2006-06-19 08:08:30 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
My Macaw is four years old and she recently started this screaming thing... but only when she sees me in the kitchen and I am not paying any attention to her. She has also taken to copying the sun conure by hanging by her beak on the bars of her cage and flapping her wings... She very recently started doing it with my boys too. She is such a spoiled little stinker!!!
I do believe the screaming starts whenever she thinks we are making something in the kitchen or if the boys walk by her eating something. She loves people food.
I got her when she was only 9 weeks old and finished weaning her myself. Naturally, I heated her formula in the microwave. Now whenever anyone uses the microwave, she hollers "Yummmmm Hot!"
You might get yours some new toys to chew up. Maya is not really as destructive with wood as most macaws are but if it has nuts, screws or bolts, she will take whatever it is apart!!! Can't turn around for a minute or she is taking apart her play stand.
2006-06-19 09:54:43 · answer #1 · answered by diane_b_33594 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree. The person you got the bird from should have told you that macaws are notorious screamers. Keep your bird very busy with plenty of new toys that are changed on a weekly basis. Rearrange the cage setup as often as possible and take your bird out to play (supervised play time only) as often as you possibly can. The best way to get any bad behavior to stop is to NOT reward the bird. They scream for attention, therefor the only way to get them to stop is to ignore the behavior as much as possible. When you tell them to be quiet or take them out just to shut them up it only re-enforces that behavior. There is no quick fix and your macaw will scream from time to time but with time and consistancy you should be able to keep the noise level to a minimum. And never scream back at your bird. They will just up the anty and get louder than you can imagine.
2006-06-19 17:42:22 · answer #2 · answered by tw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Macaws are very sensitive to color. Have you put something in a brilliant color nearby? Sometimes a red or orange object annoys them and keeps them screaming..
2006-06-19 15:14:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is what they do. My mom has three all indoors. The one we raised as soon as she hatched. If you have never owned one before, be aware that they are destructive! They will chew all the wood in your house. Furniture, doorways, window paynes, everything they can get. They need to be constantly occupied. Plenty of toys and BIG BIG cages. They scream to get attention. I have heard that squirting them with water bottles work but I find that cruel. They are very SMART and sensitive animals, so they remember who squirts them and will begin not to like you. Please e-mail me with any questions. They can also turn mean if they are not treated nicely.
2006-06-19 15:17:18 · answer #4 · answered by jeannie_brim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your bird wants attention. Lots and lots of it. And toys. Big toys, colorful toys, noisy toys. My military macaw loves to go outside and follow me around the yard. His wings are not clipped but in the 4 years I have had him, he has never tried to fly anywhere.
2006-06-24 14:10:40 · answer #5 · answered by 2bizy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Macaws are by nature noisy.
"Macaws tend to be extremely loud: their voices are designed to carry over long distances."
Noise level ranges from 'Very high' to 'Extremely high' the salesman should've told you that, especially considering that macaws often outlive their owners (if you got it as an adult).
2006-06-19 15:18:23 · answer #6 · answered by Eli 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason she is screaming is for attention. If you give her attention, even to yell at her, when she does scream, you're reenforcing the behavior. When she screams, ignore her. Don't yell, don't squirt her, don't bribe her with treats, just ignore her. After a while she'll figure out it doesn't work, and she'll stop.
2006-06-20 01:34:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A gag.
No, seriously, it's probably him/her wanting attention or you rewarded it with attention when it shrieked the first time. Try a negative response like squirting water or some such thing when they scream.
2006-06-19 15:15:14 · answer #8 · answered by tr|nity 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pasta noodles, or other snack bribes*
Good luck, T
:)
Try singing in a nice tone along to a Beatles song.
2006-06-20 01:19:31 · answer #9 · answered by tula_p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way I know of is to keep them in their cages, and then to cover the cage with a dark and heavy sheet/fabric/cover, to keep all of the light out.
2006-06-19 15:14:25 · answer #10 · answered by Eloise 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