New Amazon

[catfish]

I just adopted a yellow naped Amazon. Her name is Boo and she is 12 years old. I have never worked with larger birds, so this is all new to me. Guess this will be an ongoing thread as we grow together. She is on a commercial parrot mix right now, but will not switch her to pellets until she has adapted more. Gave her peas, corn, lima beans, lettuce and cranberries for breakfast. She ate peas, corn and lima beans. I am letting her do her own thing and I just talk to her. Any advice on how to proceed beyond this point. Thanks for any help.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Many congrats on adopting Boo. If you have some pictures to share of her, we would all love it.

I would take is slow with her. Sit by her cage, talk to her softly and sweetly, and you can try offering tidbits of food by hand. Her reaction/actions will show you whether she is ready to take your relationship to the next level.

Does she have a playgym away from her cage?

Do you know how she was kept and cared for before you brought her home?

The more information you can provide us, the better we'll be able to help you with her.

And sounds like she had a GREAT breakfast.

 

[catfish]

Thanks for the reply. She has a play area on top of her cage. I gave her a little vegetable sauce and pasta and she liked then I turned around to do something and looked back and she as setting on top of her cage. She stayed about 5 min. and then went back in. She also chewed on a finger pepper. She makes a biting action if I get near her. It is not really aggresive, more like a gentle warning. She sits and stares at me. Walks around her cage. The man I got her from had her about 1 plus years. Her did not handle her because of his health, but interacted with her and she came in and out of her cage. I know she talks and whistles, but has been silent since I got her. That is as much as I know.

 

[Birdman666]

Well, give it a few days, and let the bird settle in and get a feel for the new home. Then start with hand feeding small treats, and step up practice. Gradually work your way up to touching.

 

[catfish]

Boo has come a long way this week. She allows me to pet her and she purrs. She doe not want anything to do with step up. She will bite me if I try to touch her feet or front. Not a hard bite, but a warning. I am learning to talk her language and that helps. I just keep working at step up, but making no progress. I just keep assuring her and will be patient..

 

[catfish]

Boo has come a long way this week. She allows me to pet her and she purrs. She doe not want anything to do with step up. She will bite me if I try to touch her feet or front. Not a hard bite, but a warning. I am learning to talk her language and that helps. I just keep working at step up, but making no progress. I just keep assuring her and ill be patient..

 

[BirdyMomma]

I have had a lot of success with target training. Maybe give it a try?

 

[catfish]

Need help. Boo is progressing, learning new words and adjusting to healthy food, but has biting issues. I can be petting her and she is purring and cooing, then all of a sudden she starts biting. Not real hard, but harder than playing. Tonight I was petting her and my wife got close and she bit me hard enough to puncture the skin. I am having problems trusting her. Not sure what to do. Any ideas? She has not been handled for 2 years, just petted. I have only had her for about 2 weeks now and she has made great progress, but the biting needs to stop. Thanks for any help!

 

[ParkersMom]

fortunately for you Amazons are for the most part really easy to read... pinning eyes fanning tail puffed neck feathers...just watch how she reacts to different things and you will learn to read her like a book.

 

[getwozzy]

Does the biting usually happen when your wife is in the room?

 

[getwozzy]

It sounds like displacement biting; something is agitating or getting Boo excited and feels the need to bite, so not necessarily biting you on purpose, but because you're the thing closest *to* bite. so, either boo is getting too excited from your petting sessions and you need to end them sooner so she doesn't feel the need to bite you. Or- boo doesn't like your wife, and your wife needs to spend more time with boo and make friends.

I may be way off base here, but that's my hunch.

 

[JerseyWendy]

It sounds like displacement biting; something is agitating or getting Boo excited and feels the need to bite, so not necessarily biting you on purpose, but because you're the thing closest *to* bite. so, either boo is getting too excited from your petting sessions and you need to end them sooner so she doesn't feel the need to bite you. Or- boo doesn't like your wife, and your wife needs to spend more time with boo and make friends.

