Should I rehome my parrot?

Birdieboy3300

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Okay, before I start this I need to say, please try to be civil, please no comments telling me off, suck it up, etc. (This community seems very nice and, logically, I know I havenā€™t seen anyone do that, but I am a very anxious person), This is hard enough for me already.

So. I got my Amazon parrot years ago, and since then he has caused so much hell in my life. He has his sweet moments, but honestly the pain he has caused, both physical and mental, has overpowered that. I have tried training, treats, heck, someone told me to out him im a time out and I unfortunately tried that.

I was told he was going to be very sweet and gentle, and he was for a week. And then he started tearing up my hand, neck, face, he even goes for my eyes! He has attacked me, my mother (who is getting up there in age and has very thin skin and blood, meaning it takes just a scratch for her to bleed like crazy), and My other animals, including my little birds. He has made my conure bleed before, and Iā€™m afraid he will do worse when he gets the chance; especially to my smaller birds, who wonā€™t stand a chance against him.

I have no time for myself or the other birds because Iā€™m constantly an anxious mess, and Iā€™ve had several nervous breakdowns because he causes me so much stress and anxiety. Iā€™ve thought about this for a LONG time, and all of the pros overpower the one con: that I might miss him. I just still donā€™t know what to do. Iā€™ve tried everything there is, research, multiple methods of training, Iā€™ve even bribed him with treats just to make him leave me alone (I know, thatā€™s not the thing to do but I was desperate).

I already know someone who has experience with aggressive parrots who will take him, but I just canā€™t make myself do it for some reason. I honestly donā€™t know what to do, even though all the signs point to giving him to a good home.

Thank you.
 

Jen5200

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Welcome, and thank you for being so honest in your post. Ultimately, you are the only one that can make the decision to rehome him, but Iā€™ll share just a few random thoughts that popped into my head when I read your post. It sounds like youā€™ve tried many ways to build a relationship with him, and they are not working in this case. Rehoming isnā€™t always a bad thing. Sometimes a relationship doesnā€™t work well. I guess the things I would ponder are - what are the positives and negatives (for him and for you) of him staying in your home, what are the positives and negatives (for both) if you find another home for him. You have the ability to be very picky and take your time, let him pick someone that he might enjoy being with. Iā€™m not advocating for, or against rehoming - but I hope that youā€™ll find a solution that makes you both happier. It does sound like the situation, as it is, is not working well for either of you. Hugs, and I wish you luck with what can be a very difficult decision to work through.
 

Kiwibird

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Honestly, Iā€™m surprised to hear your having these kinds of issues with a white fronted amazon. Generally the little guys are really sweet dispositioned and well behaved. What you describe are typically issues reserved for the ā€œhot 3ā€ during puberty and the mating season as adults. Did this bird come from an abusive or unknown background? Is he of the age where he would be going through puberty? In any case, if you have other birds who are well trained and do not cause these kinds of issues, most likely this isnā€™t your fault (as in something your doing or not doing) and is more likely an issue with this bird as an individual. These arenā€™t even issue typically associated with this species of amazon, but there are always difficult individuals out there and it sounds like you might have stumbled across one.

While I usually advocate to try and get to the root of what is driving the bad behavior, if you choose to rehome, I strongly urge you to please surrender him to a reputable avian shelter rather than attempt to privately rehome him. The reason being, with those kinds of behavioral issues, experienced volunteers/workers at an avian shelter will have a better chance of placing him in a permanent home that can handle and correct that kind of behavior than you would just listing him on Craigslist or something. They have screening processes in place and often just know of individuals who like to help/take on behaviorally challenged birds and have the experience to do so. There is little an individual can do to really screen potential homes for large parrot experience and experience working with parrots who are coming with known behavioral issues. I donā€™t mean any of that as an insult to you, itā€™s just the best path for him to find the right home to surrender rather than sell. We adopted our amazon through a rescue knowing he had behavioral issues and were prepared/able to deal with them. Not everyone would have been equipped to deal with a bird like him when he came to us. Iā€™m sure you want whatā€™s best for him, so allow the experts help find them so he has his best chance of becoming a beloved pet rather than a broken creatures whoā€™s been through numerous homes.
 

texsize

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I can't help wondering if the bird isn't suffering from some kind of chemical imbalance.
Have you had him fully checked out by an avian vet?
Maybe he needs some kind of meds to calm him down.
 

