Aggression again owner

[Difi1000]

My mum has an Amazon orange wing. She has had him since he was 5-6 months old and he is now 10 years old. The parrot and my mother are inseparable. In the last few years, when I visit with my son, the parrot has completely changed his behaviour. He absolutely loves my son, follows him around, lets him cradle him like a baby and so on. He shouts to be out with him and has become protective - swooping my dad when they were play fighting. This time visiting he has started attacking my mum who is his main owner. He only does this when we are visiting. We visit around 2 - 3 times a year as we live overseas. My son is now 8, so much more interactive with the parrot. This time it’s been very bad, he started attacking her without warning. Always on her face - he flies up to perch on her shoulder and then takes out a lump. Any ideas? He seems to revert when we leave but this time he’s really hurt her and she’s now cautious around him.

 

[Thechoplady]

Please tell your mum to not allow him on her shoulder. He can do permanent damage to her. I would advise her to learn more about parrot hormones as he sounds very territorial over her and hes probably hormonal.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I've had big birds (a cockatoo) and small birds, and I would never let any parrot larger than a cockatiel sit on my shoulder. I don't care how sweet they (usually) are- parrots are like horses- they are amazing animals, but unpredictable and capable of really hurting you.

 

[texsize]

Some amazon parrots have a affinity/attraction to children.

I have seen YT videos of this behavior and there was an Amazon at a local pet shop like that.
It would get very excited and vocal when a child came into the store.

As far as the violence towards his OG caretaker…..
Amazons can be fiercely protective over those they bond with/care about.

Keeping the bird at arms length and always staying aware of where he is and his body language.

 

[wrench13]

Amazons can have complex relationships with people and even other birds. Camplex to the point of being almost undecipherable to humans. They often have ONE person they are attached to, with varying degrees of attachment to others, and these are not static but can change. I;ve read of one case where the primary person all of a sudden was like kryptonite to the parrot - totally afraid and scared of this once favorite. THese attitudes often are displayed twords children, as noted above, or to other birds. My buddy had a Blue Front 'zon who treated Salty like her long lost baby, totally protective of him, even to her long time person (my buddy). Even though the two parrots saw each other infrequently.

My own youngest son, who helped wean Salty by hand, experienced this sudden shift. He moved out and now he is personae non gratia to Salty, hated on sight. I would suggest in your moms situation that she keep clear of the bird while the kid is around, but in his absence, she will be just fine. Removing herself from interacting with the parrot will only serve to reinforce this new dynamic.

 

[PrimorandMoxi]

If my Primor ever did this I would be devastated.

Even though I would know that he could not help it.

 

[Difi1000]

If my Primor ever did this I would be devastated.

Even though I would know that he could not help it.

She is really devasted. It’s such odd behaviour, not just when he’s on her shoulder but he’s actually flown at her completely out of the blue as she was in another room.

 

[Difi1000]

Some amazon parrots have a affinity/attraction to children.

I have seen YT videos of this behavior and there was an Amazon at a local pet shop like that.
It would get very excited and vocal when a child came into the store.

As far as the violence towards his OG caretaker…..
Amazons can be fiercely protective over those they bond with/care about.

Keeping the bird at arms length and always staying aware of where he is and his body language.

Thanks she is trying this but he has actually swooped at her now when she was not even the same room.

 

[Difi1000]

Amazons can have complex relationships with people and even other birds. Camplex to the point of being almost undecipherable to humans. They often have ONE person they are attached to, with varying degrees of attachment to others, and these are not static but can change. I;ve read of one case where the primary person all of a sudden was like kryptonite to the parrot - totally afraid and scared of this once favorite. THese attitudes often are displayed twords children, as noted above, or to other birds. My buddy had a Blue Front 'zon who treated Salty like her long lost baby, totally protective of him, even to her long time person (my buddy). Even though the two parrots saw each other infrequently.

My own youngest son, who helped wean Salty by hand, experienced this sudden shift. He moved out and now he is personae non gratia to Salty, hated on sight. I would suggest in your moms situation that she keep clear of the bird while the kid is around, but in his absence, she will be just fine. Removing herself from interacting with the parrot will only serve to reinforce this new dynamic.

Thanks for this, looks to be the only solution, to stay away when we are here.

 

[Difi1000]

Please tell your mum to not allow him on her shoulder. He can do permanent damage to her. I would advise her to learn more about parrot hormones as he sounds very territorial over her and hes probably hormonal.

Thanks for this. We didn’t consider hormones after 10 years but see this can occur even at this age. He is showing some of this behaviour.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

When your own bird flies at you and attacks you, unless he's a small bird like a budgie or tiel. I think free flying privileges should be temporarily revoked because you could get really hurt. I would take him to an avian vet for a check up and a wing trim, just enough so he can't gain altitude, chase you, and land near your face. If the behavior subsides you can let the wings grow back. I don't think it would be mean. Worse would be to lock him up in his cage.