Biting Amazon

[LucyAmazon]

My male yellow naped Amazon has started biting us since moving to Virginia in January.. He will bite us without notice while holding him and lately he has been biting me as I'm getting him out of his cage.. He is 9 years old... I would love to get some feed back on what could be going on with him... He has been to the Vet and is healthy...
Thanks!

 

[Mariar]

My YNA was 20 when I got him...he bit everyone he didn't like and became aggressive every time I changed things around,but my doolie was left in a cage outside and fed human food for 12 years before I got him..give yours time they don't like change...positive reinforcement will help or just extra spoiling ..don't give up ...there is hope. I loved my YNA with all my heart..whether he bit or not.

 

[LucyAmazon]

Mariar thank you!

 

[henpecked]

he's just the right age to become mature.Boys can be a bit hormonal and act like that.

 

[LucyAmazon]

So, is their anything that I can do to help with this??

 

[Birdman666]

Need more specific information on what kind of biting it is, and what triggers it.

Was he displaying for the other bird?

Conversely, is he jealous of the other bird?

Was he on amazon overload?

Is he just not interested in getting handled at the moment?

Is he going through a hard molt?

Is he just having a hard adjustment to a new place, and afraid of something in the room that he doesn't want you to take him near? (i.e. displacement biting...)

Is he just on hormonal overload due to breeding season issues, and super tempermental at the moment because he doesn't know how to deal with these issues? (Breeding season issues)

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF VARIABLES HERE, AND WHAT ACTION YOU TAKE TO CORRECT THE BEHAVIOR, DEPENDS ON WHAT IS TRIGGERING IT.

 

[henpecked]

I'll try and post later when i have as few.

 

[LucyAmazon]

Thank you Birdman666
We have lived in our new house since Jan. his biting started A few months ago and now it is making us not want to hold him.
We do have another female yna, but they are in different cages because he is very mean to her.
I hold him way more than I hold her. He is lunging at us when we walk up to his cage. I have tried giving him a dirty look when he does this and his additude does change into a nice one. I do know when he doesn't want to have me pet him or get him out of his cage. I do understand his body language.. I just don't understand why this last month when I go to get him out he puts his foot out and wants to step up.. So I put my arm out for him to step up and as I'm removing him he bit me so hard that I had a bruise for a month. He did the same thing a few days ago.
I'm wondering if he might be hormonal. But don't really know the signs for males.
If we don't let him go on our shoulder then he gets mad and nips at us if we block him.. I need some advice on how to correct this in a positive way so I can hold my bird again with out fear of us getting bit by Charlie.
Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Birdman666]

Is the biting centered mainly around the cage?

Because it sounds territorial to me.

How is he in another room away from the cage?

The nipping when you prevent him from going up on a shoulder stuff is just "opinionated amazon." I wanted to, you didn't let me, so I let you know I didn't appreciate being told I can't do something...

That is just a temporary battle of wills. I just went through that one with my CAG... Happens to all of us from time to time. Just be firm and consistent. Send the message. I used a towel to send that particular message. My bird was not particularly happy about it, but the bad behaviors ceased after about 2-3 weeks.

 

[henpecked]

Hey LucyAmazon, I think you're now dealing with a mature male nape instead of a immature/teenager. He wants to hang out around his cage because that's his "nest area". He is defending that area much as he would in the wild. 2 choices, either have him step up and quickly put him down on top of his cage. Or remove him to a stand away from his cage with a stick. Maybe once he's away from his cage he won't be so aggressive. There's several thing s you can do to help lessen the hormonal period. remove shredding materials,,, is he shredding the cage paper? if so use a grate or remove the cage bottom and put paper on the floor. remove wooden toys if he's chewing them alot. Reduce his fat intake to 5% or less. Stop feeding seed/nuts or hipro pellets, start with a lot more fresh veggies and greens, 10-20% fresh fruit. Put him on a diet, weigh him,get him to lose a few grams.
Increase the humidity , especially if you have the aircon on which reduces the humidity. Decrease the amount of daylight hours if possible. maybe let him sleep later and put him to bed earlier. Move his cage to a new area in the house, maybe closer to a more active area. Change out his toys, move the perches/dishes, etc. Put him in a different cage.
Avoid the bites if possible. Don't let him think he's controlling you with this action.Don't let his aggressive lunging drive you away. Stand by the cage until he calms down before walking away. keep him off your shoulder. If he dislikes towels, keep one on your shoulder. Interact with him/reward him while on your hand or arm. He wants on your shoulder because he has much more control over his situation while there. harder for you to remove him. Don't let him become com-placid in any situation, keep changing things up. Be the leader, call the shots, be incharge. IMO he's getting his way and it will be more trouble later. "Nip it in the bud". Win the small battles at first. Don't get into big battles where you give in. If you ask him to step up and he doesn't want to,,don't ask again for several minutes. Turn your back and act like he's missing out. Be animated about what a good time you're having , then ask again.
You need to make as little of an issue as possible with his hormonal issues. Don't do things to encourage him. You want it to pass as quickly as possible. The bigger deal it is now the more issues you'll have in the future.

 

[LucyAmazon]

Thanks Henpecked for all the information you gave me.
Charlie has not shown any signs of ripping up the paper at the bottom of his cage, so I'm not sure if he is mature or not. I have not seen any signs really of maturing.. He has just become really mean to me. He is only being nice to my husband now... So I have just left him alone and let my husband get him out of his cage... The funny thing is when my husband gets his out of his cage and I'm sitting on the couch or walk by them Charlie always wants me to hols him... I just don't understand the male Amazons at all... My female is as sweet as can be!!!
We have tried lots of the things you suggested and they all seem to be working ....

 

[henpecked]

Glad to hear things are better. I didn't realize your hubby was the favorite person. As far as figuring out Amazon's,,, they are like women, only want what they don't have. Lol