Severe Misbahaving

[Starr]

I just brought home my baby severe (9 mo. old) so far things are going good. The problem is this, he will not step up when in or ontop of the cage and the problem seems to be getting worse. When in the cage he hangs from one foot and clings with his beak (possible game??), if he's not holding on with his beak hes biting me. Not hard, but just enough to be uncomfortable and irritating to say the least. I have chase him all over the top of the cage, pain in the butt. He really loves froot loops so last night I try to bribe him with a froot loop, he would come over to me and try everything to get it but still wouldn't step up with out peeling his toes off the door. Once out he will step hand to hand rather arm to arm, as he prefers to sit on your arm but he tries everything possible to get up to my chest to snuggle. Once there if I try to get him off he grabs my shirt with his beak to hold on which alot of times results in pinching. Once I get him off the cage, he will not be anwhere else but on me. If I set him down anywhere he jumps right on to my chest and clings for dear life! If my girls want to hold him I have to be out of sight otherwise he just looks for ways to get to me. I love his snuggling but how do I get him to do anything else if he's clinging onto my shirt all the time??

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

He could be just scared or could be guarding his territory. One of mine was kinda like that when I got her. She would bite me & everything. But after about a week she started to calm down. She still wants to be with me all the time though. If I leave the room, she follows. Romeo acted like he had been there for years when he came home. He would come right out of his cage, snuggle, etc. He's still a snuggle bug but will play by his self, sometimes. I used to use a perch to get Nalah off her cage. If I used my hand, I would bleed. But like I said, after a week or so, she was fine. I'm sure some will be able to help more. Crystal

[kensbuns]

Maybe he has never been taught to step-up. I would find a way to teach him.

[MaryG1959]

At 9 mo's he's still very much a big baby!

I would try to remove him from the area where his cage is, take him into another room. If he absolutely will not come to you, then towel him and get him in another room. Sit and work with him....."step up" then put him down, "Step up" etc until he gets the hang of it.

If you chase him, he's probably thinking it is an awesome game! See Mommy Run! lol......

With a 9 mo' old, it will take time as he's still a baby---this is compounded by the fact that Severe's definately have a mind of their own! lol

[MaryG1959]

another things I did (which could be right or wrong)....when I got my first large macaw, I sat on the floor near her cage w/her door open and played with some neat toys and had a couple treats on my lap. Didn't take her anytime at all to come find out what Mommy was doing!

[Starr]

The thing is that once I do get him off the cage, he just wants to be on me. If I can get him off my shirt he just follows me and will actually climb from the floor all the way up me to get back onto my shirt. (It's actually kind of funny) I love his cuddling, but I would also like him to play outside of the cage as well. He probably does just need more time to adjust.

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

Romeo, my first Severe loved to cuddle too. He was only about 5 months when I got him. He is a yr now & is a little more indepent but would still prefer to be on me. My sun conure did the same thing as far as following me around & climbing up my leg. All my babies are shoulder babies. I know thats not a good thing but they are. The first day I brought my second severe home she ran up my arm & chomped my face. Maybe your baby is just being a typical baby. He wants his mommy. LOL Crystal