Babe the YFA

Babe got het first shower yesterday!! She was a bit skeptical at first, but then seemed to like it. Her previous owners use to put her in a small cage and shower her. I have chosen to allow her to sit on top of that small cage and be able to walk around freely when showering her. With the hopes of eventually putting a perch in there for her. She is molting pretty good. I actuall lifted her small cage up to her on the big cage and she climbed on it and I carried it and her to the shower.
Now...lately Babe appears to be attempting to climb on my shoulder, via my shirt. Im a bit afraid to let her do this after getting bit by here due to my stupid mistake. Ive tried to get her on my arm and she just walks away. She loves for me to stroke her head, neck, and wings when she wants it. She eats with me every meal, off the same plate. Its like a ritual. She sits on top her cage on perches I made. She ocassionally takes food from my hand, but not often. She does not like it if I have anything in my hand...like she's afraid. She also hisses at me, yet, a second later allows me to scratch her head and neck. She refuses to get on a stick. Should I attempt a leap of faith and allow her on my shoulder? Is it normal for her to hiss, yet want love as well? Years ago, we had a siamese cat that would growl and hiss, and at the same time time it would rub up against you and want petted. We jiust figured she was crazy....lol. Any thoughts?

How long have you had Babe for? What was the circumstances of her taking a chomp out of you? Read <if you have not already> the sub forum on "Amazon behavior" Maybe she chomped because you didn't read or understand 'zon body lingo prior to her chomping?

I have been bitten a few times over the years by Amy,and one or two of the bites were VERY ugly ...torn flesh,blood pouring out of the wound,wasn't a pretty sight.

I have finally been able to understand what she is trying to tell me,and even if she WANTS to get on my shoulder <she loves to be there> but I know what she is REALLY telling me, I tell her "so sorry baby..maybe later when you cool your jets!" I have not been bitten.

It will prolly take you a few more chomps before you figure out what is really going on in that little head of hers GOOD LUCK!

Jim

Hi Jim. Thanks for the reply. I got bit because I was pretty foolish. The whole story is posted in the Amazon forum, page 4, I think, under Agressive biting. I have a very nice scar hidden by my moustache! We have had her for almost two months. I have read the amazon body language post and it has really helped. She bit me a few days after we got her. Havent been bit since. She has really come a long way in 6 to 8 weeks. From a partot that wouldnt let us close to her, to a parrot that now loves me to rub her head and wings. (Most of the time...lol) She has tried to get on my shoulder several times, but I always back off out of fear. Mainly because she would be really close to my eyes, ears, and face.

Jaxx..two months isn't a long time lol. Babe is probably "testing the waters",so to speak,or maybe I should have said "TASTEING the human!" If you do try her again on your shoulder,be ALERT to her body lingo..is she all fluffed up? Are her eyes pinning? Is her tail flared out?
All of these actions means a very excited 'zon..be ready..tell her NO BEAKY! in a stern voice <don't yell at her> and get her step-up perch <if you have one,if not MAKE one!>
Get her to step up on the perch and put her on her house,or back of a chair,or even on the floor,until she calms down.

BTW...we need pictures!


Jim

Hi Jim,
Yes I agree that two months is not a long time. And Im sure she is definitely testing the waters. The vet thinks shes between 5-15 years old. So he says 8 is a good number...lol. She has never been on my shoulder before.Let me explain how I got bit. Her cage is plexiglass on three sides, including door. The back is wood and the top is stainless steel cage. When we frst got her, I would ask for kiss kiss, and she woukd respond by kissing the glass. I would open doors and give her peanuts. I decided to stick my entire head in her cage, (which is 24"x24"x 48" tall. She gave me a kiss. I was very excited, so when my kids got up, I tried to show them and she clamped on my lip. I jerked back and it pulled her off perch. She clamped harder. She got out of cage and then flew at me several times. I kept ducking. I decided to let her land on me. When she did, she lost footing and grabbed my neck with beak. Anyway after dropping to floor, she decided to chase me.....feathers raised, head down, wings up. She was pissed!! So we decided to get her clipped. It was simply a very foolish mistake on my part. And it was my fault, not hers! This is why Im afraid to let her by my face. Its so hard to believe that two months later, she loves for me to pet her. We let her out 3x per day for about 1-3 hours at a time. We hope that eventually to be able to let her out all day. She refuses to get on a stick. And she has only been on my arm twice, and it was to put her back on her cage. I erected perches on top her cage and we are waiting for toys to arrive from Amazon. I dont think she has ever had toys, other than the one tope toy in her cage. I also built a T stand, but she rarely gets on it. So I am taking it at her pace! I think she has come along way, but still has a ways to go.....in her time.

Well Jaxx, for the short time you have had her,it does sound like you have made "pretty good" progress .. Yep..take it all at Babes speed,its rather difficult to derail,never mind STOP, a run away freight train!
As Steven <Sail Boat> says,quite often,its NEVER birdies fault!
and "Amazon's Rule!"


Jim

What a great story!
I love to hear of every bird that gets rescued, AND every person who gets rescued from a parrotless life!
I am so happy for both of you!
Patagonian hugzszszszs!