We've had an interesting turn of events....

Ruben is a 17 yo male GW, he's an x-breeder and doesn't really care for human interaction. He likes to be a part of everything but doesn't like to be touched and will not cuddle.

Ciccio (38 yo b&g) and Lulu (7 yo GW) are a bonded pair...both boys thankfully. They have been living together for almost a year.

The other night I had Lulu on his playgym and Ciccio was running back and forth between two different play stands playing. I took Ruben off his usual playgym and gave him some scritches and kisses (lasted about 5 minutes, making progress) then put him on the playstand next to Ciccio.

Ruben kept following Ciccio and to my surprise kept trying to feed him. After a few minutes Ciccio decided that it wasn't a bad idea....I look over and the two of them are feeding and preening each other!!!! Lulu and I look at each other then back at them. Ruben purposely sat between Ciccio & Lulu's playgym and took a couple of swings at Lulu. I decided it was time to move Ruben.

I walked over to him and his whole head frizzed, I told him to knock it off and put my hand up. Well I got my finger handed back to me. He bit me so hard in my left index finger! I went and got my stick (every macaw is stick trained) and told him up....the little brat ran up the stick to attack me again!!! I had to drop him and the stick on the floor. He had a different attitude when I picked him up.

I guess I better be more careful when they're hormonal.

Oh boy Jeanne! Sorry to hear about the finger chomping, OUCH! Mature GW's and hormones are not pleasant to say the least.

Do you have someone that Ruben can bond with? Sounds like he's ready to make friends again.

OUCH..I certainly don't know much bout caws, but I know what that's like to have the bird RUN up the stick! Cleo did that once, and I did the same thing. Makes you wanna run and scream like a girl and hide under the couch cause they can look like some bad things; wings out, puffin and runnin.yikes. LOL.
Glad you made it thru it. I hope some caw people can help you out.
911Macaw!

Woo Hoo I do know what that is like.

My Ru was not a breeder but definitely preferred men. It took a long time for me to be able to handle him with out injury. He got great pleasure from bruising and bleeding me. It took everything that I had not to do what Mark said and run and hide.

My sympathies are with you and your poor boo boo finger.

Ruben tried with Picassa but she's only 3 and wanted nothing to do with him. I was thinking of possibly Homer (female miligold). I'm going to see how they do on the same playstand tonight, perhaps I'll also put their cages next to each other.

Finger - red, swollen, sore...I've actually been bit worse by one of my greys.

Fingers crossed that Homer says Ruben is the one! Sounds like he's really searching for a friend. I wish my two wanted to be friends, I think they need buddies. Please let us know how Homer and Ruben do together.

Bites seem to get much more painful when the swelling sets in. Please take good care of yourself so there's no infection.

Oh Jeanne! We are so sorry! OwWEE! Ruby says he didn't mean it! He still loves you best!!! lol

I know he didn't mean it. Ruben has a bit of interesting past. Barb (Second Chance) got a call from a breeder telling her if she didn't come get this bird NOW he was going to have him euthinized (sorry spelling). Ruben didn't want to breed and the guy wanted him OUT. Barb got him and put him in what she thought was a great foster home. His foster mom had two other macaws and a hugt play area for them. Barb soon discovered that the foster mom wouldn't let him play on the play gym, kept him in a cage that was too small and falling apart and only fed him bananas!!!! Barb quickly pulled him and one of her board members took him in. When John and I went to meet him he was terrified of human hands. Within five minutes we had him out of his cage sitting on our arms. We were even had him craddled like a baby in Barbs arms. We took him home and within a week he was stepping up when you put your hand in.

He's been with us for 15 months, he's finally got feathers on his chest,legs & wings and eats everything other than bananas. I think his favorite is walnuts. He's quick to jump on your hand when you want him to and every so often will enjoy a head scritch. He likes to be talked to and give such nice kisses...well most of the time. During the summer was the first time I heard him talk, for such a large bird he sounds like a little kid. For the first six months he was with us he didn't play with any toys, now he goes through about three a month.

Yep hormonal macaws are fun. Good luck with that. My guys got horrible a few years ago when I let them play together, so I split them up and don't allow them to physically interact and things are great. I wish I dould let them, but I am really not set up for aggressive "breeding" pairs. Maybe I am cruel but they seem to do fine. If I had a whole flock like you I would probably let them pair up more too, it has to be almost impossible to keeep them all entertained on your own! Hope your fingers feel better soon!