Amazon bites

[jousze]

Hello, as I said in one of my last posts I got a blue fronted amazon this week.
(It’s just 3 days that he’s with me).
I suppose it’s normal but I wanted to explain it anyway. He’s quite good, I can take him out of the cage he steps up, he can stay near me and be kind, etc.. but for example if he’s on my leg or on my arm he will start biting, it’s like if he doesn’t know what is it so he bites it.
Also sometimes he growls and then bites.

He’s 4 months old, he has been hand fed but never let out the cage.
I suppose it’s normal all of this, and I’m not scared of his bites (even if they hurt so much..) but I would like to have some advice about how to behave. Also what should I do if he bites me, how to make him stop? I’m going to add one or two pics of him in case you didn’t see him yet.

Thanks, Jose [emoji4]

By the way I’m gonna add a picture because his tail looks dirty or bitten, I don’t know, just not normal. He was with another bird in the shop so it could maybe be that? What should I do to fix it??

This is it:

And this is Mambo:

Ps: I know that his “park” is too little, but I was supposed to have a Senegal parrot and in the end I fell in love with the Amazons [emoji29][emoji23]

 

[ChristaNL]

I am going to say something that will sound very annoying - sorry about that-

Do not be afraid of the bites!
(easier said than done, I know you wrote you are not - that is great!-, but after one really painfull one it's hard to keep saying that)
It is not about IF you will be bitten, but WHEN en HOW.

there is a great help in the bitepressuretraining-sticky. http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html

Your parrot will comunicate a lot, (posturing, the way they look, how fast they breathe, etc.etc.) and biting is their final way of saying LISTEN TO ME!
So you wil a- need to learn your birds bodylanguage fast
(its not easy I am still working on my how-to-listen-to-your-macaw-101 )
and b- teach your bird to bite gently (low pressure) if he wants your attention.

Bird will fix his feathers, and babybirds are usually as quite hard on them (they get knocked around etc.) because they are still figuring out how to move, fly, land etc..

I wish you both lots and lots of fun and many hapy moments.

 

[jousze]

I am going to say something that will sound very annoying - sorry about that-

Do not be afraid of the bites!
(easier said than done, I know you wrote you are not - that is great!-, but after one really painfull one it's hard to keep saying that)
It is not about IF you will be bitten, but WHEN en HOW.

there is a great help in the bitepressuretraining-sticky. http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html

Your parrot will comunicate a lot, (posturing, the way they look, how fast they breathe, etc.etc.) and biting is their final way of saying LISTEN TO ME!
So you wil a- need to learn your birds bodylanguage fast
(its not easy I am still working on my how-to-listen-to-your-macaw-101 )
and b- teach your bird to bite gently (low pressure) if he wants your attention.

Bird will fix his feathers, and babybirds are usually as quite hard on them (they get knocked around etc.) because they are still figuring out how to move, fly, land etc..

I wish you both lots and lots of fun and many hapy moments.

Thanks very much for the link I’m gonna read it [emoji16]


Ps: I wanted to send you pics but I can’t send anything to you ..


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[Scott]

Ps: I wanted to send you pics but I can’t send anything to you ..

New members cannot use the PM (Private Message) system until 25 posts have been accomplished. If necessary to pass information to another member in the interim, you can send to any moderator for passage to a recipient.

 

[Scott]

Great advice from Christina!

Beaks have a multitude of uses besides biting! While a completely different species, this thread from the Macaw forum helps explain why parrots are so "beaky." http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

 

[Anita1250]

Try giving him a good bath. Usually, when my BFA's tail gets to look like that, it is from playing and getting dirty. A bath usually fixes it fast!

 

[Kiwibird]

He's a little toddler bird, just testing his limits and what is/is not acceptable in his new 'flock' (i.e. you and your family). It is unlikely he really grasps how much his beak hurts your soft fleshy fingers either.

The tail looks pretty normal for a bird his age. As someone mentioned already, young birds are clumsy and still learning thus often get ratty tails as a result. Those feathers will molt out and be replaced over the next year or 2. A good bath may help with appearances. Are you bathing him regularly? If not, once a week minimum he should be bathed, more if you'd like as most amazons LOVE water. My BFA just comes right in the shower with us (temp turned down to warm, NOT hot).

 

[jousze]

He's a little toddler bird, just testing his limits and what is/is not acceptable in his new 'flock' (i.e. you and your family). It is unlikely he really grasps how much his beak hurts your soft fleshy fingers either.

The tail looks pretty normal for a bird his age. As someone mentioned already, young birds are clumsy and still learning thus often get ratty tails as a result. Those feathers will molt out and be replaced over the next year or 2. A good bath may help with appearances. Are you bathing him regularly? If not, once a week minimum he should be bathed, more if you'd like as most amazons LOVE water. My BFA just comes right in the shower with us (temp turned down to warm, NOT hot).

I still didn’t shower him. It’s just 3 days I have him so I think he still doesn’t trust me enough to be showered. Do you think I should shower him anyways?


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[Kiwibird]

3 days is really new so I'd hold off on a bath in the big shower for now. That could be a bit overwhelming for the little guy. I'd see how he responds to a light misting with a spray bottle (brand new and never containing anything but water). Be sure to use the finest mist setting and see how he feels. If he's scared, stop and try again I maybe a week once he's more settled. I suspect though, being an amazon, he will get into having baths right away. Spray yourself a few times to 'demonstrate' that it is safe and fun, then spray him. Young parrots especially respond to learning behavioral cues from their 'flock' (i.e. you!). Be sure you spray up and let it gently fall down on him, don't spray him directly in the face or body or anything like that.

 

[jousze]

3 days is really new so I'd hold off on a bath in the big shower for now. That could be a bit overwhelming for the little guy. I'd see how he responds to a light misting with a spray bottle (brand new and never containing anything but water). Be sure to use the finest mist setting and see how he feels. If he's scared, stop and try again I maybe a week once he's more settled. I suspect though, being an amazon, he will get into having baths right away. Spray yourself a few times to 'demonstrate' that it is safe and fun, then spray him. Young parrots especially respond to learning behavioral cues from their 'flock' (i.e. you!). Be sure you spray up and let it gently fall down on him, don't spray him directly in the face or body or anything like that.

Perfect I’ll try that. It’s my first amazon so I have no idea of their behaviour. Looks like they have a strong character!!


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[Kiwibird]

"A strong character" is one way to put it

Now look at that face and accept this is your new avian overlord, sole ruler of your home