My 15yo rescued YNA:)

[Jimmy]

Hi all, i have a few questions involving my VERY WELL behaved but adopted/rescued 15 yo YNA. I'm relativly new in owning birds, i have dealt with them from a medical stand point only up until a year ago. Well to the point, i have had Henry for approx 4 months now, i'm seeing progress with her, she's starting to talk to me, fan her tail feathers out and strut around when i talk to her with a certain inflection in my voice, also tone of voice, but she likes to growl, and when i say growl *i think someone should tell her she's not a rotty* kinda growl, she also is VERY reluctant to let me touch her, but WILL let me pick her up, and also if we go to our special quiet place, *my reading chair*, she never runs away, only when i touch go to touch her. I also have a rescued macaw, whom i'm sure most of you who will be reading this are going to know what i'm talking about, my macaw *gus* loves to throw up for me, and the way he moves is neck which is quite specific *if all macaws do it in the same way, meaning looking like they have a slinky in their throat*, Henry looked as if she was going to do this lastnight. Now from what i'm told about YNA's is if my face isn't chewed off, and i've NEVER been bit once by one **even though where she was before she sent 3 people to the ER**, i'm doing SOMETHING right. So i was curious if anyone had any ideas as to what i could do to better our physically close to one another relationship. I've tried the private area, i've tried hand feeding her mashed sweet potato *with MUCH success*, she will sit on my shoulder, ***but i CAN"T touch her***. UMMMM....*brain fart*, i've played eye games, and played peek a boo, ***yeah and if you ever watch america's funniest home video's and see a guy doing that with an amazon and falling off the chair as he was caught....YUP that was me****....so i guess that's it, i'm sure you guys will fill in the blanks with my random directions of thought..thanks for viewing, and especially thank you for replying....

and if i mispelled anything...""hookt un fonix werkt fur mi""

Jimmy:)

[Doubleyolk]

Hi Jimmy glad to see another rehomed bird. I had a rehomed YNA for 25yrs and was a nasty bird from day 1. His only friend was our cat that slept on top of the cage on a folded towel. He would not come out of the cage at all. He would not let you near the cage unless you were bringing him food. He loved to be near a window and watch the birds at the feeders. JMO Having only been 4 months you still could be on the so-called honeymoon and you might not want to let her on your shoulder. I hope she turns out to be your best friend and trust you.

[The Outlaw]

Jimmy:

She will simply come around when she's ready. Its obvious she likes you already, but probably has to decide whether you really are going to keep her there. When birds go through many homes, they simply start distrusting humans. I also have an 18 year female YNA and she is the most devoted bird in my entire flock. There is NOTHING more loyal than an amazon. I can't promote all zons, for they need to be handled carefully, especially hormonal males. However, my Taco who came with a "record" of biting also, has only once bitten me in 3 years. And, that was an accident. She hates my little Severe and I simply blocked her attack of him with my hand. She was totally moritifyed when she realized she had bitten me. It has never happened again.

I am the recipient of many "love barfs" from many of my birds. Its disgusting, but hey, its their best (LOL). After all, I cook for them every day.

THE OUTLAW

[Casa Amazona]

I agree with Nancy. Amazons (as do most birds, I suppose) decide whom they will like, love, trust, hate, etc. and they do it in their own time. I have a male Double Yellow Headed who came to me at almost 20 years old. The reason I ended up with him was severe and long-standing (9 years) aggression. We did well through our honeymoon period. He would come walking up onto my chest and snuggle with me. When I had to go away for a month with my job about 15 months ago, I came back to a feathered terror. He still won't let me handle him 99% of the time, but he will come up to the side of his cage and gaze at me with adoring eyes as I give him verbal lovins. Being perfectly agreeable to getting on a stick, he comes out to play almost every day and is wonderful with my other 'zons.

My advice would be to treat her with dignity and consistency and don't force anything on her. There's nothing quite so wonderful as a 'zon (in my most biased opinion) and they're worth the time it takes to develop a good, solid, trusting relationship.

[nancy jean]

" I have a male Double Yellow Headed who came to me at almost 20 years old. The reason I ended up with him was severe and long-standing (9 years) aggression. We did well through our honeymoon period. He would come walking up onto my chest and snuggle with me. When I had to go away for a month with my job about 15 months ago, I came back to a feathered terror. He still won't let me handle him 99% of the time, but he will come up to the side of his cage and gaze at me with adoring eyes as I give him verbal lovins. Being perfectly agreeable to getting on a stick, he comes out to play almost every day"

Your DYH sounds exaxtly like my 13 year old Petey, and I really miss the honeymoon period when I could carry him around. Do you think we will ever be able to interact with our DYHs like we did on our honeymoon periods?

[Casa Amazona]

It would be so nice to be able to give you an answer to that question. Kiwi is so wonderful in every other way. After agonizing over this for months and months, I finally came to the conclusion that this is his home and I love him, whether or not I am ever able to interact with him as I do my other fids. I've done two things with him. First, I accept him just as he is. Second, I've established routines that allow me as much interaction with him as possible under the circumstances. Every day I take him on a perch and move him out to the playstand. He loves hanging out with all the other fids. I make sure to stop by and talk with him ... as I do everyone else ... throughout the day. Because I work at home I'm able to do this. All the best to you and Petey.