Charlie is crazy with jealousy

[msdeb]

When we got Paulie (formerly Polly) in November I hoped Charlie and Paulie could be friends eventually but that hasn't happened. Not only are they not friendly with each other but Charlie is furious with me now and has bitten me at least half a dozen times in the last month. Last Sunday he got mad because I took Paulie outside for a few minutes before coming back in and bringing Charlie out. I can't take both of them at the same time because that is just asking to get bitten by one or the other of them. After being outside for half an hour I picked Charlie up(he stepped up onto my wrist just like normal) then I turned toward the door and as soon as he saw that we were going inside he leaned forward and latched onto my cheek. Then the little stinker wouldn't let go except to get a deeper, bigger bite of my face! Ouch doesn't quite convey how badly it hurts! He did let go, eventually, and he DIDN'T remove the chunk of my face he had in his beak. He is so upset because I hold and interact with Paulie. I can't just ignore Paulie and I do try to play with both of them but Charlie is in the middle of breeding season and boy is he ticked off at my unfaithfulness! I generally separate them when I am playing with one so the other doesn't see it. Paulie is, for the most part, a happy birdie who enjoys just hanging out with me and riding my shoulder as I go about my business. I really don't know what to do with Charlie. He won;t even let me hold him now. Should I just let him be til breeding season is over or just keep trying to win him back (and how do I do THAT? stop handling Paulie? Special treats? self mutilation so Charlie doesn't have to strain his beak on my tough hide?) I am being more watchful and aware but I sure do miss my sweet Charlie bird love. Any advice from you multiple bird owners?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Have you tried to give Charlie anything first, treats, outside time, love and fuss? Sometime they will tolerate if there is a pecking order and the original bird is first?

 

[Flboy]

Yes, keep Charlie first! You are his love, he is really hurt and feels displaced!

 

[texsize]

I wish I could offer some advice but I have not had this problem very often.
two of my amazons are bonded to each other, my Yellow nape is only bonded to me.
If I pay too much attention to my red lored amazon before I spend time with my YNA the YLA will get upset. If I reverse the order, YNA first then RLA it's not a problem.
Paying attention (taking out of the cage) of the RLA only upsets the Orange wing amazon that is bonded to her. My OWA is a wild caught bird and so I don't handle him very often.
texsize

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I can relate..Smokey was the "first bird" in the household,and was wild caught..she was barely tolerated hands,and when she did,it was only for a few minutes,then off she'd go.
Amy on the other hand,was handlable from day one,and Smokes would get soooo ticked off to the point that if I tried to get her on my hand she'd chomp down,even when I told her she had no idea what she was missing!

Unfortunately,it stayed like that till the day she went to Rainbow Bridge..



Jim

 

[wrench13]

Jim, maybe you should heed the above story regarding having 2 birds, before you get Amy a 'friend'. One of the reasons that Salty will always be an only. Just sayin'.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Jim, maybe you should heed the above story regarding having 2 birds, before you get Amy a 'friend'. One of the reasons that Salty will always be an only. Just sayin'.

Yes agree here totally - and in the words of the Beatles "love the one you're with" haha. Seriously and v sorry for thread deviation Jim I would love another and get bouts of MBS BUT I know from having holiday fids that Plum gets a bit peaved off having to share and he changes as a consequence. I wont do it because I am not sure of the consequences it would have on him.

 

[wrench13]

Actually, that's Crosby, Stills and Nash, but whos'e counting.....

 

[plumsmum2005]

Actually, that's Crosby, Stills and Nash, but whos'e counting.....

Beg your pardon and stand corrected LOL

 

[wrench13]

Well you know The Beatles didn't write EVERYTHING. CLose to it but...

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I understand what you guys are saying..but Amy loves everyone and everything..she wanted to be friends with Smokes..and she WAS friends with Jonesy..I really think she'd benefit from a friend,. I sure wont give her any less time or loveys just because there is a new face in the 'hood..

Ok..I'm off for the 1.5 hr drive here..maybe my head will come to its senses by the time I get there. Its always been a 2 birdie family here for 30 yrs..and Amy being the 2nd bird, I can see how much she has matured in the years..I guess it won't hurt to look and ask bootles of questions about a 'zon and a teil being chums.


Jim

 

[Scott]

Wish I had good advice for your dilemma. Sometimes birds just hate each other for many reasons, though you are correct to wait until breeding season has passed. Hormonal activity brings the worst from a normally loving parrot.

I believe you "owe" Charlie the very best effort to avoid feeling displaced. Lots of attention and treats may help.

 

[Brittany741]

Definitely wait for breeding season to pass. I've had a house full of jerks for weeks now. Ruby is just now over her bad mood and the others have started in. It's so hard to not push it with them but it's not worth getting chunks of flesh removed. This too shall pass...

