Agressive biting

Hi all. I am having problems with my new Yellow Fronted Amazon "Babe" I got her Sunday. She has been rehomed three or four times. We have been told that she is 6-8 years old. We decided we would keep her in her cage, (which is plexiglass on three sides, plywood in back, wire on top), untill we got her wings clipped. She has been whistling and squawking, playing on her rope toy. She usually follows me from one side to the other, walking on her perches. She occasionally strikes the plexiglass. Yesterday I noticed that when Im at the front of the cage, she would walk by her rope and then start biting it and climbing it, (aggression or playfulness?). I would also play my ring tome from my cell for her, because she would sqawk at it. I thought she wanted to play. I decided to open the doors and try to give her peanuts and talk "face to face". She would take peanuts and drop them. I then got brave and was foolish enough to place my head in cage and ask "kiss kiss". To my surprise and delight, she gently kissed my lip. (I did this on the outside of cage starting day 2. Sometimes she would kiss gently against glass, sometimes she would strike it).

After my kids got up, I decided to show them how Babe kissed me. I stuck my head inside cage, starting talking to her. She came closer and pinched my lip. When she did so, I jerked backwards, and she ended up off her perch on my face and she took a nice chunk out of my lip. (I really think she was trying to latch on). And of course, got out of her cage. She flew to top of anothet cage, which is used for transport, and set there. I doctored my bleeding lip, and she pretty much sat on top the her portable cage somewhat content, as long as we didnt crowd her. At some point, she decided to explore, and started to fly aroung to the furniture, which was fine. Of course at this point, my kids are now afraid of her and move away from the furniture. I layed my cell on the sofa and played my ringtone, which I thought she liked, and she flew over to it and started biting the phone pretty good. Then she flew at me, and out of fear of getting bit in the face again, I ducked, and she landed past me. This happened twice. On her third attempt at flying at me, I ducked, but didnt move....more like I bent down. She landed, or at least tried to land on my shoulder and I ended up getting bit in the neck as well as clawed in the neck. Now she may not have meant to bite my neck...she may have been trying to get a firm hold to land. A little later, she was on the floor, and actually chased me with head down runnibg at me. At that time, I was playing a song from my phone.

Not sure what to do now??? But I do know, that I WILL NOT rehome her. I intend to be her final home. Im not mad at her at all...for I am sure me getting bit is tge result of ME. Im just a bit leery of close contact.

I was informed by her previous owner that she loved the husband and he could just about do anything with her...but often bit the wife. I was also told that they usually used her cage as a "timeout" when she bit. For she was usually left out to fly around the house. Any thoughts, advice, words of help would be greatly appreciated. And trust me, I know it was pretty irresponsible and stupid to put my face in her cage.

And btw....many years ago, my wife purchased a blue fronted amazon for me as a gift. It turned out to be abused. After weeks of simply talking to it and being patient....it started to get extremely loving out of the plain blue. It became one of the most loving pets you could imagine. I was so sad the day I had to rehome her due to us moving. Thanks

Welcome to the forum. Yes she is aggressive, mainly because she isn't socialized well. Your and the kids reactions to her aren't helping. She's pretty much in charge. That needs to change. Be harder to get, don't intrude into her space. Make her come to you. Sure interact with her but leave her wanting more of your attentions. She's controlling you with her actions and that's a great source of entertainment and also gives her some sense of purpose. If she's flying at you to attack then clip her. Don't run from her , get a stick and make her step up on it. If you let her out,don't feed her outside the cage. If she strikes at you ,stand there, hold your ground. Don't let her think she is controlling the situation. Amazon will usually test a new situation/home to see if the strongest leader is leading the flock. You need to find some.small ways to gain control over her and.become the strong, confident, outgoing leader she needs. If you ask something of her and she refuses, don't ask again. Make her feel like she is missing out by not doing what you asked. Could write a book here but will give others a chance to input some info. BTW it's best to learn how to avoid bites. Give her another option for saying no. Learn to "read" her actions/behaviors. You had to rehome because of moving? I've drug my zon of 46 yrs all over the world.

Thank you for the reply. You make alot sense. I question too if maybe 6 persons in the room perhaps overstimulated her. Her previous owners were an elderly couple. With us...we have 4 children living at home, the youngest being 5. She gets her wings clipped Tuesday, then we can start again with some training and bonding. Trust me...I know it was my fault, not tge birds. I think I need the training not her. As for my previous parrot that I rehomed 17 years ago... it was more humane to rehome it, then it was drag her around at the time. Again thank you for your valuable feedback. If there is any other advice you can think of....Im all ears!!

