I've brought home a green goblin

[JessicaM]

Hello! I recently brought home a yellow naped amazon from a rescue. The rescue folks didn't know his age but he was in a home where he spent most of the time in a cage. The previous owner put a mini iron dumb bell in his water dish to keep him from flipping it over, which resulted in him drinking rusty water for a very long time. He was seen by a vet and treated for metal toxicity. I grew up in a bird home, with everything from finches to parrots, and I had a yellow naped amazon who was my best friend. All the birds were sold off when my parents split up. Now I'm grown with a family of my own, and I always wanted another amazon parrot. Our adoption was approved after a couple visits and we brought him home. It's been a couple weeks, and he has decided he hates me now. I get lunged at whenever I walk past the cage, even if I bring a treat with me, and I am NOT allowed inside his cage at all. I've asked that nobody else in the house give him treats so I can try to win him over but there are more bad days than good lately. I get attacked changing out his food and water everyday as well. If he's out of the cage on top he will sometimes fly at me and try to bite me. If he is on the floor, he will run and chase me, unless I have the dreaded towel. I'm not sure if he's trying to protect his new cage, is hormonal, or actually just hates women. His cage is against one of the living room walls and we have an open living room-dining room. He has no access to shredable items or dark spaces, and nobody pets him other than on his head/neck. Lights out at 8pm every night and back on at 7am. I am a stay at home mom so I'm here with him all day everyday. He has not displayed any of this behavior and loves my husband and teenage son. He gets fresh veggies and a couple almonds a day for treats if he hasn't attacked me. If I need to get him back in the cage I have to use a towel, as he will rapidly climb a dowel and lunge and attack me. I know he hasn't been here very long, but I hate to have to send him back to the rescue or keep him locked in a cage full time. Could he have some brain damage from the metal toxicity that makes his anger worse? Today when he flew at my face from across the room I toweled him and put him in the cage. I was frustrated and told him I was going to boil him and eat him. He pinned his eyes and laughed at me.

 

[texsize]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to being owned by an Amazon.

I am not a fan of wing clipping but it can sometimes help and even nessisary sometimes.

In my house I am the favorite human with my Yellow nape Bingo and everyone else…. Lookout.
But Bingo can’t fly and that makes it easier.

It sounds like you are going with the right approach but it can take a long time, even years to change things.

Thanks for rescuing this guy.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to being owned by an Amazon.

I am not a fan of wing clipping but it can sometimes help and even nessisary sometimes.

In my house I am the favorite human with my Yellow nape Bingo and everyone else…. Lookout.
But Bingo can’t fly and that makes it easier.

It sounds like you are going with the right approach but it can take a long time, even years to change things.

Thanks for rescuing this guy.

He sounds kind of ungrateful.
Did he act like this at the rescue?
Didn't his previous owners know about the stainless steel bowls that snap into a ring so they can't be dumped out? I hope he doesn't have brain damage.

 

[JessicaM]

He sounds kind of ungrateful.
Did he act like this at the rescue?
Didn't his previous owners know about the stainless steel bowls that snap into a ring so they can't be dumped out? I hope he doesn't have brain damage.

He was hesitant with me at the rescue but would step up for my husband and I. His behavior toward me seemed to change once he was settled in. The rescue knew very little about him, other than the water bowl stuff. I'm guessing he didn't have a cage with the bowl rings and instead she used a plastic bowl on the cage bottom. If he has brain damage, it wouldn't surprise me, but surely that alone wouldn't make him a woman hater?

 

[wrench13]

Ditto on the wing clip. Feathers grow back.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I doubt it. I had a cockatoo that was afraid of men except my then husband. But he wouldn't attack them. He would try to get away from them. I tried a bird behaviorist for other issues but it was a man and Casper wouldn't go near him.

 

[JessicaM]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to being owned by an Amazon.

I am not a fan of wing clipping but it can sometimes help and even necessary sometimes.

In my house I am the favorite human with my Yellow nape Bingo and everyone else…. Lookout.
But Bingo can’t fly and that makes it easier.

It sounds like you are going with the right approach but it can take a long time, even years to change things.

Thanks for rescuing this guy.

I've trimmed wings before, so I enlisted the Husband to help me trim his wings after work. The green goblin was NOT happy about it. Lots of growling and he chewed through the towel in a couple places. He's going to stay in the cage for the remainder of the day and maybe we will try some free time out of the cage tomorrow. If he does attempt to fly he's going to get a surprise. We have new carpet so it should be a somewhat soft landing for him.

 

[GaleriaGila]

My bottom line... thank you. You're my hero for rescuing this bird, reaching out, really caring and sharing!
I'm so glad to have you here.

 

[JessicaM]

My bottom line... thank you. You're my hero for rescuing this bird, reaching out, really caring and sharing!
I'm so glad to have you here.

