Taming a B&G

[Cowgirl Chris]

Ok I really need help here. I told everyone how I got a B&G that is 7-8 months old (unknown sex) in November (around the 14th) Now the elderly woman that I got him off of, could handle him/her, but he was still mean to everyone and was just rotten in a good way to her. Since I have had Tiny, I have gotten him to let me pet him mostly on a regular basis, but I am still having trouble with getting him to step up on my arm or hand without him trying to nail me. Every now and then he will get on me on his own, but that is the only time unless I use a wooden dowl to get him. I do also have to be careful when petting him, because sometimes he/she will try to bit me. I do get kisses from him/her, so I do know that I am making some progress. I know that everything takes time, but he just seems to be going from jeckle and hid on me every day. One day it seems like he is making a great step forward and then the next it is like the first day I brought him home. I really need help on this. I have owned parrots for seven years and all of my birds have giving me trouble from time to time but I have always been able to figure out how to train them into being a great pet. I just don't know what I am doing wrong. I know that macaws are totally different in training then the amazons, ekkies and GCC. So can anyone help me figure out how to train him into being a great pet. Does anyone know of a good training kits for macaws?

[Carbonproduct]

I'm not an expert on parrot behaivior, I've only had Blu, my B/G one year, but I have read eight or nine books about parrots. That helped alot. But what I found worked best for me was patience. Just hang out together and watch him watching you while you watch back. Take your time, and your clues from him. TRUST it seems, is the number one factor between humans and birds. Every bird is different but they all have one thing in common. They demand trust in order to feel comfortable enough to be trained. It may seem like it takes forever, but every little bit counts. I am still establishing trust with my B/G and he'll be two years old May 5th. After a year together, we've come along way. But it's taken me just as long to trust him. I feel much more confortable holding or handling him as I'm sure he feels the same. Birds sence when your being sincere or scared. Scary as it may seem to him, you probably find him scary as well. (The Beak on a B/G is Scary enough) So take your time and learn to trust each other. Don't make holding or touching him a priority, more over treat it like an end result of much earned, sometimes long awaited trust between you both. It will come. Eventually, if you just let each other have time to feel comfortable and safe together. It is worth it.
Good Luck and remember, TRUST, TIME and TOGETHERNESS.

[Monica]

Sadly, I believe the macaw that Chris is talking about (Tiny) has passed away... This is an old post, and there were some unknown factors to poor Tiny's death. Good thing is, at least he had a great end to his life, as he was well loved!

[Carbonproduct]

I'm sorry for the loss of Tiny. I hope my advice will help others with their B&G.

[NorriesMom]

Carbonproduct,
Thanks for the info in this post, I found it helpful. My B&G Andy is acting the same way Tiny was. Good to see i'm not the only one that has this problem.

~Liz~