Adopting a Military Macaw

[katieleon]

Hi everyone! I am a relatively new/potential parrot 'parront'. We currently have a green cheek that we bought from a pet store about 3 years ago. He is a lovely part of the family and we all enjoy having him. I am now in the process of looking for another bird to add to our flock. I found a local rescue and have spoken to volunteers and customers and found it very reputable. Upon my initial visit I was thinking of getting a medium bird (grey, cockatoo, blue front etc) but remained open to the options since she has a wide variety. I was (and still slightly am) wary of the larger macaws due to that intimidating beak. A volunteer took us through showing us the birds, answering questions, and occasionally getting one out. One bird in particular took to me immediately. George, a military Macaw, was initially placed on my husband. He immediately showed his preference and started reaching for me. I did hold him for a short period that day and fell in love with him as well. He preferred me even over his favorite volunteer. The rescue has a policy of visiting the bird several times to build the bond, learn about care etc. This is fine with me as I am still a bit nervous. I have visited him twice so far with plans to continue to do so. The latest visit I incurred a couple bites. I reacted well and as told, telling him to be gentle and having him step up to distract from the biting. I have read and watched anything and everything I get my hands on, trying to learn as much as I can. I am aware the best way to build our bond is to start training but our current situation does not allow for that. So finally for my question. What is the best way for me to build my bond with George given he is not living with me yet? I am also hoping that building my bond with him will keep more bites from happening. I appreciate any direction any of you can give me on this. I look forward to speaking with and learning from all of you!

[Wolf]

Hi katieleon;

Fact of life: Parrots Bite!! All parrots bite!

I don't normally set up training schedules with my parrots. You know' the old ok bird it's school time, type deal. I believe that every instant that I am with my birds that the interaction is training for both of us. I just live, work and play with them. I spend a lot of time talking with them and if they do something wrong I tell them about it and use the next few minutes showing them what I want them to do instead. This is not to say that I don't teach them tricks and stuff, its just in a more of a ; Lets Play ; type format. As I have observed in all of nature, that's the way their parents taught them so it is the most natural way for them to learn and retain anything. So that is the best advice that I have to offer you; Relax and enjoy the time you have to share with your friend ( BIRD ). It is also the best bonding method that I know of, for both of you. Just remember to go slow as you don't speak parrot and this make communication a bit awkward at first. If the bird pulls back or otherwise says " Maybe Not" listen and don't push it and that will help you to not get bit.

Almost forgot, Welcome to the forums, I hope you enjoy them.

[katieleon]

Hi Wolf. Thank you for the reply. I am aware of the fact I will get bitten and I have come to terms with that. I think what drives me crazy is that I don't know what I did wrong. And since the incident is not video recorded I will never know. Thank you for the advice on training. I will be going to see George tomorrow and to help the rescue clean/set up the aviary for summer. So happy it is getting nice out.

[Wolf]

Hi again;
Simply put you got bit because you didn't catch the indicators that you were crowding the bird, doing thins that he was not yet ready for. I don't have this type of bird, I have a Senegal, an African Grey ( CAG), and an Amazon, they all have differing body language but they all give warning before they bite, sometimes I misread it and get bit.

That is why I said if they pull back or are hesitant in any way slow down and pay attention as they may be saying " Maybe Not". They usually pin their eyes before they bite but you still need the rest of the body language because they also pin their eyes when they are intent on something or enjoying a tasty morsel. So to begin with while you learn to read your bird when it is hesitant about something, stop or at least slow down a lot if you don't want to get bit.

Since I don't train my birds in the normal sense of the term and my approach is totally about living as part of the birds flock, my advice was not about training but was about how to learn to get along with your bird/friend on a daily basis. My birds and I live together and are always learning from each other. It is always a two way street.

[Pajarita]

Welcome to the forum and thank you for adopting instead of buying! I am sure that I don't need to tell you that there is a big difference between a tiny GCC and a Military but the one thing that you will have to be VERY vigilant about is that GCC are fearless and jealous and that a Military can easily kill it or maim it so, please, please, please, don't let them out together and interact with each one in a different room (this is because one bird can fly to the other's cage and the GCC will get hurt before you can get to it in time (it's very easy to pull a beak off, chomp a leg off, etc through the bars of a cage). Mind you, I am not saying it's not possible to have different species because I do and I am not saying that you might not be super lucky and have two birds that either get along or completely ignore one another, all I am saying is don't let your guard down.

As to how to bond while you are just visiting.... well, it's not easy because, with parrots, it's the every day sharing of life that does it but he has already shown a predilection for you and that's a huge step in the right direction so I would just continue visiting as often as possible, choosing the best times to do it (after breakfast and before sunset) and just spending time with him as well as bringing him special treats (find out from the volunteers what are his favorites and bring them with you but bread is something they all love -try NuttyAlmond by Arnold's).

I would also recommend bringing a stuffed toy with you to distract him when he starts displaying a bit of aggression although I would not worry overmuch about his nipping (was it nipping or actual biting?) because we are in breeding season and hormones always make them cranky plus, I bet he wants you to stay there all the time and is a bit annoyed at you for leaving him -which, of course, cannot be helped.

