Questions about my new macaw

[Libby]

Hi!
I've recently adopted a 17 yr old B&G macaw named Stanley. He's super adorable and his behaviour and personality is just awesome!
I do have a few questions hope you guys can help.

He likes to lunge and actually I find this really kind of cute lol, so I've been encouraging him to lunge at his toys and go 'rawr' and when he lunged at me I'd lean in closer and go 'ooooooo' in a funny voice he likes. He doesn't lunge at me much anymore though , presumably because thats not the reaction he wanted. From everything I read and his body language when he does it the lunging is not really aggressive, but I still worry that it's going to encourage it in general and I've already seen it scares most people a lot lol.
Also I've lunged back at him which he laughed at and seemed pretty amused but is that like a challenge to him? I don't want to scare him. I also play tug of war with him.
So will these games cause aggression or encourage him to lunge more or is it ok to play like that?
When he lunges at his toys in front of me is this displaced aggression toward me? He seems like it's just a fun game and do I encourage him and mimic by lunging in the direction of the toy but if it's not good for him or for his behaviour I'll stop encouraging it.

He does several different hand gestures that the old owner couldn't really explain to me.

One where he'll pick up his foot and mime eating from it, then point his foot out to you and repeat, it's very funny to watch.
At first I thought he wanted a treat so I'd try to get him something but he doesn't seem to want a treat at those times, he'll usually take it politely but then drop it (at other times he happily takes and eats treats from anyone's hand)
The old owner thought he was pretending to offer -you- a treat LOL is that a possibility? Has anyone seen this behaviour before? He doesn't actually bite his foot when he does this, and he seems to do it only when he's happy.

He also does bite his foot sometimes and bites his nails than also points it at you very deliberately. This one seems like a stress behaviour but he does it when he seems very comfortable and happy as well as when he seems cranky. He likes to bite people's nails A LOT so I sometimes think he's trying to say 'give me your nails now I want to chew them for you=p'

I've spoken to his vet and he is healthy and since he has obviously been doing these things for a long time medical issues can't be the culprit. His feet do not look cut or bruised or bad at all so I don't think he's doing any damage either.

Also he was feather picking at his last home due to stress but I think he's stopped because I don't find feathers in his cage at all. Is that safe to assume?

Lastly he really does not like to shower, and he also hates being misted.
Attempts at giving him a big shallow dish of warm water were met with a cold stare lol.
So as a result his feathers look kinda ratty and I know he really needs a shower but we've only had him a short while so I'm really not too excited about doing something he doesn't like to him. The old owner said he always hated showering but would tolerate it as long as the owner was showering too. Well until we've had him for awhile longer and have built up more trust I think that's a terrible idea. If I just lock him in his cage and mist him anyways will he be really angry with me after or get over it? Or is it a better idea to simply wait until I can go in the shower with him (which could be awhile) He hasn't had a shower in about 2 weeks.

He also has little white feathers poking out on his head, are those pin feathers? Does that mean he's going to molt soon?

Ok that's a lot of questions for now, didn't mean to write a novel here!
Heres some pics of him too! He's so pretty

 

[Peepers]

Never ever get them to lunge at you, that is aggressive behaviour. He will start lunging and biting, I strongly would encourage you to stop this right away.

With the showers just mist him LIGHTLY every day, do not provide stress with this, once he gets anxious stop. Little bits every day until he gets used to it.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Welcome to the forum and many congrats on your new B&G.

Please don't lunge back at him. He is in a new home, with new people, new sounds, new everything, and possibly hasn't settled in yet completely.

Yes, Macaws can lunge, and many will do so in an attempt to get you to back off. They may lunge out of fear, mistrust, OR because they realize they get you to react (by backing off). Some bluff, others mean business. As your new mac learns to trust you, and once he realizes you are not in the least intimidated by his lunging, he may do it less and less.

How long exactly have you had him? Will he readily step up for you? Can you take him out of his cage?

