Max, the macaw.

[pagan queen]

This is my Macaw using a spoon to eat strawberry jelly. The pictures are a bit fuzzy as it was too dark inside his cage.

[emma_mcraf]

Max is just gorgeous Wendy!!

[Catwoman63]

How clever he is, lovely looking bird you have x

[Easter Bunny]

That is very clever.. I love his cheeky face x

[pagan queen]

Max is a cheeky bird. He can be so sweet but he can also be a right little bugger. He has such a huge personality and a real character. He is such a part of the family. We've had him for 15 years, he was our first parrot and we wouldn't be without him now. He loves a spoonful of peanut butter as a treat. The jelly was the first time he had tried it and he stole the spoon from my daughters hand.

[animalmad]

he is beautiful, just wondered if you have any advice for me, I have a Senegal parrot who is always plucking and this behaviour has happened for years, he seems ok in himself but feathers get a bit better and then he replucks. he gets lots of attention and time out of his cage, we have given vitamins in his water and he has seed and fresh fruit and veg. any ideas? thanks in advance x

[lynnedit]

Did your Senegal pluck before you got him? I think once they have the habit, they can resort to it again, even though you provide lots of attention and good care. Sort of like a human trying to break a habit like biting fingernails, etc.

Max looks very, very proud of himself.

[pagan queen]

I'm afraid when a bird starts to pluck it is very hard to stop it. Have you taken him to see a vet to rule out a physical cause? I have an African Grey and he started plucking some years ago and still does to this day. All I can suggest you try is getting him lots of toys, particular foraging toys and preening toys. With Toby, My African Grey, we have found he has improved since we just leave his cage door open all day. He has access to a play area and spends very little time in his cage now. His plucking has improved no end, he now actually has feathers on his back, and has grown his wing feathers back.
You could try supplementing him with "feather up" http://www.northernparrots.com/feath...ent-prod6070a/ I don't really use supplements in water, you can never be sure how much they are getting from day to day and if it breaks down quickly. I do however use grapefruit seed extract in all the birds water about once a fortnight.
And look at his diet. I don't really know much about Senegals seed diet. I recently changed my parrots diets over to a sunflower free seed mix. Sunflower seeds are usually one of the main ingredients in parrot diet but should be one of the least. Plenty of fresh fruit and veg is also essential and believe it or not, those weeds you feed you tortoise are also good for your parrot.

I hope that helps but if not don't blame yourself, it's just something some birds do. It makes them special and I'm sure you don't love him any less. Just enjoy him.
I'd love to see a picture of him.

[animalmad]

Thanks for your help and I'll try and upload a pic of him soon, even if he is scruffy he is still very cute x

[animalmad]

We had him from a baby so it's defiantly learned behaviour but his cage door is open constantly when we're in the house so he can please himself. He has toys but only really plays on his swing he hates it when we introduce new things into his cage seems to stress him more.