Just took in an abused Amazon-help!

[sunnysmommy]

Hi! I'm Dawn and I just rescued an older wild-caught Yellow Nape amazon (I think that's what he is!) He wears an open band and the vet looked up his numbers and told me he's an oder boy. He was taken in as an abused bird by a woman who was having luck stick training him. She fell ill with cancer and he's been in a basement for a year now, and since shes been taken to hospice hes been in a dark FREEZING COLD basement with only the basic, food and water MAYBE-her relatives have been showing up only to feed the birds. (No kidding, since no one lives there they TURNED OFF THE HEAT. I'm trying to get help for the last three birds there-she had TWENTY!!!) Two bare lightbulbs very spaced apart were the only lights in this dark basement. When we rescued him he hadn't even had water for three days as the ball was stuck in his water bottle, poor guy. When I got him here and put him in the cage here he went right to the water and drank for a VERY, VERY LOOOOOOONG time. I took him to the vet and he's undernourished and thin. I'm feeding him good and trying to get him healthy. He BITES. SEVERELY. I got quite a bad bite from him as he lunged when I tried to put some food in the cage. I'm scared to death of him as I only have smaller birds in another room. I'm sure they can never be together, unfortunately, as he would probably hurt or kill them. My huband gets him out with the stick so I can change the food and water, and once he even ran at my foot biting, adding to my serious fear of him. I don't know how to not be afraid as he bites seriously, I might should have gotten a stitch. Anyways, he's been here a week today. I need so much advice! I know nothing about Amazons. I wonder if I'm doing the right thing. I'm so hesitant to rehome him as I don't want him to have a bad life, I know he'll get treated well here. I'm just so scared. Thanks!

 

[henpecked]

Hey Dawn , it's great that your helping this poor bird, i'm very glad to hear that you care enough to help' I don't know how bird savvy you are and a older abused amazon can be quite a handful even for someone with alot of experience with such birds, in don't know where you live but maybe you can find some one with rescue experience or maybe a sanctuary. I just hate for you to find that he's toomuch for you to handle and his miserable suffering continues. Much less the heart ache you too might endure.

 

[nofearengineer]

Sunnysmommy:

First, thank you for taking this poor abused creature into your home and attempting to make his life better.

Second, always try to remind yourself that while yes, he is intimidating and dangerous to handle in his current state, he is only doing this because he is scared to death of you. This is not a case of a bird that has learned to nip to get his way or because he is spoiled. He is lashing out to defend himself. In fact, it's quite a testament to his strength that he hasn't just given up and died.

My recommendation would be to try to find a way to give him food and water that has no risk of a bite. What kind of cage is it that you have to get past him to get his food and water in?

Obviously with this big boy you can't just ignore the bite. As I said before, at this point it's more of a survival instinct than a behavioral problem. However, it does still run the risk of becoming a behavioral problem if it works at getting you to leave him alone. I would try a pair of really thick gloves and quickly place the food and water in his cage. Skin colored if you can, to prevent him from developing a phobia of gloves. I might even lay the gloves by his cage for a few days before using them, and leave them there in between feedings so he knows they're everyday, non-threatening items.

This is going to be challenging, but as I have just myself won the heart of a biting bird, I speak from experience.

 

[sunnysmommy]

Hi and thank you. Yes, I figured a way to be able to get the dishes in & out without getting bit. Whew! I do want to give him a great home. He's on the same floor with the living room and we roll his cage the literally four feet through the door way in the evening so he can have a few hours of sitting with us when we watch tv. We visit with him every day in his room-I read to him and such, and talk to him. He said hi and hello, actually, yesterday for thie first time here since his rescue. At least he has a warm sunny room and not a dark basement. I'm now thinking if it's best to keep him and let him enjoy life as is here or find someone to take him, but I don't trust people PERIOD. I'd hate for him to end up in a basement again since he bites and all. No way. So we're strongly leaning toward his life here.

 

[SharonC]

Dawn, right now, he's scared to death and with good reason. Give him his space, and talk soothingly to him. Sit by his cage, sing, read aloud, and eventually offer treats through the cage bars. It may take months before he trusts you because of his past experiences. Take your time...there's no rush. It would be helpful if you could access his water and food bowls without having to put your hand in the cage...If you can't do that, maybe you could have someone distract him while you see to the food and water.

 

[Spiritbird]

Poor bird. Why is it mostly Amazons and are abused? You have many very wise bird people her to give you support. We all appreciate your efforts to help this bird.

 

[Cowtown]

Dawn, thank for rescuing the Amazon. Do you know his/her name?
That might help, just talking to him slowly and calmly. I have a friend that has a 28 years old Yellow Nape, Sugar is huge. I took care his him when there house burned down. I had Sugar for 3 months... I took almost 2 months for Sugar to let me pet him and she still would not step up for me.

I would just be patient and remember what all the bird has gone through the last several years of his life. Building trust will take a lot of time.

 

[sunnysmommy]

We named him Murphy. Since he was an abused bird, we are choosing to NOT use words we know he heard from his past awful owners. Tonight I was scratching his head tentatively through the top of the cage. He loved that so much-me too!

 

[SharonC]

Progress already!
Amazons are so much fun...Enjoy!!!

