On his back

Does anyone know if blue fronted, or any, amazons like being on their back? Zack and I will be sitting in my recliner with him on my chest playing. The next thing I know he is leaning over to one side, grabbing me with a claw and beaking, sometimes hard, sometimes not, (he seems to be beaking hard more often than not lately). The next step is him on his back, using both claws and his beak and biting hard...not hard enough to break skin but hard enough to hurt. The thing is, he doesn't try to get up or get away until I stop trying to "get his belly".

I'm not sure if he is enjoying this or not (I do) but I don't want to force him to do this if he isn't enjoying it too. The whole thing kind of reminds me of playing the same game with a cat. Never heard of doing this with birds tho.

Hi not really sure if Amazons are keen on being on their backs or not, I suppose it can also be an individual thing, If he is biting a lot you should look at the possibility that he isn't that keen? Is he biting you to go onto his back, hanging on to get into position? Obviously likes a tummy tickle?? I would study his body language more to try and get more signs of like or dislike. Will he let you hold him in your hand on his back? Do let me know how you get on?

Thought I'd enclose a link of my bird on his back http://www.parrotforums.com/cockatoos/60386-my-crazy-galah.html

Sounds to me as if Zack is trying to engage you in play. Go with it! Many zons have a rough and tumble personality, and truly enjoy playing 'roly poly'.

Here are a few older pics of my Sam doing it all on his own (laying on his back)










And here's a quick clip of him when he flew over to the couch to play with me (he acts differently when/while I'm trying to record him)

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yWJ33emL-c"]Sam playing one - YouTube[/ame]

My YN also lays on her back (with one of my sons here)

My Amazon loves to play on his back. It's his nightly routine, he's playing on my chest then he flips over for me to play with him. I have to admit I love it too, he's so darn cute when he's doing this.

I would say most zons enjoy playing on their back. However as you have noticed, they some tomes get into amazon overload and bite/play pretty rough. They're just over stimulated . I have to tell mine to chill or calm down.

I also think he is wanting you to play. My YNA does not do this often but does enjoy it now and then. sometimes the bites can get a little painful, if it happens to much then play time is over.
texsize

Most love to play on their back. Sounds like that might be the case.

Ok Salty will play with his foot toys on his back sometimes, in his cage. And once in a while we will play together, with him on his back either on my chest or lying on the couch, with me tickling him, doing little gottcha scratchies and playing with his feet. Those he semi-enjoys, with the lite mouthing often graduating to bites ( but not blood drawing bites). I think he likes it but drives him into overload quickly. And one of his tricks I taught him is to play dead in my hand, flat on his back. He is also working on Roll Over ( like a doggie does it) and he seems to enjoy doing that trick ( its his favorite one to do right now). So @ DougC1349, I would continue to play with him like that just be aware how quickly that can send them into amazon overload superplay , where things get ripped and shredded up as a part of play.

@Wendy - Sam always looks like he is smiling - I love him! Makes me a little sorry we did not get a DYH, but then a moment with Salty, and he is all the bird I ever want.

Thanks all, I think he enjoys it. He has seemed to want to be with me a lot more lately, but like I said he seems to be beaking harder than he used to.

Here's another question, why does he always go for the knuckle? Lol

Dougc1369 said:

Here's another question, why does he always go for the knuckle? Lol

Click to expand...

'Cause they know where it hurts.. :54:

Lol...too true!

Amy likes to be on her back too..she will lay on the living room floor and I point my finger at her and twirl it in a circle and tell her roooolllll over..and she does lol.


Jim

I've been working on Sammy to like being on his back (only because it's terminally cute). He, too, bites (gently, for the most part, although he's only too willing to bite hard if he feels like it!), but he's getting better at it. If he REALLY doesn't want it, he gives a very loud, angry squawk, and I let him right himself. Most of the time, though, it's a series of little (vaguely annoyed?) squawks & struggles. Sometimes if I rub one wing or one leg only, he'll roll over on his side on his own.

I don't think he actually minds it (and he clearly loves a little horseplay), but prefers it on his own terms...