Tug of War

[Dopey]

Hi Everyone - I love this place. And I really appreciate all of your advice so I'm asking for more.

On Saturday, May 24th, I got a Catalina MaCaw. (He is in another room of the house - away from the Zon and my U2). The estimated age is 6 years of age. (Two previous owners.)

OMG - I am in love (the other love is my U2 Dopey/Houdini). He steps up. Let's me take him out of his cage and he goes to the top of his cage. He dances with me. Bobs his head with me when you ask "where is Bob?" (former owner's name - didn't know that until yesterday so I don't ask it anymore). Cries for me when I leave the room but not really loud - yet. Goes back into his cage with a little bit of help (today he actually did it on his own when I said I had to go). This morning he told me goodbye when I yelled bye to him as I was leaving for work (first real word I've heard). Takes food from me - even from my fingers. I'm hoping that some of this continues past the honeymoon stage.

So, my question is this. Is tug of war an okay game to play with a Macaw? Somehow I figured out he likes to play tug of war with newspaper. I'm wondering if it's a good idea because...at the end of the newspaper is my hand and arm and I don't want him to think he can treat my hand or arm the same way he wrestles with the paper - but it is so cute. (We are slowly learning to use a dog's rope toy.) Sometimes the newspaper gets kind of short - and then I get a longer piece. Last night and today he brought me paper to play with him and after the paper was all gone he brought me the rope toy. So again, is it safe for me to play this game with him?

 

[Kiwibird]

Congrats on the new macaw. You need to share some pics of all your birds

Some birds enjoy a tug of war game, just remember you are a million times stronger than your bird, so just be careful not to jerk his head. And be sure to keep the game a positive experience, with lots of happy talking and a reward for the bird for playing. My dad's cockatoo likes this game. He gets super excited, and when you let him "win" (tug the string out of your hand) he runs around his cage with it and then brings it back to play again. So long as you are ever aware of your strength vs the birds strength, I see nothing wrong with the game (though I'm sure others probably may view it as too rough of a game). If he likes tug of war, make sure to try other games too. If you get one of those wiffle balls (the ones with holes), he may like to play 'fetch' and return the ball for a reward. Or put a treat under a upside down cup on the floor and let him figure out how to get the treat.

Playing games with your bird builds a good bond Your cockatoo will probably enjoy games too.

 

[Dopey]

Oh dear - I am just so not a person who can upload pics. I was in information technology for 28 years and I just never got the uploading thing. I will have to find my camera and the cable and see what I can do. I have a really old phone. I have pics on it but in order to get them to ParrotForum I have to up load them to someplace and I don't know how much it costs to do that. Once I find out that I will try and upload them.

Thanks for the suggestions of the games and the treats. I haven't found out what the macaw likes as a treat. Last Saturday he like pistachios and this week have nothing to do with them.

I've tried another thing that the previous owner suggested - one of those scrubbies that humans use (not the scrubbies for pots and pans) and right now he doesn't want anything to do with it. He wants to play tug of war so tug of war it is. You are right...I may be playing too rough with him...I will watch that. But he keeps bringing the paper to me. It is so sweet.

 

[Kiwibird]

Oh dear - I am just so not a person who can upload pics. I was in information technology for 28 years and I just never got the uploading thing. I will have to find my camera and the cable and see what I can do. I have a really old phone. I have pics on it but in order to get them to ParrotForum I have to up load them to someplace and I don't know how much it costs to do that. Once I find out that I will try and upload them.

Can't help you get them off your camera to your computer, but that should be relatively simple.

A Photobucket account is free to set up and upload pictures too (I think the limit is 500 or something, but at that point, you can delete some). Photobucket website-Photo and image hosting, free photo galleries, photo editing

Check out the 'tech support' section for information on getting them posted off photo bucket to your threads-http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/
Theres another method to upload them directly into a forum albumin, but I'm not fond of it, as it is a bit more difficult and you can only store like 10 or 15 photos.

Thanks for the suggestions of the games and the treats. I haven't found out what the macaw likes as a treat. Last Saturday he like pistachios and this week have nothing to do with them.

