Agressive amazon

Hi I'm hoping someone can offer advice. About 5 weeks ago we purchased a 4 month old Amazon parrot. We named him Peanut. My husband, Dennis, has wanted one for a long time. I happened to see him first at the store. He whistled a "cat" call to me and "la cucaracha" tune. So that drew me to him . My husband agreed and we brought him home. I know he is a very young bird still. Maybe we are moving too fast. We leave his cage open at time. He climbs to the top. He has progressed to climbing on our fingers. My husband gives him a bath in the sink. He seems to enjoy that and the blow drying. But his behavior can be very aggressive to Dennis, especially if I am around. If he and I are sitting on the bed with Peanut, the bird will be aggressive and try to bite Dennis....as if he is protecting me. I'm not sure if he "imprinted" on me as his number 1 person and views Dennis as a threat. Any suggestions on how to correct this? Are we moving too fast?
Maria

Quick answer, Yes, way to fast!

Goal: Only good things happen when Humans are around. It is part of developing a Bond /Trust relationship.
Odd person-out: The odd person-out gets to provide the goodies. This works to develop a balanced, well socialized Amazon relationship. But is only part of the process.
Please remember that Amazons are very smart and also connect with our emotions. Point is, it is very important that everyone is getting equal time.
Are you certain of the age of this Amazon? Parrots to not imprint, and five months is young for them to be develop a strong connection to a single person unless one individual is spending vastly more time that the other.

Please take the time to read the two Sticky Threads (found in light blue) at the top of the Amazon Forum. I would target Understanding Amazon Body Language First. But once again, the behavior you are stating is not common for a very young Amazon.
Did you get Hatch Documents with your Amazon?

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/79450-new-conure-need-some-help.html


Not the same species, but much of the same advice.


Here's advice for later:
http://www.parrotforums.com/indian-ringnecks/79462-angry-indian-ringneck-please-help.html

Welcome to you, Dennis, and Peanut!

I would also recommend this thread for advice on how to better developing trust with Peanut: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

I thought the exact same thing as Sailboat as soon as I started reading your post...Your Amazon seems much older than 4 months!!! A 4 month-old Amazon usually isn't whistling songs or mimicking yet, hardly any species of parrot will start mimicking at only 4 months-old, not even African Greys), and then also the fact that your bird has already started bonding/imprinting is again not a trait of a 4 month-old parrot...

Can you post some photos of your Amazon? That might help to confirm his age-range...You bought him at a pet shop I take it, but did they give you an actual "Hatch-Certificate" with his birthdate on it? Do you know where he came from/who his breeder was? Or did they breed him in-house at this pet shop?

I'm new to the amazon world as well! Ours that we got is much older and more established within himself. However, age aside I think all rules tend to hold true for birds. I realized move at his pace=success. If he's acting out in anyway he gets a NO and a turned back for a minute. Ignoring our guy is completely irritating for him so he quickly gets the hint!

I also realized early on I was not the chosen one for him. With that said I became the ultimate care giver. I gave him all his meals, I cleaned his cage, I was the only one that opened his door and let him out. I did just this for about the first week. Eventually he stopped treating me as a threat and more of an annoyance. But at least the annoyance brought food and a fresh cage.

I then started the clicker training which is still a working progress for us. I started with a click then treat from inside his cage. I did this for a couple days. I also should say I never give his reward treat mixed in with his meals. This treat is something he gets thats SPECIAL and just from us. Eventually he associated me with this tasty treat and started treating me better. I then moved onto target training. Touch the stick, click, treat. Eventually he started following the stick around and he is now MUCH NICER to me.

I still wouldn't classify myself as one of his FAVORITES but I'm respected now. He still has moments of being mean and moody but he is much less tense these days. I realized though that you have to move slow, let him be the "boss" on what comes next, and if he lashed out stand your ground, but say NO in a strong firm voice and give him your back. If he gets tired of what your working on end on a good note. We now end with a simple target and treat to complete the day.

Since we want him to be a "family bird" and not a one human bird we have the entire family target training him. We even let our 7 year old target and treat through the bars. When shes older I'm sure the two will advance to outside the cage like the adults have.

Just remember baby steps are sometimes big steps. We still have days of feeling defeated but start again tomorrow. Eventually progress will be made. You just have to keep researching tips and tricks and you will eventually find what works for you.

Any update here from the OP? I'm interested to see how her new Amazon is doing, and to know if it's possibly a much older bird than they were told by the pet shop..Wouldn't be the first time a pet shop or breeder lied about the age of a bird they were selling, unfortunately...