suggestions anyone?

[featherfanatics]

I got in a 8 to 14 yr old severe macaw hen about 3 months ago. Emma was in a really bad abusive situation which has left her with a lot of trust issues. Most people, including myself, she'd like to take off a finger or 2. There are only 2 people that make her happy and can do whatever they'd like with her. My husband can get Emma out and touch every part of her body without fear of getting bit. She loves for him to carry her around and show her new things. They really get along great even if it does make me green with envy.

Now on to my problem, Emma LOVES my son. He's 9 yrs old and only here every other weekend and a few Wednesdays. Emma screams for his attention constantly. This is the only time she screams. She wants him next to her cage talking to her and petting her threw the bars. My son is always happy to give her what she wants. Well, until Saturday..........

Emma decided she wants more from my son that just being adored threw the cage bars. She wants him to hold her! It started out with my son opening her cage door to get her food cups out. Emma very nicely held up her foot and said "step up" sweetly. My son nicely told her no. Emma walked over closer to the door and repeated her request more forcefully. My son told her no and then ignored her. She climbed out of the open door trying to get his attention and my son, afraid she was going to climb up on him, walked away quickly from Emma's cage and came to stand behind me. Well, this really ticked off my little green monster. She climbed to the top of her cage and started screaming at my son to step up and started stomping her feet. By this time we had a full blown macaw tantrum. Of course my son is scared to death at this point and won't get anywhere near a ticked off Emma (I don't blame him at all!) and I have an angry macaw that I now have to figure out how to get back in her cage without getting attacked. My husband walked in about that time and he was able to use a stick to get her back in her cage, thank god!

Emma is ready to move onto the next step with my son and he's just not, understandably, ready yet. Using a stick for her to step up onto instead of his arm is out of the question. She'd take advantage and run up the stick to get close to him.

Suggestions anyone? I have an unhappy boy and a VERY unhappy bird here. I'm at a lose as to how to fix this.