Amazon parrot - only likes males.

[Calaabs]

Hello - I need some advice.
I recently adopted a amazon. People said he is about 19. He only likes males. He wants nothing to do with me. He will even roll over for my husband and let him pet his belly. When I even get close to him he tries to bit or will bit. He has ran full force across the floor to attack me. He is so super sweet to my husband. Wants to cuddle and wants tickles. Steps up. Does it all for him. This was supposed to be my parrot. I am loosing my patience though. I don't know if he is that fearful of women or just has a horrible Attidude. I even had other males and females come to my house to see what would happen. Samething. Loves the males but wants to eat us females. I need some advice !!!! Thanks!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

My advice would be to train him and not Allow your husband to train him. Start with touch training and use a small bowel to give him a reward if you are afraid of being bitten. Also be the only care taker. And show no fear! If he's charging and trying to bite you protect your feet, don't give him a reaction.

My galah Rosie also prefers males, at one point she no longer wanted me to touch her and would also bite me. I changed this by greatly limiting the contact she had with my brother. We bonded through training, interacting, being together, and the fact that I provide everything for her. I am now Rosie's favourite person, and she barely tolerates other women. She still loves men, but will always step back up onto my hand because I'm her flock, someone she is bonded to.

Something I found that is benifical of a parrot preffering the opposite gender is they don't want to be your mate. Rosie loves me so much and is strongly bonded to me but we can still have a healthy relationship.

 

[Calaabs]

Thanks so much!!! Any and all advice I greatly appreciate. If you can think of anything else please let me know!

 

[Kiwibird]

We had the same thing happen when we adopted our BFA Kiwi. He was suppose to be "my" bird, but he has always preferred males and just adores my husband. Unfortunately, we can't force them into liking us "best", and there isn't a magic fix to get them to take an instant shine to us. You also have to remember with an older, adopted bird, you don't know their entire history, and if in the past someone of a certain gender abused them in some way, which they now assume all people of that gender will. However, with hard work and persistence, you can still form a trusting bond with them and teach them to not be aggressive towards you.

When we got Kiwi, he was so excessively aggressive towards me (compared to my husband), we decided to train him separately rather than as a mutual thing. During his "training" period, we would individually take him into a room out of view of the other to work with him. My husband had him out of his cage and stepping up MUCH faster than I did, but he did eventually calm down with me and start being a nicer boy to me. During that period I also took over all his favorite activities (feeding him, giving him new toys, giving him baths ect...) so he would make positive associations with me, and my hubby did his less liked activities (covering his cage at night, clipping his wings/talons, putting him up after playtime ect...) since Kiwi would be more "forgiving" of him. I also made a point to talk to him a lot, or simply pull my chair up next to his cage while I read so he would get used to me and realize I didn't want to hurt him. Another big thing I think helped him start trusting me more is that I shared my food with him. Before he ate at the table with us, I would bring my plate/bowl over, eat a bit off it so he would get really intrigued, and then offer him a few bites through the bars. Once he was tame enough to come to the table, I always shared off my plate (and still do, my husband never has to sacrifice his meal to the winged beast lol). Him liking me didn't take overnight either, it took him a good year to start calming down, and training him to step up to me every time took at least another year after that. I actually had to use a heavy leather work glove while training him to step up. We've had him 5 years, and he's finally coming out on the other side behaviorally. He still likes my husband most, but he's learned to like (or at least tolerate) me too. Just last night he was preening my head, which has been a very recent positive new behavior. Just remember, it takes time and effort to correct an animals behavior, but if you are WILLING to put in the effort, it can be done. Best of luck!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Great advice kiwi bird! interestingly Rosie was a used by " a man and used to be terrified of them, but now prefers me .

@calaabs
Just remember it takes time and paitence. Teach your bird to be the bird you want, every parrot is a good bird, there are only stupid humans

 

[Calaabs]

Thank you guys so very very much. I really appreciate it. I work at a veterinary hospital and have for the past 10 years. But never really ran into a behavior issue with parrots. This is my first parrot. Have had cocktiels off and and on. I have had to use the leather gloves. Sometimes he's good with me and other times not. Unfortunately, he has to go under sedation this week to get his beak fixed. That's how outgrown it is. Hopefully trimming that will allow his jaw to straighten out!! Of course since him and my husband are so close, he will be brining him here!!!
It's so hard to watch him be so close toy husband and want to be with him. And yet tries to eat me. I know I have my work cut out for me and it will be a very very long process. If only they could understand !!

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Kiwibird ,you said it perfectly. I wish more new bird owners would see this post [its seems to be brought up alot] your giving a more realistic time period of what to expect.

 

[henpecked]

Don't mess with him when your husband is around. Don't mess with your husband when he has the bird. You can win him over but it will take awhile. Find a treat that he loves, you be the only one to ever give him that treat, never free feed that treat, he only gets it from your hand. It's best to do this when hubby is gone. Don't be intimidated by him, but be smart and don't put yourself in a position where he feels the need to drive you away. Talk/sing and be cheerful around him when you and him are alone. If he shows interest in interacting with you ,only let him have small doses, leave him wanting more from you instead of him biting to say "that's enough". Play hard to get, don't be too available.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Don't mess with him when your husband is around. Don't mess with your husband when he has the bird. You can win him over but it will take awhile. Find a treat that he loves, you be the only one to ever give him that treat, never free feed that treat, he only gets it from your hand. It's best to do this when hubby is gone. Don't be intimidated by him, but be smart and don't put yourself in a position where he feels the need to drive you away. Talk/sing and be cheerful around him when you and him are alone. If he shows interest in interacting with you ,only let him have small doses, leave him wanting more from you instead of him biting to say "that's enough". Play hard to get, don't be too available.

Henpecked you are right on the play hard to get thing [Im noticing that with my bird] Makes sense