rowdy
New member
- Jul 28, 2015
- 59
- 0
- Parrots
- Rowdy -Blue and Gold Macaw (I miss him :''''(, ?-10/18/15)
Luna- cockatiel (deceased:'()
Okay, so recently got my first Macaw, a b&g named Rowdy. I've had him for a few days but I've been making a lot of progress with him. On the first day I opened the cage to get a half eaten apple slice off the bottom grate. While I was grabbing the apple he ran out of the cage. Now, I'm 14, this is my first Macaw, and I've had him for less than 3 hours at this point. I knew it'd be stupid to try and pick him up so i tried to get him to step up onto a perch I hadn't put into the cage yet but he started SCREAMING at me. He spread his wings in a defensive manner and opened his beak wide. When I tried to get him to step onto the perch again he ran under the cage still screaming with wings spread. I tried to coerce him with fruits, veggies, nuts...nothing worked. I ended up grabbing the dog carrier i brought him home in, placing it's opening at one of the 2 exits, having to "chase" him out with the perch and into the carrier. I let him out into the cage and didn't try to "handle" him for the rest of the night. The next day I started hand feeding him sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds ect when I left and came back less than 10 mins later he lashed out at me through the bars when i got within a foot of the cage. The next day aka yesterday he let me hand feed him and i even was petting him through the cage bars. He also stood on my finger when I offered it to him through the bars. We danced to some disco for about a half hour and he even learned a new sound (YES he picked it up in like 2 days). I kept making kiss noises since he got home. Whenever he would put his beak near the bars I'd make the noise or ask him "can I get a kiss?" Then, when I woke up the next day aka today he flipped out at me again. Later today I was petting him and he was practicing his barking and kiss noises like usual and he picked up on something I always asked him...he squawked to me "can i get kiss?". I was so proud of him. I praised him and gave him some treats. I decided to go further, I opened the cage just enough to slip my hand in. I let it sit there for a few mins, he didn't mind it. I started to pet his tail, then his wings then his back. He was fine with it and even let me scritch his neck. All of the sudden he jerked his head around and tried to bite me. I calmly removed my hand waited a few mins and did the same thing again, he let me pet him then all of the sudden he jerked around again. I stopped and figured that was good enough for the night. It seems like no matter how far we get something always happens, like reversing 2/3 of the progress we had made. I don't know what to do. I don't plan on actually trying to take i out for probably another week or so. Can you guys help me with this problem along with give me tips and tricks on how to handle his first controlled time outside of the cage? (His previous owner told me he HATES going back into the cage) (PS i honestly thinks he likes me because whenever i leave the room he rings his little bell and stops when i come back but does nothing when my parents or brother leave)
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