Macaw bites

[debbielabella]

When my kids move out, and if my son should take Tiki, I have been thinking about getting an older Macaw. It's a long ways away, but I wonder if I should even be considering it. My Alex was not tame when I got her, and when she bit me I just thought to myself, well she can't break any bones and any cut will heal. I was never afraid of her and that's how I worked through it. I have to admit, I wrap a towel around my arm when Tiki is particularly feisty, so I am able to not flinch at a bite.

However, an older B&G, a Greenwing, or a Scarlet, when they bite, can they actually break a bone? I think that's the one thing that would put fear of a bird in me that I could not get past.

Again, this is a long ways away, but it seems silly to keep this idea in my head if it's not really an option.

[silvercb67]

I use to worry about this also when I first got Scarlet. If you do decide to get a macaw, spend time finding the right bird. Once you get to know your bird the fear is no longer there. They are gentle giants & will always give you a warning pinch (does not hurt) before they bite. I have had her for three years & she has never hurt me. The smaller macaws are more likely to bite ya harder. As long as your not getting a bird with issues, I would not worry.

[kellywess]

I agree the little ones will nail ya in a minute. LOL You have to learn to read their body language, my first big macaw was a rehome that I was told was really mean. She has only bitten me hard once and it was pretty much my fault. Yes these bigger birds are capable of breaking the skin and bones if they want to. Reading their body language is very important with these big birds as they tend to read our body language better. So if you exhibit any fear or doubt, you will more than likely be bit. You have to respect them and be able to know when to just let them be. However, you have to set the tone of the relationship and they need to know what is acceptable and what is not. You just have to relax when you are handling them...IMO. I suggest you read some books on parrot behavior. "The Parrot Problem Solver" is a good read and explains the different reasons for and types of aggression.

[silvercb67]

Excellent advice. Very true, you need to show no fear or they will RULE!

[debbielabella]

Well I have about 5 years to work up the gumption I guess. I can't imagine my son not taking Tiki once he's set up enough, they are so great together. That will leave a big empty hole in my life, both of them gone. At least I have plenty of time to think about it first. I guess my next concern would be my husband, maybe I can find a drug that encourages deafness.

[kellywess]

Yes, they can be quite loud. My Miligold is reasonably quiet and prefers to use her words. She does have a couple of times a day when she lets out a roar, however she has her far in between moments. My Camelot, different story completely different/very loud call. The Severe still has them beat... thats that worse scream ever I think.

[debbielabella]

Originally Posted by kellywess

Yes, they can be quite loud. My Miligold is reasonably quiet and prefers to use her words. She does have a couple of times a day when she lets out a roar, however she has her far in between moments. My Camelot, different story completely different/very loud call. The Severe still has them beat... thats that worse scream ever I think.

really? The severe? that's funny because I saw them advertised on birdbreeders.com as being one of the quietest macaws! I guess much of it depends on the individual, but is it true that the bigger birds don't scream as often as the smaller macaws? Tilly pretty much screams on and off all day, but I hardly hear her anymore. It's loud but not obnoxious if that makes any sense. I don't think I could handle a Hahns screaming or a sun. I don't mind loud as long as it's not all day long, and not that high pitched. When I got Tiki, knowing he would scream morning and evening, my plan was to keep him out of the room while my husband was home and then bring him down after his screaming was done. Well that never happened because I like to be with my birds all day and don't want to isolate them when they're screaming because they are just being themselves. So I probably shouldn't pretend I will keep a macaw in a different room when it gets loud. I would really have to trust the person I was getting the bird from and try to find one that's not as vocal.

[kellywess]

My Yellow Collar Screams Constantly. My Hahns uses his words, he only screams sometimes when the Yellow Collar does and he throws her name in the mix of his screaming. He pretty much likes to talk constantly, he uses his huge vocabulary quite frequently and accurately, not much of a screamer believe it or not. He will talk you to death though. My Severe is my alarm bird. She is generally pretty quiet but when something upsets her she lets us know and its blood curdling, paint peeling. The Blue Crown yells her words and screams when the Yellow Collar does. My Miligold, pretty quiet a big yell once in awhile... more frequent with the new baby in the house, all rivalry. The Camelot has a nice loud bark to her. Once the Camelot is introduced I am hoping the noise and calling will calm back down. The yelling and screaming doesn't really bother me, I know how to get them to quiet down. Like you said they are just being birds and they are becoming quite the flock.

[nanmadpad]

Well i must have really gotten lucky. I rehomed a 3 yr. old bgm . She is fairly quiet, she is very loud but doesnt scream often. Being a rehome i was very nervous about handling her. She didnt know me and i knew nothing about her so yeah i worried about being bit. I have had her about 5 mths. now and she still has made no attempt to even try to bite me. I still am not perfectly comfortable handling that huge beak but she doesnt seem to mind and picks up her foot and tells me UP when she wants me to bring her to a different spot usually my lap. She loves hubby also and he doesnt give her big beak a second thought. She clings to the cage like a fly and yells help when she wants to come out. She also sings in a high opera voice. Every day we learn new things about her. Shes a handful but is very funny, smart and trusting. Not all rehomes are screaming biting handfuls. I am her fourth home and dont know yet why she was passed around so much. She has her baggage but for the most part shes a really good bird.

[kellywess]

Originally Posted by nanmadpad

Well i must have really gotten lucky. I rehomed a 3 yr. old bgm . She is fairly quiet, she is very loud but doesnt scream often. Being a rehome i was very nervous about handling her. She didnt know me and i knew nothing about her so yeah i worried about being bit. I have had her about 5 mths. now and she still has made no attempt to even try to bite me. I still am not perfectly comfortable handling that huge beak but she doesnt seem to mind and picks up her foot and tells me UP when she wants me to bring her to a different spot usually my lap. She loves hubby also and he doesnt give her big beak a second thought. She clings to the cage like a fly and yells help when she wants to come out. She also sings in a high opera voice. Every day we learn new things about her. Shes a handful but is very funny, smart and trusting. Not all rehomes are screaming biting handfuls. I am her fourth home and dont know yet why she was passed around so much. She has her baggage but for the most part shes a really good bird.

I feel the same way about my rehome...don't know where the previous owners got the "mean' part from.