Flboy

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Oh boy, some very hard times!
......."Okay, before I start this I need to say, please try to be civil, please no comments telling me off, suck it up, etc".... This is really a safe place with no FB mentality! We want a win/win for everyone if possible, with the emphasis on the feathered partner!
 

Ellie777Australia

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Okay, before I start this I need to say, please try to be civil, please no comments telling me off, suck it up, etc. (This community seems very nice and, logically, I know I havenā€™t seen anyone do that, but I am a very anxious person), This is hard enough for me already...Thank you.


Thank you for trusting us enough to be so honest Birdieboy3300. Not all members of the same species are similar in personalities or physical tolerances. Individual physical traits and personalities are what makes my companion Ekkie different from another persons companion Ekkie; and why my Ekkie can eat blueberries and strawberries together but the combination will cause ā€˜toe-tappingā€™ in another member's Ekkie. My Ekkie is a Rescue. We wouldn't have our baby Ellie if someone, such as yourself, didn't care enough about her needs to have her re-homed.

You have an Amazon with ā€˜special needsā€™ who requires expert attention. As Kiwibird suggested, surrendering your bird to a reputable Rescue Centre will ensure the best life for your Amazon. You have seriously pondered the welfare of your mother, the rest of your flock and other animals, just by considering the option of re-homing. In consideration for yourself and the Amazon, re-homing will be the best for both of you. You will be able to surrender him without guilt if you know that his future welfare is going to be taken care of by experts.


All the best with this difficult task. Please stay with us and let us know the outcome. Once he is at the reputable Rescue Centre, then please stay with us to chat about the rest of your flock and ā€˜other animalsā€™.


Addendum: as Parrot Rescue Centers differ globally, my use of the term 'reputable Rescue Centre' includes one in which a CAV will do a thorough physical workup and avail themselves of expert behaviour management personnel.
 
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GaleriaGila

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Scott

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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Deep respect for caring enough about your Amazon to consider the aftereffects of rehoming. We are a safe zone and collectively understand the pressures you are experiencing.

Whether or not it is practical or safe to attempt a behavioral "reset" is worth considering. At minimum, an evaluation by a certified avian vet and possible consult with parrot behaviorist may be helpful. The odds of success are long but not impossible for the dedicated.

At the heart of your conundrum may be perceived failure and guilt. None of these reflect your character or intent but deeper discussion might make the outcome more comfortable. Health concerns for you and mom may suggest rehoming as safest option.

So the last two paragraphs reflect opposite outcomes, an avenue for discussion and hopefully solution leaving you with a clear conscious and a good home for your Amazon.
 

wrench13

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Hi! Can you tell us more about your amazon? You said you had him years. WHen did the aggressive behavior start? how old is he? What is his diet? How long does he get undisturbed sleep for every night? All these can help us try and mend fences with you and your zon. When did you get the other birds? How big is his cage? WHere is his cage? How much out of cage time does he get every day?

How long did you try each of the techniques for? Days weeks or months?
 

texsize

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While everyone here wants what's best for your bird. Safety MUST come first.
When it comes down to the safety of other family members no mater human or feathered they have to be protected.

