Inherited B+G Macaw

[Julesjacobs]

I really need some advice! I inherited a B+G macaw named Tara from my mother last september. Tara was hand reared by both my mother and myself from 11 weeks of age. I left home to work abroad for a year and then never moved back home afterwards. Tara was about 3 years old at this point. She had a very happy and loving relationship with my mother until my mother became extremely ill with cancer and was no longer able to take tara out of her cage for risk of a scratch and resultant infections. I have had daily contact with Tara since 2004 when i moved back to living nearby and looked after my mother for the last year of her life. Tara became very distressed towards the end of my mum's life as she shared the living room with my mother as she could no longer go upstairs and we could not move her upstairs.

After my mum passed away my husband and 13 month old daughter moved into my mums house to care for Tara. She was initially back to her old self of being a very aafectionate and loving bird. Then we made the mistake it seems of moving her cage in the room. She instantaneously became the bird from hell overnight (but mainly with me). So we moved her cage back, invested in several training videos, changed her diet to a mixture of seed mix in the morning and harrisons organic pellet food in the evening as well as fresh fruit and veggies. We have bought lots of new toys and rotate them on a weekly basis to stop boredom.

Whilst this has all helped with the screaming and she is talking more now. She has over the past few months becomevery aggressive towards me and totally bonded to my husband. She will attack me if he is around and scream uncontrollably if he goes to touch me or our daughter. It is as though she is completely jealous over my husband. This is strange as before she would never really have anything to do with him and certianly didn't favour him over me but she was never aggressive to anyone either. I am really at my wits end and i really desperately don't want to rehome her to a sanctuary as she was my mum's bird and i love her very much but i am getting to the point of feeling there is no other option. Please please please help anybody.

[Sashagirl]

The only thing I can say is to really be patient with her.Parrots in general don't do well with sudden change.How long ago did your mother die?It's possible that if it was recently she is still grieving.Please don't give up on her she needs time to adjust.Patience and understanding.I am now owned by 19 FIDS which includes 4 Macaws.Most of my birds were rescued,rehomed or just
purchased.They all have their individual personalities.Some have become hormonal due to sexual maturity.With time patience and understand I believe she will come around.

[Julesjacobs]

Hi, thank you for your response. My mum passed away end of August last year. I take comfort in what you said as i contacted a bird sanctuary here in the UK and they have a completely oppsoite opinion to all what i have read else where. They are of the opinion due to her age that she is desperate for bird companionship and we won't be able to do much with her in terms of training or bonding. I am really confused and now really don't know what to do for the best? Tara has never known any other bird as she was hatched from an egg and is terrified of even a small sparrow flying past in the garden.
I have backed off with tara completely and last nigth got my husband to bring her into another room away from her cage. I sat and palyed with some of her toys on the floor which she seemed inquisitive about. Is this the best approach to take?

Any advice would be much appreciated.