new owner question

[lazerdms]

we are a first time bird owner 12 year old macaw Its been around women the last 3 are 4 years and will only talk around them Is this something that will just take time around men, also is there a good site that I can go to teach it not to bite It has Bite the wife 2 times the last time was last night on the nose getting 7 stitches we have only had the bird 3 days.

She is the only one that can hold the bird but after 7 stitches I think I will wait lol

Thanks for any help

 

[suebee]

hummm tricky not got a macaw,

Parrot Musings: Parrot body language

i read this which gave me some insite to my bird lol an i have been bitten alot less, most importantly allow your bird to settle in to its new home and not rush it, if you want it to do anything, have a treat ready, if its holding onto a treat its harder for it to bite you, but mines dropped treat before, an nipped me anyway.

with it being all new etc you might want to pet it etc but the bird might just want to be left alone, till it is more confidant around you

what do you mean when you say hold the bird??

this is what i tell my son, let the bird go to him, have a treat ready and show parrot treat, offer his hand say step up and when parrot steps up onto his hand give her treat, if she walks away or turns, his to put treat away and do the same, i also told him to use same command as i do so not to confuse her.

but she has also learnt that my son will give in and walk the treat up to her, when his across the room its funny to watch cos he gives her the come on (as in fly to shoulder) command and she tilts her head in a rather cute fashion, stares for a bit an he totters of to her with the treat, so maybe she is training him lol

 

[antoinette]

[FONT=&quot]Eina, that must be really sore 7 stitches on the nose. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]To take on a 12 year old Macaw, without any previous experience is an enormous task.
You have only had the bird 3 days, the bird needs time to adjust and get familiar with all the new surroundings, as well as the human flock.
To gain your trust could take days, weeks, months even years. Each and every bird is so different.
Sit near the cage, talking and singing to the bird. Let him become familiar with your voice. Leaving the cage door open, offer him treats through the bars at first. When he willingly accepts them, try placing a treat near the open door. Eventually he will starts taking the treats from the door, make no attempt to touch him. When he does come out, he will probably climb around on the cage. Let him explore in his own time. To get him back in, place a treat inside the cage, making sure it's visible.
Take it one day at a time, slowly and patiently.
Please keep us posted with his progress



[/FONT]

 

[lazerdms]

thanks for the fast replys the hold commet was bad she can put her arm down in the cage and it will climb up her arm and on to her shoulder

 

[lazerdms]

here is a picture

 

[Chris Winkler]

Not a good idea to let him on the shoulder. That is an earned trust. To many things to bite. Eyes, ears, nose. Handling at all for at least a few weeks should be avoided.

He needs to adjust. Think about it everything this bird ever knew is suddenly gone and he has no way of understanding why. The fear they have takes quite some time to resolve. Watch the body language and talk, sing, read etc to him from a distance until he doesn't seem stressed by you.

One thing I did with a rescued Grey that my friend now has is once I covered the cage at night I would peek my head under the cover and talk to her. When you do this you have 100% of their attention from the safety of their cage.

Please please please don't rush him. Just how close you get to him has to be on his terms not yours!

 

[mellykyitus]

hi, the photo is of an amazon not a macaw, is that right? it'll take time to bond, patience is a must. good luck x

 

[Chris Winkler]

hi, the photo is of an amazon not a macaw, is that right? it'll take time to bond, patience is a must. good luck x

Your right. definitely a zon

 

[lazerdms]

yes you are right I will start reading about them

Thanks

 

[patterson]

also make sure u have nice big cage for him bigger the better