Aggresive Zon - Suggestions?

[parrotsatplay]

I haven't had my guy but about a month (Blue Front Amazon) but after the initial "honeymoon period" he is just plain nasty toward me, trying to bit me thru the bars when I come near his cage, racing across the top of his cage to try to bite me when he is out. I tried to put him on a different stand today and he was scared of it, ended up on the floor and when asked to step up, he did but bit me hard on my arm, he drew blood (He did chuckle afterward the little stinker) SO I had to take care of that and when I came back out to get him I asked him to step up again, which he did this time but came at my face trying to attack me. I was able to get him off of me and in his cage safely but to be frank, I am afraid to even open his cage now. I am also afraid he will do this to one of my kids. I am starting to see why he was re-homed and I would like to try suggestions before subjecting him to the same passed from home to home thing.
Now I did have the band taken off of him and his leg because his leg was sore from it and I really honestly think he hates me for it now :-(.
Should I put him in a different room away from the other birds?
He seems very hormoanl and I think the initial bite came because I got between him and another bird that was out on her stand.
Any suggestions would be great.

**I did take a dremmel to that beak, just to take the point off a bit, he has been sulking in his cage ever since.

[Bellco]

There seems to be many reasons he could be upset with you. I know the sight of the dremmel will make my birds run off in fear or bite whatever stops them. When did you use the dremmel before this sudden change?

[Tom Lawless]

It is Spring. I don't know a lot about Amazons but I think I've heard their hormones go a little crazy and a sweet bird can turn into a demon for a little while during the season. Maybe it's as simple as that.

[chapala]

You have one of the "hot three" Amazons. The males are known to be quite aggressive once they reach maturity especially during breeding season. I would train him to step up to a stick if he isn't already so that you can move him around without getting bitten. It could be that he isn't matched well to your home especially since you have kids.

You mentioned beak dremeling - I'm assuming that meant you had to towel the bird and then dremel the beak. He might not think you're his friend after that procedure. Is he clipped? If he's coming at your face and biting hard on your arm and hand, you definitely need to avoid those bites. Stick training would be #1, with positive reinforcement feeding little bits of treats for tiny steps in the right direction.

He hasn't been there long, and may settle down, but I do know people with one of the hot three males and they are unable to handle their mature birds for months every year except on a stick, despite having gotten them as tame babies.

[expressmailtome]

Blue fronts are one of the "hot three" amazons. They are known to become very hormonal this time of year.

Matt

[Abby]

I have to back up the stick training. When you have a guy that gets this nasty thanks to hormones plus he's general peeved with you right now you really need to train him to step onto a stick. Make sure it's long enough that you can swap hands as he goes from end to another.

The problem is that if he gets the upper hand now you go from hormonal behaviour to normal behaviour out of season.

Your kids are going to have to learn to stay away at this point.

[parrotsatplay]

Thanks for the replys. I will go get a long dowel type stick and try to train him. I think it is mainly the hormone thing. I must remind him of somebody in his past that treated him badly or something.

[chapala]

Originally Posted by parrotsatplay

Thanks for the replys. I will go get a long dowel type stick and try to train him....I must remind him of somebody in his past that treated him badly or something.

No, I don't think that's the reason. It's being a BF Amazon male that's the problem. They can be very difficult especially in the early years of their maturity. Some say they mellow out somewhere in their middle teens.

[DeguMom]

Along with the long stick to stick train, I will make another suggestion, if I can explain it well. Wash out an empty 2 liter bottle (the kind soda comes in.) Cut the top off. Unscrew the cap, and slide your dowel through it. Now you will have a hand guard, the same kind they put on swords to protect the handle. Even if he comes at you, your hand will be protected.

It may be his hormones, or it may just be him. BFA's are bullies with an attitude. I currently have the privilege of living with one. They want to control everyone with their beak and bully you into submission.

It's going to be hard, but you'll have to try not to show fear. Do whatever you need to in order to help yourself feel more confident. Wrap towels around your arms, then wrap an ace bandage, then put on a thick sweatshirt. That should do the trick with a BF's beak.

Is he aggressive if he's away from his cage? I'm wondering if he is just cage aggressive, or territorial. What would happen if you took him into another room, or removed his cage so he couldn't see it? If he's less aggressive away from his cage, or out of sight of his cage, you could try working with him that way.

Just a few ideas! It is possible that he's just trying to find his place in your family. (I have a soft spot for BFAs, if you can't tell.) =)

[parrotsatplay]

well, he is being mean when he is on his cage too, I can't stand to make him sit in his cage, all my birds are out when I am home but like today when I go to change the water, he ran at me and climbed down the side trying to get me. I told him a stern "No!" and he went back up. When he bit me the other day, he was away from his cage. So I don't think it really matters where he is. I don't know his exact age. He is a "re-homed" bird but the story I got is that he is about 7 years old.
That is an ingenious idea about the soda bottle I would never have thought about it! lol
He seems to like me at some point because he will call for me when I am out of the room so I think there may be hope!