Help socializing neglected(?) red-fronted Amazon?

Hi guys,

I'm not technically a parrot owner...I've owned parakeets and finches in the past, but no large birds, and have no experience with them. However, I recently moved into a new house with several roommates. One of them is a bit of a "fashion" pet owner and gets cute or interesting animals just to have them. Mostly animals that can get on fine with minimal care, fortunately, but recently he got himself a red-fronted Amazon. The bird is full-grown and previously owned, and apparently has never been taught to step up or not be afraid of humans.

I know this bird will probably (and should) live for a very long time, and that the room mate who owns him will not have much interaction with him. So to make life a bit less boring and miserable for him I've been trying to interact with him at least two or three times a day and teach him to step up, so he can be taken out and allowed to interact with things outside his cage.

He isn't aggressive or overly timid- he usually will readily accept food from our hands, but other times he'll shuffle away. When I interact with him I talk to him or just make noises, and offer snacks. When I held my hand out for him to step up he wouldn't react, or sometimes he would lean forward with his beak open like he was about to accept food, and I would pull my hand back to avoid being bitten.

Recently though, a friend of mine said that parrots sometimes like to taste or feel your hand with their beaks to decide if it's safe or not. So next time I let him and he didn't bite hard right away, but increased pressure gradually until I decided to pull my hand back. I've let him do this two or three times now. I offer him a snack to relax him, and when he's done eating it I wait a bit longer and then try to get him to step to my hand, or at least get a feel for it. The last time I tried, he put one foot on my hand, but then stepped back and put his beak on my finger, eventually hard enough that I decided to leave him alone for a bit. He doesn't do this aggressively, but I realize that I may very well be building an undesired association between fingers and food. While this might be working- he almost stepped up today- I don't know how to get him used to my hand without causing him to confuse it with food, or a proper reaction to biting too hard that will teach him not to do it.

Sorry if this is a bit long, but any and all suggestions are welcome.

With my rehomed Zons I had to get them away from their cage to interact. Have him step up on a stick ,put him on the arm of the couch. Let him call the shots [dont force him] be consistent. Then put him back in his cage with the stick.

Thanks for the suggestion! I attempted this just now with a wooden spoon. The door to his cage is pretty narrow so it's hard to put both arms inside in order to hold some food in front of the stick to coax him. That being the case, I tried just slowly moving the spoon handle towards him from below to gauge his reaction. He seemed much more scared of it than my hand, so I removed it and brought it back with a treat in the spoon.

Well, I don't know what made him decide enough was enough, but he flew at it and squawked pretty loudly. I didn't even know his feathers haven't been clipped, so I guess that's another thing to consider with bringing him into the room. I took the spoon away, shut the cage door and went back to the couch. He's doing fine now, like nothing happened. Maybe I'll try introducing the spoon again more gradually tomorrow.

I am glad you are observant enough to notice the moods of the bird you are attempting to interact with and engage. Birds need stimulation and frequent handling.
My, Charlie is afraid of sticks due to unpleasant associations with his previous owner, so I don't push it. When having Charlie step up I bring my hand in front of him and up level with his feet (not down). Charlie will grip with his beak when he is in an awkward position and when he is "testing" a perch. once Charlie has a foot on my hand or arm I gently and slowly push towards him and up. This usually makes him lift his other foot and step up. When Charlie doesn't want to be held or handled he will hold my hand with his beak and push me away as he releases me, almost as if he is throwing me (gently) away from him. I think he is adorable when he does that but after a couple of offers I leave him alone. He only gets his way with that if it is a play time, if it is bedtime or time to go into the cage he knows he HAS to step up. If he is being obstinate I place my hand at foot level behind him and he steps back onto my hand and I once again push towards him and up until he is on my hand. patience and repetition seem to be the keys with my birds.
Keep interacting with the bird, be observant of it's body language, be patient and friendly and your persistence will pay off. An Amazon is a wonderful friend to have

Ms Deb is right, if its play time, stepping up is at the birds choice, but if its back to cage time, its not an option to refuse. Queen, your doing well. Just dont jerk your hand away if he is 'mouthing' it. Parrots use their beaks as a third hand, to test what they will be stepping on. If the pressure gets too hard, in a soothing voice say 'gentle, gentle', softly and repeat. Try that. Of course if the pressure keeps going up remove your hand, but offer a reward if the birdy even partially steps up. Lots of vocal praise too. Parrots respond to that, in addition to treats.

I only offer my hand for "step up" to my smaller birds...with the larger ones (Amazon & CAG), I offer my forearm. It seems that the larger gripping surface is more comfortable for them and, as it's much larger than a finger & harder to get a beak around, biting (even when they're inclined to do so) is less likely. My 'Zon will bite a hand offered for step-up...with a forearm, he just steps up.

It DOES take time, and a LOT of trust for a bird to interact closely with you. A bird that's been clipped doesn't even have the option of flying away, so they're even less in control of their own safety. It may take awhile, but it IS worth it in the end!! There's nothing in the world like the trust and love of a parrot...

Thanks for everyone's suggestions! Since Jiminy (that's what we're calling him for now, owner hasn't given him an official name yet) didn't like the spoon the other night, I'm going to be working on getting him comfortable with being approached with a glove instead of a bare hand.

He already has started approaching the front of the cage whenever someone comes near it, rather than hiding in the back, so it seems like progress is being made

Thanks again!

Love is in the air!

goggle "clicker training parrots". That's just what you need in your situation.