Hello! New to Parrot Forums

[Carabella]

Im so happy to have found this site!

Our 38 yo YNA, Benjamin, is really a very sweet boy, but with the typical Hot 3 issues.

My husband's had him since he was 6 months old. Benjamin became aggressive at age 6-7, nearly taking my husband's lip off one day during a kiss. Since then he hasn't stopped the aggressive biting.

I've tried over the last 6-1/2 years since he's been in my life to engage him and have had great success - as long as he's in his cage. He and I have bonded very well, to the point where he only grudgingly lets my husband pet him. We joke that he's become my mate.

He's in our sunroom where we spend most of our time. I have a silly song I made up which I sing to him every morning. He'll play coy and climb to the bottom of his cage where he'll forage for a bit before coming back up for a pet (playing hard to get). I work from home right now, so I spend a lot of time at his cage throughout the day for little talks and "scratchies".

I recognize his body language so I can stick my fingers in the bars for a good neck and face scratch (rarely his side and never, ever his feet). He allows me to reach in to refill his veggie bowls and give him treats, but he continues to bite (and draw blood) whenever I make any attempt to handle him except when it's shower time (he's stick trained), which is mostly during warmer weather. The attempts to bite when I try to take him out is continuous, so I'm not sure how much of a role hormones play or if our fear of being bitten has contributed more significantly.

He's always been healthy, except for what appears to be a calcium-like buildup on the surface of both eyes. He can see, but not perfectly. We've found an avian vet in our area but want to wait until the weather is warmer to get him there for a full physical. I'm wondering if this is a contributing factor as well.

We recognize he's cage-bound and he's perfectly content to be so despite my best efforts.

Here's the thing... we have an opportunity to acquire a female Umbrella Cockatoo. She's sweet, doesn't bite and loves to cuddle. How best to introduce them? Can she possibly be a mentor? Could our beloved little guy learn by example? Or might this complicate his life if she were in the same room with him?

I want to make the best decision for him and his life with us. He's not ever going anywhere, but we have the option to bring a new bird into our lives.

 

[henpecked]

Welcome to the forum. Wow, that's what lot of info. I have a pretty good picture in my head now. I'd leave his cage open. Imo he'd be a different bird away from his cage. Part of the problem is he's trained you with the biting. You're going to work that out. Get him out of his comfort zone , make him more dependent on you. You should check out the latest thread on aggression in this zons section. PS i love Napes. I live with a house full of older hens. Hence my name.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

I agree with "henpecked" he has trained you to do what he wants in fear of being bitten. Stick trained is good, 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. From what I have read on this sight about the male hot 3 zons that will usually do the trick. 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.

Zons are very food motivated, so I would keep his favorite treat for "training" only. If he's nice he gets the treat, if he's not nice he gets nothing.

 

[Carabella]

Thank you for your input! I understand this is a lot of info. You're absolutely right - I know this. It doesn't make it easier knowing he could (and has tried) to saw my fingers off.

Tonight I left his door open for almost an hour. He immediately went to the bottom of his cage, very agitated, and pretended to forage. I tried to coax him with a cracker, a chip and a piece of chicken, trying to get him to come out. No luck. I'll try again tomorrow. Baby steps.

When I closed the door he climbed up to his favorite perch and offered his head for scratchies. smh When I leave the sunroom he cries for me. This is his MO. He's an amazing little guy.

So, given all this info, is it farfetched to want to bring another bird into our home?

 

[Carabella]

I agree with "henpecked" he has trained you to do what he wants in fear of being bitten. Stick trained is good, 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. From what I have read on this sight about the male hot 3 zons that will usually do the trick. 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.
Zons are very food motivated, so I would keep his favorite treat for "training" only. If he's nice he gets the treat, if he's not nice he gets nothing.

Thanks, Amanda - we are definitely well trained! I have his door open right now, but it's close to bedtime when he's more inclined to be very calm and uninterested. I'll bring his floor perch up and we'll have a few 15 minute sessions. I've read that's a good time frame. Should I attach some of his toys to the perch? Or just let him sit?

