how can i control or eradicate these two issues?

[kamaleon]

I have a BG female macaw of about 2 half years of age, i had her for little over a year from her previous owner.

1st issue is that, at times, she is very very nippy, let me explain. we could be cuttling an all of the sudden out of no where she would 'nip' for no reason nothing really hard but it gets your attention. She loves to be petted but too often she nips my hand when i get it closer to her like she was afraid or something.

2nd issue is that she pretty much stalks me. as soon as i get home she comes down the cage and goes looking for me wether im in the next room or upstairs. I do play with her and give her attention but i guess she wants all the atention all the time im home.

She is a great bird and we get along well, we go out for walks in the neibourhood and recently started taking her out on my bike (she likes to ride on shoulder while i peddal)

[Tom Lawless]

The first issues might be a macaw thing. I have a Hahns Macaw (mini Macaw) that can be nippy. I hear this isn't completely unusual. Actually what you described is pretty accurate of what he does too. I have found that sometimes there is a reason, like pin feathers coming in. My little Dave is very sensitive in areas where there are pin feathers. Other times I think he is just trying to remind me who is boss.

I used to have the same problem with the second issue but every time he followed me without being requested I returned him to his cage. I did this for his own safety. I actually like him following me around but I lived in fear of stepping on him. Only a little weight on him would have killed him and he wasn't afraid of my feet so didn't run to stay out of their way. If anything he would get right under them.

I hope some of this helps. I am sure other people will be able to offer you more qualified advice.

[kamaleon]

this past weekend i took her to an avian shop to interact with other macaws (im looking for a mate for her) All their macaws (year of age and younger) were sooo nice no nipping even with being a stranger i thought i must be doing something wrong for her to nip at me...

I put her on a large playstand with a very large (and nice) scarlet male to let her interact with. Her actions were decried to me by the worker as her displaying/stating who was the boss or alpha bird of the two..

On the second issue.. well, i take her back to the top of her cage or playstand everytime she comes uninvited, only to see her at the floor again by the time i sit down, with in seconds she is 'again' trying to play with my feets. Only way to stop that is to place her inside the cage and lock it. I hate to do this but she just doesnt get it (or doesnt care of gettign it).

[Lessadalinar]

I can understand being " stalked". If I'm not in eyesite, he screams. If I am sitting on the couch, he has to be out and on me. Otherwise, if he's in his cage, he shakes the door. It's kinda funny actually, like being in jail and screaming " LET ME OUT WOMAN!!"

Mine has this new thing that if I don't jump to the side when I open the cage. He jumps at me and I get a face full of bird and I have to be quick to catch him otherwise I get the claws to the chest too.

If I walk by him when he's on the playstand, he jumps for me.

I've been makeing an extra effort to "visit" him on his playstand every 15 or so mins and give him a kiss or some loves and tell him what I'm doing and get him interested in a toy. It seems for the most part to be working, Now I get lunged at maybe 50% of the time. Better than 100% for sure!!

As for the nipping part, I feel your pain on that too. So everytime he nipped me, I would say "OW!" NOW for some reason I get a warning before the nip is comming, he says " OW!" so now I KNOW whats comming and I can prepare and prevent it. LOL