15 week old DYH amazon already starting to bite

ksmith3

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May 22, 2007
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Canada
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1 Quaker and a DYH Amazon on the way
Hello Everyone,

Well, I've followed this site for some time reading posts and now I recently got my second bird, a 15 week old double yellow headed amazon. I've had her for just under 2 weeks and I was told she was a stubborn typical amazon which she has proven to be. I love her to death but I'm concerned that some behavioral issues may arrise due to something I'm doing that I'm not aware of. Firstly, she does not like to be petted. She will growl and bite (getting harder as the days go on) anybody that she is not familiar with or if she really doesn't want to be touched. She likes to be around people but just not touched (besides step up which she does just fine). It's almost like she's scared of hands b/c I can rub my face against hers and give her kisses on her head and shes fine... So any of you know of games you can play or advice to stop this type of behavior? She is in no way a cuddly bird but I do not want to enforce this unwanted behavior. Will get pics soon to show you my new baby!!!:)
 

NicoleN

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Jan 15, 2007
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Snow & Blue-Budgies
Welcome to the Forum!

First off, I hope you realize that Amazon's are generally not 'cuddly' birds. They like people, they're just not a cockatoo.

When you try to touch/pet your Amazon, where are you touching him at? He might not be comfortable with your hand going over his head and could be scared. I find that a good way to 'pet' them without them really knowing is whenever they step up on your hand, to rub their belly with your thumb. Also, I believe that Amazons don't really like their back and wings rubbed, so you might only get as far as scritches on the head.


But that does seem awfully young for a bird to seem like they're afraid of hands. Where did you get him from? a breeder? pet store? He might not have been handled much when he was younger.

A good way to get them used to your hands being so close is to play tug of war. Gigi has a long shredder that he loves to play with, so I tie one end into a ball and I hold on to the other end...he's playing with it and I slowly move my hands closer and closer while I'm holding the shredder. Maybe this will help him with his fear of hands.

Keep trying and always remember to make it a fun experience for the birds.

I'm sure someone else will be along soon with more advice.
 
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ksmith3

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May 22, 2007
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Canada
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1 Quaker and a DYH Amazon on the way
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Yay! I jumped the gun on this one. I read a couple books before getting her and I went back to them re reading the part about shy birds and interaction and I've included more food treats now and even from yesterday so far she seems to be doing much better. She nips at the beginning a little bit but I'm taking a little bit slower and lots of praise and treats seem to be working. We'll see how this works in the long run!
 

Keupi

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Aug 16, 2007
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Keupi - a Senegal.
Hi ksmith3 and welcome!

The one fun thing - and fun is sarcastic, is figuring out beaking vs. biting. It's really tough sometimes to distinguish when that beak is headed at your flesh.

They often use their beak to steady the next perch (which can be a finger). It's almost like a monkey's tail. My Dad w/Keupi still has trouble because he holds his finger a bit too far away at times for Keupi to step 'up' so Keupi quite naturally, tries to pull the finger (branch) closer using his beak. He gets cranky when it's just not possible from his perspective.

Also, weanlings don't know beak strength. Remember - natural instinct is that they are giving a light tug to a bunch of feathers not tearing into flesh. We actually have a 's' word in my house - skin. Used neutrally, it's a reminder to both human and fid that there's it's all flesh there.

As an aside, Dad does use this more - actually before he even gives the up command to Keupi - he says, skin. So alleviated the beaking/biting stuff during visits with Grandpa.

Your fid sounds adorable. It sounds like you are doing a great job.
 

Chewy

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Aug 24, 2007
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1cockatoo Chewy 2 cockatiels Male=eli female-=LittleFoot
First off, I hope you realize that Amazon's are generally not 'cuddly' birds. They like people, they're just not a cockatoo.

hate to say this but not a lot of cockatoos are cuddly either, or else Ijust have met the uncuddly ones.
Again Welcome :)
Don't give up on your baby.
 

NicoleN

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Jan 15, 2007
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Sisqo & GiGi-DYH & BF Amazons





Snow & Blue-Budgies
Most Cockatoos are pretty cuddly when they're juveniles, but when they become mature, not so much. Plus it depends on the kind of Cockatoo. Rose-breasted Cockatoos aren't known to be 'cuddly' like Goffin's or Umbrella's. From a lot of posts that I've read on this and other forums, people are attracted to Cockatoos right from the start because their such little cuddlers, and then freak out when they mature.
 