He's used to getting a treat when he asks. This will be interesting!

 

[Allee]

Hello and welcome! I'm glad you joined us!

I don't have a Zon, I'm just an admirer.

At the risk of being the bad guy here, it's impossible to predict how two birds will feel about each other. Both Zons and Toos are pretty challenging to care for. It's nice to think that the U2 could be a good influence on Benjamin but I really don't think that would happen.

I'm not sure what you know about Umbrellas. I'll put it this way, I've had a lot of people meet my U2 and tell me they want one. I tell them it's like adopting a three year old that will never grow up. Even if your Too isn't a notorious screamer, believe me, she can crank up the volume when she wants to. In the right circumstances, even a bird that 'doesn't bite', will bite. Toos can cause nerve damage and leave a wound that requires stitches. They need a cage big enough for a monkey to live in, they need a lot of time out of their cages every day, but never unsupervised. Toos are very emotional and prone to plucking. Toos need toys to keep their beaks busy, they go through wooden blocks like a woodchipper. Their diets are expensive because they play with their food and throw at least half of what you give them on the floor. Those are just a few of the highlights. I'm not trying to dissuade you, really. Toos are also one of the most delightful creatures I've ever loved and I can't imagine life without at least one. Please do a lot of research and know what you're getting into. Best of luck to you.

 

[Carabella]

At the risk of being the bad guy here, it's impossible to predict how two birds will feel about each other. Both Zons and Toos are pretty challenging to care for. It's nice to think that the U2 could be a good influence on Benjamin but I really don't think that would happen.

I'm not sure what you know about Umbrellas. I'll put it this way, I've had a lot of people meet my U2 and tell me they want one. I tell them it's like adopting a three year old that will never grow up. Even if your Too isn't a notorious screamer, believe me, she can crank up the volume when she wants to. In the right circumstances, even a bird that 'doesn't bite', will bite. Toos can cause nerve damage and leave a wound that requires stitches. They need a cage big enough for a monkey to live in, they need a lot of time out of their cages every day, but never unsupervised. Toos are very emotional and prone to plucking. Toos need toys to keep their beaks busy, they go through wooden blocks like a woodchipper. Their diets are expensive because they play with their food and throw at least half of what you give them on the floor. Those are just a few of the highlights. I'm not trying to dissuade you, really. Toos are also one of the most delightful creatures I've ever loved and I can't imagine life without at least one. Please do a lot of research and know what you're getting into. Best of luck to you.

Thanks, Allee, I greatly appreciate the input. I'm not going to make any decision about the Too until I've spent time with her over at least a month of visits, and even then I'll weigh that decision very carefully. There are other options as well. She has a Mollucan, a sulphur crested, a few macaws and two eclectus. I'm thinking the latter might be more manageable. The macaws... not at all.

 

[Birdman666]

I
Here's the thing... we have an opportunity to acquire a female Umbrella Cockatoo. She's sweet, doesn't bite and loves to cuddle. How best to introduce them? Can she possibly be a mentor? Could our beloved little guy learn by example? Or might this complicate his life if she were in the same room with him?

That very much depends on the bird, and whether or not the new bird triggers territorial intrusion issues with the zon...

Toos are dander birds, so you would need adequate ventilation.

In terms of the temperment stuff? I doubt that a cuddle bird in the room would influence any hormonally driven hot 3 behaviors. But I've been wrong in the past. Sometimes they do begin to crave attention when they see another bird getting it. But, it is more unlikely, than likely.

Cage bound protocols apply to this bird. Birds that do not get handled do not stay tame. Until this bird is re-trained starting from scratch, and breeding season is not the time to start that stuff, your zon will tend to bite when handled.

Start over with him in the "off season." Start with basic step up/no biting practice, and progress from there.

 

[Carabella]

Thanks, Birdman! I think you're right. I'm working on a new post entitled 'Benjamin's Day'. Amanda's suggestion was great!