PARROT BEHAVIOUR CONSULTANT

 This I feel is one of the saddest problems one can have with a companion bird.

My first boy Max, a blue and gold Macaw over bonded with me the instant he saw me.

It is thrilling to receive such love and adoration from your companion. The love, the cuddles, the trust they have as you tickle and give them all your attention.

THEN WHAT?

As you progress in this situation things can change.

In the wild if another Macaw came within spitting distance of the male or female parrot they would be chased off in a full attack .

My Husband has scars on his arms that he received from Max in full attack.

I have been working with Max for a very long time, and  although things are most definitely better between the two loves of my life they will never be close.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR YOUR BIRD?

He is stuck in a cage watching the love of his life acting lovingly with another man. Ask yourself how would you feel? What would you do? Would you scream at your partner to come back to you? Would you attack the other man or woman if you got a chance? This to me is a very cruel thing with no way of explaining to your bird.

Max will talk to my Husband Iain much more that he will to anyone else. He will also be sweet with Iain, but this is all pretend because as soon as Iain gets within biting distance of Max my bird will  lunge and snap.

To begin with my Husband felt quite angry that a small creature like a Macaw could be so threatening, then he just distanced himself from Max.

With learning came understanding

Iain now has a good appreciation of why Max behaves in the way he does.

Secretly I believe that Iain admires his courage. (at a respectful distance)

Can birds be naughty like children?

The answer to this is a most definite YES.

I have a memory of Max and Iain that taught me that Max had etither a very good sense of humour or he was a spiteful teenager.

Travelling in the car one night on the way home from work I decided to keep Max on my lap. Iain was driving and before I knew it Max had stepped on to Iain's arm and up his shoulder. How stupid of me to let this happen.

Max would not come to me and Iain was looking more uncomfortable by the minute. Max slowly went to Iain's ear, opened his beak and looked at me.

"Max don't you dare. Come on pet step on my arm". He just looked at me with that naughty look that said, "Don't make me bite him, I can you know." Max played with Iain's ear but kept his eyes on me. Iain was now breaking out in a sweat. I eventually got Max off of Iain's shoulder, but it taught me that even Macaws have a sense of devilment.

So how do we prevent over bonding?

To begin with we need to STOP hand raising these wild and wonderful birds. Allow them the dignity to be birds, with their own species, and preferably flying free.   

If you imprint human on a bird he still will have his wild instincts and hormones but continue to believe he is a human.

This can only lead to confusion and self- destruction.

If you have to have a parrot and I advise against this. PLEASE insist that is is a parent reared. It will take just a short time to trust you with patience and understanding.