Behavior Of Blue And Gold Macaw

Personality And Behavior Of Blue And Gold Macaw

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Each bird has a unique personality, just like human beings. The behavior of blue and gold macaws varies greatly depending on their mental state, health conditions and also their environment. They are extremely intelligent birds. They are known for being curious, playful, friendly and slightly temperamental.

The good news is that, since these birds are very intelligent, they are quite easy to train If you have brought home a younger bird, especially, you can socialize and train it much better. Taking good care of the physical and mental health of the macaws is of the utmost importance since they can develop behavioral problems when the attention is inadequate. There are several problems such as aggression, noise and also extreme territorial behavior.

Blue and gold macaws are the best conversationalists among all species of macaws. They are able to learn several words and phrases. They are also expressive, they use different methods of verbal and nonverbal communication.

Often, macaws are reputed to be reserved and shy birds. They are less interactive at an earlier age. As they grow, they tend to become more curious. They love to explore and also understand how their behavior can affect your behavior. In fact, they learn things like how to take you to a room or how to get your attention, so be sure to train and socialize your bird to make sure they don’t manipulate you.

Without proper care and good mental stimulation, there are chances that your macaw develops serious behavior problems. If you have rescued or adopted a bird, you must be prepared for this from the beginning.

If you have no experience with birds, it is better to bring a smaller bird home to avoid risks. You also have the option of hiring an experienced trainer if your bird develops the following problems:

Feather Plucking Behavior

Feather plucking is common in birds, as they use the beak to groom and preen themselves frequently.
The only time it becomes a serious problem is when the bird is mutilating in the process of plucking the feathers. The more frequent the plucking of feathers, the greater the chances of the bird getting injured.

Although commonly seen as a behavioral problem, there are several reasons why birds begin to pluck their own feathers, such as:

  • Malnutrition
  • Skin cysts
  • Parasitic infections
  • Stress
  • Boredom
  • Cancer
  • Liver disease
  • Food or dust allergies
  • Skin inflammation
  • Skin infection
  • Heavy metal poisoning
  • Metabolic problems
  • Dry skin
  • Low humidity
  • Lack of adequate sunlight
  • Any alteration in sleep patterns
  • Presence of preservatives or dyes in food

A bird that has the problem of plucking feathers will be quite aggressive and anxious. This can be very different from the normal behavior of your macaw bird.

Very often, birds will suddenly show plucking feathers when they are ready to breed and nest.
This is also called plucking brood patches.

You know that your bird is plucking due to the instinct for reproduction because the feathers of the abdominal region and the chest area are torn. Actually, this is done by females in order to transfer heat during the incubation phase. If your bird is not paired, sexual impulses make them pluck their feathers, since they cannot satisfy this need.

If your bird is housed in a cage that is too small or if the perch is not comfortable, it can start plucking its feathers. This is because the macaw probably feels uncomfortable and unhappy in its space. If your bird cannot do enough exercise or mental stimulation, it will bite its own feathers in an attempt to stay entertained.

If you trimmed your bird’s wings incorrectly, it will start plucking its feathers as an attempt to match the feathers. Blue and gold macaws are very sensitive birds. If they see a lot of emotional turmoil in their home, like constant fights, they tend to develop anxiety. If they see a strange bird or cat outside a window and get scared. Even the smallest change in the environment, such as the flickering of the light, can irritate the bird enough to cause plucking.

This can be a really frustrating time for you and the bird, and you can develop habits like chewing, biting, over preening, etc. In order to curb this problem, you must be extremely patient with your bird and first get to the root of the problem. Understand why the bird behaves this way. If you cannot solve it yourself, you can also visit the veterinarian for a consultation. There are some steps you can take to help alleviate this problem:

  • Keep your bird mentally stimulated ·
  • If the macaw looking for attention, make sure you don’t give in to that. Instead, give the bird some free time when it starts plucking to tell him he doesn’t get your attention.
  • Make sure the food you give your bird is healthy and adequate.
  • Get the feathers trimmed by a professional.
  • Make sure you have a regular health check for your bird.
  • Daytime and nighttime lighting must be constant. If your bird is in a room that has a TV, you may want to give it a tent to get enough rest.

Aggressive Behavior

Aggression in blue and gold macaws is usually an attempt to get your attention. An aggressive bird will show mainly this aggression when biting. Now, what the bird really wants is your attention. If you yell or yell at the bird, it will read it in response. Although it’s hard not to scream after a bite from the powerful mandibles of the blue and gold macaw, it is necessary to keep your calm.

If the bird is perched on your body while displaying aggressive behavior, you can do two things. First, put the bird back in the cage and ignore it until it calms down. Go to the bird only when it is relaxed and does not attack when handling.

The next thing would be to run while the bird is perched on you. They will feel unstable and do not really like this feeling. If you do this every time your bird bites you, it will be associated with the unpleasant feeling and will eventually stop.

If aggressive behavior is a sudden manifestation, then you should consult your veterinarian. There are chances that the bird is in heat or has some health problems that are causing it to behave in this way.

