Possible B&G Owner

[maryclark18]

To start I grew up around birds, now I want to share that with my fiancé. Not to long ago I saw a Blue and Gold in a pet shop and fell in love with it. Just something about the colors and size pulled me in. Now if I got a Blue and Gold it would come from a good breeder...Anyway my experience with anything bigger then a teil has been bad. I was attacked by an amazon when I was a baby. Then we had a congo grey for about 10 years. We all went to the breeder when the grey was a baby to bond and such. Then when we brought her home we all taught her basics and had no problems. But soon after, she got aggressive towards me and my mom, but had no problem with my dad. So she hardly got handled, because dad had no time for her and we couldn't touch her without her biting(OUCH!). But I would try to get her out and play with her since I felt bad for her. Now I know every bird is different, but I am honestly afraid to get a B&G ..or any big bird and have it turn aggressive towards me, my fiancé and future kids. I have heard that macaws can break fingers when they bite, obviousy I don't want that. Then again I have heard that B&Gs can be very family oriented birds if raised right. Can anyone chime in on this?

 

[MikeyTN]

Yes with proper training they can be wonderful birds to have. Please have a view of this thread here.----> http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/38075-new-macaw-owner.html

 

[kendrafitz]

Macaws are awesome! But if you are afraid of them, they will know it. So make sure you are comfortable before you take the plunge. Maybe go and spend time with a baby at the breeders to bond?

 

[maryclark18]

Ill check the link in a moment..but see im not afraid of the actual bird, im afraid of it turning on my future family. And that's what we did with our grey. We went to the breeder twice a week to work and bond with her and she did great. Then once we got home, she changed. And I would have no problem going to a breeder and bonding with one but I cant get one until were outta this apartment. Even though a woman in a nearby building has a B&G (very friendly bird) but i wouldn't feel right disturbing my neighbors with its screaming.

 

[kendrafitz]

You are smart and very considerate of your neighbors! They are very fortunate!

Ok, so then I think the key is socializing. I know a lot of macaws choose one person they prefer. That is the case with our GW. I am her person. But I make sure to do things like tell her that my son or daughter are "good" and we need to kiss them. So then we kiss the top of their heads together. The kids sing and play peek a boo with her. Everyone talks to her and gives her treats. So even though she prefers me, she has a positive relationship with everyone else too. She actually has started to calling my son Peek A Boo. However, I do make sure that kids, especially visitors are with a grown up when interacting with her.

In my experience, macaws tend to slowly apply pressure when they bite. To me it seems like they know how much damage they can do, and don't need to go for the kill. (Unlike smaller birds, I fear their bites). Unless they are totally panicked or in fight/flight I believe a bite like you are referring to is fairly uncommon.

When you have their trust, they are the sweetest, most loving, intelligent cuddle bugs. But then I am a bit biased.

There are a number of very experienced Macaw people here. I am sure they will be able to add tons of good advice.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Kendra, you said it perfectly!

My Niko can be handled by not only the entire family, but he'll also step up to friends who come around often enough. He won't tolerate them petting him, but he won't bite anyone except me (every once in a blue moon, when he's having his SUPER ornery moments).

Early socialization is the key.

Now I don't think there is ever a guarantee that your future bird will (or will not) accept your wife and future children.

 

[maryclark18]

Well thanks for your input guys! And Jersey the bird may/may not accept me and my husband...im a female (Its ok though ) Now I see this thing about beak games to teach them bite pressure. What is that exactly? Do I let him/her just bite down til it hurts and tell them no? For our grey we taught her "no Bite"...but she still bit hard...I have scars from her.

 

[maryclark18]

Kendra, I would have no problem if the bird choose a particular person, as long as it still tolerated other people and didn't lunge at them..which is what our grey did. As soon as I stuck my hand near her weather it was in the cage, floor, furniture...she would lunge and sometimes bite.

 

[JerseyWendy]

< blushes profusely about the gender mistake...I'm so sorry...>

Some folks beak wrestle with their macaws. I'm not the best at explaining, but I shall give it a try.

You let your macaw mouth your hand, while you play with the beak (yes, some fingers are actually INSIDE the bird's beak), thus never allowing him/her to clamp down to the point that they can break the skin.

My B&G is not very fond of this, but my Green Wing is quite mouthy/beaky, and he's learnt good restraint by using that method.

 

[kendrafitz]

OUCH! Sorry to hear you had such a rough time.

My GW is very mouthy/beaky like Wendy's GW Ripley. She wants to have my hand in her beak a lot of the time. I almost feel like it is a security blanket for her. Which is fine b/c she never gives me any resistance when I want to remove it. I am even able to pick her up by putting my hand in her beak and she is very gentle with me.

 

[maryclark18]

So you just stick your fingers in their beak..then what? My dad was able to stick his fingers in our Greys mouth and do that stuff.

 

[maryclark18]

And Jersey, you are forgiven

 

[maryclark18]

Also would you guys recommend a B&G as a first time macaw? I heard Hys are great and gentle, but they are very expensive.

 

[Chesphoto]

Some folks beak wrestle with their macaws. I'm not the best at explaining, but I shall give it a try.

You let your macaw mouth your hand, while you play with the beak (yes, some fingers are actually INSIDE the bird's beak), thus never allowing him/her to clamp down to the point that they can break the skin.

I do this with Skittles, the nippy Scarlet...

What is funny is that when I put my fingers in her mouth, she kinda spits them out. But when she wants to nip, she has no problem reaching over for my fingers.