Our new rescue...

Greetings everyone. We have recently rescued a Blue Fronted Amazon from absolute deplorable conditions. The cage was disgusting, the water bowl was filled with scum, there was 4 inches of poop at the bottom etc. The previous owners were distraught because they could not take care of her because of her over aggressive behavior (they obtained her from a livestock auction and she is missing half of a toe on each foot.....) I do not doubt that they did not care for this beautiful bird, but there was a fear that developed from ferocious attacks.

We have had parrots for a long time, and while we have always had very loving stable birds, we could not let this poor parrot continue in it's current state. She does NOT like women at ALL. She flew at my wife while we were there and attacked her biting her hand several times (when we were attempting to get her in the carrier). My wife was able to get her in the carrier but not after taking some vicious bites. We got her home and I power washed and disinfected the cage and scrubbed all of the toys, her bowls etc. She appears to be over weight, so until we can get her to the vets (holiday weekend) we won't know. She has taken to me somewhat in that I was able to get her to actually step up (took a bite or 2, but she came willingly and I did not force myself on her at all) She blows me kisses and actually let me rub her head when in the cage threw the bars. I have started clicker/touch training with her and she does NOT like the chop stick a little. But She does like sunflower seeds, so I am only using them as a reward in moderation (because of her weight), I have noticed a few behaviors that I have never observed with any of my other birds, and I am curious as to if they are exclusive to BFA's. (she has attempted to regurgitate to me a few times, but that said...)

1st. She lowers her head to the cage and half flaps her wings. Sometimes eyes pinned but mostly cooing and eyes normal.

2nd. She fans her tail feathers and bobs her head. (I am assuming this is an aggressive behavior)

She is eating and drinking well. And she reaches out to step up, but she also bit me hard twice after I fell for her attempts (amateur mistake I know... but who could resist!!)

I will continue to work with her. Not having much experience with this severe of a behavior issue, I am nervous and a little apprehensive, but I have faith that she will get over this in time! I'll keep yas posted!!

And thanks in advance for any advice and answers!!

I wanted to add that they had her for 4 years and have no idea how old she is. And she has no band. So I have to assume she was either bred immorally or imported illegally.

It's aalways so sad seeing birds in that condition.She is not used to being cared for and is suspicious. Regarding her behavior, number 1 sounds like.she wants something either to go to you or attention. Eye pinning in an amazon can be aggression it it also can be excitement.
But an excited amazon that you don't know well can still land a bite, handle with care.

2. aggression or excitement, see number 1 and be careful.

Biting while stepping up seems to be a common when they don't know you well, Once again sounds like excitement and testing you. Keep working with her, watch body language, Amazon's are very good at broadcasting their intentions. Thanks for rescuing her.

Wow! I admire you for taking on such a challenge. I hope you will keep us all updated on her transition. I can't help you with these behaviors as I have had no experience with birds in these type of situations. I wish you lots of luck!

Wow, thank you for rescuing him!!!

It will take time, but I have faith that you guys can work past his behavior issues. Take things slow and do new things at his pace. Having a T-stand will help a lot- to get him away from his cage and take him around with you. You can build your own with PVC for a low cost version. Talk to him alot, even sit next to his cage in a chair and read him a book..using excited and happy tones when you talk. Amazons LOVE food. Share a snack with him (not the same pieces though- sharing saliva is a huge no-no!) try some apple slices or air puffed popcorn (no salt or butter) and see what happens.

It has been a few days and she is adapting well. She lets me pet her head both in the cage and out. While she hasn't stepped up yet, she does reach out and hold on to my finger. I am still apprehensive to actually attempt to have her step up as she still does lunge occasionally.

That said, she LOVES to have her head scratched. And is showing signs of coming around. In the 4 years the previous people that had her, they said that she didn't let anyone touch her, so I am excited that she has taken to me. She still has a lot of trust issues and we are working on them. She let met pet her foot today and at night she is much more loveable. But she has her Mr Hyde moments still and has attempted to bite. I am giving her space, but working with her regularly. She allowed my wife to give her a small piece of pizza crust without trying to rip her hand off, so that is a step in the right direction for sure. I thought it would take months if not years from what I saw the first night, but the transition into our home and she has made leaps and bounds. I am confident that I will have her stepping up by spring. I noticed she is molting too, so that could be adding to her aggression as well.

Time will tell...

