Macaw love or hate?

[trixie09]

I just adopted a B & G macaw 2 weeks ago. I put him in his cage that evening and when I woke up the next morning he was giving me this "evil" eye all day. Every time I looked at him he'd pin his eyes and do this odd movement with his head which is not a bob but more like a jab motion. It isn't like bobbing when a bird is happy it's like an intimidating head move that is fast and along with it his eyes pin. He also hisses. So for the next few days I figured he was showing me agression and so I left him alone to build some trust and hopefully he'd stop. I'd feed him and talk to him but he still did it. I took it as a sign of agression and I stayed away from him. My husband had to do all of the picking up and changing food for my fear of getting viciously bit was scaring me away from him. His fast head movements and head jabbing scared me!
Until a few days later I just couldn't take it anymore so I came up to him and attempted to pet him. Surprisingly he allowed it and I was petting him and picking him up without getting bit. He still does the weird movements, eye pinning and hisses but he doesn't lunge at me when I come near him. He does do some other strange things. If my husband picks him up and brings him to the couch and I am across the room on the other couch, he will literally climb his way over things and come across the room to get to me! I was so frightened the one day I thought he was coming to attack me! But when he gets to me he is nice, puts my hand in his mouth and regurgiates like crazy. He did bite me one time which was a bit hard but did not draw blood. But he comes to me from the cage when he doesn't do that for my husband. he also likes to scratch my blanket, smell it and do some little dance on it. Then he came over to me and bit me! What does all of this say? He only does it to me!
This morning he was on the floor and he lunged and ran after my feet. He's also been lunging at me and trying to bite. I just can't figure this bird out!

[chinniechantel]

It sounds like he is in love with you! All the classic signs, regurgitation, eye pinning, and running towards you when you are in the same room. Just be careful not to scratch anything but his head and neck and not do anything that seems to overly excite him.

[nanmadpad]

Most macaws lunge but it dont mean anything. My blue and gold lunges all the time at me but it amounts to nothing. She has never bitten me, also attack of the feet is a normal game for a macaw. Our gold races across the floor to get our feet. Shes really fast and usually manages to get a quick peck in. Macaws are really nippy and pinchy its not the same thing as a actual bite. Did your bird actually make you bleed? If not you were only pinched. We have nip the pinching problem my telling her EASY and she rarely pinches hard. You are describing all the normal traits of a macaw. Hissing is also done by our macaw and we hiss back. We laugh and she laughs as we hiss at each other. I think your macaw really likes you. You must get over your fear and relax. The more you worry the best chance you have of being bit. He will sense your fear and will start using that to get the upper hand and take advantage of you. Dont let that happen, Breathe confidence in and take it all lightly. My macaw scared me half to death when i first got him but it was all bluff, I HAVE NOT BEEN BITTEN YET. Good luck and enjoy'''

[trixie09]

Thank you!

[silvercb67]

Yuppers... sounds like love. Just be sure not to pet on the back or under the wings to encourage mating behavior. Good luck & please keep us posted. Would love to see pics of your new baby.

[trixie09]

Here is Fred..he loves to climb!

[trixie09]

So if it is LOVE..which is better then him hating me..i've read that they can become agressive and want to be the dominate one..correct? Well, let me tell you that this is going to be difficult because he has scared me and now I am afraid to do anything with him. AND I think he knows it! He is playing games with me and trying to get my goat and he appears to be winning. How do I turn this around without being too brave? I am chicken now!

[KimM]

Yes. it's probably love, but it could just be plain excitement to see you. Mine always get excited when I come into the room and both express it a little different.. Newt is my eye pinner, bobbing head, fluffing up and bluff boy.

My little Elliot eye pins, but gives me a nice little pinch to show his affection.. (Scarlets..)


On a side note.. you have to remember a macaw's whole MO is to intimidate. It's what nature gave them, I believe, to survive in the wild since they are prey animals.

[xafsmom]

My Red Front's idea of intimidation is to say "Stewwwwpid!" and then fall over in a limp tumble of feathers while you break your back trying to catch her before she hits the floor.

[silvercb67]

I know it's hard for you right now but you MUST NOT show fear. You need to let him know who is boss or it will only get worse. When they know you are not afraid, they are less likely to bite. Everyday should get easier as you will get to know Fred a little more & become more comfortable.