New Bird Trouble

[Joannr24]

So this might get chalked up to a lesson learned but....

I own Toby a miligold I sort of rescued. He has been great. A little attitude but not bad and never a nasty bite.

Today, I brought home a new bird. A Blue and gold 4 mo baby. He is in a cage in the same room as Toby.

After about twenty minutes, I said hi to Toby and he was very nippy. A littler harsher than ever before but nothing bad. Them he came over to the cage and out out his foot to step up. I picked him up and he wouldn't get on his perch and the turned around and bit me and on the arm drawing blood. Then he has a huge temper tantrum and now he's back in his cage.

I'm sure I broke a major macaw code here LOL. Can someone tell me if this normal, why it happened and will it stop?

 

[MacawLoverOf3]

First rule of bird owning is quarantine for a minimum of 30 days. You never know what you can be bringing into your home when you bring in another bird. Also, you need to 'decontaminate' yourself any time you go someplace that has birds which includes taking a shower, don't forget to blow your nose, wash the ears and under the finger nails and toe nails if you are wearing sandals and don't forget to wash your hair. Directly wash your clothes and disinfect your shoes.

Now about the biting. How would you feel if your husband/boyfriend brings home another woman? Hurt/angry/betrayed? That is how poor Toby feels. You need to make it up to him, he needs to know you still love him and he is the #1 bird in the roost. Better start buttering up to the poor little guy.

 

[Joannr24]

Thanks. I'm not worried about germs . This breeder who I have other birds from is top notch and super particular about her birds.

I'm just hoping Toby forgives me soon. I can't go near him right now without a snarky attack.

Also, the weird thing is that he not the first bird. He came in to a house with a grey and cockatoo and doesn't care at all when I have them out.

 

[Freespin]

I dont have Macaw experience but when i brought home my Eclectus my little Barraband who had been the only bird threw all of his toys out of the cot. He was not impressed in the slightest and i couldnt have them out at the same time for a while but eventually he settled down a lot.

 

[Joannr24]

Thanks for the advice
I actually moved Toby into the room he used to live in. As soon as he went in the other room he was his old lovey dovey self. I told him he is now top bird of the family room and he's back in front of a huge picture window.

I learned a lesson though. I was also thinking of adding a GW which is my other favorite macaw but after this and seeing how attached they get I will be sticking with the two I've got

 

[Birdman666]

Now about the biting. How would you feel if your husband/boyfriend brings home another woman? Hurt/angry/betrayed? That is how poor Toby feels. You need to make it up to him, he needs to know you still love him and he is the #1 bird in the roost. Better start buttering up to the poor little guy.

Hit the nail on the head. Pair bond bird issue... It's your basic jealous bird reaction.

 

[SilverSage]

Yep, jealousy. When I bring home a new bird, the others don't even know about it (unless they hear each other calling) for at least a month because of the quarantine, but when the actual introduction happens, I put the new bird where they are going to stay, and immediately take Flick, my GCC, out of her cage and give her lots of attention. She is the most needy and jealous of my flock. I then get the others out and give them attention, and give everyone a lot of out of the cage time. The next day I do the same thing, but I get the new bird out after everyone has had their snuggles and is occupied, assuming everything went well the first day. I move on to introduction later, and as I have a big flock, I always introduce multiple birds at the same time,which seems to slash the jealously factor down to almost nothing. I always put 2 or more of the old flock on the play stand, and introduce the new one to the "least favorite" part, and stand back. Generally a lot of ignoring goes on for at least a week, but because the play stand is flock territory, not one individual bird's territory, it generally works out well. All that to say, just do your best to show your Miligold that the new baby means MORE love and MORE treats for Toby, not less, and when you go to introduce them, I suggest having them meet in a room Toby doesnt normally go in, or buying a new play stand for them to share. Also, do NOT let them meet through one of their cages - toes are very easily lost when one bird walks on another bird's cage.