The big question: Rescue or baby GW?

[junglenutcracker]

First, let me start by saying that I think this is one of the best forums. Period. The quality of its members, the mutual respect, the willingness for its members to share in their experiences and knowledge are to be commended.

Here’s my question. We are seriously thinking about adding a GW to our family. We already have a 22 year-old CAG. We may have an opportunity to acquire a 20-year old male GW from a local rescue but, like all rescues, it does comme with its “baggage” of behavioural problems. It was brought to the rescue by the former owner because it had highly bonded to one of its human and from what we know it was a rather spoiled bird and basically had the run of the house. This had set off a vicious circle with the bird become more and more aggressive which forced them to give it up.
Basically, my question is should we go for such a bird and can we turn it around with patience and training or are the bad habits engrained so deeply that it will be a lost cause –*OR should we look into getting a young bird and start with a clean slate. I kind of like the idea of giving a home to this rescue bird which seems to be in good health –*knowing very well that even a baby will become challenging when it reaches its “teens”.
Are we better off with a 20-ish bird with known health, behaviour (good and bad) and work from there or start from square one?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Oh, and one last thing...is there any difference behaviour-wise between the sexes?

 

[Flboy]

Follow your heart! My JoJo, rescue, baggage? Yes, lived for 6 months in the same pen as 20 canaries. He imitates all of them! Also does a perfect squeaky toy imitation! Yes, was hand shy, still has trouble cuddling on my terms. Love him dearly

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Don't beat yourself up for your choice. To me a birds a bird and needs a home . I live in NY they would not survive without us. My birds have been babies ,rescues ,rehomes ,from a store and breeders . I do whatever the situation feels right to me. One thing to point out about your rescue is not judge how they are towards you now.They can surprisingly become very bonded to you over time. Ive had 5 macaws [one from just weaned]. Have to say I LOVE LOVE LOVE Macaws !! My baby died last year [something she got from her parents]. I miss her and the baby stages . I am getting a baby in August [don't know if male or female]. I have to say I like females in Macaws . But it would be nice to have a male again I know Im not helping here Your rescue will just need time if you go that way.

 

[gracebowen]

I also say follow your heart. I also suggest reading Birdman666 posts about behavior modifications.

 

[RavensGryf]

You could end up getting a low-baggage rescue, or you could end up getting a baby who's more of a challenge than you thought....or a difficult rescue, and the perfect baby! "Follow your heart" looks like a good suggestion.

 

[Birdman666]

Sometimes male GW's have dominance issues (it's not a given) and they do tend to masterbate a little more than the females when they are hormonal. Other than that, there are no real male/female behavioral differences.

As for rescue or baby...

That's gotta be your call. If you find a rescue bird that you really click with, then go for it.

If you want to start from scratch, with a baby, and are willing to do the work to train it correctly, then do that.

"Birds with baggage" to me, most of them come around with the proper care and attention. And they respond to love.

A greenwing is a giant goofball at heart.

 

[junglenutcracker]

Just to add to the confusion, another GW macaw is also available in my area. The present owner needs to part with it. So I guess that would qualify as a “pre-rescue”.
It is about 12 yrs old. Hoping I’ll have a chance to visit it in the next few days. Don’t know much about his health records but the owner says she’s healthy and that it hasn’t had any health problems...we’ll see. So now, I’m down to three options. Decisions!
Thanks everyone for your help and support.

 

[Kiwibird]

I think you should go with what feels 'right'. Any bird can 'turn around' if the human family has enough patience and gives the bird enough time. However, it can be very challenging if you do end up with a 'difficult' rescue. For some people, they have much better success with a baby or rescue that's immediately friendly with them. No right or wrong answer (though I do tend to side with looking for an older bird, since so many need loving homes).

We knew our amazon came with some 'problems' behaviorally. We really had no clue what we were REALLY getting into, but I knew *instantly* no matter what 'issues' he had, he had to come home with us. He very much pushed me and my husband to our limits of patience, but we not give up on him! He went from downright nasty to a wonderful companion. Time, patience and love. Even the meanest, nastiest, worst behaved can come around. Whether or not you want to deal with that process is a whole other story.

 

[junglenutcracker]

Sometimes male GW's have dominance issues (it's not a given) and they do tend to masterbate a little more than the females when they are hormonal. Other than that, there are no real male/female behavioral differences.

Tell me more about GWs dominance issues. Some people have been telling me to stay away from male GWs altogether. How bad are the dominance issues, really? Are these rare cases or a more widespread thing? The reason why I ask is that most GW available in my area and at local rescues ARE males. Could this be a telltale of their more difficult behaviors when they mature?
Also funny how most of them are 12 years of age or older...

Should I limit my search to females only?

 

[Birdman666]

HORSE PUCKY...

What you occasionally get, is essentially a "mate aggression" issue. It's primarily caused by overbonding and creating "bird-mate" issues...

