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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

165.0. "brutalized roommate" by FSTTOO::WIMMER () Mon Apr 24 1989 16:13

    My severe macaw is acting strangely!!  You may recall, she is 14
    years old, was in a breeding situation for 2 years before I got
    here.  I've had her a couple of months now and she has tamed
    beautifully and bonded to me.  I can scrathch her head, she turns
    for me to get the underneath, pet her all over, etc.  My roommate
    has always been able to have her on her shoulder and walk around,
    but wouldn't try to pet her.
    
    A couple of days ago, she began a new behavior.  She kind of scrunched
    down and began to bob up and down rapidly at me,  tapping either
    me or the perch with her beak.  Occasionally she stretch her neck
    and opened her beak like she was maybe trying to regurgitate.  The
    other thing she's doing now is trying to constantly lick and chew
    (gently, usually) my hands and face.  
    
    Question.....is this courtship behavior or something else???
    
    Also, yesterday she was on my roommate's shoulder.  She wanted to
    come to me, but I was gathering food dishes and spoke to her, but
    left her where she was.  All of a sudden, she bit my roommate very
    badly, first on the ear, then on the neck.  It was really awful.
     She's never done anything like this before, and I'm wondering if
    it's related to the above behavior???  If this is sexual stuff,
    then I'd guess everyone but me mmight want to leave her alone till
    it's over??????
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165.1Definitely Mating BehaviorAKOV12::SELESKYMon Apr 24 1989 20:2719
    Can't answer all your questions but do know that the bobbing up
    and down and the tapping of the perch are definitely sexual behavior.
    My budgies do this when they're really turned on (it tends to get
    them increasingly turned on as they do it).  The beak opening probably
    is a desire to regurgitate food - another mating behavior.  I would
    say your macaw is definitely looking for a mate.  My male budgie
    is trying to mount my other male budgie and gets very excited as
    they preen each other and kiss.  Guess it doesn't matter that the
    object of his affection is male also, especially since he has no
    choice -- there's no female for him.  I had a male budgie who would
    bob his head up and down (and rub his underparts) on my finger.
     I would playfully move my finger and he'd get excited.  His eyes
    would get more white and roll around.  I figured I was helping him
    get rid of some of his sexual energy.  Don't know what advice to
    give the owner of a large bird, especially one that's also biting.
     Probably leave him alone more until he gets to a calmer, less sexual
    state.
    
    Sandy
165.2MacCaw Love - It's greatWR2FOR::COSTELLO_KEThu Jun 28 1990 22:0423
    I owned a Military MacCaw for 4 years.  He would sleep with me every
    night, and practically go everywhere with me.  He too would brutally
    attack my roomate.  It got to the point that he would chase her
    accross the room with his wings open laughing (HA HA HA HA).  It
    was actually pretty funny to watch, but terrifying for my roomate.
    Charlie (my bird) had chosen me for his mate.  When you get into
    the MacCaws, you dealing with a very monogomus (SP) species of bird,
    many of them really only taking to one person.  Charlie was so
    completely attached to me that at night in bed, he would actually
    put a wing over my face, and reguratate in my hair quite frequently.
    When I had to move and sell him (it completely killed me to do this,
    he was one of my best friends, and more like a good old faithful
    dog than a bird) I sold him to a well respected bird
    dealership/breeding farm in Mendicino County, CA, who is using him
    to make lots and lots more of little Military's.  After two years
    of trying to sell him, they gave up.  He wouldn't let anyone touch
    him.  
    
    Anyway, enjoy the love that your bird is showing you.  In my mind
    it's the highest honor they can possibly pay you.
    
    Kelly