mymacaw

[mymacaw]

I have a question sid my macaw does not let anyone do anything with him but me which at first I thought was cute because every time i was out of his sight he would hollow mama until he could see me again. Heres the problem I have a cockatoo 2 teils 2 yorkies that also demand a lot of attention and sid cant stand it if im on the couch watching tv he just constantly thinks I am suppose to hold him and Its kinda hard to just try to ignore him any suggestions?

[Astrid660]

I'm not sure what to suggest, since I know they do require a lot of attention, and feel they deserve it! Maybe some more information would be helpful?
Sounds like you have a lot on your hands

[mymacaw]

yeh i do have a lot right because sid wants me all the time nobody else can touch him and i am worried if I have to off for a extended period of time what then?

[ljhassell]

With us being owned by 10+ there are always some that want Hubby and rest want me. The key thing is to give attention when you have the time to give quality time. I know ignoring them sometimes does no good- but believe me after being raised and owned by birds most of my 43 years it does eventually sink in to them and they learn the routine. If you set aside a certain time when ever in your day just for each indivdual bird it does work out and dont get frazzled if it doesnt they will not pass if a day gets to hectic.

[MicahEspudo]

Do you live alone?
If not try having the other person(s) socialize with sid (and your other animals). Have someone else feed and clean Sid's cage, give him his treats, and play with him. He will eventually come round and be able to be held by other people. This is why it is VERY important to socialize a young bird with many people and many situations so they do not have these behavioral "problems".

I don't own a Macaw... sorry I couldn't be more help :(

[mymacaw]

No Its me and my husband and my 20 yoa son at the house which mostly my son works all the time my husband does offer sid food etc--- and talks with him but if he tries to touch him sid will snap I know sid knows my husband is intimidated by him but my husband says Im not going to give him the chance to bite me now with my cockatoo, teils my 2 yorkies they all love him. when I first brought sid home Dec 2007 my oldest son and my daughter could play and hold sid just like I do but now sid wont let anyone but me do anything with him. sorry this ones so long.

[Ashling]

How old is Sid? You'll want to nip this is the bud ASAP! Clicker training sounds like it would help here... you might want to get onto it. I've never tried myself, but I've seen a fair few good vids on it. This is just my idea, you can try it if you like;
Train him in an area that isn't considered by him to be his own territory. Don't stare at him directly with both eyes, as this is considered a threat. Get your husband/ son to make him step-up from a perch, using a stick. If he lunges, stay still, and look away from him until he is calm again, then click and praise him for calming down and progress forward. When he puts a foot on the stick, click and praise and when he steps up onto the stick, click and reward him- whoever rewards him depends on his willingness to eat from your husband/ son's hand! Once he is at this point, start your husband/ son to hold a hand close, without touching, while the other hand rewards. Get that hand closer and closer, depending on Sid's comfort zone, until he will let them actually touch him. It'd be best to only have two people in the room at one time. As he progresses, your husband/ son will be able to reward from their own hand, and eventually step-up onto their hand too. After this has been acheved, start the process in a room considered "his." If he ever does bite someone, put him back in his cage for a 5-10 mins to show him that biting ANYONE doesn't let him be near ANYONE. Ignore him until he is quiet, then take him out and try again.
Does he bite only when you're there?
They got a B&G Macaw to stop lunging at a member of its household that it didn't like in-I think it was- less than an hour... but I can't remember that link! It's on youtube though. There is lots of info out there on this particular problem. Hope my idea helped a little and that you find a solution, you certainly can't have him biting family members, or being clingy. Good luck!

[mymacaw]

thanks I will give the clicker training a try I havent even thought about that. Now sid will take food from anyones hand no problem he just dont want them to touch him and yeh my husband trys to touch him when im not home but he still trys to bite. but I tell my husband Its his fault to because soon as sid reaches over to him my husband snatches back I tell him that sid is going to reach with his beak that is how that hold on but anyway -----------oh well. my son has given up on him totally so im just trying to get the husband and sid to bond as of now.