I have had my Macaw from the time he was able to be taken home and spoon feed, he was hatched 7/20/2000, I love him very much, I know they are like a two years old, hw talks and plays with me, he is my bird will not go to other people, want me as soon as I came in the door, but about 6 months ago I had to stop using my phone because he would bite it and me if I was tlking on it, so I quit using it when he was around, then it was the mouse when I was on line and he was with me, so I had to stop having him in with me when I was on line, he would grab it a toss it and bit me, now lately when i hold him he good for 15/20 mins, we talk and play when wating TV then all at once he just bites me and his wing puff out and hes upset and i have to take him to his cage and lock him in, I dont know what to do, I dont know what I have done wrong nothings changed, its to the point I am not sure if I want to keep him becasue I dont know what to do any more, he is feed good, treated good, realy dont know what to do any more, anyone got any Ideas
need some help with my Macaw
- Thread starter Steamcase
- Start date
JerseyWendy
New member
- Jul 20, 2012
- 20,995
- 25
Welcome to the forum. 
Have you done any training with your macaw? (What type of macaw is he?) Is he bite pressure trained?
The moment he bites you, I'd sternly tell him "NO", and then put him either in his cage or on his playstand for about 5 minutes (like a time-out), and then try again. He should quickly realize that bad behavior is not accepted and it will land him in time-out. They are so clever! Right now it sounds like he's got you wrapped around his talons (I mean that in a loving way).
Have you done any training with your macaw? (What type of macaw is he?) Is he bite pressure trained?
The moment he bites you, I'd sternly tell him "NO", and then put him either in his cage or on his playstand for about 5 minutes (like a time-out), and then try again. He should quickly realize that bad behavior is not accepted and it will land him in time-out. They are so clever! Right now it sounds like he's got you wrapped around his talons (I mean that in a loving way).
JerseyWendy
New member
- Jul 20, 2012
- 20,995
- 25
Macaw babies are available year round, so I don't think they have a 'set' breeding season like Amazons (for example).
Kiwibird
Well-known member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 9,539
- 111
- Parrots
- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Perhaps there is a need to re-visit basic training with your bird Complacency breeds contempt after all. And male birds especially want to dominate, WILL occasionally test, and if you don't immediately remind them they aren't top bird, they WILL become progressively more aggressive and defiant as their 'ego' grows. Every so often, we need to (gently) remind them who the 'flock leader' is (which would be you). I revisit basic training often. When mine is argumentative and defiant, we'll do a step up drill to remind him he's not top bird here. Step up drills are followed by getting to eat a yummy treat on my arm and receiving verbal praise to reinforce the trust and bond so he knows I still love him. Depending on the situation, I occasionally need to calmly back my bird up with a pillow, get him on the stick and give him a solid time out if he's in a really aggressive mood. Once he's calmed down, he can come out and hang out again. He rarely needs a time out these days because he's learned what good birdie manners are and knows it's rewarding and fun to behave That's another thing to remember, make times he's behaving REALLY FUN so he WANTS to behave because he WANTS those activities (treats, hanging out, being praised, being played with, petted, kissed ext...). You also have to make him understand the humans are not to be messed with. Obviously, you should never hit, squirt, throw something at ext... a bird, but a stern no (as Wendy suggested), or a "time out" and even (depending on situation) simply turning your back to the bird are all acceptable ways of showing your bird there is a consequence for their bad behavior that resonate with the way a bird is "reprimanded" in a natural flock structure.
I'm *positive* if you put in some effort your bird will turn around quickly! Don't give up too fast on your friend of 16 years. I also hope our resident 'expert' on macaw behavior shows up (Birdman666 where are you?!).
