macaws behavior

Question
I have a female and male macaw.  The male macaw is very aggressive.  He is fighting with my female and destroys everything he can.  We keep them in a back room and he is eating the paneling around the borders of the wall. He also started tearing the wood off the door and put a big hole in it.  We put a big piece of metal to try to stop him from doing anymore damage to the door. But he is just picking around other parts.  Also when we take him in the livingroom he starts destroying my couch. How can I stop him from destroying my home? Please help. Thank you so much.

Answer
Males tend to be very protective when they have a female around; or a favorite owner. The chewing is just what they do (all parrots).  We've got a blue and gold who is like a buzz saw - so we just buy firring strips of natural pine (be sure the wood is absolutely untreated) from lumber supply stores like Lowes or Home Depot, cut them into about 3' or longer pieces, screw a brass/nickel/stainless steel hook into one end and hang it where they think they shouldn't be having it.  
 We also use panels of wood the same way.  Just always be sure the metal hooks you install are NOT zinc. Zinc in the metalic form is very poisonous to birds.

 By installing a hook in the area of your doorway so you can just put the chewing wood (with another hook in it) there when the bird is, take it down when he's not - is a solution that saves your home and lets the bird be a bird.

You'll just have to keep him away from the couch :(

I have to admire you for letting them out like this though. It indicates that you're truly a bird person and caring for these two very well!
 I love hearing that!


 See more about bird care and options at our site - including some pics
 www.4AnimalCare.org   (click on 'birds')