Amazon behavior issue

I've posted before about my angry 17 year old amazon. I though I would have made a little progress by now but I haven't.

I have a new issue now. When I get ready to take my 17 year old Grey out of the cage the Amazon will attack him. Both of these birds have been together all of their lives so I'm finding this strange. Every time I get near my sweet Grey the Amazon attacks him. I've tried taking the Amazon out first but he doesn't want to get out unless the Gray is already out.

Any idea on why this issue is happening and how I can correct it?

***Correction
I have made small progress with the Amazon, I can actually give him a treat now he only tries to bite me half the time now. hah

Becca_scott said:

I've posted before about my angry 17 year old amazon. I though I would have made a little progress by now but I haven't.

I have a new issue now. When I get ready to take my 17 year old Grey out of the cage the Amazon will attack him. Both of these birds have been together all of their lives so I'm finding this strange. Every time I get near my sweet Grey the Amazon attacks him. I've tried taking the Amazon out first but he doesn't want to get out unless the Gray is already out.

Any idea on why this issue is happening and how I can correct it?

***Correction
I have made small progress with the Amazon, I can actually give him a treat now he only tries to bite me half the time now. hah

Click to expand...

First, go to the Amazon Forum and Read or Re-Read the second of the two first Threads, Highlighted in Light Blue: Title, Amazon Body Language. I strongly recommend that you sit with your Amazon and read it aloud to your Amazon a couple of times each day for several weeks! This will allow you to learn your Amazon's Body Language and he can become more comfortable with you.

Second, always view everything from the view point: It is Never the Fault of the Amazon! It is Always the Fault of the Human! Viewing everything from this vantage point will allow you to see and correct what you are doing wrong and correct it.

Third, begin bite pressure training your Amazon! Use the 'Search' button found above to locate the Threads that include that training.

Forth, it is not unusual for Parrots to set 'Pecking Orders' into place and it is possible that the Amazon is attempting to control the Gray. Also, look at it from the possibility that the Amazon wants your attention and is separating the Gray from you.

It is important to remember that not all Parrots Play Well Together! And, it is not unusual to have separate times out of their cages.

SailBoat said:

First, go to the Amazon Forum and Read or Re-Read the second of the two first Threads, Highlighted in Light Blue: Title, Amazon Body Language. I strongly recommend that you sit with your Amazon and read it aloud to your Amazon a couple of times each day for several weeks! This will allow you to learn your Amazon's Body Language and he can become more comfortable with you.

Second, always view everything from the view point: It is Never the Fault of the Amazon! It is Always the Fault of the Human! Viewing everything from this vantage point will allow you to see and correct what you are doing wrong and correct it.

Click to expand...

Thanks again for this, I believe you posted something similar on my last post and I haven't forgotten.

SailBoat said:

Third, begin bite pressure training your Amazon! Use the 'Search' button found above to locate the Threads that include that training.

Forth, it is not unusual for Parrots to set 'Pecking Orders' into place and it is possible that the Amazon is attempting to control the Gray. Also, look at it from the possibility that the Amazon wants your attention and is separating the Gray from you.

Click to expand...

I searched through the threads and found a lot of suggestions to use this method but couldn't really find anything in depth. I Googled it and saw that a lot of people were using it for playtime with their birds and controlling the pressure of the bite. I would like to try it but I'm concerned so tell me what you think... I have never been able to touch this bird. I use a stick and thick glove to transport him. The only part of this bird that I've touched is the inside of his beak I've had 3 sets of stitches in a VERY short amount of time, probably from being told not to pull away or make a big show of it. Once I was just changing out the water bowl. The second time I thought we were making progress, he slid down his perch and walked over to me proceeded to hiss at me like a cat and put a beak hole in my leg I attempted to cover my leg and he got my finger. What I'm trying to say is that I think this bird just flat out hates me haha. I've been told that he probably wont ever be a hands on bird, which is fine. I honestly don't think he wants my attention, my guess is he probably wishes my existence gone. I think this is unspoken but I also don't want to be bit by this bird again.

SailBoat said:

It is important to remember that not all Parrots Play Well Together! And, it is not unusual to have separate times out of their cages.

Click to expand...

Just one last comment on this, I considered separating them all together but in the cage or play gym they seem to love each other. They follow each other around and preen and feed each other. Its just when I come around the Grey that the Amazon acts violent towards the Grey. With all of this extra info, what do you think?

Please read that Thread regarding Amazon Body Language! If you haven't completed what I call Step Number 1. You will not be very successful. If you haven't got around to doing it, well you should get bitten, right?

Try 'Bite Pressure Training" It is part of a Highlighted in Light Blue area one of one the Forums. The Thread maybe Titled something like Biting, or My Parrot Bites me, or, etc....

With the additional information, whats the likelihood that your Amazon is Starting his Hormone Season, a bit soon? So, how much 'sleep' is he getting every night?

This Amazon WANTS to develop a relationship with you. He is showing clear signs of wanting too! Stop looking for the magic button and do the boring hard work of completing Step Number 1. Also, apply Step Number 2.