Thank you. I'm glad to have found this community!

 

[saxguy64]

I'll agree with @GaleriaGila above. Thank you for rescuing a parrot in need! All of mine are rescues as well, and while I absolutely understand the attraction of new baby birds, my heart is with the rescues.

So, I'm no kind of expert, but a few things to consider from what I see so far...

First, a couple of weeks in the land of parrots is really just a blip. Some acclimate quickly, but it's not uncommon for it to take months or even years, and it's really up to them, not our own expectations. Lots of patience, and then, more patience. Slow down and do things at his pace. Might be helpful to have a treat bowl at the front of his cage. Start slowly by dropping a small treat in it whenever you walk by without engaging him in any way. He'll eventually figure out you're the source of good things.

You mentioned the towel. Have you started using that early on, or regularly as a means to get him where you want him? While sometimes it's a necessary evil, it should be a last resort in my opinion. As you know, everything with parrots is about trust, and toweling can be a huge trust breaker.

If you haven't already done so, read through the stickies at the top of the Amazon sub forum. Tons of helpful stuff in them. We often recommend sitting near the cage (at a distance that he's comfortable with) and reading out loud to them. Use those threads for reading material and you get double benefits

Also, another helpful thread on trust building:

D

Thread 'Tips for Bonding and Building Trust'

Nov 1, 2014

Parrots rarely bite each other, because they convey their feelings beforehand or fly off to avoid physical contact. If it feels cornered and frighten then need to bite will be from the natural instinct of self -preservation.

The cage is the Parrot safe haven and any attempt to enter, add or remove items and this includes forcefully removing the bird, will most likely trigger a bite response. This why you first build trust with the bird in the cage (safe haven). Trying hanging a chew toy on the outside of the cage.

No putting hands inside the cage. No chasing the bird around the cage or...

• Delfin
• Replies: 59
• Forum: Bonding & Taming

• 
• 
• 

Hope this helps, and please keep us updated!

 

[JessicaM]

I'll agree with @GaleriaGila above. Thank you for rescuing a parrot in need! All of mine are rescues as well, and while I absolutely understand the attraction of new baby birds, my heart is with the rescues.

So, I'm no kind of expert, but a few things to consider from what I see so far...

First, a couple of weeks in the land of parrots is really just a blip. Some acclimate quickly, but it's not uncommon for it to take months or even years, and it's really up to them, not our own expectations. Lots of patience, and then, more patience. Slow down and do things at his pace. Might be helpful to have a treat bowl at the front of his cage. Start slowly by dropping a small treat in it whenever you walk by without engaging him in any way. He'll eventually figure out you're the source of good things.

You mentioned the towel. Have you started using that early on, or regularly as a means to get him where you want him? While sometimes it's a necessary evil, it should be a last resort in my opinion. As you know, everything with parrots is about trust, and toweling can be a huge trust breaker.

If you haven't already done so, read through the stickies at the top of the Amazon sub forum. Tons of helpful stuff in them. We often recommend sitting near the cage (at a distance that he's comfortable with) and reading out loud to them. Use those threads for reading material and you get double benefits

Also, another helpful thread on trust building:

D

Thread 'Tips for Bonding and Building Trust'

Nov 1, 2014

Parrots rarely bite each other, because they convey their feelings beforehand or fly off to avoid physical contact. If it feels cornered and frighten then need to bite will be from the natural instinct of self -preservation.

The cage is the Parrot safe haven and any attempt to enter, add or remove items and this includes forcefully removing the bird, will most likely trigger a bite response. This why you first build trust with the bird in the cage (safe haven). Trying hanging a chew toy on the outside of the cage.

No putting hands inside the cage. No chasing the bird around the cage or...

• Delfin
• Replies: 59
• Forum: Bonding & Taming

• 
• 
• 

Hope this helps, and please keep us updated!

Thank you for your kind reply and ideas! I will start them as soon as I figure out what is his favorite treats. Toweling is used as a last resort or for care giving. My husband can usually handle the Goblin with no issues, so I will have him return the bird to the cage. Sometimes he will give my husband a light bite if he doesn't want to step up, so he uses a perch. If he won't step up or attacks the perch, then the towel comes out with the perch. We give the bird a choice, towel in one hand and perch in the other. He usually will comply at that point and step up onto the perch and peacefully return to the cage. If I am home alone with the bird and he flies off the cage at me or he rushes at me from the floor, then the towel comes out immediately. I use it when I feel my personal safety is at risk. The cage is near the computer desk and I spend a lot of time on the computer, so he is used to me sitting here. Right now he is relaxed- feathers relaxed, eyes half closed, beak grinding, and standing on one foot. He gets to hear me read a lot as I am a stay at home mom and I homeschool my boys! He's probably tired of hearing me read

 

[smwboxer]

I clip my Amazons and macaws because they live outside on the patio and are out of their cages most of the day. It’s a safety thing for them.

