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View Full Version : Please help me with my macaw



Yabo
08-17-2014, 10:47 PM
Hello everyone. I am new here pls don't disown me if this is in the wrong thread I'd really like your help.


My family purchased a yellow collar macaw id have to say about 5 years ago. I was living at home periodically and still have been as I am attending law school so Im home for summer and winter months basically.

Anyway when we first got the bird it loved me. I used to feed it with the little plastic syringe. Loved playing with me I could pick it up at will constantly gave it attention when I was home. Talked all the time.

Over the years the bird has grown to hate me. We have 4 members in our household. The bird really loves my mother and sister. Doesn't like my father as much but still is pretty playful with him as he does the food and the cage maintenance. Me on the other hand it despises. I have had friends with pretty aggressive dogs that took more kindly to me. I can literally be across the way in the other room and if the bird sees that I am looking in his direction will move very quickly to either go into his cage or under the newspaper that lays on top of the cage and once he is under the paper will literally back up as far as possible.

If I do enter the room he will either stay as far away as possible or come out and try and attack me almost viciously. My family has had birds all my life and trust me its a bite not a nip or him trying to grip my hand. I haven't been able to pick him up in almost 3 years with the exception of twice he tried to fly and ended up on the ground an allowed me to pick him up. And for some reason anytime I chew gum hes is more receptive. He is a talker and talks with everyone else in my family except me. With me he remains dead silent.

Most of the day if its just me home he will literally sit under his paper all day. Im talking like 8 hours or more without trying to eat or move if im down there.


Im just wondering if their is anything I can do to get him to like me again. Ive tried giving him attention talking softly for about a half hour a day no change Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

Lady
08-18-2014, 12:45 AM
Hi Yabo,

Welcome to the forum. I am way to new to offer any suggestions besides what I have read here. So stick around till one of the well know parrot members comes along and can explain things better than I, but while your waiting there is so very much information you can find on the site if you have some time to research it out.

I will be looking forward to reading how things come along. By the way, what is the name of your yellow collard macaw?

jtbirds
08-18-2014, 01:25 AM
It sounds like he or she has bonded tightly to your family. This happened when you went away and the bird needed a bond so formed it with everyone else in a strong manner. The best thing to do is socialize him, Which means someone that he likes gets him out and sits down beside you and you talk and play "hot potato" with him which pretty much means pass him around and share the love. If you need more socializing suggestions after attempting this one please ask as this is just a beginning decision. There are more advanced ways to solve it, but stay in touch and let me know:).

Welcome to the forums sorry it took awhile to respond I've been busy!

Macaw Lover
08-18-2014, 02:52 AM
What are his favorite foods and treats? The rest of the family has to be in with you on this but you are the only one to give these favorites so that he associates good things with you and will look forward to you handling him/loving on him because he gets those treats. Bribery you say? Dang right and proud of it too!

Yabo
08-18-2014, 01:26 PM
His or her we really don't fully know, think its a he, name is buddy. Its just all very bizarre because my sister has been away at school now for 2 years as well and despite only being home the same amount of time as myself it still loves her. And I would say my mom is his second favorite and my mom has NEVER picked him up or played with him. She is afraid of getting bit. Just wont do it and yet he loves her. Its just all very bizarre.

I have sort of tried the socializing thing in the past. My sister has played with him a few times and tried to pass him along to me but he wants nothing to do with it.

I would have to clear some space off my phone but in the coming days if it would help I could maybe video tape his reactions to me.

Mare
08-19-2014, 06:31 PM
Hi, Yabo! Welcome! Not sure if I missed something but are you, yourself, male? I ask because I have a male umbrella cockatoo that is seriously bonded with me (female) and definitely prefers females. My bird, now, will tolerate men in his territory but that wasn't always so, he would go on full flight attack! Could this be the case with your macaw?

Cedardave
08-27-2014, 05:00 AM
I think your best bet is to put in some time just being around him, not necessarily giving him attention...but being visible.If he starts to spend less time under the paper and more time being curious about you moving around the room, he may become intrigued enough to put the effort back into getting to know you.He may take a long time or may never be as close as you once were.Birds can often be creatures of habit.They like familiarity and to a large degree routine.If you are visible as part of that familiarity and routine, your bird will become more comfortable.The yellow collared macaws are usually very adaptable to new and old faces....don't lose patience.