Complacency breeds contempt after all. And male birds especially want to dominate, WILL occasionally test, and if you don't immediately remind them they aren't top bird, they WILL become progressively more aggressive and defiant as their 'ego' grows. Every so often, we need to (gently) remind them who the 'flock leader' is (which would be you). I revisit basic training often. When mine is argumentative and defiant, we'll do a step up drill to remind him he's not top bird here. Step up drills are followed by getting to eat a yummy treat on my arm and receiving verbal praise to reinforce the trust and bond so he knows I still love him. Depending on the situation, I occasionally need to calmly back my bird up with a pillow, get him on the stick and give him a solid time out if he's in a really aggressive mood. Once he's calmed down, he can come out and hang out again. He rarely needs a time out these days because he's learned what good birdie manners are and knows it's rewarding and fun to behave That's another thing to remember, make times he's behaving REALLY FUN so he WANTS to behave because he WANTS those activities (treats, hanging out, being praised, being played with, petted, kissed ext...). You also have to make him understand the humans are not to be messed with. Obviously, you should never hit, squirt, throw something at ext... a bird, but a stern no (as Wendy suggested), or a "time out" and even (depending on situation) simply turning your back to the bird are all acceptable ways of showing your bird there is a consequence for their bad behavior that resonate with the way a bird is "reprimanded" in a natural flock structure. I'm *positive* if you put in some effort your bird will turn around quickly! Don't give up too fast on your friend of 16 years. I also hope our resident 'expert' on macaw behavior shows up (Birdman666 where are you?!).
Last edited:
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.)
Simple answer: This is about attention.
When you are on line, or when you are on the phone, the bird no longer has your undivided attention. Put it down and play with me...
That's all this is. I WANT TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
(I know right? So completely out of character for a big mac!)
And you already figured out how to deal with it. When you are on line, or on the phone, the bird has to learn to self entertain. (Just don't spend all night on line...)
My RFM gets pinchy around food. She's the only bird I've got that doesn't get held while her food dishes are being prepared. She gets excited about it and pinches me... (Oooh. I like that stuff. Gimme it.) On some level, that's just part of getting to know your bird. Don't handle this one around food.
Same thing here. Don't handle this one around the phone. It's actually a fairly common problem (especially with conures, which are just shrunken macaws.)
BUT have you bite pressure trained this bird yet? If not, you need to! Those should be pinches, and not bites! You're not going to stop them from trying to get your attention, but you can make it less dangerous, and less painful.
Unless you like the phrase "Chicks dig scars."
When you are on line, or when you are on the phone, the bird no longer has your undivided attention. Put it down and play with me...
That's all this is. I WANT TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
(I know right? So completely out of character for a big mac!)
And you already figured out how to deal with it. When you are on line, or on the phone, the bird has to learn to self entertain. (Just don't spend all night on line...)
My RFM gets pinchy around food. She's the only bird I've got that doesn't get held while her food dishes are being prepared. She gets excited about it and pinches me... (Oooh. I like that stuff. Gimme it.) On some level, that's just part of getting to know your bird. Don't handle this one around food.
Same thing here. Don't handle this one around the phone. It's actually a fairly common problem (especially with conures, which are just shrunken macaws.)
BUT have you bite pressure trained this bird yet? If not, you need to! Those should be pinches, and not bites! You're not going to stop them from trying to get your attention, but you can make it less dangerous, and less painful.
Unless you like the phrase "Chicks dig scars."
Last edited:
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.)
Right. And this doesn't seem to be a hormonally triggered event anyway.
He's just being "extremely opinionated" at the moment.
Time outs, generally work for the opinionated stuff...
Macaw training is a life long process. Sometimes you just have to go back and reinforce the basics. step up. be nice. no biting. control your bite pressure. not so loud. etc.
From time to time they act up, just like kids do. You deal with the bad behaviors, modify them, and move on.
Last edited:
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.)
What might help is just a designated one on one time, same time every night, "just you and me bird." No phones. No computers.
Okay, you had your time, now I've got computer time, and phone time.
This is how things work around here...
Taking mine out for an evening walk seems to do wonders for her attitude. Weather permitting, of course, right now it's probably not.
Okay, you had your time, now I've got computer time, and phone time.
This is how things work around here...
Taking mine out for an evening walk seems to do wonders for her attitude. Weather permitting, of course, right now it's probably not.
