Benjamin's Day...

[Carabella]

I'm thrilled with this forum and the responses to my first ever post yesterday.

Last night I opened Benjamin's door and he had zero interest in coming out, which made sense. So, this afternoon I opened his door and he came right out. He got a little treat. I let him sit on the top of his cage for 10 minutes or so then presented his stick and he willingly went back in.

I took Amanda's advice... "get him on the stick and into another room away from his cage. Maybe put a play stand or something (even the back of a chair will do) in another room where he can't even see his cage and work with him... Make sure the room is safe, drapes closed, mirrors covered, but well lit so he can see. Get him used to being out of his comfort zone where he has to depend on you. Play hard to get, sit and read a book a few feet away from him and if he nicely shows an interest in you give him his favorite treat, if he isn't nice he doesn't get a treat."

I set up his playstand between the family room and living room. He came right out of his cage and stepped up on his stick, I carried him over to his stand and he stepped up immediately. He had a bowl of blocks to nuzzle through and seemed pretty happy for 15 minutes or so, talking to himself, purring and trying to get my attention. Then he started to mutter to himself and climbed down onto the tray. He went right back to his cage, no problem.

In the meantime, I'm gradually rethinking the U2 idea.

 

[thekarens]

Gorgeous nape! Sounds like you're headed in the right direction.

 

[Birdman666]

Yeah.

Hot 3 territorial behaviors are related to "defending the territory." Removed from their territory, they calm down considerably.

This may help:

http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/50889-aggression-protecting-scared.html

 

[ImmunoGoblin]

Carabella, I can tell your Zon has lived mostly in his cage, because your house in the background of the photo is so clean! I feel like we are constantly sweeping the floor around the birds' area *waves to fellow Kentucky dweller*

 

[Carabella]

Yeah.
Hot 3 territorial behaviors are related to "defending the territory." Removed from their territory, they calm down considerably.
This may help:
http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/50889-aggression-protecting-scared.html

I'd never heard of the term 'Hot 3' before yesterday, but he's a classic. He'll never be cuddly, he'll never comfortable with handling or touching outside his zone, I'll never be able to trust him on my hand, despite our best hopes, but thd little perch potato deserves our utmost efforts. This is why we've decided not to add a Cockatoo to the mix. It wouldn't be fair to him. Budgies yes, a cockatiel maybe, but no 'Too, no big birds.

I spent a lot of time on the aggression thread - this entire site is incredible.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Yeah.
Hot 3 territorial behaviors are related to "defending the territory." Removed from their territory, they calm down considerably.
This may help:
http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/50889-aggression-protecting-scared.html

I'd never heard of the term 'Hot 3' before yesterday, but he's a classic. He'll never be cuddly, he'll never comfortable with handling or touching outside his zone, I'll never be able to trust him on my hand, despite our best hopes, but thd little perch potato deserves our utmost efforts. This is why we've decided not to add a Cockatoo to the mix. It wouldn't be fair to him. Budgies yes, a cockatiel maybe, but no 'Too, no big birds.

I spent a lot of time on the aggression thread - this entire site is incredible.

I wouldn't rule out him becoming comfortable with touching and petting outside his cage. Please remember it's the hormonal season for most zons and he is one of the "hot 3" so definitely not during this time of year. He may never be a "cuddler" but he could become a well mannered companion parrot with time, patience and training. I wouldn't say you will never be able to trust him on your hand, lots of people on this forum who have male "hot 3" zons who trust them even on their shoulders (though that is not recommended unless he proves himself 110% trustworthy) But they CAN be nice loving parrots with the right training.

 

[Carabella]

Carabella, I can tell your Zon has lived mostly in his cage, because your house in the background of the photo is so clean! I feel like we are constantly sweeping the floor around the birds' area *waves to fellow Kentucky dweller*

lol... His home is actually in our four season room. We have a Rabbitair cleaner in there for his dander. That's the room we have to clean the most. I carried him from there to a neutral zone.