Do those two things and tomorrow, tell me what you have learned from your Amazon.

My first Amazon bit my fingers for a full year before I got smart! I didn't have a grumpy old man tell be the quick and easy way! Lucky You. You want to cut my grass and I'll work with your Amazon

I'm going back out and finish cutting my grass! How come you get to do the fun stuff?

Maybe it was misunderstanding or bad wording but I have read the body language threads.

I will look for the biting training posts now that I have a little more to go off of.

I'm not sure exactly about the sleep thing.. they stay in our sun room so when the sun goes down their light is gone and the door is shut. I dont know if the sleeping habits sync with lighting or not...

Can I ask what the "clear signs" of him wanting to develop a relationship are that you're speaking of?




Just for fun

That is some serious CUTENESS there!!
Good luck with your birds.

Bite Pressure Training: First Thread located in the Training Forum.

Read all of it a couple times and than target the key training items found over a few Post.

Have you had these two Parrots DNA Sex Texted?

The fact that you had been able to touch his bill! Even once is amazing in an of itself.

Amazon Body Language: Reading it once or twice is a bush-off. If you really want to work with an Amazon, you need to know that stuff 'cold!' That is why I recommended you read it several times a day for several weeks and to read it aloud to your Amazon.

If you need to confirm this stuff and want to read it in a book, Okay with me. I recommend that you Web Search: Companion Parrot Handbook, by Sally Blandard, while you are at her Website, she may have a couple of copies of her Beak Book. The Companion Parrot Handbook is worth the money, since it is a true Handbook that you will use the rest of your life.



You have a DYH Amazon! They are very smart and enjoy controlling Humans. We have one and he can be a handful from time to time.

Hmmm.... I actually have a possible alternate theory for what's going on. Perhaps it is not you that the amazon has bonded with, but rather your grey. Maybe he is attacking your grey for showing you attention instead of him. Jealousy. Or it could be a case of displacement biting. You enter the room and your amazon expresses his displeasure by going after your grey.

In either of those cases, or if Steven's (SailBoat's) original take is correct, you're going to want to work with your amazon individually. One of the thing that may help in this regard is working with your amazon in an entirely different room from his cage and your grey. Taking him away from his established home turf, so to speak, will at least eliminate any territorial or possessive aggression that may be going on.

This is not to say that he won't go after you at all as long as you are in a different room, but it will at least lower the likelihood somewhat. You see, both the cage and your grey may be triggers for a lot of his hostile behaviors. Once you've eliminated those potential triggers, you can observe your amazon's body language to get a sense of where this bird is with you. You may be surprised. Some of the most seemingly bloodthirsty of birds become absolute cuddle bugs once taken away from their territory and bonded mate. Not always the case, but it happens.

Once you are working alone with him, the priority is bite pressure training. Here are some good links for that:
http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/58911-bird-bites-always-2.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html

And here is a good one that focuses more on bite avoidance and body language:
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html

Oh, and one other that focuses on different approaches. See what works best for you:
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/43631-old-vs-modern-techniques.html

I think reading those threads, along with the one SailBoat recommended earlier, will give you a very good foundation from which to build. As you work through what you're seeing there, please feel free to ask any further questions you may have. With time, patience and persistence, I'm sure we can make some progress with your tough guy.

I will bet good money that Anansi has got it right. Your Amazon is bonded to the grey. Look at the picture - the grey is looking down at something interesting and the Amazon is watching you like a paranoid green hawk. He won't come out of the cage first? He doesn't want lo leave the grey. He comes out readily second? He wants to be where the grey is. They preen one another and play nice together? That sounds like bonded. He attacks the grey when you try to pick him up? He's saying run away! Get away from him, you're mine!

There could be other explanations but that scenario fits the evidence, and gives you a place to begin researching a solution.

Also - most birds I have known hate gloves. Or nail polish. Or new jewelry. Or any kind of scary thing sneaking up on them by hiding on your hand. If this bird is like that, you might never be able to pick him up wearing a glove. You got to get a stick, maybe a long one, and find the Most Beloved Treat Of All Time, and as much patience as you can scrounge. And practice where the Amazon can barely see the grey. Hopefully the clever Zon will realize that by eating your stupid and delicious treat, you will carry him to the grey, and you will become a parrot taxi. That's how it was with me any my husband's Amazon - he would grudgingly allow me to take him on walkabout to look out windows, but if he saw Hubbs that foot came right up. Woman! Transport me forthwith! And as soon as he was there, he would growl at me.

Those two were a bonded pair. They would sit at one end of the couch all night, and I would sit at the other, and if I moved too close to my husband the parrot would try to bite me, and if he couldn't get me he'd bite husband. I think maybe I'm a dag-gone Saint. The Rival and I should start a religion, The Church Of The Unchosen Martyrs or Our Lady Of Perpetual Rejection or something. Anyway, good luck. It happens and there is always a way forward if you look to the birds for clues, then use your gigantic human brain to trick them into letting you do just what they want you to do.