A varied diet is a GOOD thing. Parrots who eat the same thing everyday will probably take the same treat every time (which must get boring). A parrot with a varied diet will have changing tastes, and it makes life more interesting for the bird and more challenging for you Nuts are a good treat, but so are plain cooked noodles (organic is best), dried or dehydrated fruit & veg (as not to make a mess when the bird is not in it's area), bird bread/cookies/baked goods (check out the recipe section), small bites of cheese or yogurt, SMALL bites of things like crackers or cereal (but those should be very rare treats, though most piggy little birds will gobble them up).

I've tried another thing that the previous owner suggested - one of those scrubbies that humans use (not the scrubbies for pots and pans) and right now he doesn't want anything to do with it. He wants to play tug of war so tug of war it is. You are right...I may be playing too rough with him...I will watch that. But he keeps bringing the paper to me. It is so sweet.

Sounds like he already likes you (if he's wanting to play) and has opened a door of opportunity to bond with him by playing with him. And theres absolutely nothing wrong with playing tug of war a bird who enjoys it (and obviously this one does, very much!) You just have to keep in mind they are fairly delicate animals and just be diligent not to be too rough. Our amazon loves my husband, and is much more 'rough' with him than he is towards me. Kiwi seeks out the play fighting with him and my hubby has learned that fine balance of messing with Kiwi but not hurting him (and the bird just loves it, its so funny). Just be gentle

 

[Dopey]

From my camera to a computer I can do. I will just have to learn because I do want to share photos.

I keep forgetting that he really likes noodles - I have some at the house. I just don't fix pasta so it's something I will have to write down to do for him.

I think we both play kind of rough. Every once in a while we both stop...look at each other and then slow down the game for a few seconds. I can't wait until the quarantine time is over and we can spend time in the other room with the other fids.

 

[Lisamarie]

Aww my zippy loves tug of war he will play it with everything he not ment to though lol like curtains my TV remote my necklace and he loves the tassels of my jacket lol

 

[GW.Joe]

From my camera to a computer I can do. I will just have to learn because I do want to share photos.

I keep forgetting that he really likes noodles - I have some at the house. I just don't fix pasta so it's something I will have to write down to do for him.

I think we both play kind of rough. Every once in a while we both stop...look at each other and then slow down the game for a few seconds. I can't wait until the quarantine time is over and we can spend time in the other room with the other fids.

Congrats on the new Mac!!

I have an older phone too, what is the model ?

Most of the time you just take the memory card out of the phone and pop it into a USB reader

Joe

 

[Dopey]

Hi Joe - Sorry I missed this. It's a Verizon LG and that is all it says on the front. I have never had the back of the phone off so I don't know what is on the inside. It's been a good phone for me and I don't want to mess with the current relationship that we have.

 

[Dopey]

So now he has started to play ball with me. I purposefully ignore him and he will rattle paper fromt he top of his cage, or drop the dog rope in front of me and now it's drop the wiffle ball in front of me.

Yesterday he got out of his cage while I was gone and the only damage I have seen so far is that he chewed more of his wiffle ball. I did find some large pieces on the floor. I hope he didn't ingest too much of it. I will keep an eye on it.

 

[Dopey]

Aww my zippy loves tug of war he will play it with everything he not ment to though lol like curtains my TV remote my necklace and he loves the tassels of my jacket lol

Yep - he has started to play with the cord to the blinds. He knows he isn't supposed to because he will look at me before he grabs them and then while he is running them through his beak he turns around to make sure I am watching. I've also seen him touch the lock on the window. Between the three of them I've got my hands full right now.

 

[Lisamarie]

Yeah zippy knows not ment to aswell he will shout ah ah ah before does it lol iam getting another in few weeks I cannot wait till she hear he keeps me entertained when am on own he a handful when wants to be but cannot help laughing at him lol

 

[Dopey]

Yep - they are funny.

 

[GW.Joe]

Hi Joe - Sorry I missed this. It's a Verizon LG and that is all it says on the front. I have never had the back of the phone off so I don't know what is on the inside. It's been a good phone for me and I don't want to mess with the current relationship that we have.

Ok, no problem, needed the model number to help you get pictures off the phone (don't want to end up losing the pics if the phone breaks)

So Glad you are enjoying your baby, So funny how when you ignore him he will rattle paper, or drop the rope, or wiffle ball in front of you LOL

Going to see our new baby TODAY !!!

Joe

 

[Dopey]

Oh Joe - have a safe trip.

Birds are smart.