Hi guys, i went outside to go to the gym. Needless to say that didn't happen when Ara decided to pay me a visit again! 😃 I eventually ended up taking him for a walk lol, he held on really well and while i am happy this lil birdy wanted to hang out with me. He wouldn't get off my shoulder and when i attempted to even slightly touch him to get him off he would bite me. He wouldn't get off my shoulder no matter what which is not a problem to me, but in this case it was just bad timing since i had different plans.
I'm also starting to think he might be hormonal atm, since the moment he visited me 2 days ago he's been real bitey and tried to regurgitate on my hands. He also bit my cheek today.
This all happened after i could pet him a few days ago btw, maybe i pet him in the wrong place?
Can you guys check whether that's the case? This was the video i posted a few days ago:
Edit: just realized i forgot to put in the post that he is not my bird, but from a neighbour. My neighbour let's him free roam around the neighbourhood. Yes, i also fear for the bird's safety at times
He likes it on your shoulder and doesn't want to get off. When my macaw is being stubborn and won't get down from my shoulder, I hold a high reward treat in my open hand with my arm extended. She almost always chooses the treat over the shoulder and will walk down my arm to the treat. It is then easier to tip her off my forearm (rather than off shoulder) onto a perch. Might need to keep some treats in your pocket.
I am no bird expert but I do have a Zon. He does get bitey on my shoulder. If he happens to get on me and starts to try to rolly polly or bitey earry I pretend like I have to sneeze. Ahh 'wait 1 second' Ahhhh 'wait 1 second' Choooooooooooooooo and I lean over and he flies off. Probably this is not the approved standard method but at least my bird doesn't bite my hand or hate me either.
Hey I'm curious what you mean by rolly polly. My Zon has finally got out of sex begging season but she does this weird thing where she rolls her head around on her target and bites her own legs (softly) and then bites the human shoulder she is on and then eventually goes for the face. It reads as horny to me but I've never read about it anywhere.
Like she will legit put her head between her legs and roll it around and it almost seems like she is stimulating herself even if the cloaca remains uninvolved
I don't think it started as a sexual behavior because mine started going upsidedown on me when he was about 5 months old. Now he's a year and the only difference is he's more bitey about it. Yes he rolls his head then goes upsidedown and looks for something to bite. Many times I have to catch him before he falls. He does bite his legs onces he's upsidedown. I'm in Argentina and this will be the first hormonal spring for him starting now. So it started like cute playing upside down and now it's something I don't want since he has started to bite hard in that position. He likes to swing and I have these rubber triangle dog toys on rope and if he goes rolly I can hand him that and he grabs it and I can swing him instead of him biting me. Normally he does this when I'm with him on the couch.
Be careful with a Macaw (or any parrot) on your shoulder, as it can bite your ear, eyes, or face. Google parrot bites and you'll see horrible injuries, most of which require a trip to the emergency room. Moreover, the parrot has picked you as a member of its flock, and I am not sure where you are located in the pecking order. Macaws sometimes use bites to communicate in the flock, so you can get bitten.
As others mentioned, don't let it on your shoulder, and only pet its head. I would start with target training.
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. My Severe Macaw didn't want to leave my shoulder and bit right through my ear. That was the last time she ever rode on my shoulder. She was bonded to me, but macaws are unpredictable.
People forget (and sometimes I do) that macaws are wild animals, which we have domesticated. Always pay attention, or you could end up in the ER getting stitches. Sorry you got bitten...it absolutely hurts.
I don’t allow my birds on my shoulder anymore. Never had any bad incidents, but I feel they are harder to control and more dominant when they are there.
Do not allow him on your shoulder. If he wants to perch on your arm, fine. But as soon as he starts to make his way up, block him with your other arm.Â
Parrots often get bitey once they’re on shoulders, they know it’s a position that gives them the upper hand.Â
I don't necessarily have to shake him off cuz he's trying to bite me. He almost never bites me, however he did this time cuz i tried to get him off of my shoulder. Just trying to clear things up.
I've tried to look it up, but couldn't find anything on it. How can i correct this behavior?
Quickest way to get him off your shoulder is to drop down suddenly. It’ll startle him when your shoulder disappears from under him and he’ll fly off.
Birds can be height dominant, so I tell people who hold my macaws to keep them below heart level. Birds in the wild will also bite/nip each other to warn of danger. I’ve been bitten a few times because a hawk flew by outside.
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u/Skinny_Cloud 1d ago
He likes it on your shoulder and doesn't want to get off. When my macaw is being stubborn and won't get down from my shoulder, I hold a high reward treat in my open hand with my arm extended. She almost always chooses the treat over the shoulder and will walk down my arm to the treat. It is then easier to tip her off my forearm (rather than off shoulder) onto a perch. Might need to keep some treats in your pocket.