Help with a cage bound amazon

[mrchrisbrown]

I recently was given a Blue fronted amazon because he scared the previous owner. my understanding of his history is this. He escaped from his home and was flying around wild. he ended up trapped in someones home and was captured. From there he changed hands again to the person i got him from. she kept him in a cage for over a year because she was afraid of him. I have no idea of the time frame all of this happened except for I have had him for about 6 months. in the beginning he was terrified of us. he is getting better.my question is, how can i earn his trust so he can eventually be handled? we leave his cage open when we are home. he rarely leaves the cage. when he does fly somewhere he walks back to the cage immediately.what can i do?

 

[Birdman666]

1. He's cage bound at this point. The cage = the nest and safety. Leaving the cage = bad things have happened to me out there. Including, apparently, getting lost and losing my home, and ending up being passed around to people who don't understand me... so I am scared, and in another new place... with people who are apprehensive of me, and therefore I am apprehensive of them as well...

2. He's not going to leave safety willingly (1) until he's ready, or (2) possibly ever. Until he does, and gets returned to his cage, and nothing bad happens, he won't have confidence. Which means this may be a struggle at first... BUT;

3. Cage bound protocols, get the bird out away from the cage, preferably in another room. Even if he doesn't like it at first. Let him understand that he isn't going to die. A boing on a hanger that you can move from place to place works great for this...

4. Once he is comfortable being out away from the cage. Treats, attention, praise, and basic step up/no bite training.

That's how it's done. 2-8 weeks tops - different bird.

 

[SailBoat]

I recently was given a Blue fronted amazon because he scared the previous owner. my understanding of his history is this. He escaped from his home and was flying around wild. he ended up trapped in someones home and was captured. From there he changed hands again to the person i got him from. she kept him in a cage for over a year because she was afraid of him. I have no idea of the time frame all of this happened except for I have had him for about 6 months. in the beginning he was terrified of us. he is getting better.my question is, how can i earn his trust so he can eventually be handled? we leave his cage open when we are home. he rarely leaves the cage. when he does fly somewhere he walks back to the cage immediately.what can i do?

Lets get you a little background to begin working from! See the Threads at the top of the Amazon Forum. Target Reading: Understanding Body Language. Place a chair along side his cage and read that Thread to his out loud. Amazons Love to be read too and you get to understand the basics regarding what he is trying to communicate to you!

From an interaction vantage point, ways start from: It Is NEVER the Fault of the Amazon! Its is ALWAYS the fault of the Human. If you take this view point, you will more quickly understand what you are doing wrong and can make changes.

Your Amazon has tons of reason to not trust Humans and you need to correct that by providing reason for him to trust you. Only good things happen with you are with or around you.

This will get you a starting point for understanding and working with your Amazon.

Thank-you, for taking in this Amazon! If you are willing to put in the time, there is an Amazon in there that will reward that effort. It will take time, but I assure you that it will be worth it!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Chris, you hit the Amazonian information and support jackpot here!
Thanks for rescuing that dear bird.
I already like your style... open-minded and patient.
Glad you found us.

 

[wrench13]

You have hit paydirt here, with 2 of the most experienced parrot people on the board offering you the best advice you could possibly get. Thanks for taking this guy in, and you will see that Amazons Rule!
If I could add my own experience here - be consistent in things you do and interact with him. If he gets dinner at 6Pm try to always have dinner at 6PM. It will reassure him that he has a home. When you start to train him ( bite pressure or step up or what ever) be consistent.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, thanks so much for adopting an amazon relegated to spending a closed life in a cage.

You hit the jackpot not with two, but rather three of the Amazon Wizards of the forums. An immense wealth of great advice. Patience is required, but the reward is a wonderful companion and the knowledge you have done a very good deed!!

 

[BeatriceC]

Let me also add: Don't get frustrated if it takes many more months, even following the advise you've been given here. It took three years for me to finally break through to my husband's amazon. Amazons can be stubborn little things. Patience, persistence, calm, gentle, confident. Those are the keys.

 

[Kentuckienne]

You really do have the right people on your side! I'm wondering, though... Can you back-calculate approximately when and where he escaped his original home? Is there a way to find old postings of lost birds? Maybe the person who lost him is still missing him and hoping for a miracle some day. Maybe local vets might have records from the time.. A customer who lost a parrot, someone who came in with a found parrot... I know if I lost Gus I would always be wondering if he was OK.