My baby macaw is going out of control

[FlyingFreeNJ]

I bought an 8 week old female baby B&G macaw 4 months ago from a local bird store. She is finally weaned and is coming home in three days. I have visited her almost every single day for the last 4 months, sometimes sitting and bonding with her for hours . She was never 'mushy' or cuddly as you see baby B&G's being. As she got older she would be more affectionate and would sometimes enjoy head scratching but she certainly wasnt what I pictured LOL . Over the last several months she has become increasingly hyper, nippy and difficult to handle. She constantly grabs at my skin, a lot of times shell just take a chunk of me and pinch down really hard and twist. When she first started doing this I would say No in a firm low tone and give her a slight wobble. This kind of works but definitely isnt yielding the results Id hoped for after all these months. She climbs and jumps all over me and has no bite inhibition despite my trying to teach her. She constantly jumps for my shoulder scratching biting and clawing her way there. I tell her step up and put her right back on my hand as uneventfully as possible but it doesnt seem to deter her. She also started lunging at strangers and biting people she doesnt know. I thought I knew a lot about birds and I dont understand what I have done to cause this. I feel she was underfed and wasnt weaned slowly enough in addition to whatever I may have done wrong handling her....I just dont understand because I have always tried to be very gentle and nurturing with her. .... this is heartbreaking for me because I have dreamed of owning a Blue and Gold since I was 10 years old and now I feel like I am creating a monster. I dont blame the bird, I blame myself. Now my significant other wont go anywhere near her and she is supposed to come home in three days. I really need help

 

[Pinkbirdy]

I got my baby Blue and Gold in August. I wouldnt worry ,she will go through lots of different stages. Their testing everything You will find your way [keep working on the bond].

 

[JerseyWendy]

The hustle and bustle of 'some' stores may have greatly contributed to your baby's energy, so please don't blame yourself.

Once you get her home (what is her name???), you can start training her more effectively. Don't let her beakiness discourage you. They DO go through many changes as they grow up and learn to become independent.

Beak pressure training is a must, IMO. That will teach her how much pressure is acceptable. Now please keep in mind that (many/most) B&G are quite beaky. My Niko (now 5 years old) will regularly test his boundaries and see how hard is too hard. :54:

http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

Additionally I'd socialize her a LOT once you get her home and settled in. The more people that can handle her, the better.

 

[Mekaisto]

Don't forget, you only see her SOME of the time, the employees at the store may be reinforcing bad behaviours. She's not a lost cause, don't give up!

 

[Birdman666]

First, baby macs once the little light bulb inside their head comes on, can become quite hyper... with short attention spans. (It's a phase that generally lasts about two years. Then they calm down. Then about five years later the hormonal behaviors kick in. Those last from around 7-12. Then they calm down again. Those are the two really tough macaw ages, in my mind.)

Second, no one has set this bird's boundaries yet... once she comes home THE VERY FIRST THING YOU DO IS SET BOUNDARIES, AND ENFORCE THEM... that will keep the bad behaviors in check.

ABSOULTELY IMPOSE THEM FROM THE MINUTE SHE WALKS IN THE DOOR. THIS IS HOW THINGS WORK HERE, AND THAT OUT OF CONTROL STUFF ISN'T GONNA FLY...

Macaws require a FIRM HAND, nurturing guidance, and CLEAR BOUNDARIES. Without clear boundaries, they run amuck.

BITE PRESSURE TRAIN AS WELL.

(Some of this is I'm too hyper to want to be held right now... even if you did come a long way just to see me. That's part of what the pinchy stuff is. I don't want to cuddle. I'm too hyper. I want to play.) Having a chew toy handy to distract and deflect bites, and having her play on your lap goes a long way to calming down these behaviors, as well as bonding with a young bird.

 

[Birdman666]

don't forget, you only see her some of the time, the employees at the store may be reinforcing bad behaviours. She's not a lost cause, don't give up!

Or not reinforcing anything... Which is just as bad!

