Zeus has arrived

[cstambaugh]

Today I adopted a 9 yr old Greenwing, named Zeus. He was doing very well while I was visiting the previous owners, whom had to give him up due to a no pets rule in their future residence. He knows a lot of words and commands, which is nice. I am quickly finding out that how sassy macaws are though.
This isn't my first bird, but it is my first macaw.

What should I expect while he goes though the transition of no longer being with his previous owner? I've never adopted before.
He seems to one minute be fine with me, he'll step up, take food, etc. The next minute he'll act like he's going to step up, but he'll almost lunge, trying to beak me. One second he's playing peek-a-boo, the next he's hissing.
I know he's still in discovery mode, and its his first night away so there is a lot going though his head.
I think I may have lost a little trust with him from acting so timid, so he's trying to be dominate over me. That I can change, just man up and quit being scared of him. haha

 

[thekarens]

They sure as heck will bluff you if you allow it.

Congrats, he's beautiful!

 

[horsesculpter]

What a darling! Macaws are sassy, egotistical, and determined to run things if they can. They are also extremely smart and will see right through you. He is both testing and also trying to figure out where he stands in his new family. Remember what a traumatic change this is for him. He is confused and frightened by the change. Kind of like a small child who has suddenly been wrest from his family and thrown into a new one. Sunny lunged and hissed for quite awhile before she accepted us as her family. It is really quite traumatic for these guys who would have their flock their whole life in the wild. Give him love and the benefit of the doubt. He will come around. It may be months or longer before you are a complete family.

 

[cstambaugh]

I expected this behavior to last awhile. I figured I'd let the fear subside for a couple of days, then start calling him out on his bluffs, all the while showing him that there is no reason to not trust me.

 

[Lis]

I have had some of this with my adopted GW, Pepper. It will take him a little while, but mine is a total clown. Give him a little while to get settled in.

 

[MikeyTN]

As long as your confident and call him out on his bluff he will back down. After owning Willie for 10 years I didn't think I could deal with a second Macaw until Lola came around. And yea she tried to run me over but I said nope your not, if I can deal with Willie for 10 years, your not running me over. So I started teaching her to respect and be gentle. She's doing soooooo much better now since she's been with me. Good luck on your baby!!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Many congrats on bringing Zeus home. What a beautiful GW!!!

Just remember, please, that Zeus will have to get used to his new surroundings, and this may take a while. Some adjust quicker than others, and then there is such thing as the "honeymoon period". :54: You will know when that is over, no doubt.

 

[mtdoramike]

I agree with the others. But this is the time to stand your ground with him. You must be firm with him and when you ask him to step up, DEMAND it with a loud stern voice until he realizes you mean business. Also, use your forearm, never your hand until you start really trusting him. I also would not allow shoulder time with him under any circumstances until you feel that you can trust him. It's also good to be a little fearful of any large bird with a beak that can easily break a bone, you just can't show your fear to the bird or they will know they have you on the run.

I don't blame him, I would have opted for the lollie pop over the banana too.

 

[TessieB]

All I can say is what a beauty!

 

[cstambaugh]

I know its only day 2, but here is where we are at.

He demands my presence, yelling if I leave. This doesn't bother me, my other parrot did the same.

He refuses to hop up, not even lifting his foot anymore. He just walks away from me.

When he is on top of his cage, he keeps trying to either walk to the other side of I'm at. Also, trying to stay above me, which is hard to remedy because his cage is 6' tall by itself.

He will take treats from my hands, but there is a 50/50 chance hell act like he's going to take it, but then bluffs like he's going for my hand. When he does this, I just take the treat away and sternly say STOP IT.

I think he just misses his old house. I wish I could take him into my house, but his cage (and him) smell awful. The cage is rusty and just worn and old. I'm hoping to sand it and paint it tomorrow, but it may be too far gone. He's currently in the garage (heated). If he would just step up once I could get him off the cage, to clean it.
With the holidays here now, it may be a few weeks until I would be able to get him a new cage.