 

[SailBoat]

Lots of great advice!

Regarding Hormonal Aggression: It is important to remember that in most cases it's something else that is driving or adding to it. Especially, this late into the Spring. Hormonal Aggression can be driven by 'poor' Sleep Cycle, Diet, Contact / Interaction, etc... Including Jealousy from a change the home's order. There are numerous Threads on the subject here in the Amazon Forum.

When a new Amazon or other parrot is added to an Amazon household. It will be beneficial to go back to the basics regarding interactions and bond development. To that point, re-read the first Thread in the Amazon Forum Amazon Body Language! Also, back to reading it aloud to your Amazon(s). Whether an Amazon has been in our home for years or days, the interaction (language) remains the same. We suffer the painful results when we fail to read what our Amazon's are telling us. It is why keeping our Amazon's in our sight is so important and why multi-tasking with an Amazon can be so very dangerous.

Regardless of how you may feel, the First Amazon in the Home is number one on the household's order. The social rules of an Amazon's family remain the same. So, as stated by others, above. You must respect that order.

 

[LeaKP]

My green cheek was insanely jealous of the grey I fostered. I would always make my conure #1. He was out first, got time with me first, and I didn't have their cages too near to one another. He also stayed u p later than the Grey. He was still mad but it did help.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Jim, maybe you should heed the above story regarding having 2 birds, before you get Amy a 'friend'. One of the reasons that Salty will always be an only. Just sayin'.

That is the advise given to me with BB. He was a rescue . 20 years old. Took me a year to gain his trust. AND him mine. But I have a huge fear of taking on another bird and loosing him So like yours he will remain a only child.

 

[LeaKP]

Jim, maybe you should heed the above story regarding having 2 birds, before you get Amy a 'friend'. One of the reasons that Salty will always be an only. Just sayin'.

That is the advise given to me with BB. He was a rescue . 20 years old. Took me a year to gain his trust. AND him mine. But I have a huge fear of taking on another bird and loosing him So like yours he will remain a only child.

Nigel will be our only bird as well. It's truly a minefield to navigate when adding birds, as experience taught me. But I will definitely live vicariously through everyone else's experiences with their other species!

 

[msdeb]

Well I am forgiven! Thank you all for the great advice! I keep forgetting that Charlie is not a lower order species like a human! I was making the mistake that taking turns is fair (the way I would with my human children) when I should have been reassuring Charlie that he's always going to be mom's sweetest birdie boy. I got some yummies that he can't resist (sugar snap peas) and sat on the end of the couch. I didn't push! I just minded my own business eating my yummies and waited for him to come to me. He displayed all the way over to me and I just knew he was going to bite me again! But at the last minute he decided that the snack was better than revenge and ate it instead of me. After a full tummy he let me touch his toes and then his sweet little cheeks. He was still very excitable and I had to be careful not to let him hit overload but I did get to hold and love him for about an hour. Today we had a shower view while mom got a shower ( he likes to watch, I know he's a pervert ) then he got his own shower with the mist bottle. He let me take Paulie into the other room for about half an hour while he did flock calls and he still welcomed me back by climbing up and eating the chopsticks that I had in my hair (works like a hairpin, for long hair) he is still hormonal (he is a yellow nape, so his season is a little more extended) but he forgives me and I still get to love his little birdie self. I got a picture of him perched on my knee, will post it on here in a minute (gotta figure out how to get it from my phone to the forum) thanks to you all for all the great advice and reminders! Y'all are wonderful!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

'Zons are magnificent creatures! They love with their whole heart,or dislike with their whole BEAK!

Amy does have her moments,I won't lie,and its usually in the spring. Ya she has drawn blood quite a few times in 27 yrs,but I am learning her lingo very well!

As I have stated many times, I am blessed with an amazing Amazon! She loves everyone and everything. She only needs to see someone a few times to be handled,but she DOES have her "I don't like you,stay away" with a very few humans..i.e. my ex wife lol..on more than one occasion she has chased Debbie down the hall,tail spread wide,arms out,and that beaky just waiting to take a chunk out of her lol <good Amy! ...j/k>

But with other birds,she wants to be friends,and so she does not object if I handle another one,as long as she can be a part of the scene. And I do give her extra attention/loveys. She is the only one who goes for rides in the car and the only one who goes outside,which is one thing that she looks forward to.

Jim

 

[JoeJoe]

My amazon is very jealous and controlling of me. I just put my parakeet back in his cage, and she let me know she was the one that should have been out. It's tough sometimes with Amazon parrots... I am still working on getting myne to trust me and be able to bring her out more often.