My JoJo is not a biter, but with too many folks around that she doesn't know, I get nailed! Usually I am trying to show her off and I think she knows it!

Welcome to the Parrot Forums and the Amazon Forum!

Please take the time to read the first Thread in the Amazon Forum, its very simple to find, since it is the first one at the top and in light Blue! Amazon Body Language is very important part of working with your Amazon. The best way to ingrain this new language is to read it aloud and with your Amazon at your side. At this point likely best while still in the cage. The goal is to read this Thread and its Posts multiple times aloud to your Amazons until you understand your Amazon's body language! In the mean time, your Amazon will become accustom to your voice and you.

There is no reason for your Amazon to trust you. After all, your Amazon has already been rehomed multiple times, why would your Amazon believe that you are any different. So, it is not uncommon for an Amazon to hold back and see if your are for real or just another passing human.

You clearly get the point that: Its always the fault of the Human and never the fault of the Parrot. By, taking this route, it will be quicker for you to determine what you're are doing wrong and change it.

Dump the time line expectations and praise anything that is positive and as stated above, walk away when not.

Once you get it, regarding reading the body language of your Amazon a lot of things will become much easier to understand.

I do not agree that this is an aggressive Amazon and if I had her I wouldnt be clipping her wings either...what I do think you have is a frightened Amazon in a whole new environment with new sights and sounds she has not seen or heard before having her on the alert and on top of all that she has lost her flock (the elderly couple) and she isnt sure about all you guys and finds herself trying to find her place in this new flock and this whole new world she is suddenly a part of. Changes have happened before so shes not sure if she should trust these present changes...they might not last either....she feels insecure alone and vulnerable yet she gave you kisses and then you did something stupid and I mean that very respectfully because Ive made similar mistakes with birds in the past too but you went too far too fast and suddenly to her your aproach changed from being safe to becoming a possible threat...you need to move slowly and because she was used to an elderly couple Id introduce her to all of you in the room in stages and certainly not all of you ganging up on the cage at once staring at her waiting for her to give kisses to you...she didnt understand that was safe and most birds wouldnt...preditors stare at you before they pounce thats whats in her brain...dont say your Amazon is aggressive when it was you who made the mistake. When bitten always check your actions to see how you triggered that bite and how you might learn to avoid it next time. I applaude your decision to make this her forever home I think you have made a Great start...okay you have made one mistake but she will forgive you and I can asure you that the person who never makes a mistake never learns anything...Begin again and take it really slowly at her pace not yours and as Sailboat said read and reread and read again the very first thread in the Amazon forum about Amazon body language because it is a wonderful aid in getting to know and understand your Amazon and knowing when its safe to aproach her and when its best to leave her be. You really need to know the contents of that thread backwards forwards and inside out...read it reread it and read it again. You are going to be a Wonderful Paront and this Amazon is so lucky to be a part of your family just dont get too excited and dive in thinking your Amazon is on the same wave length you are on, take it slow and easy and at her pace. From reading between the lines I think you have a Wonderful Amazon...yes she needs a little training but she has already started to bond with you thats quiete an achievement seeing as you only brought her into your home on Sunday last.
Lastly; Congratulations on your wonderful new family member I hope you enjoy the experience of being an Amazon Paront

The link to Amazon Body Language Thread
http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/54250-amazon-body-language.html

Thank you for the reply. It was definitely too soon, too quick. A very poorly thought out decision on my part! She does have a bad habit of biting and being somewhat aggressive at times, as per the previous owners, however, I am confident that with time, proper training, and proper bonding, she will be a very loving addition to our family!! And of course with the advice and feedback from experienced people as yourself!

jaxx16 said:

Thank you for the reply. It was definitely too soon, too quick. A very poorly thought out decision on my part! She does have a bad habit of biting and being somewhat aggressive at times, as per the previous owners, however, I am confident that with time, proper training, and proper bonding, she will be a very loving addition to our family!! And of course with the advice and feedback from experienced people as yourself!

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Im not that experienced as I am fairly new to Amazons too. I have been guilty myself on occasion of being a bit over enthusiastic about bonding with a new bird too at times but for me and my Amazon (which being a White Fronted Amazon is a lot smaller than your Babe) the very best words of advice I got were written in the thread Amazon Body Language and the rest of the Great advice I got were people sending me back to that thread to read it again and again and yet another good tip was; go easy and work at the birds pace not your pace...you have made a Great start and Babe very obviously likes you So glad she got a home with you and your family and I will look forward to hearing about her as your bond grows Sometimes Amazons get the name of being biters because they have been misunderstood not because they are aggressive. All parrots can bite from time to time for various reasons ...give her time and see what triggers the bites and work on it.