It just sounds like your amazon is acting in an atypical fashion (beyond normal) and that's what makes me think there is something more than just bad behavior at the heart of the problem.
I do hope you can get to the bottom of it. Rehoming the bird will make your family safe. But it will just pass on a problem and not correct it. I am not saying rehoming is not the right thing to do. You need to find a place that is ready, willing, and able to handle a bird with his problems.
It's a tough decision to make but you got to do what you got to do for the safety of your family.
Texsize
 

ParrotGenie

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I don't know the history of the bird, so is hard to comment on this one on advise? Now was the aggressive behavior before you received him? Also what age is he around, as wondering if he hit puberty having hormonal imbalance, which would cause very aggressive behavior at random as your describing? Does he get aggresive all the time throughout the year, or close to February till now? Next main question, was he tamed when you took him on and step up on you and etc, or does he get aggressive and try to bite and don't want to be bother at all. You did state he sweet at times, so going to assume he somewhat tamed. When does he usually start to get aggressive? Does he let you handle him for long periods of time when he sweet? Also one thing people overlook, has anything change in the house, even furniture, or move stuff around? Then lastly does people invade his space and try to force him to be able to handle him and is aggression inside, or outside the cage mostly?

Before re-homing him I would try to figure out what triggering the behavior. Right now leaning toward a hormonal imbalance which can be corrected if that the case. Usually bird seems more territorial than usual. normally tame and sweet bird suddenly starts trying to bite and even attack and at random even. They get a lot louder as well and you see wing flapping as well. If you seeing this as well it likely a hormonal imbalance issue. Reason why I suspect this as he not just aggressive to just you, but everyone including other birds?

If it is a hormonal imbalance to help curb the behavior first thing is your bird requires at least 11 to 13 hours of complete darkness every night. Youā€™ll want to make sure the room your bird is in can be completely dark, and if you cannot darken the room sufficiently, you will want to put a dark blanket or cover on the cage. Yes thsi help to reduce your Amazon exposure to light. Remove Anything That Can Be Construed As A Nest Box Or Nesting Materials. This might include any Bird Snugglies, boxes or paper bags that your bird crawls into. Don't allow your bird to crawl around on the floor and hide under furniture, block it off if needed. Be Aware Of How You Pet Your Bird. Your bird believes that full body petting is sexual so when you pet it, like one might pet a dog or cat, it simply makes your parrot hormonal and invites"bad behavior." It is safe to pet your parrots head, high neck, around its beak and its ears. Feet are okay to pet, too. Stay away especially from under the wings and backside. Give your Amazon plenty of toys and activities that will distract it from its urges, youā€™ll find that the behavior will probably subside. Youā€™ll want to provide your bird with activities that will encourage foraging, like putting bird-safe pesticide free, twigs, sticks in the cage and heat it oven to kill the bacteria. Also empty water bottles help. You can supply chunks of wood, just untreated, newspaper and phone books so that your bird can focus on chewing to release the built up sexual energy. Flying is also a great way for your parrot to release that energy too.

I have a mated pair and my female U2 had to do this and works great during mating season. She use to chase, or dive bomb and bite people at random, if they came close to what she consider a nesting area, or boxes and if someone mess with her box she took, she would go after you and only one she allow by it was my male U2 Cooper. Then my male U2 would defend her by putting wings out showing his beak. This year she much better and hasn't bitten, or attack anyone anymore as trained her out of that over time.
 
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SailBoat

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Yes, please have your Amazon seen by an Avian Professional, a Certified Avian Vet if at all possible! Clearly sounds like chemical imbalance and a lack of understanding Amazon Body Language on your part.
Consider reading the second Thread highlighted in Light Blue at the top of the Amazon Forum as part of Parrot Forums. This will provide you the 'basic' structure of Amazon Body Language (a starting point, which your Amazon has likely added too). The goal is to understand what your Amazon is telling you, which is important to avoid those periods when it is not safe to insert fingers and other body parts.
It is my hope that your CAV (Certified Avian Vet) will provide true insight as to the possible chemical imbalance.
FYI: A heavy sugar based diet can also contribute to behavioral problems.
 
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Birdieboy3300

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Hi everyone, I would rather reply to everyone individually, but I donā€™t know how to ping people and Iā€™m just... too tired.

Basically, I adopted him when he was a baby and he was hand raised, heā€™s already gone through puberty, I took him to the vet several times for help and all they could say was that some birds are just like that. Iā€™ve done everything I can to give him the best life, I made sure he got enough sleep, a proper diet, healthcare, enrichment, etc. but it just did not work out. Heā€™s simply been this way his entire life. (Cheese-itz, that makes it sound like heā€™s going to die but I donā€™t know how ese to phrase it)

Iā€™m most likely going to surrender him to an avian rescue this weekend. Even though I feel sad, guilty, and ashamed that I could not do better, I think this is whatā€™s best for my family.

