26-yo rescued BFA - New owner

[SicSemperSocialists]

Greetings everyone, I was suggested this forum by Cdavis and Bonkers over on the parrot subreddit. Already read over the body language sticky, and making my way through "I Love Amazons".

We've recently received a 26-yo blue fronted amazon named Johnboy, his previous living situation wasn't appropriate. I'm a young adult living with my family, and I've been putting a significant amount of time (several hours a day) chatting with him and pampering him.

We received him in a tiny cage for transport and managed to get him a very large and appropriate cage from a dedicated bird supply shop. Transporting him into the new cage was a nightmare, it involved oven mitts, screeching, and a chunk out of a knuckle. It only lasted 30-45 seconds but it felt like an eternity. I knew they're vocal guys, and will not hesitate to let you know if they're not happy, but it was different experiencing it in person!

He sulked a bit for half an hour, but I was able to get back to opening the cage and hand feeding him again very quickly. Prior to this fiasco he was very vocal with me, chattering, singing happy birthday, and whistling. It's been a full day since then, and he's not back to his usual talkative self. I'm still hand feeding him, talking with him, but it takes more encouragement for him to talk with me. I assume he's just holding a grudge, and with proper care and trust he'll return to his happy self.

I haven't seen him get aggressive with me specifically yet, but I know if I don't listen to him at the wrong time then I'll be in for a biting. Is this a case of "time heals all wounds"? Just keep giving him encouragement and attention when he's being polite and he'll warm up?

He does a little Stevie Wonder dance where he'll wiggle his head all the way around while turning around in circles on his perch while making cute chirping noises. Is this his way of just showing his excitement?

I'm looking into making some foraging toys out of wood. How can I tell if it's bird safe? As long as it's not chemically treated then I'm good to go?

I'm looking forward to spending more time here, and with Johnboy. He's such a magnificent guy, and I'm fortunate to be able to spend time with him. I appreciate any thoughts you all have, and any further recommendations for reading!

Regards,

Benjamin

 

[texsize]

congratulations on your new amazon.

from what I have heard they usually get over a grudge.

The Steve Wonder dance is something my YNA does when he is excited, happy to see me, look at/pay attention to me. all these things can be reasons for a "dance".

as for safe toys... that's hard to say. some things that have been perfectly safe for some birds can become life threatening to others. It depends on how they play with them.
I had a rope perch that I "think" was the cause of the death of my RLA. she started eating the string and I did not realize what was happening till it was too late.

texsize

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed. And big thank you for adopting an older Amazingzon. Really the best things you can do is what your already doing. Read read read and then read again the stickies on the amazon sub frum. Sailboats, one of our resident Amazingzon everts , says Amazons are the 'come back kids' of the parrot world. There's a good chance Johnboy will be himself in a few days / weeks, especially if you are making the efforts described. If you have family,try to get them to also interact withJohnboy, maybe giving him a treat and spending some time sitting his cage , talking tohim.

As far as toys, correct NO treated wood, I would suggest a few different types of store bought toys to see what kind he likes,and then take a whack at making some yourself. Metal- all metal toy parts should be stainless steel only. Zinc plated steel looks similar, but is poisonous to your parrot. Chains, bells, links all stainless steel.Bring a magnet when you go toy shopping- stainlesss steel is not magnetic, zinc plated steel is very magnetic. Good Luckand againwelcome.

 

[Kentuckienne]

If by Stevie Wonder dance you mean that real pronounced head twisting/rolling, that can be a sign of stress. Excitement is usually OK, but you don't want them stressed out. You have a good start with the Amazon forum, especially any of Sailboat's posts. Wrench13 has some great posts/photos of toys he built for Salty. Most parrots are afraid of new things - a new toy, a new food, a new cage - and you can just leave it in their sight for as long as it takes for them to get used to it, maybe moving it a bit closer every day. They have no way of knowing that a toy isn't going to eat them.

If you can find the books, even in a library, I recommend "The Second Hand Parrot" and any of Sally Blanchard's books. "Parrots for Dummies" is surprisingly well written and easy to follow. Now is a good time to read up on toxic foods for parrots as well - the obvious things like chocolate and avocado, as well as fruit pits, too much salt, many plants, colored print on paper (contains heavy metals, copper, chromium, etc.). Amazons love stainless steel bells! And wood to chew. Popsicle sticks are cheap and fun.

Thank you for taking this baby in! I can't wait for the pictures and stories to come.

 

[SicSemperSocialists]

I appreciate all the thoughts everyone. I'll make sure to do my due diligence when making his toys. The treated wood was obvious but good to know stainless steel only.

Finally received my first bite, hand feeding him pellets for 20 mins and on the last one he knocked the pellet out of my fingers and gently took the tip of my finger into his mouth and squeezed. No blood drawn, so pretty sure it was either a stress or excitement induced nip, and I took it as a sign of him exercising what he could have done if he really wanted to hurt me. Immediately left, will let him cool off for an hour before I read to him tonight.

