macaw help!!!?

Question

i have a almost 2 year old macaw. im home most all day everyday so hes really spoiled. anyone have any ideas how to make him stop screaming and crying for me he goes crazy when i leave the room and hes so loud. also how could i get him to come to me easily from his cage.

Answer 1

You need to stop what you're doing, go to the library and check out a book called My Parrot, My Friend, by Bonnie Munro Doane and Thomas Qualkinbush.

You are going to have to completely change your way of interacting with your bird, and this book shows you how to do it.

If for whatever reason you can't get your hands on that book, e-mail me, and I'll scan and send you the chapters in the book relating to screaming, and Parrot Responsive Phases of Training (PRPT) to get him to reliably step up, step down, and step onto your arm from his cage.

I fear if you don't educate yourself with this information that eventually, you and your parrot may suffer a major relationship breakdown. This CAN be fixed!

Don't listen to people who tell you to cover his cage when you leave the room, or any of that nonsense. This book was written by pretty much the Gods of the avian world, and I know they know what they're talking about because I have a Military Macaw that I've used the protocols on and it saved our relationship. I was darn near ready to make Rio-Filets with him before I got that book.

Let me know... [e-mail]

Shannon

Answer 2

Eep.

Macaws are one of the few species of bird that mates for life. If you've had your macaw for his whole life, chances are that he thinks that you're his mate, and experiences anxiety when you leave.

Or, he could be bored. They're amazing flyers, in the wild they can fly over a hundred miles an hour! Seems a bit of a shame to be in a cage (particularly if it's too small for him). Any chance you can let him roam around the room?

Macaws are highly intelligent. Maybe you could leave the television on for him, or the radio. Make sure you rotate the toys that he has. Remember he's got the same sort of intelligence as a three year old child... they need CONSTANT amusement.

In terms of getting him to come to you easily from his cage, you should let him come to you. Get him used to you sitting by his cage, and then spend some time just with your hand inside the cage. When he gets used to you, offer him treats out of your hand, and offer him your arm to stand on.

The thing to do really is treat him with respect and as the intelligent and beautiful bird that he is. And go slow... it takes a while to train birds, but it can be done with patience.

Good luck!