B&G Macaw Behavior after moving

[raptersgate]

Hello, I have a 1 year old b&g macaw, hes wonderful.
But about 2 weeks ago now I moved, and after this hes been showing new behavior.
1. He will either hang by the roof of his cage by one foot and bite at his other foot, sometimes becoming very aggressive acting as if hes almost frustrated, shrieking sometimes as if hes hurting himself. He'll also do this by laying on the bottom of his cage and either biting at his foot, or repeatedly slapping himself in the face..

2. I never had a problem with him screaming when I left the room, but now its getting very bad.. for 2 weeks I tried just ignoring the screaming, not giving in to it and returning to the room instantly, but its only getting worst. He even does it sometimes when I'm sitting in the room and he never did that before.

3. He seems more aggressive towards me.. he was never like this, he was always a loving cuddly docile macaw, but as soon as we moved hes become very pinchy and even hisses at me, he can't sit still anymore either, he use to love just sitting on my shoulder while I worked at the computer but now I can't get him to stay there even when im moving around, instead he just pinches me and tries to climb up and down up and down..

So basically, are these things normal? If they aren't, whats wrong with him and what should I do? If they are normal.. still, what should I do?

Also as a note: I'm not one of those people who jumped into buying a macaw without knowing the responsibility that comes with it, he can scream all day and I'll still love him, I'm just still learning even after 1 year of having him since he was a baby, and I'm worried something may be wrong.

[nanmadpad]

Not sure why he never did most of this before because most is normal macaw behavior. I also have a bgm who is 3 yrs old and his favorite activety is hanging by one foot and shreaking, he often bites at his own foot.He also acts like he hates his own feet and even kicks himself in the head. All macaws are pinchy, sounds like yours is just maturing. My macaw hates when we leave the room and will scream also. We dont allow to much screaming so we give him something to occupy his beak. We put whole cardboard boxes in his cage and that keeps him occupied for at least 2 or 3 hours when we are unable to let him loose. I wouldnt think its a good idea to let him on your shoulder if he is being too pinchy. Move him and tell him no pinch, be gentle every time he pinches, he will eventually get it. Its all normal, either hes maturing or the change in house is the cause.

[MissV]

Macaws are pretty much like people with ADHD. Can't concentrate one one thing for too long and we get SUPER bored really quickly...especially if we have to stay still!

Etienne is a bgm, and he's almost 7 months old and already starting to exhibit a tendency to move around a bit more than usual.

Do you have a playstand? If not, I suggest getting one or making one from pvc (1 inch ID is a great size for a bgm) and vet wrap and bird safe rope and such....put lots of interesting things on it and give it multiple legs and tiers so he can climb all over it.

Eti actually now gets off and on the stand himself and comes to me and goes back and etc etc.


As for screaming...they're gonna be noisy, but like nan said, you can give him something to occupy hims beak to lessen that. he's probably just bored and looking for entertainment.

Oh, and eti bites his feet too. And chews on my toes. ^^; I just have to tell him 'easy" or "gentle" if it gets too agressive.

[Greycloud]

Because all this started with the move I would do the following just to check. First is he near a window? Could things outside be frightening him? I would get down on his level and look at the room. Is he seeing something he may be afraid off? Is there a mirror on a wall he sees hisself and thinks it's another parrot? Macaws are lifetime 2 yrolds and enjoy playing rough. Like the others say, he is maturing. Till things calm down I would not allow him on your shoulder. As far as screaming when you are in the room, ignore him as best you can, but as soon as there is a couple seconds of silence tell him good boy! and treat him. He'll come around.