HOW TO TRAIN A MEAN MACAW (PART 2)

Here is part 2 of working with an incredibly aggressive green winged macaw named Sam in a masterclass.
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MY BIRDS (Oldest to Youngest) 🐦❤
BONDI 💗 Galah | hatched 2005
CRESSI 💗 Congo African Grey | hatched 2007
BANDIT 💙 Galah | hatched 2008-2019 💔
JINX 💙 Blue Throat Macaw | hatched 2008
COMET 💙 Yellow-Dominant Camelot Macaw | hatched 2008
TUSA 💙 Blue-Green Dominant Camelot Macaw | hatched 2008
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😍 ABOUT US 😍
BirdTricks is a husband-wife team; Dave and Jamieleigh Womach specialize in parrot training and companionship.
#parrots #birds #parrottraining

[@byzantineladybug9471]

I am finding these videos to be incredibly interesting and I have never even owned a bird! The expertise and kindness these two trainers demonstrate towards the birds is heartwarming! I am personally intimidated by these bigger birds although I have never met one-it is possible I would fall in to the category of scared lol. Thank you for helping these birds!!

[@uberbeast113]

They help humans to help birds to help humans 😉. You're maybe in similar position I'm in. Discovered something about parrots that enthralled you (for me, being a musician, it was their receptivity to music), got researching with the desire to eventually own one, realised the enormous responsibility, and settled for the videos instead. That's me, at least. As far as I'm aware, there's no other channel like this. They are an invaluable asset to the bird owners community and bird lovers in general. They don't just recycle stuff they've studied, you can tell there's this big empathy for these creatures. It borders on psychic. I've actually heard Jamie describing the atmosphere in a room when a cockatoo switches mood, they are very switched on to what goes on in these creature's minds, and to their dietary and environmental needs. Very cool, likeable couple, and such an interesting niche they've found where they can mix the things they love with a living, and contribute positively to society, both human and parrot.

[@MoogieB]

He learned that head shake so fast! I imagine those owners appreciate y’all so much. Being able to have a positive relationship with their bird is amazing. And for me it’s so interesting to watch.

[@thegriffin88]

There's only two ways petting a macaw can go: You either pet the macaw or you go to the hospital to have your finger reattached. What I was told was to go in with the attitude of the first thing happening. Don't act scared.

[@Plqnes]

True

[@carolhartley4448]

I agree so much with your comment! Absolutely true♥️

[@yomamabiarch]

100 percent true, they sense the fear

[@richardadams4928]

Heh. A big blue and gold in a Dallas pet store befriended me years ago, but once she grabbed my clavicle, gently at first, but gradually started bearing down, and THAT did make me nervous....😬

[@spiritmatter1553]

@@richardadams4928 I hate it when they do that!

[@khalidkachhwaha8041]

I have the same Macaw. I've had him since he was a baby. 25 years later. The guys still my best mate.

[@briarrose7016]

Awww he said good boy to himself, I about died. Training people is as hard as training birds, especially impatient birds like this. Just like with dogs and other animals, we can't show fear.

[@michaelramos4482]

Im looking at getting an "aggressive" green cheek conure. He's 3 years old and his current owner can't deal with him anymore. (Shes had him for 5 months) This is super helpful to see what aggressive body language looks like to hopefully avoid getting the worst of it.

[@Specogecko]

Sometimes it’s just a phase they go through when they start to go through sexual maturity, I could be wrong. But my partner had their rescued conure go through a mean phase when he got to be around 3.

[@michaelramos4482]

@@Specogecko Thats what im hoping for. She doesnt let him out of the cage because shes scared of him and although she does give him fresh veggies, hes on a seed diet for his bowl food. Im hoping a little work, training and a proper diet will give this guy a great home with my wife and I. Ill be going over this week to meet him for the first time

[@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears]

Sounds like you are on top of it but just reminding you that you can not hold onto his baggage for him. Remember to take him as a brand new bird when you get him. Sometimes the fear is all that is the problem.

