my wife has a really annoying bird?

WHOLE ROAST CHICKEN with Orange Glaze

INGREDIENTS:

1 roasting chicken, 4 to 5 pounds

seasoned salt

1 onion, peeled

1 carrot, cut in 1-inch chunks

1 rib celery, cut in 1-inch chunks

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 cup fresh orange juice

finely chopped green onion and parsley, for garnish

PREPARATION:

Wash chicken and rub with seasoned salt. Stuff cavity with onion, carrot and celery. Place chicken in shallow baking dish or on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast at 325° for about 3 hours (internal temperature should be about 375°).

Mix orange juice and cornstarch in a small bowl or measuring cup. About 30 minutes before chicken is done, brush chicken generously with orange juice mixture. Brush again about 15 minutes before done. Sprinkle with chopped green onion and parsley before serving, if desired.

Roast whole chicken serves 6

Maybe some training for the bird? Professional or just ask her to spend more time with the bird. They are really smart, so they need plenty of stimuli. Does he have plenty of toys that are rotated weekly? Does he spend most of his day out of the cage? Is the bird kept below your eye level? If not, he thinks he's the boss. Also, if the bird is plucking its feathers, its feeling anxiety. If that keeps up, it will pluck its whole body. Not good -- not cute. Training may also take care of the chasing. Large parrots mature socially at about 5 years and it sounds like this guy is on his way to being a territorial bird. As he gets older, he may move from chasing to a flying attack (it's happened). It's important to get him some training before these behaviors get a lot worse. And yes, I do know what it's like to have a bird with a can opener attached to its face come after you. I have a parrot who tried it once, but it was nipped in the bud.

"but it's time for her to go" If you feel that strongly about it. You must do what you must do. Macaws are very sensitive and they can feel contemptment. there are many reasons why a she would be plucking. I personally believe that a bird that does not enjoy human contact but has never lived in the wild and could not survive in the wild should be placed in a breeding program. I find it extremely cruel that some of these so called 'rescues' will take in a bird that is in this condition and refuse to allow it into a breeding program. Or take in a bird that has been a breeder their whole life and claim that he is 'retiring'. We have to remember that parrots live a long time and they remain sexually active for years. How would any of us humans feel if we lost our husband or someone just took our spouse away and say...no more fun you...you are retiring. lol? At any rate, sorry went on a tangent there. If you have had her all these years and you have taken good care of her but she still isn't fully rehabilitated I would definitely look into getting her into a breeding program.

It sounds like this bird came to you with a lot of bad habits and has been bouced around a lot. Most of the problemss you are describing (screaming, feather plucking) develop from stress. Unfortunatly, as you have learned, once the bad habits are established they are hard to stop even when they are out of the stressful enviroment. It sounds like both you and your wife have done a lot of work over the last 3yrs to get this bird as far along as you have. If you both truly feel you need to place it in a new home I would recommend trying to locate a parrot rescue that specalizes is behavorial problems. If you really are to the point you feel this way about the bird the it is probably exaterbating the problems as she is picking up on your stress, so rehoming her is the best thing both for her and your sanity.

If neither you nor your wife want the bird then find it another home. Birds are passed from owner to owner more than any other animal because people do not understand the care that a bird entails.

If you don't to re-home the bird, make sure it has toys to play with at all time. That may help with both the picking and the screeching.

Parrots are very sensitive and intelligent. I suspect yours is very stressed from the hostile atmosphere that you are conveying.

Why are you insulting the people that are trying to give you suggestions? Your question is filled with hostility towards the bird. People read that and it affects their responses.

OMG you cracked me up with this...

, it has a high pitch squeel that peals paint..

YES they do don't they????

OK, let me share. I bought my blue and gold years ago (70s, gees.) I worked in a pet store and got him from the owners son wholesale. Back then it was legal to import these birds. Mine was wild caught as a youngster, quaranteened, scared to death! All for profit.

(If I knew then what I know now......)

But I was as stupid as the store owners. Not knowing hand raised babies were better, I bought Max.

He spent weeks circling the cage SCREAMING!!!!!!

As I lived in an appartment in Chicago at the time I HAD to get him to shut up and fast!

So... training a wild bird consisted of keeping a water squirt bottle handy, and some delicious treats.

I withheld all food. He HAD to take food from me.

Hunger is a great motivator.

Screaming = a squirt.

And the second he was quite, I'd walk over and offer a treat.

Eventually as I handed the treat, I'd reach up with my finger and just touch the top of his beak.

It took some patiance, but it worked. He mellowed down, eventually got to the point I could take him out on a perch and pet him.

Now... birds do tend to have ONE owner. They sort of adopt their person like a mate of sorts. When I got married, MY bird did NOT like my husband either.

This can change but it will take some serious patience on both your parts. My bird now gets along not only with my husband, but actually CALLS my son by name. He and my husband talk to each other all monning. Though he still cannot handle the bird, they get along ok.

So it can change.

The feather pulling is a problem though. What are you folks feeding? Fortunately for me, I learned early on NOT to just feed "parrot mix." Mine eats anything we do. (very few exceptions. Never chocolate, or avacados. both are toxic to birds.) He LOVES pizza. Fresh fruit, veggies, all good. Diet can be a cause to rip out feathers.

Stress is another. It's a sure bet your bird knows all too well you hate it.

You don't have to get to like each other, but you do have to live together so it's worth it to try and get along. Macaws live to be about 75 years old. It's a long term thing here.

If you both really don't want yours, please do find a good home. Find a parrot sanctuary, or perhaps a breeder willing to take one in. 3 years old is still young enough for it to find a mate. I'd love to take it myself but several people have already told me my bird is probably too old now to accept a mate.

But don't keep it if you really hate it. There are lots of places it could go and be happy.

Good luck.

I'm sorry, but I have to agree with teritaur and others who have recommended giving the bird away.

If you knew anything about caring for birds, you would know that this is not the way a healthy, happy, well-adjusted bird behaves. Please find a parrot rescue in your area who will take the bird and rehome it with someone who is experienced. Or, if that is out of the question, please find an expert who can come to your home and teach you and your wife how to properly care for, and socialize, this bird.

It will take a long time to resocialize him, but if you have the desire and the patience, it will be very rewarding. But first, you need to change your attitude. No bird is an "annoying piece of crap," and if you do not believe that you can change your attitude toward the bird, you are best off without it in your life, and the bird is absolutely best off without you in its life.

Some people just don't deal well with birds. It's not your fault, it just happens. Some birds are unruly, just like children. You need to get them as babies if you are to have a good relationship with them. If you get them older, no matter how much older they will require an insane amount of time and patience to get them under control. Seriously, if the bird was living in my house and we couldn't get close to it I'd give it to someone who was trained to handle BIG Birds and hope for the best. Secondly I would never make that mistake again. Birds aren't for everyone. Leave them to those who have the patience and know how to deal with them.

The Bird is what you let it be,if you don't like the way he behaves,then seek professional advice from a behaviorist,or do the Bird a favor and find a new home for it where it can be truly happy.I would even take it,since its such an annoying' piece of crap' to you.All things can be changed.

I'm sorry to hear you find your Wife's Macaw annoying. Actually the Macaw is my favorite specie of bird. The only advice I can offer you is for you to take the bird to a Bird Rescue and they will deal with it and hopefully the bird will end up in a living forever home.

I know plenty of people that would take your bird in.

I would be a man and deal with it.

It's a bird. You're probably just not used to it after 3 years. If you can't stand it so much, then talk to your wife about placing it in a home that will appreciate it.