I'll look for those books you recommended, Kentuckienne. I was concerned about bells, some of them have little rings and loops inside attaching the bell to a chain, do you ever have issues with them trying to eat them?

 

[texsize]

I think the larger bells are ok but if he is like other birds trying to get the clapper out of the bell will be a major obsession for him.

Don't use cockatiel/conure size bells.

amazons are like pit bulls for biting, they clamp down and hang on. Think of having a sharp vice grip clamped to your finger.
Only once was I bitten when not expecting it and that was cuz he was on my shoulder.
Every other time he gave me warnings and I chose not to pay attention.
Sometimes to show him I was not afraid of him (stupid in retrospect).
Sometimes out of complacency.
The hardest thing is going back to your bird after receiving a bad bite and showing no fear.

 

[SicSemperSocialists]

As promised, here are pictures!

His beak and claws aren't very well maintained. I'm going to have to do something about them, probably a claw trimming, but I'll have to build up the trust to either do it myself, or take him somewhere. If I end up having it done outside the house, I don't want to eliminate all the good progress we've made together so far by changing things up again.

 

[SailBoat]

Great advise provided above.

The bite that you received was more likely a statement that he had enough pellets and was simply making a physical statement. The great news is that he was attempting to communicate. NOTE: If he was in fact Bitting you, it would have been a Crushing Bite! The light nip that you got is likely part of Bite Pressure Training he had received from someone in his past.

It is so very important to understand that they are interested in being part of your flock. Understanding the basic body language of Amazons and then start learning their unique language that they have added to the basic.

 

[SicSemperSocialists]

That's fantastic news if he was indeed taught appropriate bite pressure. When he nipped me I left the room and stopped giving him attention for 30 mins, next time he gives a nip that doesn't hurt I wont rob him of attention. He's clearly trying to say something with a soft bite like that, and it's my job to figure out what.

 

[Kiwibird]

What a stunning blue front with so much of that beautiful turquoise blue all over his whole face! Based on pictures, you appear to have one of the smaller and much less common to see in the US a.aestiva subspecies. Amazons are very intelligent and he likely knows the difference between a warning nip and out for blood bite I'd expect him to be a little nippy as he tests you out to see if you are to be trusted. Your above described reaction of simply leaving the room after the nip is exactly how you should respond to a nip or bite. Don't make a big deal and leave the bird to cool off. Dancing wise, my BFA also loves dancing (the cheesier/worse the music is, the happier and more boisterous the dancing that results!). Amazons respond strongly to many kind of musics, so if you see him dancing, try putting on some different types of music and see if he likes one genre more than the others. I know he's brand new to you, but ideally you'll want some more toys in his cage and some more on hand to rotate out frequently. Amazons quickly grow bored of/destry toys and need a constant, ever rotating supply.

On a completely different note than has been mentioned thus far, have you offered your new friend a bath yet? Amazons typically love baths and it is quite amusing to watch them go crazy for water

 

[GaleriaGila]

Gorgeous bird alright.

You're getting great input.

I hope you can see how much we appreciate you for rescuing this darling.

I'm glad you're here!

 

[Kiwibird]

amazons are like pit bulls for biting, they clamp down and hang on. Think of having a sharp vice grip clamped to your finger.

Really? I know you've lived with several amazons too so I'm surprised to hear your very different experiences to my own. I've never observed a "clamp down and hang on response" with the 3 amazons I've been around. Of the 2 I grew up with, one never bit anyone for any reason in my memory, the other only bites when really frightened or if some ignoramus ignores her warnings, but she's never clamped down and not let go. Kiwi used to bite really hard and draw blood when he was new, but he never clamped down and then wouldn't let go. The only bird I've experienced biting and not letting go until he was pried off is my dad's cockatoo. He doesn't just clamp on, he chews as he's clamped on

 

[Anita1250]

My Sammy only bit down and wouldn't let go once. Many years ago we went away and left him with my father. I guess my father didn't do the right thing, because when I came home I got the bite of a lifetime. He actually ground his beak back and forth on my finger. Bloody mess.

After that, we never left him with my father again! LOL. My finger took about two weeks to heal, and probably needed a stich. And, I have never received another bite like that one! Thank goodness.

 

[texsize]

amazons are like pit bulls for biting, they clamp down and hang on. Think of having a sharp vice grip clamped to your finger.