If his previous owner showered with him, why not give that a try? That's how my big guys get a shower. No, they may not always be in the mood for a bath, but it's essential for their health and well being, especially if they are dealing with pin feathers. And yes, by looking at the photos of your stunning boy, he is indeed dealing with some pinnies on his head right now.

Depending on how long you've had him, it may be too soon to assume he's finished plucking all together. Many birds go through a 'honeymoon' period when they are first introduced to a new home. Some appear to be on their best behavior, but only because they are somewhat 'shell shocked' since they are in a brand new place. Only time will tell.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Birdman666]

Never ever get them to lunge at you, that is aggressive behaviour. He will start lunging and biting, I strongly would encourage you to stop this right away.

With the showers just mist him LIGHTLY every day, do not provide stress with this, once he gets anxious stop. Little bits every day until he gets used to it.

IN MY OPINION: THIS IS BAD ADVICE! And I respectfully disagree...

Macaws beak wrestle as a form of play. THIS IS A GAME... as long as the bird knows it is a game, it's relatively harmless. React to it like it's something bad or scarey THAT'S when things start to go south... If he's laughing at you when he's doing it, it means he's playing. All lunging is not the same. And you have to react to it in context with what the bird is doing... If he's being silly, and doing the lunge thing, then he's just wound up and wanting to play, and wanting attention.

My greenwing will sneak up on me and grab me this way sometimes, but she doesn't apply any bite pressure! And that, really is the difference. Sometimes, all it really means is I want attention.

As long as he's not applying bite pressure it should be fine.

Make sure it's play though. If he's serious about it, then you need to deflect the beak and make sure he knows you're not intimidated. Sounds like you're handling it correctly to me.

And the biggest thing is to train the humans around you to react to this the same way. Deflect the beak if he is too aggressive, to show him you're not intimidated, and not interested in playing right now. Play with him when you are.

If you respond to this with aggression, then it's NO LONGER a game. Then it becomes a serious problem... and the bird is liable to react to it by starting to apply bite pressure.

The white things are new feathers coming in. They are called pin feathers. The feather sheaths need to be opened, if he will let you scratch his head, but be careful, sometimes they hurt. Just scratch his head in those areas and gently scrape the white stuff off with your fingernails.

He appears to be in good feather to me. Preening feathers is not the same as plucking. If he's tearing them out, that's different. I don't see any bald spots.

Both my big macs love bathing, and I actually haven't ever had one that didn't. Try wheeling the cage outside, with a hose that has a mister setting on it. And hold it up in the air, and let it rain down on him. You might find he poofs up and enjoys this... especially if it's nice out.

Dropping the food is also a game. It's normal.

They preen their nails all the time. It's normal.

Human nails resemble feather sheaths. Macaws tend to want to try and help you open them - AND IT HURTS! THEY CAN EASILY PULL THEM OFF... (And trust me, I've lost a few this way.) Politely decline to be preened, and distract him with something else.

 

[Libby]

Great thanks so much for the answers that really helps=)
I think I wasn't clear that he doesn't lunge at me at all anymore and I would never encourage him to lunge at me or other people. The lunging I've been encouraging has been at a big yarn and wood toy in his cage.

Peepers-
I have been trying to mist him just a spritz or two here and there but he HATES it and squawks like someone is murdering him and runs away to hide=( I've made no progress on getting him to like it more lol.

JerseyWendy-
Thanks I won't lunge at him anymore. I only did that once or twice but I don't want him to think I'm trying to scare him or run him off=( I more did it because he adores being mimicked so much lol.

I've had him for about 2 weeks only. He steps up and comes out of the cage happily, he even asks all the time to step up by lifting his foot and saying 'up up'. Its cute=)

I'm afraid to bring him in the shower because I'm sure he doesn't trust me that much yet. I'm afraid that doing something to him he hates so much will wreck the trust we do have=( The old owner said he just hates bathing and showering and always did ( they had him for 16 yrs, his whole life) I read how they should probably be bathing every day or two so going two weeks is for sure uncomfortable and stinky for him=( I think I'll start today by just getting him to hang out with me in the bathroom with the shower running and see how that goes.

