How do you control an excited Amazon

[Billy29]

So Mango has decided to be a brat. I had him out and was playing. He got very excited eyes pinned, tail spread doing the Amazon dance and has been excited for a while. I can't get him to step up, he went to bite me and then made kissing sounds like when he gives me kisses on my lips, then bobbed his head like it was funny. He is being really bratty and talkative tonight. I just finally got him in the cage with a treat.

 

[Billy29]

I know I shouldn't give him a treat but I have to get up for work in the morning.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

wow, how old is he? Hopefully some amazon people will be able to help with this.

When Rosie gets over excited I use trick training to change her mentality to "work" rather than the excitement she had. You should check out touch training so you can target him to go inside the cage, then reward.

 

[torrap]

It can happen sometimes.
See if all goes back to normal tomorrow.
There are so many reasons he could act like that, its hard to say for sure.
Maybe your new shirt or haircut.......???

 

[MomtoPercy]

I find that when my zon and I have been playing for a while, he gets quite worked up and gets nippy and over excited. I say "don't bite!" the first time he gets too rough and if he does again, he goes to time out (put on his gym and I walk away). A couple of minutes is usually enough for him to collect himself and then we can interact calmly again.

I also find that, whilst training, if *I* get too excited because he suddenly gets something right, HE gets overly proud and full of himself and also gets all "I'm a big bad Zon!" So I try to limit overly excited praise and just say "good boy" and give a treat.

I never "punish" by any means other than time out for NO MORE than a max of 5 minutes. I also never put him in his cage if he's been 'naughty' because I want him to associate his cage with fun.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[Kiwibird]

I wouldn't be too concerned if it's an isolated incident. Amazons are notorious for getting worked up a little while playing. Good for you to recognize the signs of an overworked amazon though. That is the best way to prevent a bite. They can't help the get themselves so worked up:54: Depending on how old he is, it is also that time of the year when they become hormonal. Some birds get it worse than others, so some people find their zon is sweet and well behaved 90% of the year, but come their mating season, the bird might as well sprout horns and the inner winged demon comes out. Males tend to have more aggression than females, and they become sexually mature around 4-6 years old.

Personally, I have Kiwi step on a wood dowel when he's in a foul mood. That puts some physical space between my hand and his beak. It is never a bad idea to train your bird to step up on a perch in addition to your hand, as it gives a second option if the bird is being aggressive.

 

[TessieB]

Time out as suggested is a good way to allow your Amazon to calm down. If he want to bite your hand, go back to stick training to keep your skin safe from trauma. Once your bird learns that biting makes you back off you will have a problem. Those Amazons do get dramatic, don't they?

 

[Billy29]

When those eyes start pinning, they look demonic. Otherwise he is small pretty and cute. Good news is this morning he stepped right up and gave me kisses.

 

[Birdman666]

Well, there's that "amazon overload" thing again....

Short answer- YOU DON'T!

When they get all excited like that, you have to wait until they finish their displays and calm down before trying to pick them up or THEY WILL bite.

They don't mean to, but it's part of the routine... they want to play.

And how does an amazon play with his or her toys? It attacks them!

Don't be the toy. If you wait another 30 seconds to a minute or so, you probably could pick him up just fine.

Just not while the tail is flairing and the eyes are going. Wait until that stops and the bird is standing upright again. Then hold your two fingers up when approaching the bird. Amazons are big on non-verbal communication, and it's a two way street. Walking up to the bird with two fingers means bird, you are on notice that I intend to pick you up.

Then it's how does the bird react. If the bird reacts to this by reaching for it like a lunge with his beak open, is still pinning, tail flairing, or hunches over as you approach, it usually means "I don't want to be picked up right now. I just want attention."

Ignore this warning at your own peril. My bird is trained to push fingers away with her beak when she doesn't want to be picked up. Most are not that subtle. They pinch, or nip, or outright bite...

If the foot comes up, or the bird comes over you and remains calm and upright (not hunched over) that's "I am ready to be picked up."

Sometimes, it's wait til I finish my happy to see you display, don't interrupt me I wasn't finished...

Always let them finish first. Don't pick one up in the middle of a display. They are too wound up at that point.

 

[getwozzy]

Amazons are also notorious for "displacement biting" -when he gets excited like that, I personally wouldn't try to pick him up- just walk away for a couple minutes and let him settle down. Once he's got it out of his system, try picking him up- otherwise you're asking to get bit. Or like others have said, use an alternative method like a perch to get him back into his cage if you HAVE to.

 

[prsgirl77]

When my girls get excited I leave fro a few minutes usually 5 to 10, then I return and they re calm and want to be held. I ve gotten quite the bite from my orange winged when she displayed similar behavior. I ve since learned to let them calm down sufficiently for me to handle without risking a bite. Hope this helps. Cheers

 

[SandyBee]

When Bosley gets excite I either engage in the silliness by acting up with him, dancing, playing ball(we have a felt ball he just loves to attack) This is normal behaviour and considered part of fun and play time.
I do not attempt to pick him up.

To settle him down I have a few things that work, talking softly, grabbing my smart phone or walking in the kitchen(he will fly to follow me Kitchen=chance for food)
Basically distraction!