[@michaelramos4482]

@@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears Yeah I plan on treating him like i would a newly weaned hatchling. Setting the standard of trust from day 1. Making sure he has everything he needs, making sure he doesnt have a happy hut (from the pics of the current cage, he has a happy hut and very minimal toys), all the toys and a play stand. Ill be trick training him and making sure hes as comfortable as possible. Ive been looking at getting a green cheek for almost 5 years now so to say im excited is an understatement

[@BirdTricks]

Diet is key! Focus on making that great first.

[@richardadams4928]

I think Sam shows the potential to be a really sweet bird with proper training. I hope they keep it up. I actually don't train my cockatiel in this sense, but he's tame and loves me enough that he tries to do what I want, most of the time, because he wants to please me. Praise works better with him than treats. And that's a big part of why I love him so very much. He deserves it.

[@tendousfingertapesatori2972]

i think the best thing about this video was that he knew what the TRUE definition of negative reinforcement was

[@GB_Gummy]

So much useful information. Dave explains things in such a simple way! great teacher.

[@LivingMyBestLifeIAm]

It would sure be nice if every breeder offered this type of education to ensure the happy lives of birds with their people. It would cut down on rehoming if humans were able to communicate with their birds in a positive way and learn how to enrich their lives. People want something that they have no idea how to have it. Parrots are not a whim. They are beautiful souls that need humans to learn to be the best birds they can be, for their bird and not the other way around.

[@Xen-s_dreamagination]

This was so fascinating to watch, working through all the behaviors that Sam displayed. Learned so much again. Sam is beautiful. 🤗

[@zsworld6609]

I'm having the same problem with my Sam, A Catalina macaw and a b&g who used to absolutely adore me and we moved out of state and they turned on me. i hope this helps build back my confidence and making all of our lives happy once again

[@justAnne49]

Every days a school day with Birdtricks, That's why a love this channel so much,All the videos ect have,helped me with my baby Mustached Parakeet from the day I brought her/him home up to this present day,x

[@ConnietheVirgo]

sad that shes so afraid of her bird. awesome shes got you guys to help.

[@sal8454]

The size of that beak is terrifying!

[@susanaalbert3877]

This video was a good one for me. I also have a greenwing 23 years old and very very moody. Tries to bit me. So this is perfect gives me a spot to start with him. Thank you

[@carolhartley4448]

Aww, I totally believe that this macaw will succeed, I think/believe that our parrots can sense if we are scared. Great session!!♥️👍🎉also when Jamie stated that they are scaring each other, that what I thought too, without your video/ classes, I would not have been able to succeed successfully with my own bird, so cannot thank you enough, so thanx times a million! Birdtricks😘

[@davidblue7102]

👋,, how are you doing today; how’s everything going; hope it was a blessed 😇 day for u Carol?

[@davidblue7102]

@@carolhartley4448 Really? It my pressure of reading from you, i really appreciate, if i may ask where are you from?

[@davidblue7102]

@@carolhartley4448 Nice too meet you Carol, well I do live in Minnesota but originally from Norway, are you originally from Michigan!

[@davidblue7102]

@@carolhartley4448Oh I understand you perfectly, i hope you don’t mind chatting as friends, it will be nice chatting and knowing more about each other as friends Carol!

[@davidblue7102]

@@carolhartley4448 well I’m not always online here due to the nature of my job, do u have an address so I can message you over on google chat as friends Carol?

[@highspeedmom2012]

Wow!!! As always ya'll are masters at your craft! So great to see you helping folks and birds connect ❣️❣️❣️

[@wkrpcincinnati3495]

I learned so much watching this you guys are awesome. Main lesson learned, I would not be a good candidate to raise a bird like this.

[@Danielfisher7676]

Love your videos. Been an parrot trainer for over 30 years. Was to be on Ringling Brothers in 1997. With Domestic Cat Act present like large Cat act and my parrot act containing 38 parrot. Every Cat and parrot did the same tricks.

[@PascaleLaurent81]

I’m also scared of maccaws, cockatoos ect Their beak sizes scare me so I wouldn’t get a large bird for that reason alone if I were to have a bird personally. I’d love to have a green cheek conure though.