TexDot33

Bird poop and baby poop
Dec 26, 2006
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15 year-old Sun Conure: Hamlet &
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I had a U2 pick me today ... I looked right at her and said, "Sorry honey, try again!" When I put her back in her cage she started to scream ... and I looked right at her and I said, "case and point"
 

TexDot33

Bird poop and baby poop
Dec 26, 2006
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14 year-old Green-Cheeked Conure: Mac
I would take the scream of a Galah/RoseBreasted 'too over the scream of a U2 or any of the bigger 'toos any day ... it was ear drum piercing ...
 

TexDot33

Bird poop and baby poop
Dec 26, 2006
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New Hampshire USA
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15 year-old Sun Conure: Hamlet &
14 year-old Green-Cheeked Conure: Mac
yeah, the "conure alarm" goes off around here about 7 ... guess we are really lucky in that aspect that they don't like to get up early ...
 

Keupi

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Aug 16, 2007
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Connecticut
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Keupi - a Senegal.
I will say with my feathered alarm clock... I've had no success in finding the snooze button. Though a few sleepy whistles have bought me sleep time.

My problem is... how do you 'fight' the feathered clock when they scream and scream, you stomp out from your bedroom prepared to yell "It's Saturday/Sunday" and they greet you with a wolf whistle? Then trot down to the 'come out' perch, toy in beak and start dancing?

I'm sorry, but the only way to handle it is to let him out and make a pot of coffee.

Also - ever notice they really don't care about bedhead and badbreath as long as breakfast is served?

Though... a snooze button... there has to be a snooze button.

LOL!!!!!
 

TexDot33

Bird poop and baby poop
Dec 26, 2006
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15 year-old Sun Conure: Hamlet &
14 year-old Green-Cheeked Conure: Mac
I will say with my feathered alarm clock... I've had no success in finding the snooze button.

I wonder if my Avian Vet can install one? Chirsty, will you make a mental note, next time we go and see Dr. Giruano we should ask him this ...


My problem is... how do you 'fight' the feathered clock when they scream and scream, you stomp out from your bedroom prepared to yell "It's Saturday/Sunday" and they greet you with a wolf whistle? Then trot down to the 'come out' perch, toy in beak and start dancing? I'm sorry, but the only way to handle it is to let him out and make a pot of coffee.

I find that a large amount of alcohol (for the HUMAN) usually helps you get back to sleep ... Seriously though, you can't win here ... so Hamlet and Mac have learned that they get to come spend a restful 30 - 60 minutes in bed with Chirsty and I (we don't sleep, we just lay there and play/rest) in morning ... they usually preen each other, us and cuddle under our chins in the morning ... it's a great time for everyone ... and just to make sure we are all on the same page here, we don't sleep while they are in our bed ... and I do not recommend anyone sleeping with their birds in the bed with them ...
 

Keupi

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Aug 16, 2007
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Keupi - a Senegal.
Well if the vet can, the vet will have a line-up. Keupi already has a microchip so I hope it's something they can just 'upgrade.'

Though, prior to Mom's retirement and when Keupi was staying at the Grands... he was not to happy with waking up 'early' himself. As a middle school teacher 'Grandma' would need to wake up at 5:30 to make it to school for 7:30.

Following her daughter's instructions, Keupi needs his breakfast. We neglected to realize that I usually get up about 7 and.... well discrepancy.

My father (already retired) had to take over after... get this..

One morning at about 5:45 she raised the cover, opened his door, and tried to get him to step up to come out for breakfast. Keupi proceeded to look at her finger and then tucked his head back in and went back to sleep.

Grandpa had to take over giving him breakfast... but even then.. parrot play...

I only heard about this one, in full, about a month ago. I don't know whether this coincides with the McDonalds Hash Brown/French Fry thing Grandpa has with Keupi (he buys them because Keupi loves them....)

is it for the birds or for the bird???

All I know is that he's not getting up until he's ready but once he's up... I'd better be up too.

So, snooze button - he's microchipped. Do you think we can add a remote? LOL!!:D:D:D:D
 

Tracy842

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Jan 12, 2007
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Popsicle the Senegal Parrot &
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Keupi already has a microchip so I hope it's something they can just 'upgrade.'

Well someone had told me that a senegal was too small to be able to get a microchip, I never did check that further. Now I think that is something we'll have to get done.

Wow you guys all have birds that like getting up early. My 2 will not make a single sound until I uncover them. I guess I lucked in that way.
 

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