Guess what?! DON'T DO THAT, AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

Most of the other "Aggressive greenwing" issues?! Tends to come from (1) the bird doesn't get handled enough, or (2) only gets handled by one person (which are socialization issues.), or (3) Gets locked up sooo much that it becomes cage bound and territorial around the cage... (EVERY MACAW will get mad, and become aggressive, if they are locked up and left to rot. These are attention oriented birds!)

THOSE ARE ALL HUMAN RELATED PARROT KEEPING ERRORS. THINGS PEOPLE HAVE ACCIDENTALLY CONDITIONED THESE BIRDS INTO GIVEN THEIR NATURAL BEHAVIORS.

Greenwings are almost as mushy as Hys... IF PROPERLY SOCIALIZED...

Problem is, people don't.

AND AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SHOW FEAR... AND TEACH THEM THEY CAN GET WHAT EVER THEY WANT BY BITING... THAT WILL CREATED A DOMINANT-ANY-KIND-OF-MAC... (MALE OR FEMALE) AND I'M SORRY, BUT THAT IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU ESSENTIALLY TRAINED THE FRIGGIN' BIRD TO BITE YOU!!!

And now you have the nerve to act surprised, or complain?!

Really, cuz it's all the bird's fault. The breeder sold you a defective bird...

 

[Birdman666]

Find the greenwing you click with, that also clicks with you. Rescue, baby, rehome. It honestly doesn't matter. Then, take the time to socialize it properly.

With a rehome or rescue, you probably will have some retraining or socialization to do. With a baby, you are training from scratch. Either way, there's work involved. So it makes little difference, in my opinion... thee will always be some sort of training issue involved with a big mac. YOU ARE EITHER CAPABLE OF DOING IT, AND GET A WELL BEHAVED BIRD. OR YOU ARE NOT, IN WHICH CASE THE BIRD WILL PROBABLY BE "DEFECTIVE."

These are lap birds at heart. Goofy, playful, fun loving, attention oriented, people oriented, lap birds... INTERACTION ISN'T OPTIONAL.

For what ever reason, they usually don't get enough.

The bird gets blamed for that.

Like I said, they're often "defective."

I honestly don't see that much of a difference between males or females and I have worked with/Fostered both.

I keep females because all my birds (except Tusk) are females and I want same/sex buddy birds to avoid breeding issues.

The male/female thing makes a difference with male amazons, particularly hot 3's... and female eckies... OTHER THAN THAT, THIS ONE IS LARGELY "MYTH."

 

[junglenutcracker]

HORSE PUCKY...What you occasionally get, is essentially a "mate aggression" issue. It's primarily caused by overbonding and creating "bird-mate" issues...

That sounds quite right. The male GW I checked out has been at the rescue for NEARLY A YEAR and from what I’ve been told only one or two people can pick him up “sometimes” as he is reportedly quite dominant. The previous owner had obviously caused a very troublesome “bonding issue” and all that over-bonding has resulted in an unmanageable bird in the household. He became over protective of his “female human mate” and constantly attacked the woman’s husband. So he ends up in the rescue.

Visited him a few times and although he was stand-offish (mostly being aloof, staying in his cage or totally ignoring us from the far corner of his play structure) on the first visit, he came nearer to us on the top of his cage, even took a bath (splashing us good) and played a little ball with us on the subsequent visit. He even dangled his body from the top of his opened door with both feet hanging –*probably hinting for us to put our arm underneath for him to climb on... On that third visit, I wouldn’t say he was overly friendly but he certainly seemed to be more interested by our presence.

Is that a sign that it could work out in the long run?
Is his acquired “bad behaviour” too deeply engrained to change? Hard to tell.

But one thing’s for sure, this bird is presently NOT running to us with “open wings” to greet us...

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Is "Horse Pucky" a Texas term lol . Every bird situation is different. Take the attitude your happy with what their willing to give and you will go far .It may take a long time for him to come around [which is hard for some people]. I believe that if you love them to death and treat them like celebrities they come around. You cant right off a bird because he not acting a certain way in the beginning. My flock of 22 is proof. Your whole family has to be "Bird people" and make consistent effort with him. Even if he seems not to like them.Or you will have the same problem the last family had . A bonded Macaw is a easier species to me.I think the males are more "show offs". Think Im in this for the long haul and Im sure things will be fine Babies are not necessarily easier . Your just experiencing the same stages as they do . Then starting in the middle [of their story ]. so to speak.

 

[Joannr24]

Birdman, as we've chatted I'm about to get a GW baby. We're 99% confident it's a male but we are awaiting DNA. You mentioned not being handled by one person. In my house, there is me and my mother who loves the birds but bruises easily so isn't keen on holding them. How can I work on the socialization issue with my situation?

 

[Birdman666]

Harness train the bird and take him out and about...

Go to the local park. Take him to the local pet stores, where they allow you to go inside. Take him to your local Starbucks and sit outside with him.

Get him used to strangers coming up to him. Scratching his head. Stepping up for them.

Do that, they end up pretty much going to anyone.