Expert Advice on Biting and Toys - Long questions

[KimM]

Hi All

I have a 20 mo old Harlequin Macaw named Newton. He is my first macaw. I have 2 questions

1. He continues to bite and pinch. I've tried everything suggested including pushing his beak away, replacing my fingers, etc with toys, depositing him on the floor, telling him no, stick method instead of my hands (he knows the difference). I've tried the stern approach with no, I've tried the gentle approach. The depositing on the floor works for a little bit as he walks away with an "attitude", then comes back over to me and starts biting or pinching again - not enough to break the skin, but enough where I'm concerned he's not being social or well-behaved. It must be something wrong I am doing? Please advise.

2. I keep a variety of toys for him and change them out every two weeks or less (usually because he's destroyed them, which I know he's supposed to do or dissembled them) He's even dissembled his large rings. He's extremely mechanically inclined and knows how to dissemble them all. I have wooden toys, soft, cuddly toys, toys with rope for him to preen, rings (enemy toy), hard plastic toys which are supposed to be indestructible and he knows how to dissemble them ALL pretty quickly. I can even give him a bottle I have troulbe opening and he opens it for me. He's a really smart boy and I'm concerned he's not getting mentally stimulated enough. At this point, I'm thinking about a RUBIKS cube - LOL. Any suggestions to keep this growing boys brain stimulated?

Thanks, Kim

[Maui's Mom]

Newton is gorgeous !! What a pretty pretty baby you have. I have 3 GW's all under the age of 2 and they seem to have figured out every which way to disassemble a toy, unhook hooks, open things I cant open and yes they even nibble at times. I have tried the time outs, the squirt gun technique, I swear one day the oldest one grabbed the squirt gun and squirted me back LOL

The nibbling seems to have stopped quite a bit for now. When they get a little to crazy, I squirt them as if giving them a bath, that seems to stop the nibbling, they love a bath and are to into opening their wings to get totally soaked to continue biting at my tender fingers.

Im looking forward to the expert advise also. The toys, well .... I have spent a small fortune, enuf to feed a small 3rd world country and there is no toy they dont destroy.

Good luck and I guess I'll sit back and wait for the replies.

[KimM]

Thanks! Yes, he is a handsome fella. He even tells himself that saying "what a handsome bird!" It's hilarious. I absolutely love him to death, but want him to be social and well behaved with everyone. That is hilarious with the squirt gun! I don't know how you kept a straight face. I'm eager to see the experts replied too.

[Maui's Mom]

Kim what made you decide on a Harlequin macaw ? being your first bird I mean.

[jessica313]

kim, i unfortunantly have no advice to give u as i am not an expert by any means and i do not have a macaw. i do however wanna say....

YOUR BABY IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

[KimM]

I actually researched macaws for 2 years before I made a decision. I've had other birds before, but smaller - cockatiel, canaries, finches, etc. I was on a waiting list for a blue and gold. When the owner showed me this 8 wk old harlequin baby... he flipped his head back, looked right at me and said, "Hewo". It was love at first sight! We bonded almost instantly. Since they're the GW and B & G mix, I knew they were more docile. What I had no idea about is how incredibly intelligent they are.

[svolk]

I know that for mental stimulation foraging toys are good. It allows him to work and disassemble something to get the toy/treat inside. I only have 2 little guys so I'm not the person to suggest exactly what kind of toys you can make/buy, but maybe do a search on here for "foraging toys." I know there have been discussions about them and what kinds of toys would be good for a macaw.

And I agree with everyone else, he's gorgeous!

[Valo's Moirana]

i once came across the suggestion to use a (rather large) set of bolts and nuts (just from the hardware store, stainless, zinc free and disinfected before use) for mechanically talented large parrots. that might be something you could consider. the goal would be for him to take the assembly apart.
also, thought about puzzles? you can get bird puzzles that require quite a smart birdie. sounds like it could be the right thing for your newton (great name for a gorgeous bird, btw).
can't help you with the biting though - seems like you already tried all the things i'd suggest. well, one thing: think about using "SSSSSTOPPP" instead of NO - it has the hissing sound to it, that generally catches birds' attention and is a little harsher than NO.
good luck!

[Maui's Mom]

I just did a huge search online for toys and it seems that I have had them or something that looks just like it. I found and purchased these stainless steel buckets, I dont know who makes them, maybe someone here can help with that . well 1 is still hanging in one of the bird cages, 2 of the birds figured out how to chew at the chain and it went to the bottom, but i still have them and put them on the bottom of the cage for them to play with. I fill the bucket with smaller bird toys, wood pieces, bagels etc and then I also put some walnuts or pinenuts in them, they seem to have a blast finding the goodies and grabbing them. As I write Im watching the 3 of them play on their bongs, I tied bagels to them and they are having a blast .

[grandma]

Originally Posted by KimM

Hi All

I have a 20 mo old Harlequin Macaw named Newton. He is my first macaw. I have 2 questions

1. He continues to bite and pinch. I've tried everything suggested including pushing his beak away, replacing my fingers, etc with toys, depositing him on the floor, telling him no, stick method instead of my hands (he knows the difference). I've tried the stern approach with no, I've tried the gentle approach. The depositing on the floor works for a little bit as he walks away with an "attitude", then comes back over to me and starts biting or pinching again - not enough to break the skin, but enough where I'm concerned he's not being social or well-behaved. It must be something wrong I am doing? Please advise.

2. I keep a variety of toys for him and change them out every two weeks or less (usually because he's destroyed them, which I know he's supposed to do or dissembled them) He's even dissembled his large rings. He's extremely mechanically inclined and knows how to dissemble them all. I have wooden toys, soft, cuddly toys, toys with rope for him to preen, rings (enemy toy), hard plastic toys which are supposed to be indestructible and he knows how to dissemble them ALL pretty quickly. I can even give him a bottle I have troulbe opening and he opens it for me. He's a really smart boy and I'm concerned he's not getting mentally stimulated enough. At this point, I'm thinking about a RUBIKS cube - LOL. Any suggestions to keep this growing boys brain stimulated?

Thanks, Kim

Kim, I think you have a real problem...all that BEAUTIFUL bird wants, is to come live at my house!