Amazon moodiness

[RMSacha]

I have a BFA, Senegal, and a Ruby Macaw...the Amazon was the first bird in my house, the Senegal second an the macaw, third. Since the other two birds have come in the house, my BFA bites me nightly, runs the other way when I come near and basically has shut me out. Every once in awhile, he does still allow me to scratch his head and he does get exciting when I bathe him but otherwise, he seems miserable most of the time. He is 8 years old and I am almost to the point where if I could find him a good home, I would give him up. My macaw is still under two years old and after dealing with her, I have come to the conclusion I am more of a macaw person.

Is there any advice anyone can give me to help make the biting situation better? I have had Popeye, my Amazon, since he was a chick and I don't believe in giving up animals unless its 100% necessary. My macaw does take more of my time but I was always under the belief that Amazons were less "needy" than cockatoos or macaws.

Please Help! Thanks!

Bob

[The Outlaw]

Bob:

I'm so sorry. I have a female YNA that is a joy to live with, no issues and perfectly content to be with me when I can, but she's quite content just entertaining herself. I also have 9 other birds, 6 of which are larger macaws.

One of your problems is that you have a MALE BF. They are one of the hot 3 and are known to be difficult once they mature. He's certainly mature by now. And, its breeding season on top of that. Many of the males are virtually unhandlable for a few months out of every year once they mature. However, they usually settle down as the season subsides. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Try to establish a fair schedule where you give all of your birds equal time.

The way I accomplished this was to set a timer. Every 20 minutes, it dings and I change partners. Sometimes I can't do it immediately, but I do as soon as I can. This has kept my 10 birds from being jealous. They understand that they will have their turns. It also keeps me from showing favoritism, something we do no matter how much we try to deny it.

Resist the urge to give him too much extra time. If you do, you will have rewarded his bad behavior. However, when it IS his turn, make sure to devote that time slot to him exclusively. I think that will make a lot of difference. Good luck.

[RMSacha]

Thanks for the advice! I won't give up on him but the macaw has become my favorite since she helped me cope with the loss of my mom. Lucy (our macaw), was still handfeeding at that time and she kept my mind off of what happened for a few moments...so, I am very partial to her.

I had no idea that BFA males were considered one of the more difficult parrots as they matured--if I had known that, I think I would have passed on acquiring him...granted, he was adorable when his head popped up in the in window of the incubator.

These boards are a wealth of information and communication!

Thanks again!

Bob

[The Outlaw]

Bob:

Blue fronts are considered choice amazon parrots. They are devoted, loyal, loving and true eye candy. They simply get hormonal. Its not their fault, they are along for the ride.

My first parrot was a beautiful Eclectus hen. I fell head over heels in love with her. I acquired 9 more birds and soon learned that I, too, preferred the company of big macaws. They simply are more entertaining and less complicated than some of my other more cerebral birds. However, my ekkie couldn't stand living with all of the noise and shennanigans that come with rowdy macaws. She got more and more upset. I finally found her a more suitable home. She seems quite happy there and everyone is more comfortable.

I don't recommend rehoming birds because we lose interest in them. However, if you truly can't interact with and long to have a relationship with any of your birds, find a person who can.

I do have a problem with selling pets. If it doesn't work out, please find a good home and give them the bird. After all, they will have all of the problems that come with this bird to have to work out and they will have lost the really sweet baby time that you enjoyed. Do make certain that any prospects are given a true picture any of problems and expenses associated with parrots. If possible, also provide whatever toys, cages, etc. that you have for it. It will make the transition easier on the bird.

Hopefully, you will decide to spend quality time with him and he will get over his jealousy. Its hard to resist the silliness and sweetness of a macaw, but zons are amazing creatures. My Taco sings like an opera star and loves me more than any other bird on the planet. She is very generous with time and grateful for whatever I can provide. I can snuggle with her and kiss her anytime and anyplace. Once a zon chooses you, they would lay down their life for you. There are many documented cases of zons protecting their beloved from intruders and other disasters. Often misunderstood, they are simply doing the best they can in our environment.

Should you choose to rehome him, please contact me privately. I have a dear friend who is just wonderful with zons and would be delighted to add him.

THE OUTLAW

[RMSacha]

Outlaw:

I agree and I don't believe in selling pets or rehoming them...I just want to do what's best for Popeye. I think we share the same mentality on alot of the issues and I just want to weigh options before I make the traumatizing decision for both him and I to rehome him. I also have problems with "rescue programs" because most I have seen seem to be overwhelmed with the amount of birds. One by me is so overloaded that people are trying to intervene and rehome the birds again...truly a sad situation.

I plan on following your advice and going from there...I have had birds my entire life (43 years) and couldn't live without them! The joys they bring into our lives is incredible and their souls are remarkable--each bird we come in contact with brings a new aspect to our lives.

