What do you do when your macaw turns on you?

[B&G devil]

Hi,
I am new to this board. I found it when deperately searching for some advice on my macaw. Here's the story. We have a 10 year old B&G. It's her 3rd home. We've had her for two years. She has always liked me and my husband. But really she is more his baby. He loves that bird the most of all our pets. We have 4 cats. That was never a problem, they were here first.

We got a puppy about 2 months ago, she is small a pomeranian and here is the problem. The problem is not with the two animals but with the bird and my husband. We are assuming that she is jealous because she has turned on my husband completely. It started slowly and has progressed to the point where she won't let him near her and tries to attack him whenever he goes near her. She bit him so hard yesterday he was gushing blood. She raises her wings and fluffs up her feathers and lunges at him. It is breaking his heart. She was the first one he would go to when he got home. She won't even talk to him when he removes her cover in the morning. She would always say hello. Now all she wants is me and I am the one they pays all the attention to the dog. He tries to ignore the dog when she is watching. Any advice on how to get his baby back? Do you think there could be something else going on with her? Like puberty or something. Honestly I don't know all that much about birds. All I know is they were happy and now she is destroying the house (literally) (also new behavior) and my husband is devastated. HELP!!!!

[RMSacha]

First, the macaw is more than likely reacting to the new puppy... When your husband comes home, make sure he greets the macaw first and talks with him, THEN he can go to the pup... Macaws can be very resilient so it's just a matter of reassuring her that she is still number one in his eyes.

I would also recommend building a "library" of behavior books, Sally Blanchard is an excellent source/author and so is Bonnie Monroe Doan. There is vast knowledge out there for those who are willing to spend some nice evenings reading a book or two.

DON'T GIVE UP! Best of luck!

[B&G devil]

He was already doing that. Looks like I will be making a trip to borders for some behavior books. Thanks for the advice.

[MiniMama]

First, I really recommend bringing in an avian consultant. I do think the macaw is jealous of the puppy. I just brought home a third bird, and my first two macaws have given me a few sharp nips. But, I've been working with a consultant to make sure the transition evens out. Good luck!

[wildirish]

If you are the one playing with the puppy more than hubby I think your B&G has just decided you are his mate and your hubby is now the interloper.

We have that same situation here with some of ours. Sometimes with a lot of patience and time you can break through it and sometime you don't.

As for behavorist, be careful, a lot of people claim to be one and have no more experience than the next person. The same with advice and books. What works for one bird and situation may or may not work with another, LOL!

I would try to let hubby give her treats and talk to her. Have you tried to take her away from the cage and leave her in another room with hubby? She may be protecting you and her cage.

Our GW, hates hubby and lunges at him daily, sometimes he will relax enough to allow hubby to pet him. It is almost spring and hormones are on the rise. With a 10 year old you will get the fun and joys of breeding season.

[B&G devil]

Thanks for the input. I always wondered which one of us was actually the chosen one. I think it was probably me all along and she just put up with him. He is not afraid of her and I am scared of that beak. She was always very jealous. We are not allowed in the bathroom together with the door shut. She screams non stop till we open it and she can watch what we are doing. You don't even want to let her see me kiss or hug him. Can you say temper tantrum? Wow they really are controlling aren't they?