Question for Joanie Doss about amazon aggression

[kp_in_scott]

A little history on this bird. Kiwi is a 22y/o DNA sexed male DYH. He lived from hatching until about 9 with one family and then began to attack the wife in this house hold. He lived with another family for the next 9 or so years. About 3 years ago he began to live at Casa Amazona with Joanie in FL. He has always had a preference for males and a dislike of most women and a hatred for others. While visiting my home just after Christmas of 05, my hubby and Kiwi fell in love. Within minutes of Hubby opening his travel cage, Kiwi was in his arms, being cuddled and scritched and turned upside down. I have never seen ANY bird react to a total stranger like that. It was decided that Kiwi wanted to live with us, so he did. Before this occurred, I made sure that Kiwi would step up to me and he showed no aggression whatsoever. Within 2 weeks, the honey moon was over and any time that I walked by the cage, he would flare, pin, and hiss. He would occassionally launch himself from the cage top at me. He would however accept treats from my hand, even though he would always fan flare his tail. I kept working with him as much as I could but I work everyday and am out of the house around 10 hours every day so with other parrots too, I wasn't able to form a good bond with Kiwi. Several weeks ago, I was working with Kiwi away from the cage and he latched on to my fore arm enough that I had to deposit him on the floor. I used a stick to retrieve him from the floor and put him back in his cage. He kept trying to run up the stick and bite me. This was a pretty quick transfer. Early this am, I offered him a treat. He lunged off the cage and I didn't duck quick enough. He latched on to my ear and pierced the cartilage through and through. Obviously, I screamed and carried on. I could not help it. My Hubby secured the bird in his cage and then helped me with first aid. He then came back to the cage and sternly spoke to the bird to convey his dissatisfaction. Kiwi's response. He tried to kiss Hubby and love on him. Hubby put him in time out. He is normally allowed out of the cage all day as he sits on his playtop and does not come down. Am I destined to always be hated by this bird? Is there something I can do to make peace with him? I would like to be able to safely handle him in the case that something happens to my husband and he is unable to care for the bird. I'm pretty scared of him now.

[Twink]

That looks painful Ouch!!

[Tiki]

Ouch is right! You poor thing! HUGS!!!

[The Outlaw]

I suggest that any one owning a Double Yellow, Nape or Blue Fronted male Amazon needs to have a very large cage. Not all, but many of these males need to be kept in a cage until they calm down. Right now, many males are acting up as it is that time of the year.

Although it is flattering when a bird makes a person their everything, it is not good for the bird or the rest of the family. Your bird has chosen your husband as his mate and friend and will chase anyone else away that he feels threatens this relationship.

He sees you as a rival and will attack you. You will not be able to trust him as he will always want you out of the picture. However, you can still work with him through the bars of his cage. Watch your fingers
as he will still try to sneak a bite if the opportunity arises.

You might try giving him longer periods of darkness.
This won't cure the problem, but it will bring him out of hormonal behavior and thereby reducing some of the aggression towards you.

I generally start with 12 hours of darkness. If after a week he still shows aggression, increase his darkness by another hour. If after a week he is still aggressive, increase by another hour. 14 hours of
darkness will bring most hormonal behavior under control. If after 14 hours there is still aggression, then you may need a behaviorist to help with the problem.

Speaking sternly to the bird after the incident will have little effect on the bird. There was too much time between the action and the speaking. He was only reacting because your husband was upset, not because he knew what he did was wrong.

I can understand your fear and I have been afraid of some of my birds after being attacked. Thankfully they improved and I learned their body language so I now know when I can and cannot mess with them.

You might want to cut a milk jug or bleach bottle in half so the spout and handle of the jug make a shield
for you hand. Attach this to a dowel or stick. This will help keep him from biting your hand if you have to take him from one place to another.

You can eventually win him over with food treats, but when he is as hormonal as he appears right now, it is best to wait until he calms down a little more.

The main thing to remember is that this bird can and will hurt you right now and do not put yourself in a position where you can get hurt.

Joanie Doss
The Amazing Amazons
http://www.parrothouse.com/bodylanguage.html

[Casa Amazona]

Joanie, thank you so much for your insight. You've given me answers to several questions that have been puzzling me about some of the 'zons in my world (all of them males).

Kiwi (the bird in this attack) lived with me for a couple years between the home he had for the first 18 years of his life and his present home. The aggressive behavior was year-round and fairly consistent, although he was worse when unclipped and/or hormonal, and was the reason they sold him to me. He was in a big cage (one side of a double Macaw cage) and would allow me to take care of his cage with him in it, but I always made it a point to keep my the back of my head toward him and stay extremely observant of his moods. Basically, I didn't try to handle him except on a wooden perch. There were times (when in an unfamiliar environment) when he would cuddle very sweetly with me, but that was rare. He would contact call to me when I was out of the room, but simply wouldn't allow me to touch him.

[kp_in_scott]

Thank you Joanie. I will definately try to increase the darkness factor. I'm gonna have to devise something for a cover. The problem is that hubby is up ALOT at night. Kiwi keeps him company, day and night. I have discussed moving his cage into the macaw room at night, but he is resisitant to this because he enjoys Kiwi's company. No one likes to be alone at night when it's dark and they are in pain. I'm really between a rock and a hard place with this situation. I've got some other options I'm thinking of and I think they may work. I am definately gonna get a perch with a hand guard. bleach bottle, coconut, or something. Again, thank you. All of ya'll, thank you for understanding.

[Dayna]

Originally Posted by kp_in_scott

The problem is that hubby is up ALOT at night. Kiwi keeps him company, day and night.

I am not expert, buy maybe this is part of the problem. When we got Hudson, we had the exact same problems you are describing.

Hudson fell in love with my husband and would try to attack me at every opportunity.

I made my husband spend much less time with him. I am on the only one allowed to feed, treat, or take Hudson out of his cage. I started with a stick and guard for my hands. Hudon has broken the skin and I think I have nerve damage on one of my hands where he bit me (I still have no feeling).

Hudson now goes to bed at 7pm and gets up at 8am. He gets no soft food or seeds.

I have not been bitten in a couple weeks now. He actually calls for me to come get him out of his cage. No more stick. For sure, I would use the stick if I saw him flaring his tail or his eyes, but so far that behaviour has stopped. I can pet him just like my husband does. The only difference is that my husband trusts him, and I don't. I never push my luch with this bird. I will never let him near my face like my husband does.

I think Hudson is doing really well for being in a flight for 2 and a half years with no human interaction. Hudson does have a huge cage though, it was Darwins macaw cage before we got Darwin the double macaw cage. Hudson also has lots of foraging toys. He does not seem to play with regular toys yet, but he likes to find food...

Anyway, some of what I tried might help you or someone else.

[kp_in_scott]

Hubby and I have come to an agreement. We have decided to move Kiwi's cage into the room with the macaws. We will be purchasing a stand with low perches for the living room. This will be his area during the day. After we get this set up, then I will start to work with Kiwi again. I need to let my ear heal up and get my courage up. Everyone has given extremely good advice and I want to thank everyone.