My Macaw is going to kill herself in her cage.

[Safira]

I have this huge corner cage for my macaw. I think it's the extra large A&E one. Whichever one it is, it's massive. PLENTY of room for her.

She hates it. Well, she hates being in it.
Pro: She doesn't scream
Con: She climbs back and forth on the bars ALL DAY if she knows I'm home. She wants out, I get it. I take her out for several hours a day, but she needs to learn to settle down yo.

Anyways, she scratched her cheek and nose the other day doing god knows what. Probably one of those 'night fright' incidences. Today I was scratching he head like usual, and she's got a BALD SPOT the size of a quarter on the top of her head, and a little itty bitty scratch. WTF did she do?! Seriously. She's going to kill herself in her cage.

I'm actually concerned now that the next little 'battle wound' she's going to get will be worse then a scratch. I'm pretty sure she's doing it at night and thats what the sqwuaking is about. Finding all the blankets I can (I don't own many) to cover her and see if that helps.


Just needed to vent. Bah!

 

[luvmytooo]

Not sure if this would help any , but can you play music for her while your busy or not home ? I would leave a radio on for my Amazon when I went to work.
Thats how I think he learned all his comercials , lolol.
Covering should help too. Could there have been something that spooked her and she hurt herself and it had nothing to do with her not wanting to be in the cage ?

 

[Safira]

I leave either the radio or the T.V on for her when I'm not home. When I'm not home, she plays with her toys, eats, and chills out.

She knows when I'm home, and she knows when I wake up. Clack clack clack clack clack at 7am, every morning, LoL.. Again, I am THANKFUL she hasn't figured out screaming yet. She NEVER screams, just a startled cry at night.

I just put a huge blanket over her cage and put newspapers on top so it doesn't slide down. She instantly stopped climbing around and started to quiet.. so we'll see. It doesn't cover all of it, but at least most of the front and sides. The back is to the walls. I'm hoping this works, something definatly needs to change. She's not getting enough sleep at night.

 

[oled]

Do you change toys often? and something to bite on?

 

[mtdoramike]

She may also not like the corner cage. She may feel trapped or blocked. I don't like corner cages nor round cages either for that matter. Also, have you put anything new in or on her cage as of late?

 

[Safira]

Ugh. Experiment with covering = failed. At least with the blanket I threw on there. 4am She squawked awake, then went right back to sleep.


Oled, yes I change her toys and she has lots to chew on. But not too much that it crowds her

Mtdoramike, she's only been sleeping out in it for 3 weeks, I don't think she likes the change at all. I hope it's not the fact that she doesn't like the cage. It's bigger then any dome-top I could buy for her, bar the double breeding one.

I'll be switching her back to the bird room with the greys very soon, just need to invest in an air filter, hopefully that'll solve the problem. If not then it's definatly the cage.

Oh, and she broke a tail feather last night. -.- but she's also starting to go through her first molt, so that one didn't surprise me as much.

 

[JJones1719]

Sorry to hear about your Macaw. I would advise you to search out a local bird club in your area. Perhaps visit a Member's home who owns a Macaw. Take your macaw to their home and place your Macaw inside their cage. I have a King's cage with catheral top and my Macaw loves it. Sometimes it's hard to get him to come out. You should be able to test out a cage to know if the issue is the cage or something else maybe happening to your macaw like hormones.
If you do not have a local bird club in your area, you can try some rescues to see if they will allow you to try out their cages with your Macaw.
If not rescues, you may have to bite the bullet and purchase a king cage with catheral top. They are perfect for Macaws. I would also have her vet checked to rule out illness. Best of luck Joe

 

[roxynoodle]

What I do with Merlin is only cover the top half of her cage and leave on a dim lamp with a blue bulb in it. It's kind of like moonlight. She hasn't had a night fright since I did that. She is in a corner, near a window so I put the lamp on the windowsill. It's a very small lamp. But you might be able to leave one on the floor near the cage if there is nowhere to put it. It is sitting maybe a few inches lower than the perch she sleeps on.

 

[Safira]

The only problem I have with testing out cages from other Macaw owners is the possible for passing things between birds. I do prefer to quarantine before allowing birds near mine, and having her touch their cages defeats the purpose. I need to buy her a 2nd cage anyway for the outside, so maybe I'll just buy her a new cage and put this corner one outside.

Roxy I will try to find a blue lightbulb and see if that works. I have a small lamp right beside her cage on an end table next to my couch. Can't hurt trying, blue lightbulb = cheaper then new cage!