What a wonderful thing you did for this poor thing!
I am sure she will reward you for that. Just talk to her nice, feed her the right things and spend LOTS of time with her. I think it will happen before Spring.
Sounds like she really likes you a lot. That is the most wonderful thing.
Try to sing to her. BFAs are very good singers and enjoy music. Play CDs and dance with her.....
What you described sounds to me like excitement more than anything else, but I am not a big expert. Regurgitating could be a sign that she likes you a LOT more than you think......
Time will show.
Let us know, please.
P.S. What is her name?

(they obtained her from a livestock auction and she is missing half of a toe on each foot.....) I do not doubt that they did not care for this beautiful bird, but there was a fear that developed from ferocious attacks.

This is a clue. This bird was obviously housed with an aggressive bird that attacked it and took toes off at some point...


She appears to be over weight, so until we can get her to the vets (holiday weekend) we won't know.

Pretty normal for a perch potato zon.


She has taken to me somewhat in that I was able to get her to actually step up (took a bite or 2, but she came willingly and I did not force myself on her at all) She blows me kisses and actually let me rub her head when in the cage threw the bars.

She's not too far gone, obviously.

1st. She lowers her head to the cage and half flaps her wings. Sometimes eyes pinned but mostly cooing and eyes normal.

If this is accompanied by back and forth perch movements that is a territorial warning I call "the amazon line of death dance." It's the exact opposite of "come hither and scratch my tail..."


2nd. She fans her tail feathers and bobs her head. (I am assuming this is an aggressive behavior)

The head bob is generally a happy thing. Tail flaring depends on the body posture. It generally means she's excited about something. (Wound up amazons want to play. And how do they play? By attacking their toys! Don't be the toy...)

She is eating and drinking well. And she reaches out to step up, but she also bit me hard twice after I fell for her attempts (amateur mistake I know... but who could resist!!)

They generally go for the thumb, tuck it in so the bird can't reach it.

I will continue to work with her. Not having much experience with this severe of a behavior issue, I am nervous and a little apprehensive, but I have faith that she will get over this in time! I'll keep yas posted!!

Keep this bird clipped.

Amazons are attitudinous and not at all emotionally subtle or fragile. They get over it immediately.

Same rules apply. If the bird acts up, down to the floor. Step up nice, or meet my friend Mr. Towel. Mr. Towel does not like it when you bite, and he will see your attitude, and raise you a bird-mummy... Don't start none, won't be none.

Once you get the basic step up/no biting stuff down, then he needs to be socialized around strangers. Your wife probably shouldn't even attempt it until he is 100% gentle with you.

And thanks in advance for any advice and answers!!

Just wanted to add that you can try offering the back of your tightly closed fist for the bird to step up on. If you really stretch the skin by bending your wrist, it's hard for the bird to get any purchase and usually prevents a bite. Keep your thumb and fingers tucked away of course. Also, if the bird just doesn't want to step up, try bribing him with a treat.

Great advice thank you! Birdman, you had me crackin up ... That Amazon Line of Death Dance, is spot on! ROFL!

Well, last night was a HUGE transition. I read somewhere that sometimes the best offense was a good defense and that if you act dis-interested, they will come to you......

We have 3 birds. A Congo African Grey, a Meyers Parrot and now Wanda, our Blue Fronted Amazon. We have a florida room that we use as our office and aviary. The room is surrounded on 3 sides by casement windows, so the birds have natural sunlight and can look outside all day long. I placed Wandas cage next to my desk so that I can work on the computer and interact with her.

Last night, when things were settled down, I let her out of her cage. She likes to sit on her door and watch me as Im on the computer. Something happened after that, that left me speachless. I keep a bag of sunflower seeds on my desk, so that I can reward her when she does something good. I wasn't totally paying attention to her as I was focused on my monitor. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her walk down the side of the cage, onto my desk and wobble over to the seed bag where she starts helping herself to the goodies inside. I laughed and said "What are you doing you little ninja!" She laughed at me! I took the seeds away (they are for training purposes only). She walked back to her cage and climbed back up. I went back to what I was doing and she climbs back down, onto my desk again and starts to pick at the Esc key on my keyboard... I said no no and moved my hand to cover the key. She tested my finger with her beak, but did not bite (big step). I asked her if she wanted to step up. She climbed up onto my hand! I was so excited, but extremely nervous because of her history. I was freakin out inside! All I could think was... HOLY ****! She stepped up!... Wait.... She Stepped up!!! OMG Im gonna get eaten! So I lifted her to perch in her cage. She came out and repeated the actions again. This time she gave a small bite (probably thinking.. See that mister... Shouldn't have put me back...) I started to scratch her head hoping to distract her so she doesn't REALLY bite. I lifted her up to the door and let her step up. Gave her lots of praise and a sunflower seed. She went back into her cage and sat there cooing.

