New family member

[cbgill]

Good morning everyone! This past weekend I rescued a 28-year-old Military Macaw, Big Red. He has only had one previous owner, a married couple, who with being elderly and one developing cancer, could no longer care for him. He spent 4 months in the rescue. He is blind in one eye. So I am working on just letting him settle in. He does let me feed him through the bars. I have been able to give him head scratches through the bars. Am going to start some basic training things with him and see how amenable he is to stepping up. Just don't want him becoming too frustrated having to be in a cage all the time. Any tips on what I can look for to know that he is ready to come out and can do so fairly safely? I from home and he is in my office with me so I talk to him and interact with him throughout the day. Thanks for any advice. Going to grab some more coffee and do some more research.

 

[Parrot1]

congrats! first of all..don't start any training...let him develop
a trust with you first.

open the cage and sit by the cage and talk too him and feed him through the bars.
the cage is his territory his home so don't put your hand inside. (My African Grey bites when i try too get her too step up from inside the cage but is so sweet and will let me step up when she's out of the cage) let him come out when he's ready.

when he does come out praise him and let him eat from your hand so he can get used too it.. try too pet/rub his head and neck..

by now you can try too let him step up on too your hand

(disclaimer, im no professional trainer/tamer at any means.. i have done this with my
parrot from some research i have made )

 

[cbgill]

Thanks. I do sit and talk to him and I am sure he will come out of his cage, but it's the getting him back into his cage that I am not so sure of.

 

[Parrot1]

don't force him in. he can go back in when he wants too.. only thing you
can do is bribe him too go in.. is with treats or toys.make it a good experience
and not a bad experience.

 

[Birdman666]

Not sure I agree with any of that advice.

In fact, I'm pretty sure I don't.

Personally, I like to handle macaws early on, and often when ever possible. If not tame, then it isn't possible. But the more interactive you are with them, the more interactive they become.

Being blind in one eye means he will be defensive if approached from that side. Militaries are one of the beaky species, so if he's startled, he's likely to let you have it. Always approach deliberately from his good side.

Macaws require a firm hand, structured interaction, and boundaries. Permissive parenting is usually not the best way to raise a macaw. The bird doing what ever he feels like doing, when ever he feels like doing it, sets you up for - "What if I don't feel like it?! You gonna make me?!" later on.

Give him a set routine, and follow it.

 

[SilverSage]

I am not a macaw parront, but the interactions I have had with macaws lead me to agree with birdman. Im not saying you should be a bully by any means, but don't be too hesitant. My close friend has a blue and gold macaw, a very sweet, snugly adorable well socialized young one. We get along fabulously. But I have seen that bird with strangers, and he can read them like a book. If they are timid, he knows it, and he rules the situation with an iron beak! If they are confident, then he is comfortable and friendly.

 

[cbgill]

Thanks everyone for the input. I do have a pretty structured environment in my office and I do have other birds. Covers come off at 7 and it is breakfast time. Also, Team Tiel (rescue) gets to come out and fly/play for about 1-1/2 hours, then they go back into their cage. Then my Senegal (rescue) and my Eclectus (rescue) come out. Normally they are out the rest of the day and play on their cage or play stations around the office. I also have an IRN who is a rescue and she prefers to do her own thing. Her cage door is open, but she rarely comes out, that is just her personality. So now Big Red is here and will have to see how he fits into the mix after he adjusts a bit more. At 1ish, they are given another meal, and at 4ish (winter), 5ish (summer), everyone is back in their cage and the sunshine goes off. At 5:30 (winter), 6:30(summer), covers go back on for most. Already know that Big Red does not like his whole cage covered, but is fine with just three sides. My Eclectus is similar, until I am done work for the day and then I cover her completely before I leave the office. I am in my office for the most part from 7 am until 10 pm. I take an hour off in between jobs to walk the dogs, get some sun, etc. My husband is in and out of the office regularly throughout the day. The Eclectus is actually more bonded to him. So our routine is pretty structured throughout the day. He is currently in quarantine but he can see us and the other birds through a window.