My GW's funny little head movements

[Blancaej]

I've had Savannah for one week now. It's been going well. But before I get into that, I've noticed when she is really checking something out she does a funny little head movement that reminds me of a robot. She will look left to right and stop with short movements like she is a robot. I know it sounds goofy, but it is really cute to watch her do it. Quincy my grey doesn't do anything like that. Anyone else's Macaw do that??

I was able to get Savannah out of her cage on the stick yesterday and I was able to pet her on the head quite a bit. I put her back in her cage and left her door open, she came out on her own and climbed around. I was really excited! Of course, when the time came she didn't want to get on her stick so I put a treat in her bowl and she climbed right back in her cage. She is doing so well!

Today I had to take her back to the vet because they didn't draw enough blood last Tuesday. She came right out on the stick and went right into her crate. So the day started off well.

I think even though we took a step forward the last few days we have taken one backwards after that visit. She wasn't real happy after that, why would she be. She was stand offish with me this afternoon, but I understood. I still managed to per her a little and feed her by hand a little too. But she backed away more often then she was. She didn't want to come out of her cage either. I am hopeful after a couple of days we will get back to bonding again. I guess I just need to give her time to get over the vet visit today! I am hoping after having to go twice in 8 days she is not going to think that going to the vet happens every week! Not much I can do about it now except be patient with her I suppose.

I will post some pics tomorrow of her outside of her cage. Again, my new home laptop and my camera don't agree!

 

[Jtbirds]

Some of my macaws inspect things like that a lot, boo looks down behind the couch all the time twisting his head all around to see, our greenwing looks down at the dog like that and others do similar motions, I like to refer to it as them being intuitative.

Sounds like she is coming along great, I love hearing about how well she is doing!

 

[Blancaej]

You can really see she is thinking about what she is looking at. I find it pretty darn cool! She is just so fun to watch! I am glad you are enjoying hearing about her progress. I know I love telling everyone about it!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

My friends blue and gold on occasion does that, it is very cute!

 

[Turquoise]

Savannah sounds like she is adjusting very well to her new home & Mom. She's letting you pet her so she is definitely enjoying your interactions together.

I had a similar experience with my Catalina macaw Angel when I had to take him to the vet after he had cracked the tip of his beak. After he was home he was not happy with me for quite awhile. He did get over it, but it set our relationship back for awhile & it did worry me that he would always blame me. He didn't & we have a great relationship despite it all.

 

[Blancaej]

Copper - It's just adorable isn't it!

Turquoise - Thank you for your experience! I am feeling the same way you did with your Catalina Macaw. We were doing so well and now she won't let me pet her in her cage and she backs away from me when I approach her cage. She has also been very quiet

I will say she let me take her out on her stick this morning and I was able to pet her and then put her back in. When I sat and talked to her this afternoon she came to the open door and took treats from my hand. Is this a good sign? How long did it take you to have a relationship with your Catalina again? I know every bird will be different. But I'm curious how long it took your bird to come around again.

I am basically doing what I did when I first brought her home. Kind of starting all over again. I'm just frustrated because this second vet visit should have never happened and now our relationship has gone backwards because of it. I guess there is nothing I can do but be patient with her. It is neither of our faults. I'm just saddened that my happy little Savannah who used to be happy to see me is now nervous when I approach her cage.

Hopefully it will get better in the days to come. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[Turquoise]

Angel is my handicapped macaw, he was born with disabilities that prevent him from standing. I took him to the vet which is a 120 mile round trip for me on the morning I came in from work & found he had fallen in the night . I had to leave him overnight due to my work schedule. So whatever they did to him & my having to leave him did not make him happy with me at all.

I had only had him & his younger brother for 3 months at the time. We had a great routine where he came out everyday on his play perch. Then after the overnight vet visit it took him almost 4 months before he wanted to leave his enclosure. I didn't force him to, but I could tell he seemed afraid he would leave & never come back. His & my other macaws are each in their own 5'X5' walk in aviaries, so I didn't worry about him feeling cage bound during this time, & he would still hang on his door each morning after about a week & chew on my clothes which is how he likes to interact with me mostly. He did allow me to hold him in my lap after a couple of weeks. The main difference was his reluctance to leave the security of his home which I knew stemmed from being left at the vets. I feel he thought I'd gotten rid of him & if he never left it he wouln't have to fear being carried away.

 

[Blancaej]

Poor little guy. I can see how that would have been so traumatic for him. Especially staying overnight. I'm glad he finally came around even if it did take 4 months. Thanks for sharing that with me.