[@Robin3615]

I keep my travel cage next to my bird's play stand and put her favorite foods inside it and only pellets outside. It helps contain the mess and she has no issue going inside. It took about a month for her to venture inside with her watching me drop treats inside. She's very tame but a little flighty so most new things scare her including toys.

[@Goodnightdemons]

Blue macaw mom here this series has been incredibly helpful! I feel like I understand and am able to read my child more, and train her better

[@bunnytail1370]

I love how you all teach! I learn all the time! Every item for my upcoming pet bird are all suggestions from your professional bird love!

[@GraceT]

I’ve been helping a woman I met with her macaw. She’s also afraid to get bit. It’s really hard to get over that fear with a bird you don’t know.

[@BirdTricks]

Glad you are able to help!

[@shuermarvin577]

Very entertaining and relaxing to see BirdTricks videos even though I don't have a bird. I really wish I have a birdie friend or two. Thanks for sharing.

[@neinkalando2519]

There is something brewing all across the world called "(The global congressional tribunal summit of the macaws)" To decide if these birds are being re-homed again and again without the proper research into the financial background of the people adopting them

[@duckmama]

I just love this channel

[@Theconures]

Very informative 👌🏻

[@tamarapace3036]

What great, positive results!

[@koltanweaks6167]

So awesome!

[@Danica.Powell]

This is super helpful!! My little boy (galah) is the same with my Mum. Really aggressive. Not like that with anyone else, adores my Dad and he's a little darling with me. I am going to have to say even though macaws have a much bigger beak, I find my galah scarier. He fly bombs my head to try and get my face when he's mad and he bites to hurt me. I looked after a friends blue and gold and she was scared of women so it took a lot of work but she just wasn't as scary for some reason.

[@ratt2199]

lmao for real! cockatoos are a special kind of scary

[@davidsavage6227]

Hi! You might want to invest in Sonex to reduce the echo chamber sounds. Panels are available at B&H photography and other places on the internet. You can also make your own for a very low cost. It may help owners and birds to have the quieter, more gentle calm. Thanks!

[@BirdTricks]

Great tip! We never really know the locations we are getting into when people book these classes but this was a very tough one to work with for filming.

[@SheeqLuna]

Does the ruffled up feathers on the back of the head aggression indication applies to budgies aswell? I have a bitey angry handraised budgie and unsure where i went wrong.

[@patrickgragg5602]

Don't push her, there's a video on KZbin by A&P Birds on how to hand train a budgie

[@BirdTricks]

Yep, we have a budgie course on our website that will walk you through step by step.

[@PkinJourne]

7:44 Did he say f you? hahahah, what a beautiful parrot!

[@sophiamerecedis8339]

beautiful birb lol

[@aneshields3028]

This is totally me with Roman.

[@galeem713]

My Quaker was terribly abused before I got him. It’s taken years to let him let me rub his head. But I cannot get him to step up or learn tricks because he is not food motivated. No nuts, likes plantain chips and apples and blueberries but not enough to work for one.

[@mehere8038]

have you tried grapes? Mine liked apple, but when they got grapes, especially black grapes, they loved them & dumped the apple for those. Might not work, but worth a try. Mine love sultanas too, but they're too big & slow to eat to make a good training reward. Other things one of mine loves are yoghurt & meal worms. My other one will eat the yoghurt, but likes grape juice better, but not enough to really work hard for, she's more likely to work just for a verbal "good girl", but, like yours, not really enough to work for unless she's already motivated & interested in whatever it is. Mine will also sometimes work for lettuce, which is weird but they do love it

[@galeem713]

@@mehere8038 I’ve tried everything. He likes them but not enough to work for them. For toys, nothing I buy interests him. Some of the ones I make are ok but his favourite are 3 baby rings together attached to 2 different bars in his cage; he will rattle them for hours. I bought a toy I thought was up his alley…. Small rings on strips of leather tied to a larger ring, kind of like a ponytail of leather and rings, and he wouldn’t even touch it. I made noise with it and left it in his cage. Never went near it.

