Amazon parrots and aggression?

Question

I picked out a baby Amazon Parrot from a local reputable bird specialty store approx. 2 months ago and have been going in to visit and socialize with him since then. He is not yet three months old and is still handfeeding; the plan was to bring him home in July or August. Here's the problem-he has progressively gotten less and less affectionate and cuddly every time I have seen him (I've been going in three times a week or so) and while I'm okay with him not being cuddly (I understand that most Amazons are not) he is now biting and lashing out at me also. He absolutely does NOT want me to hold him and when I even try to ahve him step on my hand now he lunges aggressively at me. My family had an African Grey when I was growing up, and I work for an avian vet, so I am familiar with different types of parrots, but I need some advice with this. The owner of the store is giving me other options-if I want to take a 5 month old grey whose original owner ended up changing his mind (cont below)

Answer 1

So What SHOULD You Do?

Enough of this stuff about all the things that don't work -- what exactly does? Actually, it is quite simple. If you have already established a relationship of Nurturing Dominance with your parrot, then he already perceives you as head of the flock and he is already trained to step onto your hand when you say, "Up". To then thoroughly reprimand that bird, you need only do the following things immediately.

First, show the bird your displeasure by giving it a REALLY DIRTY LOOK ("The Evil Eye"). I'm really serious about this -- you have to look at it as if it were the lowest of the low, or pond scum, or something you might find stuck to the bottom of your shoe. Parrots are extremely empathic creatures who watch our facial expressions closely. He will understand your displeasure if you give him a tremendously dirty look.

Then, make him step from one hand to the other over and over while you keep saying

"Up" in a very firm but not loud voice (remember the Drama Reward). Do this several times in a row (i.e., 3-4 times) and you will be amazed at the difference. This is a non-aggressive, nurturing technique with which to give the parrot negative feedback because parrots really understand this as a reprimand. We call this technique "Laddering" and it is an exercise in control -- reminding him that YOU are the alpha in the flock, NOT him. If you are firm and consistent, reminding him of this will put him back under control. And without the positive feed-back that he inadvertently received before, the biting should end.

Answer 2

Try working with the bird to reduce the biting.  If it works, you're fine.  The bird may just not be receiving proper socialization.  If it doesn't work, try another bird.  Some birds are just mean in general, or it may have taken a dislike to you in particular (but it's usually poor training.  The bird in my picture was a wild-caught abused bird I rescued. He'd bite anyone who came near him.  Now he's a sweetie.)

There are three major categories of biting.  It sounds like yours is a mix of 1 & 3:

1) Teething. OK, it's not really teething, but young birds may not have great beak control and certainly haven't learned how much pressure is acceptable. Parrots, like young children, put everything in their mouth, including your fingers. Expect an occasional bite, and treat as for #3.

2) Fear. A panicked bird is likely to bite. About all you can do is avoid terrifying the bird - they really don't know what they're doing if they're that scared. They can likewise lose control if they get overly excited. Don't pick the bird up when it's that excited. Let it calm down a bit, first.

3) Dominance or other types of manipulation. If parrots can get something they want by biting you, they will bite you. Conversely, if biting you does no good, they won't. Parrots usually enjoy yelling, so yelling at them only makes them bite you more often. This is the reason you are advised to "not react". Though "not react" isn't really right - you want to make it clear that you don't approve, but without being dramatic about it (parrots like drama). A firm "No." is fine; yelling is not. If the bird wants you to stop doing something, consider continuing it a bit longer; if it bites you because it wants something from you, it shouldn't get it. The object is not to be mean to the bird, but to avoid teaching it that biting works.  If the bird wants to be put back and left alone, you shouldn't do that because then biting would get it what it wanted.

Jealousy and mate behaviors are a special form of trying to manipulate you (possibly plus excitement) and potentially the most dangerous, but your bird won't have them yet. If a parrot thinks of you as a mate, it will have high expectations of your behavior, especially during breeding season. It will expect you to repel intruders and avoid dangerous situations. If you don't, it will likely bite you for not behaving properly. It's more than simple jealousy when you pay attention to strangers, and it's as likely to bite you for behaving wrong as it is to bite a stranger. Good socialization will help avoid this, but some birds are just touchy when they're broody.

In general, your goal is to avoid having the bird bite you in the first place. Not picking it up when it's excited, putting it down if it seems likely to bite, or distracting it are all better than being bitten and trying to alter its behavior after the fact.

The best method of asserting dominance and maintaining control is usually to do "step-ups" with the bird.

Good luck.  Amazons can be difficult, especially the double-yellow head, yellow napes, and blue-fronts.

for more information, see:

http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/bit...

http://www.parrothouse.com/wrongwithamaz...

(and for all the second article's focus on "hot 3 males", we have a female red-lored amazon who acts just the males she's describing - including "the strut".)

Answer 3

Maybe you should ask the avian vet you work for instead a bunch of strangers that may or may not know anything.

Answer 4

We have 2 Double Yellow Head Amazons.  One is now 14 and the other is about 50 (rescued from a pet store).

A two month old baby who is already this aggressive is having problems with the people taking care of him at the store.  They are doing something that is making it afraid so it is lashing out at everyone.

You have 2 choices either forget about getting that bird or get it now and get it out of that pet store.  There is a good chance that once it gets away from the pet store and you can spend more one-on-one time with it, it will begin to trust you and not try and bite pout of fear.

But, you need to decide now if you are willing to put the time in to gain its trust.  Owning any animal is a life long responsibility.

Answer 5

Some dbl yellowhead amazons, do have a reputation for being a bit difficult. It just seems strange at the age this one is for him being that way, usually it is more so when they are an adult. I have an African Grey who is so sweet, all birds have different temperaments, I have a Male Goffins that drives me nuts and he prefers to look like a baby chicken.  Some Goffins are very sweet.  Ask your Avian vet and maybe she will give you the best info.