amazon agression

[P4E]

Newbie here. My husband's amazon is the joy of his life and I love her too. However, she lunges at me whenever I walk by her cage, play perch, etc. She will step up on stick for me to transfer her from cage to play area etc. and I try to be the one to feed her. However, her agressive behavior towards me continues. I would love to have her relate to me so that I could hold her, etc. Any suggestions? She is 16 yrs old, we are second owners (her first were a wonderful couple who raised her from a baby). Thank you

[Halo]

Amazons are notorious for having attitudes and only liking their chosen person. All you can do is have patience and be glad that she will let you transfer her on a perch If you maintain a steady amount of contact with her, don't yell or get upset when she lunges... just ignore her (I know it's hard), if she does bite you, don't make a big deal out of it, and lots of patience she might come around and decide you aren't so bad after all. My male amazon HATES my husband and does the same things. He can only pick him up if he's got a glove on otherwise he will eat him up. It doesn't matter what he does, it doesn't change a bit.

Good luck!

[Addicted to Tequila]

And become THE feeder and favorite treat giver. Amazons are greedy little pigs! LOL

[lisa munson]

I have a 25 yr old amazon. had her since I was 6yrs old. I am now 31. she was a family pet then she chose me as her mate. she will try to rip a finger off anyone but me. she has literally pierced the bottom lip of two different people. I am not a "bird person" though I love all animals. I don't believe people should keep amazon parrots as pets! however I feel an obligation to this bird who I grew up with.

[pippy]

My boyfriend's YC Amazon lunges at me all the time! Charlie adores Mark but hates me!

Unless Mark is away working for a few days, THEN the little horror will eventually allow me to stroke her!

They're fickle little hormonal monsters! Especially now it's Amazon breeding season!

[expressmailtome]

Originally Posted by lisa munson

she has literally pierced the bottom lip of two different people.

This is one reason that I believe birds should not be allowed near a person's face. Whether out of fear or for any other reason the bird bites a person's face they can cause great damage.

Matt

[becca623]

I've met a couple zons at pet stores that were multi people birds and I bought a cage from a woman who adopted a 10 yr old zon that likes her whole family but otherwise the zons I've met have all been one person birds. My bfa decided when she was not even 3 months that she liked myself and one other person. She'll be 3 yr soon and she still feels that way, although she has accepted my eclectus as her bud. My mom has cared for her when i went out of town for a couple weeks and when I've been in the hospital a few times. Hubby gives her treats she's not supposed to have to try to win her over but she just doesn't care for them.

[lisa munson]

Montey hated all my boyfriends and now my husband. She has to stay in her cage. one time she was outside her cage on the kitchen counter while I washed the dishes and my husband (Guy) was in the living room folding laundry. She had a clear view of him through the doorway. Montey was pacing and strutting along the counter and then she just took off, flying at him. Guy didn't see her so I yelled for him to "run"! As he ran around the sofa she cut across. She had an evil but ecstatic look in her eye! When Guy turned the corner Montey hit the wall ( she never really learned how to fly) and fell to the floor and ran after him like a locomotive. I was horrified but couldn't help laughing. It was the most comical thing I've ever seen. Guy looked honestly scared and he had good reason to be, she would have shredded him!

[rkelly2808]

Our yellow crowned amazon, Zazu, prefers by husband and does lunge at me on occasion. We paid an adoption fee for Zazu Nov. '08 and when we brought him home, he would go to either one of us, but after a few months with us, he chose my husband. He will let me stroke him and preen his neck when HE wants it and I am not pushing the issue as he has bitten me several times. He turned 7 April 20th so we hope that by both of us working with him and being patient, we can help him accept me again but only as a secondary companion. With my husband, Zazu, is the most loving bird there could be. He can't wait for his "daddy" to come pick him up and play with him.
Our yellow nape amazon, Pepper, who is about 30 years old will go to either one of us but prefers me. During his hormonal time, he only wants me but will go to my husband reluctantly. Pepper was well socialized during his life and he will go to other people once he becomes familiar with them. But like Zazu is with my husband, Pepper is to me. I can pick him up like a chicken :-), turn him over on his back and tickle his stomach, rub under his wings, etc.
Neither one of them like likes other people close to their cage this time of year, in a few weeks I know it will be different with Pepper. With Zazu, we'll have to wait and see.
Amazons are wonderful birds but they do take a lot of patience, time, and love. Take it slow with her and hopefully she will accept you as a secondary companion.

[jylu97]

We've found that my zon always seems to favor the one person who played with her that day. She really could care less who feeds and gives her water, but if you play ball with her or take her outside in her cage you are the favorite of the day.