I may be way off base here, but that's my hunch.

I think you are spot on.

I, too, believe Boo bit you hard when your wife came in because it was your wife whom he wanted to bite, but couldn't get to her, and you were the closest person to him.

Please don't take it too personally. Amazons can be moody and many are not the touchy, feely kind of birds.

Keep the snuggling sessions short, and try and put Boo back when he still wants MORE cuddling.

 

[Birdman666]

Yep! Displacement biting.

I've got three bruises on my arm from Sally and the vet appointment last weekend.

One from the vet coming for her. One from the macaw running up my arm to get away from the vet, with Sally in the way.

One from that OTHER amazon, who had no business perching anywhere near her spot on my arm...

She "pinched the perch." Unfortunately, I happened to be the perch at the time.

It happens fairly frequently with amazons. The best way to deal with this one is to just be aware of the potential triggers, and avoid them.

Or just wear really thick shirts... either way!

 

[getwozzy]

The best way to deal with this one is to just be aware of the potential triggers, and avoid them.

Exactly. And triggers can be ultimately anything...a sound, a person, an object, etc. you just need to examine your bird's behavior when he's acting excited or angry, and examine the situation to see what's going on. It's really a long learning process. But in time, you will know what those triggers are.

For Jackie, my cell phone making *any* sort of noise sent him BERZERK. Absolutely NO WAY to handle him safely without losing a finger. My phone was on silent every. day. Also, he HATED my mother-in-law with an Amazonian passion!! If he had been more confident with flying, there is no doubt he would've flown over to pluck her eyes out. Not kidding. I had to tell her to leave because it was becoming an unsafe situation.

 

[Belgaram]

All too familiar. We recently rescued a BFA and she has come a long way. I agree with the displacement biting as well. Ours does not like women at all. If it is just her and I, she does test with her beak and does some playful biting but not hard. If my wife is in the area, yeah.. Not so playful anymore.

 

[SandyBee]

It is displacement biting and since you haven't had her very long she is testing you and the limitations as well. First keep your self safe and create a distance from her when your wife is coming near. When she tries to bite you definately give the evil eye and tell her no. Also putting her away from you at this time either in cage/playstand etc conveys the message you are not happy with this.

My Bosley did the same thing when we first got him, be very consistent with this or it can get worse. Over a period of months you can correct this. My amazon now just decides to get vocal when hubby is in the room/or just do nothing and accept it.
All bets are off at breeding season though till you learn her cues better.

 

[Birdman666]

The other thing is, mine were trained to pinch instead of bite.

I bruise. I don't bleed.

It's still annoying, but it's much less annoying.

 

[SandyBee]

It takes time to build a strong bond, it took about 4 months before my amazon would step up for me.
He would come sit in my lap and even got to my shoulder before that. It took till we had him for 6-7 months before he would do it consistently. 13 months later, he steps up anytime from anywhere, he even lifts his foot when he knows I'm coming to get him.
The only way that bond is formed strong is by trust, and I mean boo trusting you.
Accomplished by being loving, kind, consistent.

 

[catfish]

Thanks for responses. Not sure how to reply. I think part of the issure may be sexual. Many times when I pet her she raises her tail up in the air and makes lots of clucking sounds. I watched her today and most of the time does not show much sign that she is going to bite. She just seems to go from content to bite. She was grumpy this morning, but was a sweetheart this afternoon. She loves being petted and I think she would go on endlessly if I did not quit. I have learned a lot about her body language and I can usually tell when she is moody. I can't put her back in her cage if she bite because she does not step-up. I usually tell her no bite and walk away. sometimes if I say that she will quit. I just keep plugging away. Thanks again.

 

[getwozzy]

*where* on her body are you petting her when she does her clucking? If you're petting her on the back or wings, that's a sexual move and you're initiating mating rituals. so...if that's the case- avoid petting her back and wings.