[@galeem713]

@@mehere8038 and his favourite thing to do with me is have whispered conversations with me. I whisper to him and he whispers back. It’s hilarious. He no longer bites me and tonight, as I said goodnight to all through cage bars, he planted a kiss in my nose. I know he really likes me and is jealous of the other 4 males I have, but not the 3 girls. I have 3 Green Cheek Conures, 2 moustache parakeets, a brous head and an amazon besides Wally the Quaker.

[@mehere8038]

​@@galeem713 Have a look at "chipper parrots". They're in Australia, so unless you are too, you'll likely find better/cheaper sources for the toys they stock, but use it for ideas. They're a parrot rescue with a store that funds their operation, but as a rescue, they seem to "get it" in terms of what rescue birds like. When I bought stuff from them was when mine were still fairly new to me & were used to sitting in a tiny cage with nothing & scared of anything new, but they loved almost everything I got from Chipper :) They especially loved the coloured plastic pieces I got, that are meant to be used to make toys, but mine now have a "toy box" in their cage, full of the various colourful plastic pieces & they like to go through it & choose what they like that day & pull it out & drop it & find another toy to pull out & drop & another & another lol - the "drop it" game! Anyway, they do also actually rattle & play with some of them, lie on the bottom of the cage, on their back, playing with the plastic pieces in their feet over their head, or throwing them around the cage & chasing them in the case of things like the little cane balls & cotton reels. The flat plastic pieces I primarily bought to attach to a pvc pipe elbow to make a forging toy, played with on their own are one of their favourites, but the rattley "foot toys" are another popular one with mine & sound like something yours might like. That site does have a really wide range of stuff, including stuff that's clearly just cause people will buy it, so they sell it & not good for the birds, for example mirror based toys, but I'm sure you can figure out what will be good for your little one & just use it for ideas :) Mine also LOVE the "punching bag" too. It comes with a mirror back, so I covered the mirror, but the little bell in the punching bag shaped ball, that swings on being hit, or that can be grabbed in their mouth & spun all around the place they LOVE. Honestly though, basically all the small, cheap toys from that site they love. I bought about $60 worth of various toys from that site & got a really good collection of stuff they really enjoy out of it :) & once they got into the habit of pulling stuff out of their toy box, looking for things they wanted to play with, they actually started returning to things they'd shown no interest at all in & trying them too. My boy had no interest at all in the cotton reel, but threw it out of the toy box so as to get to stuff under it & some time on, my girl found it on the ground (or maybe saw it in motion, leaving the toy box, not sure) & she fell in love with it & loves throwing it around & chasing it. Right now her favourite is a bright orange disk, with holes in it that she can use to pick it up (actually a baby/toddler building toy part) about 8cms in size, really funny watching her picking that up & carrying it around, cause she's a lorikeet, so pretty small & disk is about half her size & no idea why she enjjoys just carrying that around, but she does lol. Gotta say, the yoghurt loving does help in my case, as I can just smear it onto anything I want them to play with/interact with & they will :) Try some apple puree spread onto the baby rings & see if that gets any interest from your little one (target to it to get him to touch it & find the treat) Mine do have weird reactions to things like leather too btw, osmething about the taste I guess. Nowadays mine love seagrass & cotton ropes, but even those initially they wouldn't put in their mouth & needed the help of yoghurt to get them to do so. They don't eat the cotton ropes, but my girl loves kinda exercising her beak on them, biting & then turning it side to side, seems to give her some sort of beak release or something? no idea, but they're REALLY picky with what can go in their mouth! Plastic's apparently fine, the seagrass is fine, cotton's fine now, but leather's a big no-no. the bamboo toys & paper & cardboard take a LONG time for them to warm up to too. I use a lot of food based items in foreging games, fruit covered in popcorn they need to remove to get to the fruit (that doesn't work anymore, as they decided they liked the popcorn more than the fruit lol) bok choy & other Asian greens leaves wrapping & covering items etc etc, cause they're willing to touch those in ways they won't with other materials. It's a learning process though with rescues, once they get used to one taste & dont' get hurt by it, they become mroe willing to try another & another & so on. That's what I've found anyway, but just a very slow process

[@mehere8038]

