Aggressive Amazon

[Hermit57]

Rocko, my 5 year old BFA, has decided I am the object of his aggression. I bought him from a breeder when he was old enough to leave the nest and we have always been good friends. Now he's suddenly attacking me. He started a few days ago flying at my head when I walked by his cage, now he's coming after me when I'm in another room if no one else is home. He had dive-bombed other family members a couple of times, but now it's me exclusively. His aggresssion diminishes if other people are home. If I'm watching tv or reading, he will fly and sit on a nearby chair and as soon as I move he flies at me

There have been no changes or trigger that I can think of to set off his behavior. I'm starting to try clicker training just to give us some structured interaction time with positive reinforcement. I don't want to clip his wings, but may have to. Could it be a hormonal issue for him to go after his primary caregiver? He's always been treated as a member of the family. Needless to say, I'm crushed.

 

[torrap]

That would upset me too.
I am not an expert here, but you can try few simple things like giving him few extra showers per week (if he likes them), make his day shorter (earlier bed time), move his cage to a different place in the house.
It very well could be hormonal, but it's the wrong time of the year for that, I think, but I could be wrong.

 

[Hermit57]

Thanks, moving his cage could be a a good thing to try. Poor thing, even he looks confused by his behavior. He flies and sits near me at the end of the day and looks at me like just wants to make sure we're still friends.

 

[legal_eagle]

That sounds very much like mating/territorial behavior. We are about a month away from the winter solstice, and with the short days I suspect that many parrots are feeling the instinctive need to start staking out a nest where they can raise their young in the winter and spring months. If so, your bird will probably return to normal in few weeks or months, but you'll need to take precautions in the meantime to lessen the behavior, which seems largely driven my the need to protect a territory.

 

[Hermit57]

I'm trying to understand him without doing something that may damage his trust. It would make sense that he would go after the caregiver if he's territorial because I'm the one who's most often 'in his space' with feeding, cleaning cages and other interaction. He's OK with my husband who doesn't spend much time with him. He'll actually step up nicely for me if my husband gives him to me. The tough part waiting it out may be getting everyone to understand that it's beyond his control and has nothing to do with being a 'bad bird'.

 

[Birdman666]

rocko, my 5 year old bfa, has decided i am the object of his aggression. I bought him from a breeder when he was old enough to leave the nest and we have always been good friends. Now he's suddenly attacking me. He started a few days ago flying at my head when i walked by his cage, now he's coming after me when i'm in another room if no one else is home. He had dive-bombed other family members a couple of times, but now it's me exclusively. His aggresssion diminishes if other people are home. If i'm watching tv or reading, he will fly and sit on a nearby chair and as soon as i move he flies at me

there have been no changes or trigger that i can think of to set off his behavior. I'm starting to try clicker training just to give us some structured interaction time with positive reinforcement. I don't want to clip his wings, but may have to. Could it be a hormonal issue for him to go after his primary caregiver? He's always been treated as a member of the family. Needless to say, i'm crushed.

sounds like this bird is becoming hormonal and territorial. And again, is he defending a particular area? If so, then move him away from that area so there is nothing to defend. Dive bombing is generally a territorial behavior.

 

[Hermit57]

The bird cages are in their own room off the main living area. When he's out of the cage, he comes into the living room where we are. Normally he's content to preen, chat, get a snack and nap. But a few days ago he started standing at alert and flying at me whenever I would walk around.

He's responding well to clicker training and it seems to relax him a little. It definately gives him and I some neutral interaction with positive reinforcement. He flew at me a lot less, basically just a touch and go.

 

[Hermit57]

But he only does it when we're alone. As soon as everyone else leaves the room, he flies at me.

 

[Birdman666]

I would really need to see his body language/what he is doing prior to the dive bombing thing...

Any sort of territorial or mating displays as a warning? (If so, I would say it's hormonal.) Did something startle him?

It's hard to diagnose this one over the internet.

