lunging BFA

[KevH]

Hi guys really need someones help my BFA has launched at me tonight twice cutting my nose with its claws and a bite on my forehead which really hurt it is really puzzling me iv had it for 5 weeks i bought it off a breeder it had been passed back off the owners coz they were splitting up and work commitments the breeder said it was 20 months old and said it was tame and friendly and had no problems with previous owners. since iv had it i have been building a good trusting relationship and thought things were going ok there was no change in my appearance to scare it i left it alone in cage while i went upstairs it was screeching for ages i went downstairs starting talking to it let it out was talking and excited eyes pinned tail fanned then lunged at me just missing me it flew back on cage i told it naughty and get in cage and it lunged again bitting and clawing me is this normal behaviour coz iv got young kids and wouldn't want it to happen to them.

 

[getwozzy]

5 weeks in a teeny tiny fraction of time in bird land. He's still getting used to you, his new home, etc and you need to build trust with him- that can take a while sometimes!
Amazons are notorious for making their emotions known -eye pinning, tail flaring, head feather raising...it all means "Back Off!"...so, back off. Open the cage door and let him come out on his own. Wait for him to come to you. Sit by him, talk to him, eat a snack- amazons are CRAZY for food. Do NOT share bites with him (spit swapping can make your bird sick!), but offer a fresh piece of what you're eating.

 

[getwozzy]

Do your kids have access to the cage? How old are they? Do they bang on the cage? Poke fingers through the bars? Just asking because all that can scare a bird pretty good.

I have a toddler, so I know your concern about the kids getting bit...I never let J near Jackie because Jackie would not hesitate to bite him. But they got to be around each other as long as I was supervising.

 

[KevH]

no kids only talk to it its only a concern coz of when jaspers out of cage i wouldnt want it lunging at my youngest she is four she never torments it just hope it was a one off il look for the signs i thought they pin eyes and tail in excitement and aggression coz when i come in from work its made up to see me i go to the cage and put fingers threw cage and stroke it never bites. thanks jackie

 

[getwozzy]

Sometimes they can get SOOOO excited they bite- Jackie did that often. It's easier when you can see them fanning their tail, pinning their eyes, etc...take it as "proceed with caution" with a high possibility of getting bit. I was never able to reach in the cage to get Jackie out, I always had to open the door and wait for him to climb out.

Just make sure if Jasper is out while the kids are around that you watch everyone closely, and make sure they understand that he may bite and it will hurt really bad! Definitely keep Jasper out of reach of the 4 yo to prevent anything.

 

[KevH]

i will defo be approaching with caution from now on ha. when you said you had to open the cage has that changed now coz its pretty similar to mine it wont step up on hand always comes out on its own infact it never steps on hand suppose in time maybe im rushing things

 

[getwozzy]

Good luck! Just take things slowly, and go at his pace amazons are awesome despite their spiciness lol

 

[KevH]

thanks for the advice

 

[getwozzy]

i will defo be approaching with caution from now on ha. when you said you had to open the cage has that changed now coz its pretty similar to mine it wont step up on hand always comes out on its own infact it never steps on hand suppose in time maybe im rushing things

Jackie was only with us for six months; he recently passed away. But the whole time he was here I always let him come out first. It actually wasn't until 4.5? months that he started stepping up on my arm without me getting bit! It definitely takes time, patience, persistence, and consistency.

 

[getwozzy]

It's best to take things slowly and build a great, trusting relationship with jasper than to rush things and have to start back at square one if he loses trust in you

 

[getwozzy]

Oh, and just be careful about responding to his screams or screeches- he may learn by you showing up and letting him out that screaming results in getting what he wants, and your attention! Next thing you know he'll be constantly screaming for you! So, teach him an appropriate way to call you and get your attention- like a whistle or phrase, and reward him when he calls you in a nice way- positive reinforcement will do wonders since they don't understand they're being naughty.

 

[KevH]

i am gona take it slowly but iv lost a lot of trust in jasper and think its lost some in me its gone territorial in its cage today lunging at me and the wife but we just ignored it its like when we first got it very nervous and bit scared tho it was letting me scratch its head b4 while its out of cage just hope things change maybe i rushed things coz cant think of any other reason why its changed. im gona back off a bit and let it come to me.

 

[getwozzy]

How much out of cage time does jasper get daily?

 

[getwozzy]

Do you have a T stand or perch? Let him come out of the cage and once he's on the perch, carry him to a different room where he can't see his cage. just let him hang out on the perch, don't try to pick him up or pet him, just let him hang out in your vicinity. His attitude may improve if he can't see his cage.

 

[KevH]

defo gonna let it come to me its only a set back plenty of years ahead did think of handing it back but not gona give up without trying just a bit scared now but dont want it to sense it. think its a bit late about the screeching HA HA started doing it when were upstairs and it gets louder when i shout back at it woops wont do that no more. i let it out for about 3 hrs evening time im about to get it a new cage with play stand on top.

 

[getwozzy]

I know just how you feel! Jackie was the same way when we brought him home- he lunged at us any time we came anywhere close. He was pretty much hands off for a while. Eventually I figured out he didn't like my husband (and a few other people), he also hated certain colors, sounds, etc. He became easier to deal with when we built a perch for him that I could take with me to different rooms...just hanging out and being away from his cage helped a lot. And then i built a jungle gym lol

 

[KevH]

im defo gona give it a go to be honest i rang the breeder this afternoon coz i was all emotional lol thinking of handing it back coz it really did scare me my wife said it looked like it was trying to kill me lol but he wouldn't take it back saying give it a chance which I'm now glad he said no. on the colours thing gonna try keep an eye out for that it seems ok with everyone in the house but i wont be letting kids put fingers near cage.

 

[getwozzy]

im defo gona give it a go to be honest i rang the breeder this afternoon coz i was all emotional lol thinking of handing it back coz it really did scare me my wife said it looked like it was trying to kill me lol but he wouldn't take it back saying give it a chance which I'm now glad he said no. on the colours thing gonna try keep an eye out for that it seems ok with everyone in the house but i wont be letting kids put fingers near cage.

Oh I can totally understand!! I was TERRIFIED of Jackie at first- I thought FOR SURE I was going to lose a finger lol but nope! I just took it Real slow and took things at his pace and everything worked out. I'm glad you're keeping him just give him some time and he'll come out of his shell. Good luck!