Day three with Tutti the BFA

YoshiSwe

New member
Apr 25, 2017
37
1
I am rather astonished at what an amazing experience this is.
What a fascinating, sweet, intelligent and stubborn creature this is!
Being a "dog person" this is a new experience for me. She is so smart and so opinionated!

When I came home from work today (she hadn't been alone, my sons and my mom were home with her) she got so happy she started sounding like a bicycle horn, VERY loud.
She then spent the rest of the afternoon out of her cage with me, she sat in the window while I worked and she growled at people that walked past LOL and took the odd bites out of my basil plants!

I ate some strawberries and had her step up for a piece but she wouldn't take it from my hands, instead she walked up my arm sat on my shoulder and leaned to take the piece of strawberry I had in my mouth.
I am still a bit scared of having her so near my face so I tried to get her to take it from my hand instead but she refused and just tried to gently have it from my lips, so I complied and she ate quite a few pieces like that.

She is truly a wonderful bird and so far I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to have her.

I realise lots of hard times will come. But I will learn to be a good mom to her I think. :green:
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,646
10,008
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
What you are currently experiencing is the effort of her prior Humans that worked with socializing her and providing her with all of the other interaction skills you are enjoying.

When you arrive, enjoy and join in on the sounds of a gathering with her and the rest of the family. For Amazon this is an important event and we Humans can learn greatly from this.

Be attentive to the sounds she makes when someone or thing passes by. There is a full range of tones, sounds, words, etc... that she will use. You will be far more alert to the World around you, now seen by both of you.

Enjoy!
 
OP
YoshiSwe

YoshiSwe

New member
Apr 25, 2017
37
1
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Sailboat, I wonder a bit, when I got home now, I took her out again and she sat on my shoulder and would not leave for a good 45 minutes. A few times she seemed to get very carried away, stroking her beak against my face and neck and nibbling my face and ear, in the end it got a bit bitey and i actually put up my hand to get her off, she got a bit flappy and grabbed my hand a bit harder with her beak than she does normally to help step up. I dont think she was angry, she just seemed like got carried away.
I feel like she needs to learn some bounderies, or is this type of carried away "affection" within reason for an amazon?
Thank you
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,646
10,008
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Parrots on shoulders, first starts with the reality that being on your shoulder is an earned reward provided to a well-behaved Parrot.

Please understand that there are a fair number of Parrot owners that are likely a bit jealous of the smooth transition you have had to date. Most people are working with basic Step-Up and coming out of their cages to interact.

Boundaries are important as part of your Amazon understanding the difference between her prior home and her new home. So, it is well worth sitting down and placing in writing what your boundaries will be, where you believe you are today. This sets into place those areas that need some work, areas that are already in place and areas that need to be added. Pick the most important and start there.

Please remember that your Amazon is likely feeling some separation issues with having to loose her family. This will add to her clinginess, that want to be with you, which is likely part of a fear of loosing you. Parrots have and are Emotional creatures, so watch for and understand that those emotions are there.

Communicate, communicate, communicate!

Enjoy!
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
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.)
All my zons have been shoulder birds.

Even though "the book" says they are never supposed to be shoulder birds. Apparently my zons never read that particular book.

My BFA was the sweetest bird known to man. I didn't even get both feet in the door, and she would "launch" herself to my shoulder, and do her happy dance... and stick her head upside down in my eye socket...

The key to zons is handling and socializing them. Zons that get handled and interacted with are generally fine...

And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Give it a few months. You'll be wondering how you ever lived without one...
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
6,315
Media
4
3,034
Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
Amy started socialization at day one,when she was just 4 months old,she just turned 28 years old last month. Weather permitting,she goes EVERYWHERE with me..I KNOW her pretty darn well now,and I can see in her face,and in her actions,what socialization does for her. She simply loves "outside??..in the car??" ( her exact words!)

Just the other day we went out, I had errands to do ( see my Amazon thread "the Salty perch") Amy insisted on being on my shoulder as we went here and there..she WANTED to look out the windows of the car and watch the world go by :p.

She isn't really a "lovey" type of 'zon..but she does have her moments.And when I was done doing my errands,and she was on my shoulder,I told her "ok time to go home" And she gently rubbed her beaky across my cheek,ever so gently nibbled my earlobe,preened my eyebrow,and softly mumbled Amazon stuff in my ear..I truly believe it was her way of saying "Thanks Dad for taking me a long"...it gave me the warm fuzzys! :07:


Jim
 

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