​@@galeem713 that's absolutely adorable re the whispers :))) & really sweet re the kiss too! My boy's willing to give me nose kisses, still won't let me touch him, but he will kiss me, which is awesome. My girl likes to preen my eyebrows :) Last night I had a nice, relaxing bath & then went near the cage, not yet dry & she insisted on drying me off & licked my entire face dry lol sweet & ticklish :) & that's a lot of birds! lol I have my hands full just with the 2 rescue lorikeets! They are much more demanding than usual birds though, due to being rescues. I have a wildlife rescue background & I've never even had wild birds that are as timid & demanding as these 2. A decade of severe abuse has just really messed them up big time! I know what you mean with the jealousy issues, but I'm guessing you have a much more complex sistuation than I have there with having so many! Mine are bad enough just cause they're more bonded to humans than birds from their abusive life, but then get mad when they other gives me attention instead of them. (my boy won't tollerate any touch from anyone, bird or human, but then he gets jealous watching my girl touching me, but if she tries to do it to him, he bites her, but he still wants her to at some level - really messed up little birdy) I couldn't imagine having so many & the social dynamics of that! Must keep you busy lol!!!!!!!

[@7wayzeli1389]

My grandma macaws bites everyone that tries to pet it 😅

[@diazo5679]

Your videos have some good info. To bad you can not use a mic instead of the echo chamber caused by your current setup. Makes it very hard to understand what you ate saying.

[@silvialisterochoa2859]

❤❤❤❤😂🦜🦜🦜que lindo

[@David-o6e4z]

What kind stick did they using and why the stick sound every time the bird touch the stick

[@lisaconnelly7731]

We inherited a chestnut fronted macaw. He's been a handful! He bites constantly and it's almost impossible to work with him. I say almost because there's got to be something we haven't tried yet?! It's incredibly difficult to interact with him. He flashes his wings, raises his hackles and aggressively reaches out when we walk by. The only time he interacts with me is when I stand by his cage and talk to him quietly. He was born in 1989 and raised by a young man then was sold to a friend of my sister-in-law, who died. He was neglected for a few months before he came to us. He was originally named Backer (Linebacker). I'd like to change that name if possible. Is it? Anyway...I plan on studying all your videos to see if I can give this cranky bird a good quality life.

[@emilyjenkins7698]

Try to practise the power pause

[@The_Baph0met]

I've gotten a mustache parakeet a little over a month ago and am working on training with him, especially before hormones start to kick in. I see a lot of people using pistachios as training rewards (which I think I've also heard you say you're using). In a training session, should I be using these de-shelled, or do they enjoy doing this themselves? Thank you!

[@KathyLynch-k5t]

Hello my name is Kathy Lynch from Illinois. My husband and i have a 5year old Harlequin mccaw. When we got Mona the people we got him from said he was a girl. I took and had a DNA done along with trimming nails and beck which really needed it. Well i got the results back and she is a he. We are really concerned about him because he is very aggressive towards us and had biten me and my husband several times. And ehen i go to to his cage he charges at me and raises his feathers up. Every now and then he will let me give him a treat. I have tried the clicker and stick but he doesn't want anything to do with it. We let him out of his cage and the fight is on. Im asking for advice on getting him to let us do things. Please help if you can. Thanks Kathy Lynch

[@shadaris3384]

Bit late to the party, but, for her fear of being bitten would there be anything bad/against holding the treat out with say a different color of chopsticks or something of the like? IE target with a skewered ball but treat with a pair?

[@cindiep2580]

Love these training videos! Why no T stand? Chair seems slippery.

[@BirdTricks]

We hadn't come out with them just yet when this was filmed but these classes were a huge motivator to create them!

[@poepoep8659]

Remember To Pray Before Eating And Drinking. Spread The Gospel.

[@tarynsmith2017]

What does the lowering of head and wing fluttering behavior mean?

[@robertdickson5519]

I am so in need of some help, my story of Maximus is some days good and some really crazy,,, please reach out back to me, I came into Maximus in the worst of time in his life I found him walking down the street I had run into a homeless man who had him in a cage with another little bird next to a dumpster and we don't really know too much about his original owner but I felt so bad that the man asked me can you give him a home and I took him in and now I'm only showering him with love and affection which the ones that he must have needed but I'm also having a little bit of a hard time with him please reach out to me I really couldn't use your help .