 

[Cowtown]

Good job Dawn.. baby steps is what it will take..
He will adjust to you.
I have been going over to Sugar's house the past 4 days to feed and water him while his guardians are out of town and when he saw me he just started talking and let me touch and scratch his head... they do remember as it has been 2 months since he was here at my house...

 

[nurseTina74]

Wow good to see good people around still. In my area they call me the bird lady lol. I have a Greater Jardine which is similar to the amazon which I rescued along with his other 5 feather friends at his house lol. He was quite a biter also took chunks out of us more my husband though now that I've had him for almost a yr now hes a lover so take the time for your new friend to get to know you love him and in time he will warm up too. Patience and time can heal the wrongs done.

 

[izmail1215]

Time time time it will take lots of it. so far a head scracthed means improvment! keep going, I know you wont give up.

 

[manny32]

Im pretty sure that you have heard it over and over again that patience is key, especially when dealing with amazon parrots. i once came across an article that mentioned something called the "iron fist". What you should do is clinch your fist as hard as you can and slowly with the back side of your hand approach your parrots beak. If it lunges at you dont pull away. Since your fist is very big and tight there really isnt a part of it that it can grab onto and take a piece out of your hand. if your parrot tries to go around the back side of your fist always adjust your hand so that the back side of your fist is infront of your parrots beak. By doing this even though it may try many times to bite, it will eventually get tired, calm down and will test out your fist with its tongue. That is a very important step. Contact with the tongue is similar as you touching with your hand. this will slowly show your parrot that even though its trying to get you away from it, that you are not scared and will not let it get its way. showing that you are not scared, is a huge stepping stone for better things to come. I speak from experience, being a proud dad to an Orange winged amazon, that i rescued from a pet store. My parrot was scared to death of hands and would bite right when a hand approached her. I have had her for 3 months now and just a few days ago had her step onto my hand for the first time. Great feeling!!!!! Also remember that when your parrot touches the back side of your fist use a word for the action, like "touch". When the action is perfomed right away praise her "good girl/boy" in a happy outgoing voice. If she is taking treats from your hand, have some sunflower seeds handy (only for training). So when shes touches after command, say good girl/boy and give her a seed. Trust me you will have great success very soon. Just dont give up!!!

 

[henpecked]

Hey Manny, I've got some breeders that would break you of that trick, quick (LOL)

 

[manny32]

Hey Manny, I've got some breeders that would break you of that trick, quick (LOL)

it has worked for me, but maybe in another case it would make me think twice

 

[birdiemomma]

Progress already!
Amazons are so much fun...Enjoy!!!

Everytime I have came into contact with Amazons I have been bitten. I'm fine with Hyacinth Macaws, Macaws, Cockatoos, etc, etc. Is there any specific reason behind it?

 

[SharonC]

I think Amazons are often "unpredictable"........Fred bit often when he first came, but not much biting anymore. I think maybe they need to understand the "rules" with the individual person, trust that person, and then it gets easier.

 

[birdiemomma]

I think Amazons are often "unpredictable"........Fred bit often when he first came, but not much biting anymore. I think maybe they need to understand the "rules" with the individual person, trust that person, and then it gets easier.

Thanks Sharon! That makes a lot of sense. I've only heard great things about them but they always bite me! Things with bigger beaks just want to cuddle. It's too funny what happens to me.

 

[sunnysmommy]

Oh, there is NOOOO way I'd do that iron fist thing. I got such a bad bite already from him! I'm so scared of him after that! I try so hard not to show it. I am making SOOOO much progress with him, though. Each night I scratch his head for at least 30 mins before I cover him for bed, I love it as much as he does. Also every night my husband gets him out of the cage and puts him on a table top perch where he sits happily for hours. Ed scratches the salt off of a little pretzel each night and hands it to him, he looks forward to that. He also corrected me on his name! I decided to rename him since we know he came from two abusive situations and didn't want any words to have bad memories. Anyways, the other night I went in his room and said "Hi Murphy!", real nice and cheerful. He cocked his head and said "Hi Bam-Bam!" back just as cheerful!!! We knew his name was actually Bam-Bam. I stand corrected! It was so funny to me-cracked me up! Lol! He's so smart. He didn't touch the toys I bought for him at first, but now he's playing up a storm. That makes me so happy! I had this HUGE cardboard bird "bagel" and I hung it from the top of his cage inside (last night) like a swing and he went on it right away, swinging and climbing and playing! We were so happy to see that. So I really am making great progress every night. I made him some "birdie bread" which is basically cornbread with mashed sweet potato and handfuls of crushed pellets and chopped nuts, fruits, veggies, and some fruit juice in. He really loves it and scarfs it up. I'm quite sure he's getting that nutrition up! I've also found that his absolute favorite thing to eat in the universe is roasted (unsalted, of course!) cashews! it's also cute that sometimes when I hand him something yummy through the bars he sais "Mmmmmmmm!"! Wow, I guess I've rambled enough for tonight!

 

[SharonC]

I'm so happy for you and Bam Bam/Murphy. It sounds like he's responding well to a good home! Lucky bird, and lucky you! He's going to be a joy!!!