightly hold her beak and say gentle. Now I just say gentle and she gets it.
I have done some target training with her and she loves it. She is so proud and excited when she does what I ask and gets praise for it.
I don't have much else advice, but I can commiserate with you about the beakiness. But with the beakiness comes the kissing, cuddles and love, which I adore.
I have done some target training with her and she loves it. She is so proud and excited when she does what I ask and gets praise for it.
I don't have much else advice, but I can commiserate with you about the beakiness. But with the beakiness comes the kissing, cuddles and love, which I adore.
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