 

[Hermit57]

There's nothing to startle him. He sits watching me with a very alert posture: feathers close to his body, the top of his body leaning slightly forward, face pointed towards me. When he sees me move ( like getting up out of a chair, or walking through the room) he flies at me with his beak open. He hasn't bitten me, more like he bangs his beak on my head as he swoops down. Ive started carrying a dish towel on my shoulder to hold up in front of my head when he flies at me. He has grabbed my back with his claws when he comes at me from behind.

 

[SandyBee]

I have a DYH who does exactly this to my hubby. He did it last night again.
My guy is 36, it's not hormonal time yet but I have noticed he is starting to look at nesting spots. it sounds like he may be looking at you as a parental figure and is trying to protect some territory he perceives as his.
So without other info seems like a territory issue.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Just out of curiosity, how does your BF get along with your Goffin?

Do they interact? Could your BF possibly be trying to prevent you from paying attention to your Goffin?

I'm truly just guessing here, sorry about that.

 

[Birdman666]

There's nothing to startle him. He sits watching me with a very alert posture: feathers close to his body, the top of his body leaning slightly forward, face pointed towards me. When he sees me move ( like getting up out of a chair, or walking through the room) he flies at me with his beak open. He hasn't bitten me, more like he bangs his beak on my head as he swoops down. Ive started carrying a dish towel on my shoulder to hold up in front of my head when he flies at me. He has grabbed my back with his claws when he comes at me from behind.

Is he flying AT you, or trying to fly TOO you, as in I'm coming with you, you're my favorite person... or in the alternative, don't leave me.

 

[Hermit57]

Yes, the Goffin is a good point . Hes always been a little aggressive with her so I don't let them out of their cages at the same time. He's always been protective of her cage. Since he's started his current antics, bothe her and my cockatiel have been very quiet.

I think he's flying AT me because he was also striking at me from inside his cage as I walked by. But since I started the clicker traing he's not doing that as much. I had him outside his cage for clicker training today and it went well. As soon as I took the clicker away it was VROOM, flying at my head again. He also vocalizes when he flies, like the sound a crow makes.

 

[Birdman666]

Yes, the Goffin is a good point . Hes always been a little aggressive with her so I don't let them out of their cages at the same time. He's always been protective of her cage. Since he's started his current antics, bothe her and my cockatiel have been very quiet.

I think he's flying AT me because he was also striking at me from inside his cage as I walked by. But since I started the clicker traing he's not doing that as much. I had him outside his cage for clicker training today and it went well. As soon as I took the clicker away it was VROOM, flying at my head again. He also vocalizes when he flies, like the sound a crow makes.

THEN I STICK WITH MY ORIGINAL ANSWER, THIS IS A TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR.

Personally, I would clip him. And in the future, that stuff stops, or you get clipped.

 

[Hermit57]

Do you think if I did not clip him and just kept blocking him that his aggression would escalate? I think you are right, that he should be clipped, but I just want to make sure I've done everything I could before taking that step.

 

[legal_eagle]

I have noticed this past week the appearance of mating behaviors in my parrot (lots of allofeeding, shredding papers on the bottom of her cage, adopting a mating posture when perched). I think it's the time of year for that to begin (she's laid eggs in January previously).

 

[Birdman666]

It's clearly hormonal/territorial. And it just might be that this bird needs to be clipped during mating season just to calm down the aggressive behaviors.

Again, this is a young bird, who is only going through this for the first time or two... they don't always know what's going on yet.

Just like macaws can be difficult the first few seasons... doesn't mean it will go on year after year. Eventually they adjust. The first few years are the hardest.

 

[Hermit57]

Thanks so much. I wondered if he picked me as his target because I'm a 'safe hate' meaning he knows I'm going to be his caregiver no matter what. I even just sit and talk to him about it, of course knowing he doesn't understand my words but just hoping the tone of my voice lets him know we're still 'flock mates". I really think the clicker training is going to help too.

 

[Hermit57]

Here's a pic of Rocko in his 'I'll be coming at you' pose. He's usually pinning a little more.