I heard about this honeymoon period thing and am soooo dreading that=( For now I'm just taking it day by day!

Birdman666-

Great thanks so much this really clears it up for me-
All lunging is not the same. And you have to react to it in context with what the bird is doing... If he's being silly, and doing the lunge thing, then he's just wound up and wanting to play, and wanting attention

Thats what I thought from what I have read about them, and his body language seems great, after he's done a good lunge or two at the toy he'll get right on it and bite it, shake it and giggle all excitedly and then come out and want a treat and a pet=)
I like playing this game with him cause he just responds so well and seems to enjoy it a lot. It's good to know he probably is just being playful and I'm not misinterpreting his signals and making him angry.

He's not biting hard but he does love to lick and nibble. I'm trying hard to inform everyone who sees him not to react to the lunging but so far they are all terrified and then jump back and scream=/ He LOVES that hahahah. When that happens he does a dance and laughs himself silly.
When he lunges hes too far from them to bite anyway so he has not landed a bite after a lunge.

Thanks for the tip about scraping off the pin feathers I'll try that later when I'm petting him.

The bald spots are on the undersides of his wings and there is a lot of them=(

I can't wheel his cage outside because its on the second floor, but I have a huge dog cage in my yard that I'm converting into an outdoor cage for him. I'll be sure to try that once I get him out there=)

Good to know the food dropping is normal, I hoped it wasn't sheer disdainXD

So if he's not doing damage he's probably just giving himself a little touch up on his manicure? That's a big load off I've been watching it carefully hoping he's not developing a new way to self mutilate.

YIKES about the nailsO_O I will not let him do that to me anymore!

Thanks again for the answers, I just want to make sure I'm doing the right stuff with him.

 

[Birdman666]

Great thanks so much for the answers that really helps=)


I like playing this game with him cause he just responds so well and seems to enjoy it a lot. It's good to know he probably is just being playful and I'm not misinterpreting his signals and making him angry.

He's not biting hard but he does love to lick and nibble. I'm trying hard to inform everyone who sees him not to react to the lunging but so far they are all terrified and then jump back and scream=/ He LOVES that hahahah. When that happens he does a dance and laughs himself silly.
When he lunges hes too far from them to bite anyway so he has not landed a bite after a lunge.

I rough house with both of mine all the time, and so does my daughter. Macaws are playahaulics... In fact, if you start inventing games with this bird, he'll play them... and sometimes even initiate them with you.

I call that the "Made you jump!" game. What these people have to realize, is that they are teaching this bird that they are afraid of him. Once he knows that, he will not be inclined to care what they think...

Cuz I'll just do the bully bird routine on you... you'll jump, and then you will back down, and I'll get my way!

OH YES THEY DO!! THAT IS EXACTLY WHY THEY PLAY THIS GAME... They know who they can, and who they can't!!!

 

[Birdman666]

Sounds like this bird is plucking the underside of his wings. Increased bathing (when possible) will help.

Sometimes it's hormonal/seasonal. (That, really, well... good luck!)

Sometimes it's boredom. Increased activities. Foraging. Out time. Interaction. Toys. Change up the routine.

Plucking is a hard thing to stop once it starts.

Mine get weekly soakings. When it's hot outside, I turn on the misters while they play in the tree... Multitasking!

 

[thekarens]

Have you considered taking him into the shower but not getting him wet? Just to get him used to it. Zoe hated showers too. We'd take her in when we were showing and play music, dance around and just act goofy so she'd get the idea that it was a fun place.

Eventually we started misting with a bottle while we were showering and this last time she actually got into the water without encouragement.