Honestly, I hate to say it but I think there was something wrong with the Breederā€™s birds. I know that White fronted amazons are usually nice, but every white front I have seen from them are extremely aggressive, even the tiny babies.

Thank you all for your help.
 

Scott

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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
I hope the process of posting your thoughts and reading varied opinions assisted you with with rendering the best outcome for you, family, and Amazon.

The rescue will likely assess behavior, triage with avian vet, and make important decisions such as whether the bird is suitable for adoption or placed in sanctuary status.

No need to worry about responding individually, I believe we have a strong sense of your dilemma and the need to reduce stress.
 

Ellie777Australia

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Hi everyone, I would rather reply to everyone individually, but I donā€™t know how to ping people and Iā€™m just... too tired.

Basically, I adopted him when he was a baby and he was hand raised, heā€™s already gone through puberty, I took him to the vet several times for help and all they could say was that some birds are just like that. Iā€™ve done everything I can to give him the best life, I made sure he got enough sleep, a proper diet, healthcare, enrichment, etc. but it just did not work out. Heā€™s simply been this way his entire life. (Cheese-itz, that makes it sound like heā€™s going to die but I donā€™t know how ese to phrase it)

Iā€™m most likely going to surrender him to an avian rescue this weekend. Even though I feel sad, guilty, and ashamed that I could not do better, I think this is whatā€™s best for my family.

Honestly, I hate to say it but I think there was something wrong with the Breederā€™s birds. I know that White fronted amazons are usually nice, but every white front I have seen from them are extremely aggressive, even the tiny babies.

Thank you all for your help.


Hi Finn,

I agree with Scott, no need to respond individually as you have enough on your plate at the moment. Such difficult decisions are heart-wrenching.

We know that you are doing this for Mochi even more so than just protecting the rest of your flock and your mom. Please do not feel guilty or as if you have failed in any way. I think that you are kinder and wiser than most by doing what you are doing. That makes you a WINNER in my books.

Kindest Regards,
Debbie
 
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ParrotGenie

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Jan 10, 2019
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2 umbrella Cockatoos One male named Cooper and female named Baby 1 Little Corella male named Frankie and have 5 Cockatiels three named Male named Pepper, Fiesco for the female and female named Wylie.
Hi everyone, I would rather reply to everyone individually, but I donā€™t know how to ping people and Iā€™m just... too tired.

Basically, I adopted him when he was a baby and he was hand raised, heā€™s already gone through puberty, I took him to the vet several times for help and all they could say was that some birds are just like that. Iā€™ve done everything I can to give him the best life, I made sure he got enough sleep, a proper diet, healthcare, enrichment, etc. but it just did not work out. Heā€™s simply been this way his entire life. (Cheese-itz, that makes it sound like heā€™s going to die but I donā€™t know how ese to phrase it)

Iā€™m most likely going to surrender him to an avian rescue this weekend. Even though I feel sad, guilty, and ashamed that I could not do better, I think this is whatā€™s best for my family.

Honestly, I hate to say it but I think there was something wrong with the Breederā€™s birds. I know that White fronted amazons are usually nice, but every white front I have seen from them are extremely aggressive, even the tiny babies.

Thank you all for your help.

No one going to blame you if you ultimately have to re-home him and know it a hard decision to make. One thing I would try as last recourse is before re-homing him is take him to a different experience avain vet and a second opinion have tests run, or go the rescue and ask to get advise from a Medical Liaison, or avian behavior consultant and explain situation, they likely get you to the right direction and maybe be able to help you. I believe your Amazon may have some kind of chemical imbalance that causing the strange behavior. It would be different if he was aggressive all the time, but the fact he sweet one moment and next attack everyone, something not right and triggering it?

As far as the breeder babies being aggressive, it could be that they are parent raised and not handle.
 
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