When you bring your new macaw home, the bonding process begins.The foundation of a lifelong feathered friendship can be established by Acclimating, socializing, and building a routine with your new pet.Since macaws are so social, spend quality time together every day and provide a steady rotation of toys to keep it entertained.Use treats and praise to reinforce positive behaviors, as training will help solidify your bond.
Step 1: Understand how to pet your pet.
Proper handling is important for acclimating and socializing your new bird.The pet only cares for its head and feet, as it might interpret full strokes from the head to the tail as sexy behavior.It might become possessive of you if it sees you as a mate.It will appreciate head scratches, where itchy new feathers can't reach.It's a good idea to touch its feet to prepare it for nail trimming in the future.
Step 2: During the first two days, give plenty of out of cage time.
Spending lots of out-of-cage time with your macaw will help forge your bond.You should keep it out of its cage for at least 20 minutes when you first bring it home.It might view the cage as its only safe spot if you keep it in it when you first bring it home.Close off the room where the cage is located, and hang out with your bird in the secured room to help it get used to you and its new home.It's best to keep the bird in its cage until it gets used to its new home.
Step 3: Establish a routine.
Feed and play with your bird at the same time every day, and work on getting it used to being alone.Leave the house and come back inside.When you leave for a longer period of time, leave again and stay outside for longer.Don't rush to the cage when you are in the house.The bird doesn't want immediate attention when you walk in the door, so wait a few minutes before approaching the cage.
Step 4: Your household members should interact with your macaw.
Macaws bond with one owner or household member.You can have everyone in your home talk, play, and give treats to your new macaw.It won't bond with others, but it will be used to their presence.
Step 5: Get to know your bird.
You can learn how to communicate with your bird by observing it.Some behaviors have a common meaning among parrots.A lifted crest, tail shake, hopping, and hanging from the cage are all signs that the animal wants to play.A flat crest accompanied by hissing is a sign of aggression.Your parrot is trying to catch its breath by tail bobbing.
Step 6: Spend a lot of time with your pet.
macaws are social and fairly dependent.It shouldn't go more than several hours by itself, and you'll need to spend time with it every day.Talk, dance, and play with your macaw daily and keep its cage in a place where it can see you when you are relaxing or reading.It's a good idea to stay in town for the first year.If you have to leave it for more than a day, have someone with you who trusts housesit.
Step 7: Provide a lot of toys and teach your macaw how to play.
A steady rotation of toys with a variety of colors and moving parts is important.When you introduce a new toy, play with it yourself in front of your macaw so it understands that it is a fun thing.Food puzzle toys are great for macaws because of their intelligence.If you replace an older toy with a new one, it won't get bored.
Step 8: Make sure your macaw has things it can destroy.
Give the parrot chew toys, cardboard, wood scraps, and natural branch perches to help it satisfy its appetite for chewing.It can't chew on your fingers if you give it objects it can chew.A bite from its powerful beak is worse for bonding with your macaw.
Step 9: You can use food rewards to train your macaw.
Treat will come in handy during training as Macaws are food driven.You can find parrot favorites with a variety of treats and seeds.Treat it when you teach it specific commands.If it's bird-friendly, you can share your own food.You could eat a banana in front of the bird and give him a small slice.It can trust you and bond with you.
Step 10: The step up command is taught to your macaw.
The safest way to handle a large bird is to step up onto your hand or arm.In front of your parrot's feet, hold your arm or perch high above.Give it a treat to encourage it to get onto your arm or the perch, even if it doesn't step up.If your bird shows signs of frustration, take a break.
Step 11: You should towel train your bird.
If you teach your macaw to love towels, it will be easier to restrain it.When your bird looks at the hand towel, give it a treat.When it is near the towel, play peekaboo and tug and give lots of verbal praise.If you need to restrain your bird to bring it to the vet or give it medicine, a positive association with the towel will help keep it calm.
Step 12: It's a good idea to teach your bird to talk.
The best talkers in the parrot family are not macaws.When teaching your macaw to talk, speak slowly, and start with easy words like hello, bird, or its name.When it speaks for the first time, offer treats and lots of praise when you repeat the word over and over again.
Step 13: Positive reinforcement training can be used to deal with behavior issues.
Provide treats and praise to reinforce acceptable behaviors.If you use force or yelling to punish negative behaviors, you might accidentally reinforce them.Train your macaw to make less noise by ignoring sounds you don't like and offering treats when it makes quieter vocalizations.macaws are naturally noisy so you will have to accept some vocalizations.Blow gently in its face if it bites or acts aggressive.When you see it playing with toys, give it a treat.Don't even look at your macaw when you ignore unwanted behaviors.Leave the room for a while.