Aggressive Greenwing, please help!

[marxxx]

Hello all, first post on the forums here!

We recently got a greenwing macaw. He is 8 months old and was hand fed by the breeder until he was fully weaned and he could be shipped to us (about 2 weeks ago). He started out stand-off-ish as I imagine would be the case with most birds up-rooted and taken to a new home. He is always glad to take food from us and started to show some trust, he will usually step up, and likes to be scratched around the head. The problem is when he decides he wants something he gets aggressive. Example, he will be fine sitting on my arm, but if stopped from climbing to the shoulder he starts yelling and nipping. We have not tolerated this and immediately give him a timeout. He has been getting worse lately though as he nips and gets defensive when in his cage, and has progressed to biting at you through the cage.

I don't understand why, we have followed all the training advice (that we can remember) reading on the forum, from positive reinforcement, to distracting him when he gets aggressive, to time outs. He hasn't been yelled at or mis-handled yet his behavior is getting worse.

We have called the breeder several times and we are following her advice as well. He is being covered at night and getting a full nights sleep in a dark quite room. He is being offered tons of different foods, and has a nice selection of toys. We let him out several hours per day, but he would rather stand on top of the cage than have anything to do with us. This holds true whether I am alone or not. I have tried just sitting with him on the floor and everything is good until he wants to climb where he isn't supposed to. I simply block where he shouldn't be going and nicely tell him no. That is ok for a minute, but he repeats several times until he gets aggressive.

The breeder has offered to take him back, and I am strongly leaning towards this option as I don't want an aggressive bird.

Advice from experienced keepers would be greatly appreciated, do you think I should send him back? I am not sure what to do. I don't want to give up on him to early (everyone says how great greenwings are). I just don't see that personality in this animal. He seems very independent and not very tolerant of people at all. I personally think there is something or someone in the house he dislikes.


Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for any advice.

Mark

[KimM]

My first couple of questions would be how long have you had him? Second, did you visit with him frequently before he was sent to you to bond with the family?

If you have not had him very long and did not have the opportunity to bond with him at the breeder's regularly, it will take some substantial time.

Keep working with him. It may takes weeks or even months depending on him, you and the family.

[RMSacha]

First, I think this boy needs more time--two weeks is nothing! Considering he has been shipped (and its not always a pleasant experience), brought into a new environment, and is dealing with new people, allow him time to adjust. Greenwings can be head strong, and they're not all alike, they are individuals and they form their bonds a bit slower than B&Gs but the bond usually does form and it is a strong one. This boy is young, he will learn in his own time what he can and cannot do, just be patient and perhaps read some of Sally Blanchard's resources--they can provide vast amounts of information. Use positive reinforcement for good behaviors and I believe in ignoring the bad ones... macaws love to be with people, ignoring them for 5 minutes or giving them a "time out" will emphasize that something wrong has been done.

If you're leaning towards sending him back, then do so... but then, I would emphasize that you weigh your expectations and needs before bringing home another bird, or perhaps buy from someone local so you can develop a bond or see if there is a "connection" between you and the potential baby. Shipping, like I said earlier can be a stressing thing and you have to take that into consideration...

Boys can be a bit more rambunctious than girls also... they're like human children--girls usually are a bit more subdued but boys want to play a bit rougher... But, then my girl GW likes to get "mouthy" but it's her way of playing and after she gets it out of her system, she turns into this huge pile of red feathers that wants to be cuddled..

I can't see the environment you are providing or the interaction between you so I really can't give you more insight. I will say that if a GW prefers to stay in its cage, that can be a trust issue and you can work it out but the key is kindness, a calm voice, and patience.

Again, please look for some resources by Sally Blanchard, she can provide a lot of great insight.

Good luck!

[DLF]

Hi Mark,

Sorry to hear your baby (about 9 months?) is being a little aggresive. I have a BTM that we picked up from the breeder in TX , about 6 mo. of age, and drove her back to MI. She had not seen us before that. This girl was labeled a bit standoffish at the breeder's but we either took her or waited for another baby to hatch the next time around. We chose her.

She did all of the right things as far as stepping up and down, etc. but she was always "pinchy" and very opinionated about what she was going to do when asked. She didn't seem to love us and we felt bad.

We continued to be patient and love her and treat her like a princess and gradually things changed. The first year we had her was the most difficult & trying for all of us. But, gradually, we began to see a change.

At 3 1/2 years now, she is an absolute delight. She adores us and we feel the same about her. She is very self-assured and still headstrong but I know how to read her and work with all of her moods. She is very loving and feels very safe with us. She now will lie on her back in our hands and she wouldn't have dared trust us to do that for the first 2 years we had her!

I truly believe she thought she was going to go "home" to TX that first year and was just biding her time with us. It took her a long time to trust us and to feel that we were really part of her family.