 

[JessicaM]

UPDATE!!
Things have not improved...at all. Turbo has decided he no longer likes my husband either. Neither of us can safely handle him without getting torn to shreds, so he must remain in the cage at all times. He is resentful for this but it is for our safety as we can not trust him or get him back into the cage without resorting to toweling. If he gets out, he will chase me through the house and attacks my feet and ankles, unless I have a towel, then he attacks the towel. When you ask him to step up, he will lunge at you and bite you, no matter how slowly or calmly you approach him. Whenever I walk past the cage I am greeted with anger and lunging. He will flap his wings at me and bite his own leg. When my husband approaches the cage he is not met with such wrath, as Turbo will just withdraw to the back corner of the cage. My 16 year old son is the object of Turbo's affection and he will come toward the front of the cage and offer his head for scratching and regurgitates for him. My son wants nothing to do with him after seeing how the bird treats Mom and Dad. I've tried covering his cage to provide adequate dark hours for sleep, a seed free diet, extra toys, and giving treats whenever I walk past the cage. I'm starting to think this is not the right home for Turbo. I have videos of this behavior but I don't know if/how to share them here.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Remind us- what kind of bird is Turbo?

 

[nkrbkr]

Hi there. Has Turbo been to an Avian vet for a wellness check & to see what his body composition is like? If birds are a bit portly, it can cause hormonal behavior. If he’s regurgitating to your son, he’s feeling a bit hormonal. What is his diet like? I know you mentioned he’s seed free. Also, is he in a room that could possibly be made completely dark & quiet for 12+ hours without covering his cage (with blackout blinds, etc.)? I know there are differing opinions out there, but I personally don’t cover cages if I don’t have to, as it can sometimes create a bit of a “nest” situation to the bird. What kind of toys does he have? Anything shiny or reflective?

 

[nkrbkr]

Hi there. Has Turbo been to an Avian vet for a wellness check & to see what his body composition is like? If birds are a bit portly, it can cause hormonal behavior. If he’s regurgitating to your son, he’s feeling a bit hormonal. What is his diet like? I know you mentioned he’s seed free. Also, is he in a room that could possibly be made completely dark & quiet for 12+ hours without covering his cage (with blackout blinds, etc.)? I know there are differing opinions out there, but I personally don’t cover cages if I don’t have to, as it can sometimes create a bit of a “nest” situation to the bird. What kind of toys does he have? Anything shiny or reflective?

I’ll add that for one of my birds, his main cage is in our living area. There’s no way to make it fully dark for him there, so we have a much smaller sleep cage for him that we keep in a quiet room with blackout blinds. It doesn’t have to be a big space, just some place that is safe and can be made dark. While I was waiting for his sleep cage to arrive, I was covering his main cage at night. He was a territorial little monster during that time, & would get angry if you touched the cover to take it off.

 

[Thechoplady]

Im sorry your going through this. Ive heard the male amazons can be dangerous when aggressive so please be careful. I would start by target training to help build communication and trust.

 

[wrench13]

One of the great things about Amazons - they are the come back kids of the parrot world. I would suggest resetting the clock with Turbo. Treat him as if he just entered your family for the first time. You know now, after reading and experience, what works and what does not. GO SLOWLY ! Cant emphasize this too much. Many parrot relationships never get a chance to develop because the owner is so eager to form the relationship. THis might take months and months but will be so worth it. No towels this time around! Read, read, read.

 

[JessicaM]

Hi there. Has Turbo been to an Avian vet for a wellness check & to see what his body composition is like? If birds are a bit portly, it can cause hormonal behavior. If he’s regurgitating to your son, he’s feeling a bit hormonal. What is his diet like? I know you mentioned he’s seed free. Also, is he in a room that could possibly be made completely dark & quiet for 12+ hours without covering his cage (with blackout blinds, etc.)? I know there are differing opinions out there, but I personally don’t cover cages if I don’t have to, as it can sometimes create a bit of a “nest” situation to the bird. What kind of toys does he have? Anything shiny or reflective?

Turbo was to the vet when he entered the rescue and was treated for metal toxicity. He eats pellets, veggies, and seeds and almonds for treats. His cage is large so it is in the living room as there is nowhere else to put it. He has many shredable toys in his cage along with an assortment of different perches. The only shiny things are his food and water dishes.

 

[JessicaM]

Im sorry your going through this. Ive heard the male amazons can be dangerous when aggressive so please be careful. I would start by target training to help build communication and trust.

I've watched videos on target training and have tried it with him. He will comply with clicker training as long as he gets sunflower kernels, but when I introduce target sticks he will attack them.