Big Male Parrots

Big Male Parrots require special attention to their behavior and handling techniques. Their natural characteristics will typically make them challenge you periodically just to see where they fit in the flock. The best advice is to constantly maintain a parent or teacher role using lots of "lessons" and lots of "praise." Avoid a bond that is perceived as a mate bond by your boy bird. Sure it's fun to cuddle and wrestle but beware, this is interpreted as foreplay! You can have a successful
permanent rapport if you carefully manage
the dynamics between you. This involves a careful understanding of "body language" and "overload" behavior. When they get all worked up and "powerful," learn how to decompress this exuberance and return to a low energy and managable personality. If you can lower your energy, they can too. Just don't think you can stick your hand out and say "step up" when they're full of themselves. Or, worse yet, ask for a kiss! Big mistake. I have two male greys and two male cockatoos....understanding their instincts is imperative to successful handling. I strongly encourage you to stick train any parrot, especially males. Also being able to wrap a towel around them without stress is a valuable tool. Barnaby, shown above, stayed with me for almost a whole month....he is now stick trained! It made us both more comfortable.