Macaw owners .... advise please..

[Suz Stickville]

I would appreciate some advise on how to approach and handle a 6 month old B&G.....

I will be going beck to pet store either later today or tomorrow ..... my bf wants me to handle/hold the B&G.....

I am TRYING to over come my fear of macaws and any advise would by very helpful.... I can pet this baby but am very leary of holding.....

BF is REALLY interested in the baby .... am trying for both thier sakes...

Suz

[bgmacaw]

I wish I could say this is how I did it, but I never had that fear of them. It has always felt natural. Having someone else hold the baby while you just touch/pet it is a way to get used to it.. Keep in mind that it will flap/sqwack as babies do. This is when I see most uncomfortable people jump. With slow motions I have not had a baby bite me like an older bird. Also remember. that major beak is a tactile tool for them. Once you are used to touching the back, wings, head, feet and that beak; move on to letting the baby perch on your arm. Did I mention just taking things slowly. They are unsure and unstable at this age so quick movement will frighten and unbalance them. And with that beak it is quite a balancing challenge. A well handle B&G is a dream.

[Suz Stickville]

When I petted the baby last month ... he/she just leaned into my hand.... the baby was still on the large playstand....

I was moving slowly ... have learned that quick movements startle birds already

Plan on petting/skritchin baby first ... then will try and see about holding/stepup..... that is the plan anyway....

Have to remember to put long sleeve shirt in van and wear into store....

Have mixed feelings about this....

Suz

[Irish]

Like most animals, macaws can "smell" fear a mile away. As they grow older, they may take advantage of that. Best to get over being fearful of the baby now, while he's still young and malleable :-). As well as petting and talking to the baby, you may want to offer it a suitable treat.

I must say, though, that I have been bitten HARD by Bob a few times. Even if baby bites, he's not going to be able to do you any serious damage (keep im away from your face, though). Yeah, it hurts, but it's not like he's going to rip out your juglar or have your innards for lunch! LOL! Personally, I prefer a Bob pinch any day over a nasty-mad li'l cockatiel or budgie bite. Those guys hang on and chew! Baby macaws just don't do that. Older, abused, frightened or neglected birds, maybe, but this little fellow is new to the world and if he's known only kindness, that's what he'll return to the world......

You can do it, Suz. Once you feel more comfortable around the new baby, you'll hardly be able to keep your hands off him, or your nose out of his wonderful-smelling feathers.

[Missi]

I think it's good to know the mannerisms of a baby macaw when going into handling one. I volunteer at an aviary and we have quite a few baby macaws right now. The thing that startled me the first time I held a baby macaw is that the baby made these random loud noises often. I wouldn't call them screams, but they made me jump and wonder if he was mad and going to bite or if I was hurting him somehow. The woman who was over seeing the baby and I (since it was my first time) said it was only normal reflex of baby macaws (as well as the head bobbing in very young macaws). As stated earlier, the baby will not bite you hard. Even if it does bite, it should only be a little pinch or pressure.

Remember to stay calm and talk baby to it. The best distraction for a baby macaw, in my opinion, is a gentle scratch on the neck or back of the head. I've touched the babies all over and noticed in they don't like to be pet on their white face skin and the front of their face at all really. However, that is typical of most parrots.

G'Luck!

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by Missi

I think it's good to know the mannerisms of a baby macaw when going into handling one. I volunteer at an aviary and we have quite a few baby macaws right now. The thing that startled me the first time I held a baby macaw is that the baby made these random loud noises often. I wouldn't call them screams, but they made me jump and wonder if he was mad and going to bite or if I was hurting him somehow. The woman who was over seeing the baby and I (since it was my first time) said it was only normal reflex of baby macaws (as well as the head bobbing in very young macaws). As stated earlier, the baby will not bite you hard. Even if it does bite, it should only be a little pinch or pressure.

Remember to stay calm and talk baby to it. The best distraction for a baby macaw, in my opinion, is a gentle scratch on the neck or back of the head. I've touched the babies all over and noticed in they don't like to be pet on their white face skin and the front of their face at all really. However, that is typical of most parrots.

G'Luck!

The face patch isn't for touching. It's for SMOOOOOOCHING. Off to feed the babies, and smoooooch.

Mike

[RingneckedPrincess]

And don't forget an ace bandage Best dang advice our Outlaw gave.

Don't show fear...like it was stated they know our emotions. Talk to the macaw and be friendly. Do not offer fingers for the bird to step up on, big no no. Offer your arm and be advised that the baby might flail about. They are still unsure of themselves. Just let the baby get settled.

Hmm...lets see...that beak. Ah yes...talk about a can opener on their face. Honestly a bite only feels like a pinch and when you have a lunging macaw at you, your adrenilan going you hardly ever feel it. They mostly bruise, mine have never broken the skin. I'd rather take on a macaw I don't know than a cockatiel I don't know.

Dani

[Machelle]

Definitely take things slow so you dont startle but another thing to remember is even though he may scare you, dont back down. He's going to try to show you who is boss. My baby GW is doing that on our visits. She will bite me to scare me. She doesn't apply pressure, she just yells and grabs my hand with her beak waiting for me to back off. If I do, she will think she is scaring me and that every time she does it I will back off. You have to show them you are the boss. That you will not be afraid of them. The beak really isn't that bad. Like the others have said, the smaller beaks are worse. I'm mroe afraid of my tiel beak than my macaw beak. I know its hard because when I got my amazon I was scare. He was my first big bird. Just remain calm and dont back down. You will do great. They are wonderful birds!

[The Outlaw]

Try to remember how wobbly baby macaws are and be prepared to bring her close to your chest once she's perched on your wrist. She will probably use her beak on your chest or shoulder to balance. Think of it as her hand. Talk softly and tell her how beautiful she is. Before you know it, you'll have to pry her off of you.

There are few creatures on the planet sweeter than baby macaws, ESPECIALLY baby BGs. Gently rub her beak and when she relaxes, which she will, you'll realize that there was never anything to fear.

[Suz Stickville]

I am not as afarid now.... I have a little more understanding of what I'm dealing with and how to go about meetin this baby....

I thank ya'll soooo much for this advise......

Suz