Really? I know you've lived with several amazons too so I'm surprised to hear your very different experiences to my own. I've never observed a "clamp down and hang on response" with the 3 amazons I've been around. Of the 2 I grew up with, one never bit anyone for any reason in my memory, the other only bites when really frightened or if some ignoramus ignores her warnings, but she's never clamped down and not let go. Kiwi used to bite really hard and draw blood when he was new, but he never clamped down and then wouldn't let go. The only bird I've experienced biting and not letting go until he was pried off is my dad's cockatoo. He doesn't just clamp on, he chews as he's clamped on

I admit this is the kind of bite I get only from Bingo.
Plumas was a wild caught amazon and would only bite as a last resort.
Pacho would bite without warning but she did not hang on.
My new bird Luna is not hand tame. When she bites she bites with gradually increasing pressure as if she is testing me. When I say ouch she lets go.

texsize

 

[SicSemperSocialists]

Kiwibird, coming home from work today I purchased a wood block toy to hang up. My goal for the weekend is to buy some scrap lumber and make some foraging toys for him in varying shapes sizes to keep him occupied. No baths yet but I've watched youtube videos on how to appropriately give him one. I may start with a small mister sprayed in his general direction and see how he likes it.

Regarding bites, the only two I've witnessed are one harsh one towards a family member while trying to migrate him to the big cage, and the second one I've described above. While I'm confident I'm doing a decent job at reading his body language, I'm sure he'll get nippy or bitey at some point. I can only hope that he has indeed learned bite pressure training.

I've given him more variety in treats, some millet seed branches. He wasn't sure the appropriate way to eat them and dropped it as soon as he grabbed it. So I plopped it in one of his bowls. I figure he'll take some time to adjust to the new toy and treat, so I'm hanging out with him chatting for the time being.

Again I appreciate the kind words. While I do feel like I'm doing a nice thing for him at his age, it actually seems like the other way around. I should be grateful that he's letting me into his life. With my limited interaction with him given his shyness I've still loved every second of it. Didn't think I would take to him this much, but I'm glad I did!

 

[SailBoat]

Scrap Wood: Visit you local Big Box Store and take photos of your Amazon with (on your mobile phone). Ask for the person that works /heads-up the Wood Area. They commonly have a barrel of shorts /cut-offs. You want to start with White Pine Trim Wood only (never treated wood). Its soft, easy for an Amazon to make into small pieces. They commonly sell stuff from the barrel at reduced costs. FYI: Tell the staff person that it for your Parrot and show pictures!!! You may get an additional discount or even better.

" I should be grateful that he's letting me into his life." The term is: Being Owned By An Amazon!" At the point you come to understand that term, you will be a believer!

Keying into what your Amazon is doing will help greatly in your understanding of not only the basic Body Language, but also what your Amazon has added! As you become more in tune with your Amazon, you will become amazed at how much more is going on around you!

Amazon's Rule!

 

[wrench13]

Re: Bells. DO not trust any bell that comes with a store bought toy. They are cheaply made, the clapper can be worked loose and swallowed, and some are steel zinc plated ( zinc is poisonous to your parrot). Best bells are tubular, and welded stainless steel, the clappper so deeply recessed even the most determined parrot can not get them out. These are lifetime bells.

 

[PrimorandMoxi]

Whoahh!!

That bird is a real looker!

 

[Loganscott]

Dancing wise, my BFA also loves dancing (the cheesier/worse the music is, the happier and more boisterous the dancing that results!).

My RFA is the same, once she locks on to a song she will go nuts every time she hears it. She gets so loud that you can’t be in the same room with her. Recently there is a Demi Lovoto song my daughter plays that she goes crazy for.

So now it comes on, Amazon goes berserk and my Timneh starts yelling ‘NO’ and ‘No biting’? at her, it’s quite the circus. The other day my daughter thought it would be funny to try to teach the birds how to use Alexa, I had to explain to her if she teaches the birds how to turn on music, it would only be funny for a couple hours and that her mom might kill us both.

To the OP:

Keep doing what your doing. My Amazon is real slow. Took a year to decide if she liked , another year to trust my left hand (right was fine to step up day one, left was evil...#ParrotLogic) she just hangs back and watches everything. My entire relationship started with he letting me scratch her with one finger through the cage. Then she decided I gave better scratches with my whole hand, and it progressed from there. I’ve only had the one Amazon but comparing her to the Greys they just seem to appreciate a slow and steady approach.

Beautiful bird by the way!

 

[Kiwibird]

My Sammy only bit down and wouldn't let go once. Many years ago we went away and left him with my father. I guess my father didn't do the right thing, because when I came home I got the bite of a lifetime. He actually ground his beak back and forth on my finger. Bloody mess.

After that, we never left him with my father again! LOL. My finger took about two weeks to heal, and probably needed a stich. And, I have never received another bite like that one! Thank goodness.

Expressing his displeasure about you leaving and leaving him behind while vacationing. How dare you not take him along One of the worst parrot bites ever inflicted on me was after returning from vacation to pick up Kiwi at my mom's house. He seemed so happy to see us and reached out for a kiss like he always does and BAM! Took a chunk from my lip. They DO NOT like us leaving them do they?