I'm spending every spare second with him, trying to gain his trust.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I would not allow him on top of his cage just yet. I know that's probably easier said than done.

Do you have a playstand and/or T-stand away from the cage?

Does he step up on a hand held perch so that you can get him out of his cage and away from it?

He climbs to the top because he feels secure up there, plus he gets a better view of all the things around him. They are VERY very slick, aren't they?

 

[cstambaugh]

I'm going to try the hand perch tonight. As soon as I would open the cage door, he would immediately go on the top. He has places he can perch away from his cage.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Ok, I have an idea. As soon as you open the cage door, put one hand above the door, so he can't get to the top without stepping up onto your other arm.

 

[cstambaugh]

Ok, I have an idea. As soon as you open the cage door, put one hand above the door, so he can't get to the top without stepping up onto your other arm.

I like. This may also help me show him I know he's full of hot air if he tries to tell me "outta my way."

I've got to get this cage thing figured out. It seems to take around a week to paint a cage yourself, and of course all the cheap large cages cant be found on craigslist right now haha. Oh well, I'll get it figured out.

 

[Birdman666]

YEP! Wishy-washy doesn't work with Greenwings. And even though they have pretty even temperments, they do tend to have dominance issues, especially if you let them know they can...

Firm hand, boundary setting, and nurturing guidance works with these guys.

You raise them the same way you would a human toddler. Don't let the toddler run the household!

 

[strudel]

It seems to take around a week to paint a cage yourself,

I have a cage I need to fix up. When I rang up the paint manufacturer, the guy I spoke to also said you should leave it for a month or so afterwards (can't remember off the top of my head what he said). Even though their paint is bird safe, he said you should still leave it for a while before use.

 

[cstambaugh]

This evening was a huge move for Zeus. I pick up the perch stick, and he didn't like that one bit. It was terrifying to him for some reason, so I didn't force it. As soon as I put it down, he says "hop up" and let's me hold him. I take him into the house and he's having a blast. Wings fully out, bobbing, etc. He acting like he's been my bird for the last 10 years.

I do have a question about something he is doing, and I caught video of it.
http://static.photobucket.com/playe...x271/majastic/20131104_213224_zpsa85f3a73.mp4
Is this a hiss, or just him saying "sshhhhh"? I assume it's him trying to test me. When I went to make him hop up from the chair, he beaked me, but I wasn't afraid, didn't move. He looks up at me looking for a reaction, I just stare at him and say STOP THAT, and walked away for a little. He repeated the whole thing, and so did I. The third time, he hopped up without any fuss.

I did figure out that if he is is physically over me like on top of his cage, he thinks he is superior, testy, and bluff bird. When he is shoulders or below, he is 100% fun bird.

 

[nyspy]

That's definitely a hiss. It's nothing to be worried about. He's playing, but he's going to test you. My macaw did the same thing. Just spend the time to gain his trust. It sounds like you're off to a great start!

FWIW, mine hisses at me every once in a while, but it's just part of the way they are. Like I've stated in the past, "Macaws are bipolar with a bit of psychosis thrown in." Nothing to worry about. Just enjoy it! All the other movements definitely point to him being playful and happy. He's just learning his boundries with you.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I did figure out that if he is is physically over me like on top of his cage, he thinks he is superior, testy, and bluff bird. When he is shoulders or below, he is 100% fun bird.

With all due respect, especially because it's your face and not mine, please be careful allowing Zeus on your shoulders.

I've had my Ripley since January, and he IS going through his terrible twos, and he is NEVER allowed on my shoulders simply because I treasure my ears, eyes, nose, and flesh in and around those places. :54: I'm not saying I don't trust him, but he DOES get carried away on occasion, and I don't want that happening to parts of my face and/or surrounding area.

 

[nyspy]

Oh.. If he didn't like the perch stick, clearly someone used to chase him around with one at one time. Don't use it unless absolutely necessary.