Raider went completely whacky on me.

Y’all helped me with my 4 year old yn zon. He is totally out of control the last few days bit me hard a couple times real hard the last week. His new thing is jumping at my face say if I’m feeding my goffin who lives next too Raider he will try too get my face.
Today he eyeballed pin up crazy eyed most of the time I let him out...and he was out for 4-5 hours really trying too be the king of the castle. How long does the crazy hormones last I’m getting tired of walking on eggshells with him.
I don’t want too get rid of him and put him through another move in his life.

HELP.....

Have you done any target training or station training with him yet?

I won't sugarcoat-

Amazon puberty can last quite a long time from the onset until they mellow out into a fully sexually mature adult who gets hormonal once a year. Most will be going through it for several years, much like in human teenagers, though it does start to slowly simmer down with time. Yellow nape amazons are one of the 3 amazon species notorious for extreme hormonal behavior, males especially. Around this age is when they start getting rehomed and never learn to curb their aggression due to never forming bonds or trusting relationships, condemning them in a never-ending loop of being rehomed over and over and over. Yes, it is very annoying, stressful and will certainly test your patience (been there, done that with our male "hot 3" amazon). It is also a perfectly natural and normal part of a parrots life cycle. Personally, I am of the opinion that if you wouldn't kick out a teenage kid of yours for being a little $%^&, you shouldn't give up so easily on your bird either. Puberty sucks while they're going through it, but it eventually ends and you come out the other side with a mellow, adult parrot who is a wonderful companion 10 months out of the year for the rest of their life (if you do things right).

I strongly suggest stick training Raider if he isn't already. That way, you have a safe means of transport when he's in a foul mood. Better to bite a wood dowel than your finger. Give him a wide berth when he's displaying aggressive tendencies and when you feed the goffin, put Raider in his cage. Speaking of goffins, if you think amazon puberty is bad, if your G2 is a male just wait until he hits puberty! Raider is doing you a favor by preparing you now! If he isn't already, put him on a 12 hour dark/light schedule ASAP, reduce fruits and up low sugar veg in his diet, ignore outright any blatantly sexual displays and take a deep breath. He's only a bird and is probably more frustrated and scared at what's happening to him than you are. I also know many people are adamantly opposed, but have you considered a light clip? For hormonal amazons who are launching aerial attacks, sometimes a clip is a good reality check for them and helps keep other household members safe by keeping them low and slow. It's a last resort, but something worth discussing with your avian vet.

Thanks for the input.

Cas , Kiwibird has given you the BEST advice on this. Please don't re-home Raider, as this will totally F him up - he needs your adult human guidance at this point in his life. He WILL mellow out. Take the steps Kiwibird has outlined, it will diminish the hormonal behavior somewhat. I would suggest that Raider be out of cage when you can devote exclusive time for him, in a different room than the rest of your flock. 1 on 1 time is much better then just out of cage time. Lots of toys he likes , to let him vent the frustration he must be feeling because he cant mate . Imagine how he must be feeling, how you yourself would feel - puberty and the evolutionary ingrained urge to mate, and being stuck in a house with no hens. It's a wonder that he is not tearing up the very walls! GIve him puzzle toys that he must spend time figuring out. Maybe some new experiences.

A lot of members experience very hormonal birds during this time of year and will often keep them caged for both safety of the bird and you. It is better then rehoming him. He will settle down but it may be a while still. You learn to manage it and work around it by utilizing stick training and keeping your fingers away from his beak.

wrench13 said:

Cas , Kiwibird has given you the BEST advice on this. Please don't re-home Raider, as this will totally F him up - he needs your adult human guidance at this point in his life. He WILL mellow out. Take the steps Kiwibird has outlined, it will diminish the hormonal behavior somewhat. I would suggest that Raider be out of cage when you can devote exclusive time for him, in a different room than the rest of your flock. 1 on 1 time is much better then just out of cage time. Lots of toys he likes , to let him vent the frustration he must be feeling because he cant mate . Imagine how he must be feeling, how you yourself would feel - puberty and the evolutionary ingrained urge to mate, and being stuck in a house with no hens. It's a wonder that he is not tearing up the very walls! GIve him puzzle toys that he must spend time figuring out. Maybe some new experiences.