What you might be getting here is a pretty close to completely untrained baby.

Which means you're starting from scratch.

1. Set boundaries.
2. Bite pressure training.
3. Reinforce basic step up.
4. Do the touching all over exercises.
5. Get this bird on a set patterned schedule. (This is when we get up. This is when we eat. This is when we have our out time. This is your time with me. This is the time you need to self entertain. This is sleep time.)
6. Socialize with strangers, once he's 100% handle-able by you.

Do those things, and the bad behaviors will gradually subside, and the good behaviors will come out...

I've done it with macaws that wanted to do nothing more than rip my lips off...

Take it step by step, and don't let the process overwhelm you.

AND DON'T ACCIDENTALLY REINFORCE THE SCREAMING OR BITING BEHAVIORS.

 

[Rynkydynk]

I'm curious ... do you know what her experiences are during hours of operation at the pet store while you are not there? Does she just sit in a cage somewhere in back alone and ignored all day? If so, is the cage large enough or have toys to stimulate her? Is she eating a balanced nutritious diet? Do they have her out on the floor amongst the business and chaos? All of these things are beyond your control so, you see, it isn't anything that you have done or are doing wrong. With proper diet, environment, love, patience and training (start with the link provided by JerseyWendy and advice provided above), I'm confident you will both be just fine and have a future.

I am definitely not as experienced as others on this site but your situation sparked a
memory of some advice my brother was given when brining home a nippy 18 month old Congo African Grey and it worked wonders. In addition to all of the excellent expert advice already provided, I strongly suggest buying some baby bird formula and a large syringe. Once you bring her home, I suggest a hand feeding that evening (even if only 10 cc's). Then repeat for the first few days to help her acclimate/transition and further establish a nurturing bond. Keep the formula and feed as a treat or whenever you feel the need to reinforce the bond.

 

[Birdman666]

That's not bad advice, baby food, especially vitamin A foods are good "lap bonding" foods, though I prefer to use a bent spoon, and not a syringe just out of fear of accidentally overfilling the crop and aspiration pneumonia. (I'm always paranoid about hand feeding. Always have been. It's just me.)

And oatmeal works for this one too...

I do the oatmeal thing with the birds I've got now, and my oldest "baby" is 43!

THEY LOVE THAT STUFF!

Just remember to check the warm foods for hot spots. We don't want any burned crops! (There's that paranoid thing again.)

 

[FlyingFreeNJ]

The store she was raised in is EXTREMELY busy. Sometimes I cant even hear myself speak above the noise of all the people and other birds. Two weeks ago she was on 3 feedings a day. Now just 14 days later they say shes weaned?? I have alot of experience handfeeding and I always knew I would start her again when I took her home.... In addition to that the ladies that work there mix the handfeeding formula so thin it is basically like water. My bird has always felt thin and has seemed voraciously hungry all the time since the beginning. Shes also full flight much to the dismay of the staff

 

[Birdman666]

[I Over the last several months she has become increasingly hyper, nippy and difficult to handle. She constantly grabs at my skin, a lot of times shell just take a chunk of me and pinch down really hard and twist.

LIKE A TODDLER WITH NO BOUNDARIES...

When she first started doing this I would say No in a firm low tone and give her a slight wobble. This kind of works but definitely isnt yielding the results Id hoped for after all these months.

TWO FINGERS ON THE SIDES OF THE BEAK WHERE SHE CANNOT REACH YOU. HOLD ONTO IT, THEN TELL HER NO. RELEASE HER BEAK, BUT BE PREPARED TO GRAB IT AGAIN IF SHE ATTEMPTS TO LATCH ON. [FRANKLY, IF IT WERE ME, AT THAT POINT SHE'D FIND HERSELF ON THE FLOOR... WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED. SHE WOULDN'T GET OFF THE FLOOR UNTIL SHE STEPPED UP WITHOUT BITING.] Note: assumes the bird is clipped. If the bird hasn't fledged yet, dropping to the floor won't work, unfortunately.

