Yellow headed amazon help!

mahk777 · Jun 2, 2012

Hiiiiiii! I have just received a Yellow Headed Amazon from a coworker that could no longer take care of it. I also got it for free! ahhhhh! I have a few questions but the first one is that she will step up onto my fingers (when she wants to of course) and recently while on my fingers she seems to put her beak around a few of my fingers as if to taste them? I am really not sure if I should be discouraging this behavior or not. And help would be greatly appreciated and I have a few others questions to ask as I get more accustomed to this site. I know VERY little about my bird I just know enough to take care of her and do everything I can to keep her healthy. Oh, and her name is Harley :green2:

lizardsmells · Jun 2, 2012

That's a good sign! Check out this forum and companionparrotonline.com which is full of great info about parrots in general and some really good specific info about rehomed parrots and amazons. Some of the material is paid, but it's well worth the price.

If you have any specific questions do ask! Everyone here is very helpful and friendly and loves parrots.

henpecked · Jun 3, 2012

Welcome to the forum, there's lots of good info here. read though some of the old threads and ask questions, we'll be glad to help. The behavior your describing is pretty normal, your new pet maybe asking for "pets".

lene1949 · Jun 3, 2012

It could just be a playful behaviour... I play with my alexandrine, using my hands for him to chase... He loves the game, and is always very gentle... If he bites too hard, I say 'gentle' (a word I taught him as a baby), and he immediately 'softens' the bite...

I think I've taught him bite inhibition..

KBEquine · Jun 3, 2012

My Yellow Crown beaks my fingers regularly. In his case, he is playing & using 'appropriate beak pressure' when he forgets himself and bites too hard, I say "Easy!" or (if he is about to go onto one of those mindless bouts of amazon-joy where they completely forget their inhibitions, I put him on his play stand for a little while).

I have been told variously that I shouldn't let him beak because it will lead to bad behavior (he's been doing it for a year without escalating) & that it is a sign of the bird being comfortable and friendly.

Enjoy your new parrot - mine made me fall completely in love with amazons!

mahk777 · Jun 5, 2012

GREAT thank you guys SOOOO very much! I really appreciate the help! She seems to love it and has now started using it as a means to step up on me as well! and just recently she crouches REALLY low and sticks her butt up on the air, and now i have started to pet he in between her wings and she seems to love it. (although im not 100% sure) does anyone elses bird do something like this when it wants to be scratched?!

Safira · Jun 5, 2012

That may be a mating behavior. Sounds like she loves you in inappropriate ways

I'd stick to just scratching her neck and head, some birds love their ears scratched! This will hopefully help discourage any 'mating' behavior. You want her to love you, but not too much.

There are a lot of great posts about Zons, and bird behavior

Look forward to seeing PICTURES.

friedsoup · Jun 5, 2012

mahk777 said:
just recently she crouches REALLY low and sticks her butt up on the air, and now i have started to pet he in between her wings and she seems to love it. (although im not 100% sure) does anyone elses bird do something like this when it wants to be scratched?!

This could be mating behavior I'd be really careful of that you don't want to send the wrong signals I know with toos petting between the wings is a no no . I'll let someone with more experince take up this thread

henpecked · Jun 5, 2012

Mating behavior, when petting her down between her wings you imitating a male climbing on her back to mate. She'll start to" flip", "flick" her wings to stimulate him. Becareful about what your asking of her.

Chaz12 · Jun 5, 2012

That is funny, but so true.. lol.. We must all remember that these parrots are probably 1 generation from the wild instinct and the owners are the closest person to it as its mate. So you can excite your bird easily. Sassy sits on my chest and I pet her wings and she gets excited.

wenz2712 · Jun 6, 2012

Welcome to the Forum

My YC Zon puts her beak round my finger all the time and always has done.. Its quite a normal thing

Yellow headed amazon help!

mahk777

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lizardsmells

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henpecked

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lene1949

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KBEquine

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mahk777

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Safira

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friedsoup

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henpecked

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Chaz12

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wenz2712

Banned

Yellow-Shouldered Amazon

Chili Pepper this weekend

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