Like a lot of birds I've read about about here, he loves his cage too much and we've pretty much gone along with it. He's sweet and cute and affectionate in there, but I have a serious fear of him outside it. My hands are covered with scars, and like I said in my first post yesterday, he nearly removed my husband's lip when he became hormonal. I feel like he's hormonal 365 days a year. :/

BTW, we moved to the Ville 3/2013 from Maryland and love it!

 

[Carabella]

Yeah.
Hot 3 territorial behaviors are related to "defending the territory." Removed from their territory, they calm down considerably.
This may help:
http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/50889-aggression-protecting-scared.html

I wouldn't rule out him becoming comfortable with touching and petting outside his cage. Please remember it's the hormonal season for most zons and he is one of the "hot 3" so definitely not during this time of year. He may never be a "cuddler" but he could become a well mannered companion parrot with time, patience and training. I wouldn't say you will never be able to trust him on your hand, lots of people on this forum who have male "hot 3" zons who trust them even on their shoulders (though that is not recommended unless he proves himself 110% trustworthy) But they CAN be nice loving parrots with the right training.

The only time I was ever able to handle him was when we bought a huge new cage for him two years ago. He was so discombobulated. I thought, 'why not, let's try'. I opened the door, sat down and laid my hand on the bottom. I figured, if he bit me, okay. He nuzzle my fingers and stepped up. For an hour(!) We sat in a chair and cuddled, I could scratch his stomach, ruffle his head and had him on my shoulder. My husband was in a panic! For that one hour he was the perfect bird I knew he could be. But when he was done, he bit my finger, flew to the floor and that was it. Every time I've tried to handle him since has ended with him biting.

He hated that cage. It was much too big and he couldn't be near us. He's back in his old cage now (we sold the big one last week and waiting delivery on a new similar size cage).

 

[Dinosrawr]

I hope that April (Kiwibird) will comment soon - she rescued an amazon as well, and has a lot of experience that is similar to your situation. I'm glad you're willing to give all that you can to him and meeting him where you can, I really commend and respect you for that.

 

[Carabella]

My husband's had him for 38 years. He may be an ornery old bird, but he's our ornery old bird.

 

[Dinosrawr]

Oh my! That's wonderful! I apologize, I didn't know of your background with him. But I'm certainly enlightened now that I do. You two are wonderful

 

[Carabella]

No problem at all! Here he is on 11/1 with his new toy. He's very engaging! My chair is within just a couple feet of him, so we talk back and forth all day.

[ame="Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGRenBKDMPU"]YouTube[/ame]

 

[Terry57]

I must have missed your thread yesterday, I am so glad i didn't miss this one!
Benjamin is gorgeous, and I so commend you for not giving up on getting him out of his cage That is amazing that your hubby has had him 38 years!
I have an older zon myself, she is between 50 and 60, who we have had a year.
I'd love to watch your video but it is coming up private
I am so glad you joined us and I look forward to hearing more about Benjamin and seeing more pictures!

 

[Carabella]

Oh, no! Any ideas?

 

[Terry57]

I think you will need to check your YouTube settings and make the video public

 

[Carabella]

I think you will need to check your YouTube settings and make the video public

I think it's working now. The thumbnail is showing up.

 

[Terry57]

It is showing up now, and he is so beautiful! His colouring is awesome
He is sure engaged with you as soon as you talk to him, that's great.
And that toy is fantastic! Where did you get it?

My sister is almost neighbours with you, she is in Elizabethtown

 

[Carabella]

Thanks! He's such an awesome little guy.

We picked the toy up at Feeders Supply.

I've only been to E'town once. We drove through during a vacation to KY 5 years ago after a trip to the Maker's Mark Distillery. Very cute town!

 

[Terry57]

Feeder's Supply..is that an online store or local?

 

[Carabella]

Feeder's Supply..is that an online store or local?

Sadly, they're mostly in Louisville and across the river in Indiana, but they do have a store in E'town.

Feeders Supply