My macaw is my best-friend...she follows me throughout our house and does the wackiest things at times. Popeye is the patriarch, looking over everything and I agree with you about the loyalty an Amazon bestows on his companion person. My Senegal was a rescue and she is my child that learned how to act like a bird once we brought her home and gave her branches to climb, fresh fruit and veggies and a weekly bath...she has become truly beautiful since we brought her home and although she attacks violently my partner, she has never once agressively acted out towards me. I look forward to seeing my "kids" everyday and enjoy the sounds they bring to our lives and I hope they enjoy the life I share with them.

In the event I do decide to rehome; how do we contact a person privately on these boards? where are you located?

Thanks again Outlaw!

Bob

[kateBird]

Hi,

just wanted to give my 2 cents...

I have a 17yr old male YNA and yes, he does have his spring/early summer "twitterpated" mood (the aggressive sexual personality) and i've been bitten a few times - most of which was probably my fault...

anyways, your BFA is probably really jealous of you spending so much time and showing favoritism to your macaw. im sure he got a LOT more attention from you before the macaw came into the house and all of a sudden your BFA feels ignored and the "other bird". my YNA doesn't seem to read the behavior books about amazons and them being not so "needy", but he does need his attention otherwise he will bite once you finally find time for him.

i give him his time alone so that he wont be to dependent on me being around for him all the time, and he plays a little, but is afflicted with the common amazon laziness of just sitting wherever he is alone and napping.

like Outlaw said, do give him his time, no disruptions. concentrate on him alone. play, sing, talk. maybe even take him outside for a walk. not sure if your amazon expends a lot of energy, but he may also have so much pent up energy which makes him even more aggressive (the energy has to be released somehow). exercise is a must. baths are a great energy expender. so is wing-flapping.

kate

[The Outlaw]

Bob:

The easiest way to contact a member privately is to simply click on their screen name. This will open a window. If you decide to send a private message, just click that and a box will open for you to send a message. Easy as can be.

[Gabriel]

Hi Bob,

Outlaw sums up all the pertinant points.

Also agree with the point about not giving up earlier birds after losing interest in them.

I can understand that you know, all the research you do and then you think you have found your ideal bird only to have one and find its not.
Sometimes, its only through direct handling and keeping them for some time that we finally realize which type of parrot is meant for us.

At the end of the day, I personally believe all parrots are equally special and fantastic companions, from the dimunitive parrotlet to the grand macaws.

Its often dependent on us, the beholders, to perceive and appreciate their beauty.

I do have a male bf zon before I adopt my macaw so i guess I share a somewhat similar experience to yours.
My bf zon, Bodhi comes with baggages of problems--biting and feather picking.

Despite all these, I whole heartedly agree with Nancy about how great they are despite their moments.
it takes lots of patience, time and efforts to turn these birds around but everything's worth it and more.

Now the picking has stopped altogether and the beautiful feathers are growing back.
And off the breeding season and moments of territoriality, Bodhi allow kisses, play and cuddles.
Bodhi is easily the best talker of my flock...and as a group, Amazons ability to talk clear and well is something few macaws can ever achieve, I would dare say.
Still, I can get serious bites if I am not careful during his breeding season and moody moments.

I hope you are able to work the issue out.

Finally, one rhetorical question to think about...(sorry if its too blunt and personal)

It seems your macaw is still young...what if it acts similarly as your zon does now due to sexually maturity and changing situations at home...
Will you also rehome your macaw as well?

[Casa Amazona]

Another point I'd like to add is this. Our relationships with all of our fids will differ from fid to fid and from season to season, both of our lives and of theirs. I share a different relationship with each of my 'zons, based on their personalities. With one I can cuddle endlessly, while with another I can only give head skritches (and God help me if I overlook this most basic 'zonnish need ). With one I can sing and dance, while with another I can roar with laughter as she plays so hard she rocks the entire cage. With my male, because of hormonal issues, I don't get as much hands-on time. On the other hand, he loves our quiet evenings together, when he gets as close to me as he can, as I sit in my easy chair playing on my laptop and he hangs from the corner of his cage, less than a foot away, talking softly back and forth with me.

I consider these precious ones my friends -- and I have all sorts of friends. Some I talk about ideas with ... some I listen to their problems and try to help, if possible ... some I go out to dinner with more often than with others ... some I ride motorcycles with ... some I share quiet times with. No friend is better than any other, but our friendships are enriched by focusing on the things we have in common. That's what I try to do with my fids and it's worked really well for me.

This is not to say that I've never rehomed one of them, because that would be a lie. Over the past year I have rehomed two male 'zons (a DYH and a MRH), one of whom fell in love with someone else while merely tolerating me and the other of whom is absolutely wild and aggressive that I thought deserved a better chance with someone who was willing to work with him and has bigger, more calloused hands than mine, as well as much more tolerance for pain.

Whatever you do, I pray all the best for you and for your fildren.

[Joel]

Well said Joanie (& others) .....