Click to expand...

nope I’m not re homing him don’t want screw him up anymore.

I feel for you! I've been going through the same thing, for almost 3 years now, with Sammy, my YNA. We had a new bird join our flock (a talkative CAG), and Sam blamed it on me. He was extremely violent, going for my eyes with beak & claws when possible, biting deeply, and often (I have lots of scars, and made lots of Emergency room visits for stitches). Most of the time there was NO warning, none of the usual 'Zon signs at all - from zero to full-on demon, in 1 second flat.

I even looked into re-homing him, as he was in extreme stress (pinning, hissing, flaring, hurling himself at the bars of his cage, etc.) 24/7, which I felt was not good for him. As it happens, NO ONE wants to take on a violent 'Zon, apparently.

I resolved to keep trying, which I have done endlessly, over the past 3 years. I'm up to the stage where occasionally I can give him a skritch. He will NOT step up on me (he happily steps onto a stick, though), and sometimes I can't even give him treats unless I fool him into being on the far side of his cage for a moment.

It can be a loooong road.

Is there an end, YES! Will it be tomorrow, very likely not!

You have gotten great advise and you need to apply it.

Now, have you read the First Thread in the Amazon Forum??? I continue to be surprised at the number of Parrot people who have other Parrots and elect to get an Amazon and believe that their experience is transferable - It's Not! You must learn Amazon Body Language and you need to learn it as if it is your first language. As stated above, those signals can be very difficult to near in possible to read unless you are really tuned in! And, Humans are not really good at reading other individual's body language.

The information that Kiwi's Mom provided is spot on and you need to read her Posts several times and take notes! Also, read that First Thread in the Amazon section. I recommend sitting next to your Amazon and reading it out loud in a common, comforting tone, over and over again until you know it cold.

As clearly stated, the Hormonal Rush can total confuse them. They are more confused than you are and would be just as happy if they where not suffering the effect.

You're the Adult in the room and you need to understand that responsibility. Your young kid is looking to you for that leadership.

Even though Amy is generally even tempered...the last few weeks he has been a little so and so..lunging when I feed him not wanting to step up..running amok trying to get my feet..ahhh such is the life of a crazed amazon




Jim

SailBoat said:

Is there an end, YES! Will it be tomorrow, very likely not!

You have gotten great advise and you need to apply it.

Now, have you read the First Thread in the Amazon Forum??? I continue to be surprised at the number of Parrot people who have other Parrots and elect to get an Amazon and believe that their experience is transferable - It's Not! You must learn Amazon Body Language and you need to learn it as if it is your first language. As stated above, those signals can be very difficult to near in possible to read unless you are really tuned in! And, Humans are not really good at reading other individual's body language.

The information that Kiwi's Mom provided is spot on and you need to read her Posts several times and take notes! Also, read that First Thread in the Amazon section. I recommend sitting next to your Amazon and reading it out loud in a common, comforting tone, over and over again until you know it cold.

As clearly stated, the Hormonal Rush can total confuse them. They are more confused than you are and would be just as happy if they where not suffering the effect.

You're the Adult in the room and you need to understand that responsibility. Your young kid is looking to you for that leadership.

Click to expand...

I understand this some what I’m not re homing him your coming of harsh a tad I did rescue him...from a bird store who just wants money and don’t give him the proper care. I’m the one who took a chance on him. Like I said I’m stubborn too I have time for him too calm down.

Cas27 said:

SailBoat said:

Is there an end, YES! Will it be tomorrow, very likely not!

You have gotten great advise and you need to apply it.

Now, have you read the First Thread in the Amazon Forum??? I continue to be surprised at the number of Parrot people who have other Parrots and elect to get an Amazon and believe that their experience is transferable - It's Not! You must learn Amazon Body Language and you need to learn it as if it is your first language. As stated above, those signals can be very difficult to near in possible to read unless you are really tuned in! And, Humans are not really good at reading other individual's body language.

The information that Kiwi's Mom provided is spot on and you need to read her Posts several times and take notes! Also, read that First Thread in the Amazon section. I recommend sitting next to your Amazon and reading it out loud in a common, comforting tone, over and over again until you know it cold.

As clearly stated, the Hormonal Rush can total confuse them. They are more confused than you are and would be just as happy if they where not suffering the effect.