She is now outgoing, daring, funny, acrobatic, and a joy to hug & kiss.

I don't know if this helps but we can't believe the difference in our girl from when we first got her. It took a lot to earn her love and respect but I think we have it for life now. I guess I'm saying with time, a little patience, consistent treatment in the way you handle your baby and a whole lot of love--I really believe your baby will come around.

When you get a baby, you're pretty much starting with a fresh slate or new canvas, so you can help "create" your little one's personality. I'd hang in there with your baby because it sure paid off for us and our girl.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted.

Denise

[ljhassell]

All of our birds are rehomes and especially macaws, takes longer to establish trust. Very few have been love at first sight. I'd leave him be for a couple days, no sticking anything through bars or "invading" his space. We consider a foot around cage as their space as well, yes when in cage we talk and let them see us interact with other birds, this shows them you mean no harm and all is safe and calm. Scramble an egg, with a little chesse serve them in his feed dish alittle warm, and eat a spoon full with him, talking and let him feel you want him part of the flock. We adopted a B&G from horrible conditions, they would roll her cage outside and cold hose it down with her in it, use the vaccum to get to seed cup and kept in dark- cold basement. It took us 1200.00 in vetting, 1800 to purchase her and new cage ect, and 6 months sitting by her cage reading and talking, cleanned and fed her, and she is one of the sweetest macaws, I have ever experienced. We went slow and allowed her to come to us, macaws are very inquisative and curious creatures and at times need to be allowed to do things at their speed and time frame. Put yourself in their cage- how would you feel in an new enviroment with people wanting you to do what they want, when they want and not have anything/anyone familiar around. You'd be scared, piseed off, confused, mad,leery, ect.... Just relax and enjoy just sitting back watching him for a little, allow him to become comfortable and want to be part of this new flock. Patience and kindness, and alittle space does pay off, Birds are in NO way like a puppy, even cats go hide till they study and know they are safe.

[owlwoman]

[b]Hi there, your baby is just testing you and 2 weeks is a very short time to have a bird that is new and expect good behavior. He is not being aggressive but petulant. He is barely a toddler and wants what he wants!! You are doing the right thing with time out. Be sure he is perched below your eye level in his cage. If he is higher he figures to be the alpha bird.

Get Sally Blanchard's book on parrots and Google "Nurturing Dominance". I wish all of you bright blessings! Bobbie

[huntress]

I agree with hassel and DLF. I myself have a 40 YO macaw rehome that has been with me only a few months and not handled for 10 YEARS! before that. We are slowly working ona bond and Ive had lots of birds and learning that Macaws are HIGHLY INTUITIVE creatures. Way more than any other bird or animal Ive ever had. They Think. It will take time for him to come to YOUR flock when he begins to trust you. He was thrown from his flock and he does not trust by instinct. It could mean his life so therefore he is defensive by nature. Give him space and FOOD is your friend.
When Calypso came I ate my supper in his room next to his cage and pretty much ignored him until he came looking at me. I then would offer him bits. Within a few weeks I asked him to step up and he did. Day before yesterday i spent a good few minutes scratching his head for the first time aside from once he let me for a second after the shower. I cannot do it always but we are still building trust.
Moral of the story is go back to square one and give him space and let him seek YOU out.

[KimM]

Yes. Agreed. Great advice!

[marxxx]

Thanks for the advice all. We will give it more time and see how it all plays out. I was most concerned about the aggression becoming worse with time... We have giving him the day without much interaction, and will start back slowly each day. I will update in the next couple days!

Thanks again, and Happy mother's day to all the Mom's here!

Mark

[kimikk]

Hi Mark. new to the Board but I do have some advice. At 8 months, he "technically" should be weaned, but he sounds like he is exhibiting signs of posibbly not being fully weaned. As we all know, boys wean slower. And they go thru an attitude at this stage as well. I would offer soft foods, oatmeal, Beak appetite any veggies or fruits, and cereal ( no sugar of course). Goldenfeast has small piece fruits (dryed) and small nuts. Crack the bigger ones for him to practice with, for later in life. You can make him hot food with rices and pastas (unbleached) and add veggies. Volkmans fruit and nutty goodie mix or parrot treat are other excellent products to offer a weaning baby.And of course seeds. He may be weaned off the baby food, but he may not be sure of "adult" food yet. So offer anything and everything to him.
I have a female Greenwing and I had the luxury of being there for her at a few months old, but I offered her EVERYTHING, and I still do at 2 plus years old. Believe me one way to a Macaws heart is thru the stomach lol.
You may want to have a well check done too. Just be sure there is nothing else. Sometimes they can be "cranky" due to not feeling good. I hoped I helped. Good luck and keep everyone posted.