I am amazed at how much she is coming around and how quickly. The previous owners said that she had never stepped up in the 4 years they had her and that the husband (the only one that could get close to her) could only scratch her head through the bars of the cage.

When she came down to my desk the 2nd time, she was going through the regurgitation motions. I thanked her, and she put her head down and started flapping her wings. She does that alot when shes in her cage. I watched closely last night as she was doing it and she puts her head down between the bars with her tail up and half flaps her wings (doesn't open them, but lifts them and flaps rapidly). If I attempt to rub her head in that state, she mumbles and walks away then comes back and does it again. She does it mostly when I get home or if I get up from my desk to get a drink. I am starting to think it is her excited energy more so now.

I am only 4 days in and she has shown such huge leaps and bounds. FAR greater than anything I expected. Seeing the state she was in when we first went to the house to get her and how aggressive she was to now (only 4 days later). I know with some breeds (African Greys, som Macaw's etc) can take years to rehabilitate. So I am totally blown away at such a short time.

Wow you are doing amazingly well with her considering her background! I have had my BFA nearly 2 years and still haven't had a step up My fault really as he does allow me very close to him and to tickle him but I have become nervous of that beak! I must perservere and try the tight back of hand thing lol!

Wow!! What AWESOME progress!!!! So glad to hear things are coming along nicely she sounds like she's gonna be mischievous and keep you on your toes

SarahT said:

Wow you are doing amazingly well with her considering her background! I have had my BFA nearly 2 years and still haven't had a step up My fault really as he does allow me very close to him and to tickle him but I have become nervous of that beak! I must perservere and try the tight back of hand thing lol!

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I totally understand! This step up was not expected at all! Especailly at this point. My finger is still healing from the first real attempt.

I am really hoping she will come around completely. She shows so many signs of being an affectionate loving bird, but with everything she's been thru and even through all of the positive signs, I still have apprehension and concerns. If I can get her to just sit on my shoulder and let me pet her head, I will take that as a successful rehabilitation hehe (well that and when she doesn't go violently after my wife). I do agree with one of the other posters that she isn't possibly as bad off as we initially believed.

Belgaram said:

Great advice thank you! Birdman, you had me crackin up ... That Amazon Line of Death Dance, is spot on! ROFL!

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I have fostered and rehabbed dozens, and presently own two, only because my beloved 38 year old blue front passed away from a tumor, or it would be three...

The line of death dance is very real, and they WILL attack if you cross that line.

Better to just step back and let them calm down a bit before trying to handle them when they work themselves into a state like that!

I am sorry to hear that. My condolences. And my hats off to you for all of your rehabs. I have earned a whole new respect for the process, hard work and dedication it takes to rehabilitate them. You and everyone else that has dedicated their lives should be commended. Thank you!

She was the most bonded bird I ever had, and that's saying something given that I had a conure that lived inside my shirt with just his head sticking out for 12 years, and of course, my Greenwing...

She was special. And I got her when she was 35 and critically ill. Left by a dumpster to die...

Like she was trash!!!

I nursed her back to health, and she became exceptional. Probably because of all she'd been through. But the crappy diet she was on for most of her life took it's toll on her. I had her for 3 years or so, and she died of an intestinal tumor...

My greenwing is ALMOST that bonded... ALMOST.

BUT THAT BIRD WAS IRREPLACEABLE!!!

She should have died when I found her. I like to think she got a reprieve from death because any creature that astoundingly loving deserved to experience proper care and love... and that was my roll in her life!

She paid me back in kind...

I will never forget that bird!

Amazing! The more time you spend with her, the better she'll be. So exciting to see them come around, isn't it?

I have a Bluefrnt I got off craigslist. He does the same thing !! When he sits on top of his cage .He holds out his foot to step up. But theirs something not right [I feel like hes going to nail me. ] Ive always wondered what he was doing .I feel like were playing a game of chicken

Last night she stepped up. For real. But it is obvious she never learned to step up properly, because she is awkward and I have to cup my hand to hold her. I opened her cage to get a bowl and boop! She stepped right up. I was rubbing her beak (and making sure I was ready for a bite if it was coming... thankfully it didn't) Her bites are much less frequent and not at all hard. More testing than bite. Although she did get me twice last night.

Which goes back to my original premise that birds that are biting simply need to be handled more, not less...