I have had Peeko, my yellow crowned amazon, for around 2 in a half months now. He is around 1 in a half years old and he is adopted (from a family that I think I can safely say didn't do too much with him.. his cage was kept outside and he was fed a cheap diet of mixed nuts and other things)
I am also a first time parrot owner.
The entire time I've had him, I can not put my hand around him at all without him leaning over to take a chomp. I have been dodging his bites and have never been bitten yet (but there were quite a few close calls). I realize that this isn't a good idea because it teaches him that biting gets him what he wants, but what am I supposed to do? I can't just sit there and let him bite the crap out of me, I've seen what his beak can do to his wood toys. Yikes!
I have tried thick gloves and he has bitten those. I have a constant fear of biting, its hard to even take him out on the gloves because I'm afraid of him climbing onto my arm or shoulder and biting hard. The gloves only go wrist-length, and I know he can stretch and bite because he's tried to do it before. I can not for the life of me get him to go on my glove or even bare hand from off of his cage when hes inside or out. He just moves away, or climbs to a different part of the cage. The only time I have been able to successfully pick him up is when he is on the ground, and I have done it a few times with a perch and treats. It takes quite a while though to bribe him with the treats usually.
He also screams and throws a fit at various times of the day, and he only gets quiet when given attention. It drives me and anyone else in the house crazy at times, sometimes we just have to shut the door to his room and hope he calms down. I try not to give him attention when he does this because I know that will also lead him to getting what he wants.
Long story short- I am an inexperienced owner of an adopted amazon that doesn't want to get bit- what do I do? How do I train him out of this without actually having to get bit? And what can I do about the screaming?
Thanks to all that read and reply!
I am also a first time parrot owner.
The entire time I've had him, I can not put my hand around him at all without him leaning over to take a chomp. I have been dodging his bites and have never been bitten yet (but there were quite a few close calls). I realize that this isn't a good idea because it teaches him that biting gets him what he wants, but what am I supposed to do? I can't just sit there and let him bite the crap out of me, I've seen what his beak can do to his wood toys. Yikes!
I have tried thick gloves and he has bitten those. I have a constant fear of biting, its hard to even take him out on the gloves because I'm afraid of him climbing onto my arm or shoulder and biting hard. The gloves only go wrist-length, and I know he can stretch and bite because he's tried to do it before. I can not for the life of me get him to go on my glove or even bare hand from off of his cage when hes inside or out. He just moves away, or climbs to a different part of the cage. The only time I have been able to successfully pick him up is when he is on the ground, and I have done it a few times with a perch and treats. It takes quite a while though to bribe him with the treats usually.
He also screams and throws a fit at various times of the day, and he only gets quiet when given attention. It drives me and anyone else in the house crazy at times, sometimes we just have to shut the door to his room and hope he calms down. I try not to give him attention when he does this because I know that will also lead him to getting what he wants.
Long story short- I am an inexperienced owner of an adopted amazon that doesn't want to get bit- what do I do? How do I train him out of this without actually having to get bit? And what can I do about the screaming?
Thanks to all that read and reply!
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