[@smwboxer]

Great stuff. W ish I had you down here in Mexico to help with murderous Military!

[@cindywade2807]

I need tips for how to read my 12 year old female greening macaw

[@fivemjs]

Wow! Again, SO much TALKING!!! Good job!!!!

[@healthcubes]

I still kinda struggle telling my GCCs fu feathers 🙈🙈🙈 I have been watching your videos forever, but I still think I sometimes unknowingly reinforce the aggressive behavior 😶😶😶

[@BirdTricks]

It's easy to do, we are only human!

[@rebeccachambers4701]

Agh!

[@merbella4201]

Around the 10 min mark and a bit after, the bird seems really fidgetty, alot of partially unfolding the wings, shaking of the wings etc - is that normal? Or part of he heightened state?

[@tarajh]

Wondering the same thing! The bird is acting very much like it wants to fly to Daniel, but never actually does.. I'm not sure what's going on there?

[@michellecraig6136]

Ok 25

[@gratefulvan49]

Any videos about aggressive sun conures?

[@BirdTricks]

Over on Patreon we show how Lily our sun conure gets aggressive with Dave and how we work through it. www.patreon.com/birdtricks part of our BTT series.

[@annapolitanuum4046]

where's part 1?

[@BirdTricks]

It was uploaded on our upload day before this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b56xkqmOhdWZga8

[@luanahaigood278]

His talons need trimming so bad

[@PYROPEANUTZ]

They are scared for that parrot and that’s not oke I think. When you scared the parrot feels that. Be yourself and relaxed you’re self omg.

[@danielstellmon5330]

It looks like you need to train the humans as much as the bird.

[@HGBorders]

I think the guy must have been unintentionally petting the bird in such a way that made the macaw sexually stimulated. That could explain why the bird was fine with the girlfriend at first and then became aggressive towards her and overly fixated on the bf. 🤔

[@-Ld]

It's super easy to do, I don't own any birds but I just recently found out that their head is the only thing you should pet, everywhere else is stimulating

[@nikkylandry1163]

Lol talk softly, or parrots are going to answer equalily loud.

[@mehere8038]

That bird is so overtired it's not funny! That's what I'm seeing watching this anyway. My boy gets like this when he's had his sleep messed up, such as when I first got him & to a much lesser extent, when things go wrong with sleep with me, such as when my girl's on eggs & talking to them all night every night, in the same cage as him, therefore stopping him getting proper sleep too, or when my neighbour's in one of his moods & has music blaring through the wall all night. I tend to give mine an immediate nap when they get like this, followed by around 16 hours of cover on/lights out/no noise for 1-2 nights & that tends to sort him out & get him into a better mood & less reactive, then it's just maintenance 14 hours or so of quiet time/sleep for a couple of weeks until he's not getting silly around bedtime cause he's too tired. Works for me anyway & maybe I'm just seeing stuff here, cause it's what my bird does, but it just looks like classic overtired to me - like a kid/baby that's overtired & so won't sleep or do anything they're supposed to, cause they're so worked up & emotionally charged, cause they're sleep deprived

[@pepeboy234]

It does not make sense to have a large Macaw as a family member/pet when you are terrified of him.

[@Kevincooper220]

Its totally normal to ne intimidated and scared of their big beaks I got a macaw because he was not happy at pet shop and it broke my heart Yes I was scared of his beak but now we have developed a very special bond

[@AndyFerr]

Is it only me or the lady's body langue seems like she hates this Macaw?

[@catzkeet4860]

It's just you. She's SCARED of him, and frankly, given his reactions to her(heightened body language, pinning, and talking which is also often a sign of heightening) and the size of that beak, ID be pretty nervous too. Its gonna take time, hard work and sheer guts on her behalf to change the associations this bird has developed regatding her, but like Dave and Jaime are saying, it CAN be done

[@AndyFerr]

@@catzkeet4860 Interesting view, didn't think about that.

[@luanahaigood278]

His poor toe nails

[@juliawigger9796]

That's courting body language wtf are you up to