Change in behavior...please advise!

pinacolada

New member
Dec 29, 2011
6
0
Ca, SF area
Parrots
Amazons: Chucky & Holly Parakeets: Oliver & Lucky
Hello, I need some advise with one of my amazons.
I have a yellow nape amazon Holly and 3 days ago she started to attack me. First time she jumped on me when I wanted to give a treat to my blue fronted amazon ( Chucky) before i gave it to her.She was outside the cage and jumped on me trying to bite. Luckily I shake her off with no bite. I could understand this behavior thinking that she was jealous, even thou it did not happened before but I can not understand what happened next.... Next day I had her sitting next to my blue fronted(Chucky) on my arm chair like we do every day for the past 2 years, to eat my breakfast together- a home made flour less muffin with fruits. After we finish, usually Chucky likes to go in top of my arm chair and Holly climbs on my arm and doses off while I scratch her head. We were almost done with the breakfast , i grabbed my coffee cup to sip my last coffee and eat my last bite of muffin when Holly jumped at me. I spilled the coffee on the carpet trying to protect myself and especially my face. She bit me from my shoulder and i had a hard time to make her let go. My long hair saved me from a bite on my face. I put her in her cage and locked her up. Later the day I let her out and everything seemed fine.
Yesterday, she was on her cage and i was sitting in my arm chair about 6-7 ft away from her cage. I stood up to go and get something and she jumps on me. Again my long hair protected me. I shake her off and she fell on the floor. Next thing I know she is chasing me to bite my feet. I had bare feet and i had to jump over her to protect myself. She was running after me so I had to leave the room. Few minutes later I came back. She was on her cage. I was afraid to touch her so i lure her with a treat in her cage and locked her up. She is in the cage since yesterday. Last night I opened the cage to tell her goodnight and she let me scratch her head ( she bends her head when she wants to be scratched). Today I opened the cage a few times and scratch her head. She wants to get out but I am afraid to let her out. What do you think? what could cause this behavior? What should I do?
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
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Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
I'm so sorry you've been going through this with Holly. As I was reading, I could just imagine that can be pretty scary with a large Amazon. I was thinking hormones? How old is she? Then I was wondering if typical Amazon hormone season has passed (?).

I know other Amazon people will come around shortly to help you out. Best of luck!
 

henpecked

Active member
Dec 12, 2010
4,858
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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
How old is Holly? You've had her for 2 yrs? What about the other zon,BFA? When did you get him? Holly sounds like a jealous hen when around the other Zon , but like a male with the personal aggression. Is she flighted? How does she act around the other zon when you aren't in the picture? Do you think she's bonding with the other BFA? can you give us a little more history? Are they caged in the same room, see each other? Play together? Anything change lately?
 

SandyBee

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Oct 5, 2012
1,455
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Coquitlam BC, Canada
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DYH Amazon-Rescue- Bosley (36),
African Brown head-Rescue- August(9)
My amazon has been really hormonal this year, he's flown at my head a couple of times. It seems that if I'm doing something he doesn't like he launches. Amazons love to be the controller it seems, you need to keep her off your shoulder if you can't trust her.
 
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pinacolada

New member
Dec 29, 2011
6
0
Ca, SF area
Parrots
Amazons: Chucky & Holly Parakeets: Oliver & Lucky
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I have her for 3 years and she is an older bird (over 25y I was told). I am her 3rd parent. She likes women and i am the only person in the house i can handle her. She doesn't play with Chucky, they do not get along, they just tolerate each other. When we eat in the morning they sit next to each other without fighting. Their cages are closed to each other, about 2 ft apart. Holly likes to go and stay on top of Chucky's cage. This is Ok with Chucky as long as he sits on the perch above her. When I come in the room with treats she will go back on her cage to take and eat the treat.
Chucky is a very stable bird, he never bit me hard and he gets along with my son too. I trust him completely and i always carry him on my shoulder.
Holly is moody since i took her. She doesn't like paper towels,napkins or toilet paper. If i have a paper towel in my hand she will practically attack it. She bit me very hard few times when I was around her and forgot that i have the paper towel in my hand. Later on she started not to like my green cell phone and my house phone. She gets very upset when she sees me with them. One time i set the cell on the floor. She came down and started to attack the phone.
In the morning when i come in the room she will go down her cage and go under the bed or she will go on the bottom of her cage inviting me to mate with her. Lately she is not doing it as often as before.
She can be very lovable, likes her head scratch more than Chucky does.
She gets scared and excited very easily when I take her around the house or outside. She bits when she gets excited so I am carrying her in the small cage when we go outside. I never carry her on my shoulder because I do not know how she will react. I carry her only on my fingers.
Her cage is unlocked and she gets in and out as she pleases. She stays out most of the time. She goes in by herself when she wants to go to bed.
I do not think these days I did anything unusual to make her react this way.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
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San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
How old is Holly? You've had her for 2 yrs? What about the other zon,BFA? When did you get him? Holly sounds like a jealous hen when around the other Zon , but like a male with the personal aggression. Is she flighted? How does she act around the other zon when you aren't in the picture? Do you think she's bonding with the other BFA? can you give us a little more history? Are they caged in the same room, see each other? Play together? Anything change lately?

Agreed. Sounds like a Big time jealousy issue.
 

henpecked

Active member
Dec 12, 2010
4,858
Media
3
18
NC/FLA
Parrots
Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
I keep rereading your post, She's just a jealous hen . The reason she attacks the cell phone or computer is because it gets your attention. You can be playing with her and the phone rings,,, she's playing second fiddle, she's not going to stand for that. As a matter of fact , she seems to get her way most of the time. I only have your two post to go on, but that's what i see. I would put alittle more "structure" in her life before any/every one is subject to her attacks. Maybe clip her. maybe only pet her for a couple of seconds , stop before she's ready. ( Bet she bites at you) . Only give her one treat , and make her earn it. It's easy to say and much harder to do, but , socialize,socialize,socialize. The only way to break that onepersoness, is to have her make that first friend, the rest will come easier.
 

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