She climbs and jumps all over me and has no bite inhibition despite my trying to teach her.

[WHOOPS. BACK ON THE FLOOR. "KNOCK IT OFF! NOW STEP UP! BE NICE!]

She constantly jumps for my shoulder scratching biting and clawing her way there.

ONE HAND BLOCKING HER PATH, WHEN SHE ATTEMPTS TO STEP OVER IT, STEP HER UP. SAME THING OTHER HAND. KEEP GOING TIL SHE GETS THE MESSAGE.

I tell her step up and put her right back on my hand as uneventfully as possible but it doesnt seem to deter her.

She also started lunging at strangers and biting people she doesnt know. I thought I knew a lot about birds and I dont understand what I have done to cause this.

ASSUMES YOU DID ANYTHING... THE BIRD HAS NEVER BEEN TRAINED YET, AND IS IN THE "RAMBUNCTIOUS" PHASE. YOU NIP THE BEHAVIOR BY SETTING AND ENFORCING BOUNDARIES... RIGHT NOW THIS BIRD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY BOUNDARIES.

I feel she was underfed and wasnt weaned slowly enough in addition to whatever I may have done wrong handling her....I just dont understand because I have always tried to be very gentle and nurturing with her. ....

I'LL EXPLAIN IT THIS WAY:

"IT'S BECAUSE SHE CAN."

THIS IS A TESTING PHASE, AND SHE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH TO SEE WHAT SHE CAN GET AWAY WITH, UNTIL SHE IS NOT ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT.

WHEN YOU PUT A STOP TO IT, THE BEHAVIOR STOPS.

IF SHE GETS AWAY WITH IT, YOU JUST REINFORCED THE BEHAVIOR, AND NOW SHE'S GOING TO PUSH HARDER.

ON SOME LEVELS IT'S REALLY THAT SIMPLE.

MACAWS AND HUMAN TODDLERS HAVE AN AMAZING AMOUNT IN COMMON. AND YOU REALLY DO RAISE A MACAW THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD A HUMAN TODDLER...

this is heartbreaking for me because I have dreamed of owning a Blue and Gold since I was 10 years old and now I feel like I am creating a monster.

NAH, WE ALL GO THROUGH PHASES. SWEEPEA, MY RFM, WAS ALWAYS A PRETTY GREAT BIRD, BUT SHE WENT THROUGH A 6-8 MONTH BULLY/DISMANTLING/HEADSTRONG/CHALLENGING PHASE WHERE I NEARLY WENT NUTS...

I dont blame the bird, I blame myself. Now my significant other wont go anywhere near her and she is supposed to come home in three days. I really need help.

PERSONALLY, IF YOU WANT OT BLAME SOMEONE, BLAME THE STORE... BUT THAT'S KIND OF A WASTE OF TIME ANYWAY. GETTING HER HOME, TO A CONTROLLED ENVIORONMENT WILL HELP. SET THE BOUNDARIES, ESTABLISH THE ROUTINES, AND DO THE EXERCISES TO GET HER TRAINED UP...

THEN, ONCE THOSE BEHAVIORS ARE UNDER CONTROL, YOU CAN GET HER SOCIALIZED WITH YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, AND OTHER PEOPLE...

DON'T LET IT OVERWHELM YOU AND DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY, THIS BIRD IS NOT TRAINED YET... AND IS TESTING UP THE YING-YANG.

YOU JUST HAVE TO PASS THE TESTS... I'VE SAID IT A MILLION TIMES.

 

[Birdman666]

The store she was raised in is EXTREMELY busy. Sometimes I cant even hear myself speak above the noise of all the people and other birds. Two weeks ago she was on 3 feedings a day. Now just 14 days later they say shes weaned?? I have alot of experience handfeeding and I always knew I would start her again when I took her home.... In addition to that the ladies that work there mix the handfeeding formula so thin it is basically like water. My bird has always felt thin and has seemed voraciously hungry all the time since the beginning. Shes also full flight much to the dismay of the staff

THAT IS NOT THE IDEAL SITUATION... IN FACT, IT'S PRETTY POOR, IF YOU ASK ME.

