Aggression shown in my blue front

[JoeJoe]

I got my blue fronted amazon about 6-7 months ago. So I used to take my Amazon out when she was in my living room and she used to get on my shoulder, as well as sit on top of cage without bothering anyone. Just this past month, I moved to North Carolina from New York. She is now forced to be in my bedroom (with 5 other parrot cages).

When I had her out last time, she was on her cage and then I was standing about 3 feet from her and she flew over and (luckily) just nicked my cheek with her beak. I suddenly looked over thereafter, and she was on the ground and began laughing. Also after in an attempt to get her back into cage, it was almost like she was "playing dead" or "faking death". She was just laughing really mischievously.

Anyways, ever since this time, she has been coming toward me while in her cage and biting the bars like she wants to attack me. Especially when I have this hat on that I wore when she was last out. This kind of makes me feel bad (for myself). Another thing is, I know this amazon has a good heart and she is a really good girl (Kelly).

I just would like to ask, what causes biting in Amazons? She came from a good home from what I saw. Could it be she was just trying to show off or something to the other birds in my room? Like I said, she had never been around my other parrots before when I would let her out of cage to stand on top.

Please let me know after reading what you think about Kelly and her recent biting.

 

[Dopey]

I think hormones. Mine sometimes races across his cage and acts like he is going to attack me. Fortunately for me there are bars protecting me right now. I'm doing the minimum with mine right now - still interacting a little but not pushing anything.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

It could be jealousy of the other birds or hormones (it's that time of year depending on how old she is) or it could be a combination of both.

 

[JoeJoe]

This is Kelly

 

[Kiwibird]

How old is Kelly? If she's over 4 years old, you are probably experiencing the unfortunate early normal season the rest of us are suffering with this year.

She may also not be adjusting well to the move. Some birds handle change fine, others just don't. She was transported halfway across the country to an entirely new environment, house, scenery... It can be a traumatizing experience. Have you tried some target training to re-establish trust and communication?

 

[Dopey]

This is Kelly

Beautiful bird.

 

[JoeJoe]

Kiwibird - Kelly is supposed to be about 17-18 I will research the target training on the forum.

Dopey - Thank You!

 

[Kiwibird]

Kiwibird - Kelly is supposed to be about 17-18

Amazons become sexually mature at 4-6 years old, so Kelly is definitely old enough, and they will experience a period of time each year for the rest of their lives when they are affected by hormonal surges (they want to breed, kind of like dogs going into heat). In pet parrots, this leads to aggression, being extra destructive, screaming, nest building and sometimes overt sexual displays. You can't do much about it, but keeping a consistent wake/sleep schedule year round (changes in daylight are what triggers it), temporarily reducing sugary fruit intake and upping low sugar veggie intake, ignoring all sexual displays, providing extra chewing toys and having some patience all help reduce the effects. Stick training also helps for times the bird is unsafe to handle, as does recognizing the signs the bird is feeling aggressive and is ready to remove a big chunk of flesh. Amazons are not stealth biters, they'll give fair warning before they tear into you! Look for pinning eyes (the orange is rapidly changing), flashing feathers, hissing, lunging and pacing. And it's not just your bird or anything your doing wrong. We're ALL suffering together this time of year lol, it's a totally natural thing many people never see coming when they bring a parrot home. After a couple weeks, she should start gradually going back to her regular self

 

[Snabb133]

I'm thinking its hormones going on, or because the changed has made her stressed and she has'nt adapted yet and it might get her upset much faster than usual. Then again it might the time when her hormones change, Depending on how old she is.

 

[Birdman666]

It's a simple formula:

Hot 3 amazon + breeding season = territorial aggression.

It's that time of year.

Getting them out on a playstand away from their territory improves the behavior. It doesn't go away entirely until the end of breeding season.