Spending time with your bird and paying close attention will also reduce aggressive behavior.

Noisy Behavior

Blue and gold macaws can be really noisy. If you don’t like noise in your home, a macaw is not the best pet for you. These birds are extremely vocal birds. However, this is also an excellent way to communicate with your birds and understand them better.

Dealing with noisy birds

It is natural that your blue and gold macaw screams for a few minutes at dawn or dusk. This is their natural way of calling the flock. While this behavior is acceptable, screaming becomes a problem when it is persistent.

If you notice that your bird is screaming every time you leave it alone, it is only doing this to get your attention. The more attention you pay when it screams, the more likely to continue the behavior.

When your bird screams, leave the room without any response. If you answer, the bird will believe that you are having a conversation with it. This will make it scream even louder.

Go back to your bird only when it is calm. That will help the bird understand that you will only go with him when it well behaved. Keeping your parrot mentally stimulated will stop this problem greatly.

Whenever you leave the bird alone, give it a foraging toy or even a puzzle toy. That will make it independent and less anxious when it is alone.

Body Language Of Blue And Gold Macaws

Macaws use postures to communicate the way they feel. You can easily tell if your bird is happy, angry, bored, tired or sick just by looking at the posture. Here are some tips on body language that every owner of Blue and Gold Macaw should know:

The body

  • If your macaw is on your shoulder and constantly pulls the collar of your shirt, it means it wants to get off.
  • If the bird’s head is lowered while the wings are raised slightly, it wants you to lift it.
  • If the bird is hanging with one or both feet from the cage, it is in a good mood.
  • If its rear end rubs the table while walking backward, he is going to take a break.

The Eyes

All parrots exhibit pinning, which is a rapid dilation of the pupils. This is done when the bird is excited or when it is afraid. You can study the situation to know how your bird feels.

The Voice

  • If the macaw is speaking, whistling or singing, it means it is happy.
    And quite content. ·
  • If the bird is mumbling or is just chattering softly, it is practicing the words it learned.
  • Loud chatter is considered attention-seeking behavior.
  • Clicking on the tongue means that the bird is just entertaining or calling you to play with it.
  • Growling is a sign of aggression. There could be something in the room that is bothering it. Removing that object will make it stop immediately.

The Beak

  • If you notice that your macaw grinds its beak just before sleeping, it means that the bird is very happy to be in your house.
  • Clicking on the beak when you pass by is the bird’s way of greeting you. At the same time, clicking when you are holding it means that the bird does not want you to hold it at this time.
  • If the beak is on the ground and the feathers are fluffy, it wants you to pet it.
  • If your macaw regurgitates, it is a sign of great affection. They do it only for their peers in the wild.
  • Shaking the head is a type of attention-seeking behavior.
  • If the bird is only rubbing its beak on the perch, it is being cleaned itself.

Feet and legs

  • If your macaw is standing upright with its weight equally on both feet, it is happy and content.
  • If the bird’s posture is vertical and it is looking at you, it means it wants you to pick it up at that moment.
  • If the bird feels restless and impatient, it will swing from side to side on the perch.
  • If the bird is standing on one foot, It is relaxing.
  • If your bird is standing on foot with all its fluffy feathers, it is happy.
  • If your bird is standing on one foot and it has the beak hidden under the wing, it is only being cleaned.
  • If it is standing on one foot but is grinding hits beak, it is tired.
  • If the bird is standing on one foot with glazed eyes and semi-fluffy feathers, it means that it is falling asleep.
  • If the bird is scratching the bottom from the cage, it wants you to let it out.
  • The pounding of the feet indicates that the bird is trying to protect its territory.

The Feathers

Feathers with frills can mean one of the following things:

  • The blue and gold macaw feels too cold and is trying to warm up.
  • The bird is trying to relieve tension and stress.
  • The bird is sick.

Crest Position

  • If the crest is raised, the macaw is excited.
  • If the crest is puffed it looks like an aggression sign
  • If the crest is flat on the ground while the bird is hissing, it means that it is scared or that it is preparing to attack someone.

The tail

  • If the tail is simply shaking, your blue and gold macaw is preparing to have a fun time.
  • Bobbing the tail means the bird is tired or is catching its breath after strenuous physical activity. If this behavior is observed even when the bird has not done anything physically demanding, you should take it to a veterinarian immediately.
  • Fanning of the tail is usually a sign of aggression The bird is showing its strength through this body language.

Wings

  • Flapping wings is an attention-seeking behavior.
  • Flipping the wings could indicate one or more of the following: – Pain or discomfort, Anger and aggression, A call for your attention.
  • If your bird’s wings are drooping, it is usually a sign that the bird is not well.

The Head

  • If the head turns back and hides under the wing, the blue and gold macaw is asleep.
  • When the head is lowered and turned, your bird finds something very interesting.
  • If the head is low and the wings are extended, your bird is stretching or yawning.

These simple behavior patterns of blue and gold macaw will help you choose the best time to form that bond with your beloved pet. Responding correctly to this body language also helps birds to trust you more because you are now one of their own.