help with biting/chewing amazon

[mikejr]

I got a rescued amazon 7years old. He allows head scritches but bites ur hand after awhile and keeps chewing it like food. He loves food. I think he thinks anything that goes in the cage is food. He doesnt step up. Previous owner didnt train him. He talks a little. He doesnt talk when he sees you. Is he shy or what? Is it too late to teach him to step up? and other tricks? Does any one have any suggestions on how to go about training? Also how could i get him to talk more and be less shy?

[birdiemommy]

That's the great thing about amazons. They can be very food oriented. You probably have already tried this, but. Put the hand out that you want him to step up on, and present a treat in the other hand. Work in small steps. Just leaning over your hand to reach the treat is enough to be rewarded at first. Reinforce small steps. Just leaning forward to get it, then putting one foot on your hand for a split second, etc. It may be a slow way to do it, but your amazon will do it because he wants to, and not being forced to. He'll think it is his idea;)
As far as the biting your hand after scritches. He may be trying to tell you he has had enough. Whenever I get bit, it is usually because he was giving me subtle signs that he has had enough, and I was ingnoring them. Watch and see if you can see any signs that he may be feeling done before he starts chewing. Good luck!