[katieleon]

Hi Pajarita! I wasn't planning on having my GCC out at the same time as George. I know from previous experience that our GCC is quite the dominant little thing. Shortly after we first got him we were babysitting a Sun Conure at our house. We learned very quickly that Paquito (our GCC) was going to try to be the big boss! It completely amazed me how fearless he was. Luckily the Sun Conure didn't decide to take a chunk out of him.
I was afraid that was the answer with the bonding. I am not sure I know the exact difference between biting and nipping when it comes to macaws. I know that I still have bruises with lumps (almost a week later) but I did not get the impression he was being aggressive. Then again I am new at this and have not quite learned all the signals. I just did not feel like he was being aggressive with it.
I did visit him this past Saturday and made a big mistake that I knew better on. I was there to help clean up the aviary for summer and wasn't paying attention to my time. By the time I looked I only had 15 mins with him but dumby me got him out anyway. Needless to say he did not want to go back in and got me in the crook of my arm.
I am very worried that I won't become comfortable enough to ever bring him home which breaks my heart. I have a feeling I know the answer to this but here it goes.
Any advice on where I should go from here? Any tips on gaining the confidence to handle him? At this point I am so nervous about reading his body language properly and not getting bit that I know I am doing more harm in the end than good. I love George very much but am so afraid that I am pushy myself too much and giving him false hope/attachment.

[Wolf]

Can't you just continue to do what you are doing for a while, at least until you are more comfortable and learn more of his signals? This is the point that I was trying to make when I said that if he showed any reluctance to slow down and/or back off. If you follow Pajarita's lead and bring his favorite treats with you, you can save one or two for when you put him in his cage and give it to him and put him in cage to eat it. They do not normally bite with a treat in their mouth.

Just a thought.

[katieleon]

Wolf,
I am going to continue visiting at this point. I am just worried my nerves are going to get the best of me and cause more issues. I am definitely going to try and work through it though. I really like George and think if I can get past this we will be as good as gold. I will try the treat thing when I visit tomorrow or Saturday. I will let you a guys know how I make out.

[Pajarita]

Well, needless to say, nobody can give you the 'courage' to handle a large bird with confidence, it's just something you will have to develop yourself. But I will tell you a couple of things I've learned handling aggressive birds and about macaws, in particular. Everybody with half a brain is afraid of a large bird at the beginning. It's normal. Their size and their 'foreign-ness' (I know there is no such a word but I couldn't think of another one to point out the difference between say, a dog, which most of us can read very well, and a bird). As time goes by and with the inevitable bites, you start realizing that it's like when you were a kid and had to go to the dentist: it might hurt but the fear of the pain is actually more than the pain itself.

Macaws are actually one of the most mild-mannered parrot species, they are late risers, laid back, very affectionate (they imprint quite deeply to humans) and, when it comes to potential aggression, I would take a macaw over a sun conure or a quaker any day of the week. It's just their size that is so imposing but they are like great danes, huge animals with a heart of gold.

Now, if you only have welts, he most definitely was not been aggressive with you. People forget that a bird in a shelter is a bird without a family. Volunteers try their best but they are usually not there every single day, all day long, and they tend to come and go, which is very hard on a parrot. So poor George is feeling confused, a bit lonely and like he doesn't 'belong'. And that would test the most mild-mannered bird! And, yes, you are right, you made a huge mistake when you were working around him and not 'been' with him as he considers this his 'due'. If I were you, I would forget about volunteering and just concentrate on spending time with him. You can always go back and help out AFTER you get him home.

Now, why don't you wear something thick and long sleeved? You can always buy a piece of quilted material and make yourself 'sleeves' from it or simply wrap a thick towel around your arms and secure with duct tape. This will protect your arms from his nipping (bites is when they break the skin). But, the most important thing is to find a way of interacting with him that will not make you nervous so a T stick is in order. A T stick is exactly that, two sticks that form a T. The bird perches on the horizontal one and you hold the vertical, this doesn't not only prevent the bird from biting you while you move him from one place to another but also from 'running' down the stick to do it. You can ask him to step up to it, move him to a stand that will be next to you and interact from there. This is a good way to handle a bird we are afraid of until we learn his body language and bond with him. As you gain more confidence, you can start allowing him on your arm again (at the beginning, with the 'sleeves'). I would also start target training -not much, mind you, just a bit so he starts getting the idea of it and to give you a chance to give him treats without him thinking that this is all you are good for (although it doesn't hurt if he does -LOL).

[katieleon]

Thank you Pajarita! Yes I figured there were no magic words for becoming more confident with him but a girl can hope right?! My first serious of bites I was wearing my thickest sweater. It really did help. It was more of a pressure thing if that makes sense? He was on my leg, I placed my left arm on my leg in front of him, which I guess is what he didn't like. He knocked his beak on my arm once or twice (which I now know from research is a warning) them grabbed and began applying pressure. The last bite, I was not working around him. I was outside in the aviary and he didn't see me until I finally realized time was flying. Again I am aware this is my fault. I will try wearing my sweater (harder with warm weather) or sleeves in coming visits. Question regarding the sleeves though. I know some birds are not found of people wearing gloves, would that same ring true for sleeves? I would not want to freak him out in the process of me being comfortable.
Part of me would like to get him home so I can work with him better but the other part knows that I am not ready for that yet. A couple mistakes on my part and we could both have issues! Alas onward and upward. I was going to visit tonight but the husband is working overtime so I will have to wait for Saturday. I will probably take a trip with the kids to the store though. We are in the process of finishing an aviary for our green cheek and I need to get some toys and such for it! I will try to post pictures when it is finished!