 

[roxynoodle]

I got it at Walmart (bulb). It's just kind of funny that I happened to have a little lamp with a blue bulb in it. Let's just say my ex bf wanted a red one and I said no, blue will be soothing. So here this lamp had just been sitting here unused for the last few years, and it was the perfect thing for Merlin and the night frights.

 

[Mike]

A couple of things occur to me:
1. It is coming into spring time. How old is your bird. Could it be hormones?
2. I cover my bird's cage with two sheets--one king and one queen. I leave a light on in the room. The sheets are thin enough to let some light in.
3. I agree with your concern about testing out used cages.
4. Although I agree with the general idea of JJones' suggestion, I suspect that the effort would be wasted since your bird is not likely to like anything suddenly new in his/her experience. Even if the cage were roomier, I suspect the bird would never show it during a short trial.
5. Did you move your bird into another room when you got the new cage? You said you were about to move the bird back into the bird room. Maybe its the new room away from the other birds, and not the cage which is a problem.

 

[Luna]

Hi, It sounds like you just moved her from a birdroom to a diferent location and cage. My guess would be too many changes too soon. If there is room I would put the bird back in whatever it was used to. Try introducing the cage for a week or two before puting the bird in it. Allow a period of adjustment before moving bird and cage to new location. Very little things like me coming into the house with the lens of my glasses dark will put everone into flight. Barb,s grey was flying wildly a few min ago simply because she sat him on an old perch with a new dark toy. It can take months or years to change some parrot behaviour. I am typing with a middle age female cocketiel climbing on me with a lutino male chattering away on a perch nearby. He was forced to live in a cage until about three years ago when he came here. He loves mugs and will set and talk to one for long periods. It took him this long to realize and accept the other three cocketiels. He will occasionly sit on the same perch as the other male. As far as spending any time with the females he'd rather talk to a mug or even drinking glass. A male lilac crowned amazon lived with us for a few years he refused to accept a reasonable sized cage and was unhappy until returned to his small cocketiel cage. I hope some of our sugestions help. D.D.

 

[Luna]

Hi, another sugestion phone appliance dealers they often have cardboad shipping containers large enough to enclose your bird cage. Also did you mention air filters? If so I recomend them. I run ten all through the house, they are the only thing that keeps the air quality suitable for either us or the birds. D.D.

 

[Mare Miller]

Sounds to me like something in the cage or the cage it self is scaring her. When I bought Amigos large cage, 6ft. x 4ft wide, I remember covering it at night because that's what I did with his smaller one. He had night frights, even with a lamp on. This larger cage is located in the corner of his room. I quit covering it to see if that would help and it did. Not one issue since then. Wishing you luck..

 

[lene1949]

I thought that covering a bird cage went out of fashion in the 60's...

When I was 3 years old, I was locked in a garage for the whole day... An 8 year old was supposed to look after me... The garage was dark, I fell asleep, but I was not comfortable... I'm still not into garages... lol

Birds have brilliant eyesights, but when you cover their cage, the won't be able to see what's around them...

 

[Spiritbird]

JJones is a member of the Baltimore Bird Fanciers club. They meet every 3rd Sunday at the Baltimore county library in the basement. Lots of bird people. You can go there and be in the meeting and then decide to join if you want. I used to be a member but I moved far away and the drive is just too many miles for me now.

 

[Safira]

I'll have to see where the library is. Maybe I can make a day trip out of it. It's not too far, about 25-30 minutes for B-more.

I've been covering her for about 3 nights now, and 2 out of the 3 she's slept through (Yay!) The night she didn't, I think I startled her when I got a glass of water.

She's not fully covered, the top part of her cage is. The blanket isn't long enough to reach the bottom so about the last 1/4 of the cage is open for light to come in.
.. Of course my Sister came home from her vacation and realized I was using her blanket. <.< hahah.. Oops.

As for covering birds going out in the 60's, I have no idea I wasn't born then. But I do believe it depends on the individual bird. Some like the security of being covered, and some don't.

 

[roxynoodle]

I do cover my birds. They seem to sleep better that way. I don't think Pete would sleep much at all if I didn't cover him. And Rowdy actually asks me to every night. And with Merlin as I mentioned, I cover the top half and have that lamp next to her.

 

[Spiritbird]

Is it possible for you to put out a few mouse traps near the birds cage and see if that could be the issue?

 

[roxynoodle]

Is it possible for you to put out a few mouse traps near the birds cage and see if that could be the issue?

Certainly a good idea. I sure get them from time to time, and if there is food in the bird cages, that is where they want to go. Years ago I started taking their food out at bedtime, but if there is any on the bottom of the cage, it's still going to attract them unless you also change the paper at bedtime.