You're the Adult in the room and you need to understand that responsibility. Your young kid is looking to you for that leadership.

Click to expand...

I understand this some what I’m not re homing him your coming of harsh a tad I did rescue him...from a bird store who just wants money and don’t give him the proper care. I’m the one who took a chance on him. Like I said I’m stubborn too I have time for him too calm down.

Click to expand...

"I’m getting tired of walking on eggshells with him."
"your coming of harsh a tad"

- It can be read that way, it can also be read as straight-on reality.
- And, this is the reality of dealing with young Amazons.
- Good, you got mad - now channel that into a successful relationship with your Amazon. The rewards are huge, but so are the challenges.
- As so well stated by Kiwi's Mom, many Amazons loss their homes during this period and never seem to find a forever home.

Cas27 said:

SailBoat said:

Is there an end, YES! Will it be tomorrow, very likely not!



You have gotten great advise and you need to apply it.



Now, have you read the First Thread in the Amazon Forum??? I continue to be surprised at the number of Parrot people who have other Parrots and elect to get an Amazon and believe that their experience is transferable - It's Not! You must learn Amazon Body Language and you need to learn it as if it is your first language. As stated above, those signals can be very difficult to near in possible to read unless you are really tuned in! And, Humans are not really good at reading other individual's body language.



The information that Kiwi's Mom provided is spot on and you need to read her Posts several times and take notes! Also, read that First Thread in the Amazon section. I recommend sitting next to your Amazon and reading it out loud in a common, comforting tone, over and over again until you know it cold.



As clearly stated, the Hormonal Rush can total confuse them. They are more confused than you are and would be just as happy if they where not suffering the effect.



You're the Adult in the room and you need to understand that responsibility. Your young kid is looking to you for that leadership.

Click to expand...

I understand this some what I’m not re homing him your coming of harsh a tad I did rescue him...from a bird store who just wants money and don’t give him the proper care. I’m the one who took a chance on him. Like I said I’m stubborn too I have time for him too calm down.

Click to expand...

We’re all glad you don’t intend to rehome him. And Sailboat comes across strongly because he feels strongly about parrots, especially ‘zons. He is also incredibly knowledgeable, so if you can see past his (barely) gruff exterior and read all of the information he has so selflessly provided (see I Love Amazons), you will have lots of help and guidance with your crazed baby. ❤️


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Inger said:

Cas27 said:

SailBoat said:

Is there an end, YES! Will it be tomorrow, very likely not!



You have gotten great advise and you need to apply it.



Now, have you read the First Thread in the Amazon Forum??? I continue to be surprised at the number of Parrot people who have other Parrots and elect to get an Amazon and believe that their experience is transferable - It's Not! You must learn Amazon Body Language and you need to learn it as if it is your first language. As stated above, those signals can be very difficult to near in possible to read unless you are really tuned in! And, Humans are not really good at reading other individual's body language.



The information that Kiwi's Mom provided is spot on and you need to read her Posts several times and take notes! Also, read that First Thread in the Amazon section. I recommend sitting next to your Amazon and reading it out loud in a common, comforting tone, over and over again until you know it cold.



As clearly stated, the Hormonal Rush can total confuse them. They are more confused than you are and would be just as happy if they where not suffering the effect.



You're the Adult in the room and you need to understand that responsibility. Your young kid is looking to you for that leadership.

Click to expand...

I understand this some what I’m not re homing him your coming of harsh a tad I did rescue him...from a bird store who just wants money and don’t give him the proper care. I’m the one who took a chance on him. Like I said I’m stubborn too I have time for him too calm down.

Click to expand...

We’re all glad you don’t intend to rehome him. And Sailboat comes across strongly because he feels strongly about parrots, especially ‘zons. He is also incredibly knowledgeable, so if you can see past his (barely) gruff exterior and read all of the information he has so selflessly provided (see I Love Amazons), you will have lots of help and guidance with your crazed baby. ❤️


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Oh yes I understand that and am real appreciative of that too I just wanted too make it clear I wasn’t re homing Raider.

"Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/quote]Oh yes I understand that and am real appreciative of that too I just wanted too make it clear I wasn’t re homing Raider.[/QUOTE]"


I'm sorry that you believed that I was even thinking of that, I assure you I wasn't.