Does anyone have an amazon that has never bitten them?

[leah9798]

Hi I posted about my amazon Doo that was given to me about a month ago. I was just wondering if anyone here has an amazon that they have had for along time that has never bitten them?

After what Doo has gone through since coming here 5 weeks ago, he has amazingly never even attempted to bite me. All the endless vet visits and tests and oral antibiotics plus being afraid of hands and never being taugt to step up and me having to grab him to get him out. Sometimes he would climb to the top and I'd have to put my hand over his back and with the other hand pry his feet off the bars or sometimes he'd be on the bottom and roll over on his back to fend me off I guess but never bit me and I used my bare hands. Now we've settled on me cupping his feet up in my hand to get him out. I've tried showing him over and over again that he can sit on my hand but he's just not getting it. I was also wondering about the tail flaring and eyes pinning. Nancy mentioned the "amazon crush". I do think thats what happening here too I think it was love at first sight for both of us. I can tell he really likes me and gets very excited when ever I am near. He just melts when I give him scritches and loves when I just sit and talk to him and he has full conversatiosn with me, eyes pinning and all but he is just so incredibly gentle, all my birds can be very sweet but also be nippy at the same time and I just haven't seen this at all from him. So I was curious too if there is something else I can watch for that may signal a bite other than the tail fanning and eyes dialating. I have to admit after all the negative I have read, he has to be one of the sweetest birds I have ever seen in my life and now I know why people that have amazons love them so much. Thanks

[Beaks]

I have zons that i have had for years that never even tried to bite me but they sure bite the wife and daughter.

Love them zons.

John

[Casa Amazona]

Sounds like you have a real sweetheart. What type of 'zon is he? I have six 'zons, of whom two have never tried to bite me. One is a Mexican Red Head female I've had for a few months. She's like yours in that she comes into my cupped hands. The other is a Yellow Crown/Orange Wing, sex unknown, who is just plain gentle. When I go to take his food bowl out in the morning, he'll climb on the rim with his head down and fluffed so I can't take it without first giving him head skritches.

As to signals, the only other thing you can watch for is an upright head with fluffed head feathers. That, in combination with a flared tail and/or pinpointing eyes, indicates a less-than-happy 'zon.

[leah9798]

Thank you John and Joanie, I really hope he stays as sweet as yours have. and makes me feel better.

Joanie, he's an Orange winged and I have completely fallen in love with him.

Originally Posted by Joanie

Sounds like you have a real sweetheart. What type of 'zon is he? I have six 'zons, of whom two have never tried to bite me. One is a Mexican Red Head female I've had for a few months. She's like yours in that she comes into my cupped hands. The other is a Yellow Crown/Orange Wing, sex unknown, who is just plain gentle. When I go to take his food bowl out in the morning, he'll climb on the rim with his head down and fluffed so I can't take it without first giving him head skritches.

As to signals, the only other thing you can watch for is an upright head with fluffed head feathers. That, in combination with a flared tail and/or pinpointing eyes, indicates a less-than-happy 'zon.

[DocT]

I have a 15 year old YNA that I have owned since it was a baby. I am happy to say she has never once bitten me out of anger or fear. She is a big baby. but I have to admit I kept waiting for the age and the hormones to kick in. Luckily it never happened but when hormones did finally kick in she became my bird and my bird alone. No one can even get close to me or she will go after them. I had her sitting on the back of my recliner one day and hubby walked by to close....she flew at him and came close to getting his eye. I can do anything but anything with her but the last 10 years I have been the only one allowed to hold her even tho we tried many times to get hubby involved. It's just not worth streesing the bird or hubby.

Bonnie

[Rue]

My 10 year old Green-cheeked Amazon hasn't bitten either! She has nipped a wee bit harder than I like when she's been excited - but other than that she's a sweetie...

...I'm the only one that handles her, the other family members are a bit scared of her (she has a wicked growl ), if they were more confident, she'd be fine with them too...

[leah9798]

Thanks Bonnie! It's so encouraging reading this! It wouldn't be a problem if he is only bonded to me or my husband. I don't really have any friends around me to truly socilaize them and most of the people that do come in my house are afraid of them anyway. I've noticed that almost all my birds including my tiels have their chosen someone and just tolerate the rest some better than others.LOL

On the other hand I upset him today so I've lost some trust but I hope to get it back. I took some of my other birds out on the patio today and gave them a bath, they love it. I thought he would like it outside also but apparently he hated it and he's back to being cautious around me. So I hope he doesnt stay mad at me too long we were making such great progress.

[The Outlaw]

I also have an older YNA and the ONLY time I ever got bitten was when I blocked her attack on my Severe macaw. She was so horrified that she'd accidentally bitten me, she was visably mortified. That was over a year ago. She despises my Severe however.

[DocT]

Leah I wouldn't worry too much about losing her trust. Just take a couple steps back from where you were with her and re start. She will soon come around to being her old self again. Mine gets a little upset if I pay too much attention to the other birds and will turn her back on me. I look at her and say FINE BE THAT WAY and walk away. It doesn't take long before I strat hearing I love you Bonnie LOL she is such a spoiled brat


Bonnie

[leah9798]

Oh that's great, I'm glad to see more people have been just as lucky to share their life with a sweet amazon.

Bonnie, things have improved a little bit, Ive been doing major butt kissing today. LOL