You don't want to clip the wings before she's fully fledged and becomes a strong flier... ALSO SHE SHOULD BE ABUNDANCE WEANED. That isn't going to happen at this place from the sound of things.

THE ENVIRONMENT OF THIS PLACE COULD BE ENOUGH TO GET HER WORKED UP INTO A STATE.... once they're worked up, they become difficult to handle.

Different environment, you might find you have a different bird.

 

[amjokai]

My 8 month old b&g is going through a testing phase now.
It's normal. You'll get through it just stay firm and confident. Make your boundaries and stick to them.
My boy climbs cabinets, chews stuff he isn't supposed to. Throws things Down. Pinches growls bites when he wants to. It's all part of seeing what he will be allowed to get away with.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Are we talking about Bird Paradise, by any chance? The way you describe the noise, the activities and the watery formula....sounds all too familiar to me.

 

[JerseyWendy]

THAT IS NOT THE IDEAL SITUATION... IN FACT, IT'S PRETTY POOR, IF YOU ASK ME.

You don't want to clip the wings before she's fully fledged and becomes a strong flier... ALSO SHE SHOULD BE ABUNDANCE WEANED. That isn't going to happen at this place from the sound of things.

THE ENVIRONMENT OF THIS PLACE COULD BE ENOUGH TO GET HER WORKED UP INTO A STATE.... once they're worked up, they become difficult to handle.

Different environment, you might find you have a different bird.

Mark, my Ripley came from the identical situation. He was raised in that store from tiny, naked wee one. By the time I was ready for a GW he was 18 months old, shoved in a room filled with birds, furthest corner, in a cage that I considered WAY too small for a GW (40" wide). I was told I could take him out 'at my own risk' since he had a bad reputation.

....well you know the rest of the story.

 

[Birdman666]

On the plus side, that one had a happy ending...

They sound like IDIOTS!

Any macaw that has not been trained NOT to bite, WILL bite... especially if you do something to piss it off! These birds sound like they aren't getting any training or boundaries, and minimal handling and socialization...

Yeah... DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF! I'd be more surprised if she DIDN'T ACT UP under these circumstances.

 

[FlyingFreeNJ]

thankyou so much Birdman for addressing my concerns in such a detailed format. I feel so much better after reading all of the advice and assessments from fellow members as well. Tomorrow is the big day and I will be sure to follow the great advice I have received here. I will be sure to post an update tomorrow!

 

[Birdman666]

You're welcome.

We're here to help.

How much macaw handling experience do you have going into this?

This thread has a lot of good information in it:

http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/49099-what-your-tips-first-time-macaw-owner.html

 

[FlyingFreeNJ]

I have never had a macaw before. I have a lot of large bird experience but not a ton with Macaws. As a teenager and young adult while in college I worked at a veterinary office and handled macaws and other parrots frequently. When I graduated college in 2011 I adopted my first large parrot, an Eclectus who I rehabilitated (she was poorly socialized and pretty nasty at times ) I got her from a bird rescue when she was 3 years old and she is 7 now. I also raise cockatiels and sun conures but I only have one breeding pair of each. It is just a small hobby for me. By keeping it small it stays fun. And last but not least I raise Gouldian finches and have about 4 pairs. And last year when I turned 25 I told myself it was time to fulfill my dream and get a Blue and Gold macaw. And thats how this whole journey began. It has been amazing watching her grow from being so small., no feathers, sporting that 'rotisserie chicken look' baby macaws are known for...to now where she is so beautiful and BIG and strong LOL we have an amazingly special connection and I just want to raise her the right way.

 

[JerseyWendy]

So, is today the BIG day? (Homecoming that is)

 

[DannyA93]

I'm just dying for pictures of your feisty little plier faced fluff ball!! By the way I've read every single word in this thread and I have yet to see a NAME!! and of course how she's settling in!!