Advice please - Ruby is getting to where she doesn't want a thing to do with anyone but me. A while ago I was outside with her and a friend stopped by and went to pat her and she bit me!! I would love her to be able to go to other people but I am scared she might bite them. Tips anyone??

If Ollie is adament about not going to someone, I don't force her. However, when she does go to people on her own or when I ask her to, I give her a lot of praise. She knows that going to other people means "good girl!", a happy mommy, and maybe a special treat.

If she's bonded with you, that's not uncommon. She's defending you and trying to drive you away from danger. Letting someone pat her while she's on you probably won't be a good idea. It should be different if she's in a neutral location, or if you actually "give" her to someone. I wouldn't recommend someone try to "take" her though. It would be good to continue to have her interact with other people. If she's really defensive about you though, you might have to leave the room while they do it.

Edit to add: I think we might be coming up on the hormone season too. Chico has been a bit "brassy" today. Too soon to tell for sure, but it might be that time.

Maple is very much a one person bird. If at all possible, she would be with me and only me 24/7. I do insist that she at least tolerate other people however. As for biting you...I have read that when a bird is bonded to a "mate" if a "threat" comes close they will bite the mate to make him/her flee/fly away. Maple does this to me as well. She will bite me if someone she sees as a threat to our relationship comes too close. I try not to "force" her to go to someone she doesn't want to.....except Daddy...she MUST go to Daddy. I just try to get her close to other people and sometimes allow them to give her a favorite treat or something to "butter her up".

All in all though...Maple is very stuck up. She wants only me. And we just try to let her be herself.

Hahah.....you beat me to the punch Nate...guess you type faster...

sounds like a normal macaw to me.....I really tried socializign my two that I had since babies. But it seems that somewhere arounde 2-3 yrs they decide that only their chosen ones can handle them. I don't even really push the issue anymore, they will spend time with a couple people that they are familiar with, but not with strangers. So long as they are not biting or acting out, I just let them be. I can have other people near me( unless my BG is hormonal) as long as they do not try to touch them. It always amazes me how many people will just reach out to touch a bird without even asking or sometimes even talking to me at all!!! My scarlet Max though, I don't know how he was socialized, but he LOVES people, especially women. He flirts and sits with any woman who pays attention to him. Did Ruby bite hard or nip? How close did she allow other person before she started showing signs of agitation? Has she shown tension or aggression around anyone before?

a stuck up macaw? NEVER!

like others have said, it sounds like normal behavior to me. ivy is very sweet with most people. we try to introduce her to everyone that comes over. we don't force anything on her, but definitely encourage it when she goes to people and is sweet with them. she hasn't become territorial of my husband or myself, but she is also young yet. we are just trying to keep her as social as possible. she is shy, but has warmed up to most everyone. but macaws will be macaws!

I agree with what everyone else has said. It sounds like Ruby is growing up and you're the chosen one.

My two will not allow anyone to touch them if they're on me. They will bite! If someone approaches me, they will bite me to warn me. The only way someone can pick them up is if they are on a perch, not near me.