i need to know how to stop my mccaw from bitting me.?

Answer 1

You can't really stop it from biting you, let it bite a few times and then it will beocme tamed.

Answer 2

I don't mean to be flippant, but I must ask, what are you doing with a Macaw, if you don't know how to handle this bird? Most people become seriously educated before taking on a bird of this magnitude.

First, of all, I would take the bird to a qualified avian veterinarian for a thorough check up to make sure that there are no underlying problems. Once this is established, you may ask your vet about the biting problem as well and he/she can give you better qualified advice on how to handle this problem.

In the meantime, to respond to your problem from my perspective. The bird did not get this way over night and it's not going to quit biting you over night. Obviously the bird has not always been with you, i.e. you did not hand-feed this bird from a chick, therefore, you have to overcome other people's mistakes with this bird. This will take a lot of time and patience on your part. Some birds just don't like their owners. Unfortunately, this is a basic fact. Sometimes, you must be willing to give the bird up because you have "differences" that cannot be overcome.

Just remember, you cannot treat a bird like a dog or cat. Their cognitive thinking does not work the way the cat & dog does. Punishment, such as thumping the beak might work, but is not recommended. Birds are of the "fright or flight" mentality. So point is, do you want the bird to be "afraid" of you? I don't think so. With birds, you have to earn their respect. They don't have to earn yours. You must think in reverse when training a parrot.

I have a Congo African Grey that I just worked thru this biting problem with. And I DID hand feed & raise her from a chick... When analyzing the problem, it was MY fault, not hers, I didn't realize that I was not spending as much time with her as I should be and she got a bit grumpy & nasty with me.

So I worked with her for about a month. Going over to her cage, even sitting in a chair by the cage... just talking to her in a normal voice, only occasionally looking her in the eye. Parrots consider eye contact as predatory. Some eye contact is ok. Keeping her calm; not giving her any reason for alarm. Kept my hands to myself. During these "talking" sessions, I did not let her out, nor did I do any cage or food maintenance. But did talk to her as I did maintenance as well. When in these "talk" sessions, I would lean my head toward her, not looking at her, and let her preen my hair on occasion. Then I would end the talking session and walk away. I would do this two or three times a day, for at least 45 minutes at a time or more, no less.

Later I would offer her a "cookie". I would give her a piece of animal crackers on occasion, and then a couple of times a day she gets a peanut or two. I started using these treats for good behavior; offering "scratches" to show her that I was friend, not foe. In about 2 weeks, I would start letting her out again, giving her a bit of cookie, talking calmly to her... Now, I can pet her again without the perverbial snapping & biting. Now, she doesn't try to bite anymore at all and we are buddies again.

Spending quality time with your bird is essential to owning a large species like the Macaw. If you don't have time for it, find someone who does, for the bird's welfare. I would go to the library, or buy every book I could on maintaining a Macaw. Educating yourself is the best thing you can do for you and the bird's benefit and for a healthy relationship.

You don't sound like you were very prepared to have this animal to begin with. You should really take an honest survey of why you have this bird.

I sincerely wish you and the bird the best.
~ kat

Answer 3

The long response above was GREAT! McCaws are difficult, but lots of different birds are difficult unless you're willing to put in the time and effort to maintain and care for your bird. I also learned that when a bird reaches out with their beak they are just "smelling" you or "checking" you out with their beak and tongue, not biting necessarily. Remember they have no hands so this is their way of "feeling" you out. My bird hates hands and will bite hard but she's much smaller than your bird so I handle her with a towel. She is much more willing to trust a towel than a human hand.

Answer 4

You sure your bird is not playing with you? Many times people mistake the notion that an animal biting is biting instead of playing. You've got to remember the beak also acts like a hand. If you don't want it biting you, try and distract it by giving it a bird toy.

Answer 5

well i know macaws arnt ur ordanary parakette but try gently taping him on the beak before he bites and say "no bite" strongly but not meanly. birds think ur taking advantage of them if u yell at them every time he trys to bite just give him that tap and hell remember

Answer 6

Well start talking to him when he is inside his/her cage. Talk Talk and Talk and then when he/she is trying to bite you say stop or just stand there do not walk away. Spend more time..ALL THIS MIGHT SOUND STUPID BUT THRUST ME IT WILL WORK PLEASE DO IT! It will not happen overnight but wait 2 week BUT DO it every day. It will work.

Answer 7

to stop your macaw from bitting you you should go online and search for a video of how to become buddies with your bird.

Answer 8

uh cool you have mccaw.

Answer 9

cover the eyes

Answer 10

when my bird bites, she goes back into her cage.