Stand my ground or keep away????

My husband wanted me to post this question. The parrots are in separate cages - one on each side of the dining room so they can feel a part of the family.

At night when the majority of the lights are out and they know it's their bedtime and nearly ours . . . . he may walk into the kitchen and that path takes him past MC's cage. MC has taken to running to the edge of the cage and acting like he is going to attack him through the bars.

Should my husband ignore this behavior or respond to it? He's tried both - neither seems to work with MC. When he talks to MC about it, (and it's always in a calm tone), MC's feathers return to normal and he just hangs there - but sometimes he will walk down the side of the cage as my husband continues by.

This behavior just started a few months ago. MC doesn't do it always - but it's often enough we thought we should ask for help on the issue.

Thanks!

ignore it. you give the bird any attention good or bad and the bird will learn to keep doing it.

I would ignore it! Amazons are pretty clever, they no exactly what to do to get your attention I have now learnt with Codie, to Ignore the bad and praise the good!

Sometimes I do both. I don't think there is really a right answer there unless you clearly see an escalation in the behavior when you do one thing or the other. Sometimes they are crabby at night or they feel posessive of their food and water bowl. Males especially can be like that. Personally I would just take a different path into the kitchen if possible to avoid the issue. Sometimes I will stop and discuss the "situation" with the bird and normally once they realize I'm not leaving so they can't chase me away, they calm down. Sometimes I just ignore them.

ignore it would prolly be your best bet. can we see pics of your scarlet

Ignore it, you reinforce it by just acknowledging it.I would assume this is a male,more male like behavior, to the "big dog" in the house. At that time and place he feels the most justified acting the way he's acting. His cage,his roost,etc. realize he's that way and why.He wants to be in control and this is his best case( most justified). The trick is to turn it into your favor.If at all possible you want to have a good /happy interaction.I say ignore it but when you do , it reinforces his actions because he feels like he's "driven" you away. (He feels better,because he's exercisered some control over his life). Yes ignore it but on the way back from the kitchen bring him his favorite treat and make him beg you for it.You want every interaction to end on a good note and him driving (controling) you away is not good, find a way to turn it around and show him your in charge,know best , the flock leader, etc. He's testing to see if he's a better flock leader than you. ( very natural for a male, it natures way of having the most capable lead the flock).. I'd make him come to me for a treat and sumbit to a head scratch. YOU need to have the last word on how this relationship is going to work. just my .02 worth when living with multiple zons or even one. PS you said something about a pair of zons. If they are a pair ,then he's doing his job.In fact aggression is part of their natural breeding cycle.Males need to defend their area from other bird to "bring them into season", it stimulates their hormones to "defend" their nest site.This all could be the onset of hormonal behavior if he's at a mature age. Sorry about the long post, i'm sure it's more info than you wanted.

Henpecked, I think you just gave me the key I've been missing in the interaction between DH and Kazi. Thank you!

Max, my Alexandrine does that after he's gone to bed... One night I needed to go back into the office, and on my way out he went for me through the cage bars... I couldn't help laughing at my little gentle baby bird... but he was serious... Don't disturb me, while I'm sleeping!

Now, if I have to disturb him, I do it very quietly, I don't talk to him, I don't turn on the lights, unless I have to.... and I completely ignore him...