Need some help and some changes or we're gonna lose this bird

[greycloud]

Do you still question whether a hawk will take your Too off your shoulder, after this?
Untamed and Uncut: Hawk Divebombs Zookeeper : Video : Animal Planet

 

[HRH Di]

Wow, when you're gone for a weekend you miss a lot. You have tons of good advice here and you're obviously a great "parront" for your 'too. Kudos to you for giving Oz such a loving home.

There's lots of varying opinions regarding free-flying vs harnesses vs indoors only. The breeder we've gotten 2 of our birds from has several macaws that she free-flies. One of her babies lives in NYC with his family and free-flies in Central Park. There's also a red-front macaw in Colorda who's harness trained and goes rock climbing with his people.

Personally, I'm happy with my fids indoors only. Too many dangers out side - lots of hawks in our area. But I do sometimes wish that we could take them camping with us...so I consider the harness from time to time.

Good luck getting your little guy back...my money's on "that time of year" explaination.

 

[Birdamor]

If you are going to continue reducing his light hours, please do so 15 minutes a week until you get to the desired number of hours. But, I warn you, it might not work.

 

[Melissa2010B]

Do you still question whether a hawk will take your Too off your shoulder, after this?
Untamed and Uncut: Hawk Divebombs Zookeeper : Video : Animal Planet

Link didn't work right, I had to copy & paste, but yeah that's scary. But it was a trained predator hawk. Do regular hawks in the wild do that kind of thing? Are they enough at ease to attack a human like that? I've heard that it's very unlikely. A neighbor bird friend, a couple miles north of us, was outside his garage yesterday when we drove by, with his clipped yellow naped amazon on his shoulder. No one thinks that could happen, and again, if it wasnt a trained hawk that was used to being around humans, would it?

Coincidentally, I took one of my 2 mile walks yesterday, on the same route that I was with Oz, and noticed a hawk gliding over a field right near the street where I was. Then I also noticed some hawkish sounds from a tree and it sounded like baby hawks in a nest, crying to be fed by the mom. So Oz may have had good reason to fear walks?

 

[Melissa2010B]

Wow, when you're gone for a weekend you miss a lot. You have tons of good advice here and you're obviously a great "parront" for your 'too. Kudos to you for giving Oz such a loving home.

Thanks Di.

There's lots of varying opinions regarding free-flying vs harnesses vs indoors only. The breeder we've gotten 2 of our birds from has several macaws that she free-flies. One of her babies lives in NYC with his family and free-flies in Central Park. There's also a red-front macaw in Colorado who's harness trained and goes rock climbing with his people.

Wow. Well I wish they made a flight harness that would shield the bird's neck and back from an attack, but don't know how feasible that is.

Personally, I'm happy with my fids indoors only. Too many dangers out side - lots of hawks in our area. But I do sometimes wish that we could take them camping with us...so I consider the harness from time to time.

Well we enjoy the fresh air and sunshine so much, that it would sure be nice to share it with our pets too.

Good luck getting your little guy back...my money's on "that time of year" explaination.

Now I'm wondering about that hawk that seems to be nesting on the corner where we walk. :63:

If I COULD, and a hawk attacked us like that, I would go so far as to kill the hawk to defend Oz, but the question is whether there'd be enough time or warning. That part is scary.

 

[SharonC]

You never know...he may have seen something that you didn't.... As far as defending, I really don't think there would be much time for that.

It's hard not to take bites personally...and you feel like you're trying so hard, giving him a great life, and get nothing in return. It really isn't personal, but it feels like it, doesn't it?

I, too, think that he may be hormonal, and you'll just have to wait it out. I have a smaller bird that turned into a complete monster when puberty hit. He screamed all day, every day, for almost four months, with a few good days mixed in. He's now the total sweetheart that he was before puberty hit.

Remember not to touch him anywhere that will be stimulating for him. No petting his back, belly, wings, rump. I'd be careful with protein and fatty foods. Good luck...I'm sure he'll come around.

 

[Melissa2010B]

You never know...he may have seen something that you didn't.... As far as defending, I really don't think there would be much time for that.

It's hard not to take bites personally...and you feel like you're trying so hard, giving him a great life, and get nothing in return. It really isn't personal, but it feels like it, doesn't it?

Yeah, and in today's world we tend to think it's "all about me".

I, too, think that he may be hormonal, and you'll just have to wait it out. I have a smaller bird that turned into a complete monster when puberty hit. He screamed all day, every day, for almost four months, with a few good days mixed in. He's now the total sweetheart that he was before puberty hit.

Wow. Well someone in my yahoo group mentioned having a naped amazon male that was a real biter when they were in season, so...

Remember not to touch him anywhere that will be stimulating for him. No petting his back, belly, wings, rump. I'd be careful with protein and fatty foods. Good luck...I'm sure he'll come around.

Too late on the stimulating thing, apparently. Jennifer says he was mating with her hands 2-4 weeks ago, and spraying or something, on them. Oh my....

He spends about 3 1/2 hours a day with her and about 1/2 hour a day with me, on average. ( he's mostly "her" bird ) With me he's been ducking his head down between his legs and lolling his tongue while I groom and scritchie his neck feathers, so maybe he thinks she's his "bottom" and I'm his "top", I dunno. :54:

 

[SharonC]

Jennifer should probably discourage the "mating" behavior, by removing her hands when he does that. I'd also suggest that if you're not the favourite person, than you should be the one to offer treats, and other fun stuff for awhile. This will help, if Oz starts seeing Jennifer as a mate, and you as an intruder.

I have a Yellow Naped Amazon...I just can't wait for puberty to hit!!!

 

[Melissa2010B]

Jennifer should probably discourage the "mating" behavior, by removing her hands when he does that. I'd also suggest that if you're not the favourite person, than you should be the one to offer treats, and other fun stuff for awhile. This will help, if Oz starts seeing Jennifer as a mate, and you as an intruder.

I have a Yellow Naped Amazon...I just can't wait for puberty to hit!!!

LOL Yeah, we both try to be just members of the flock. It's ok. I think he loves us both and he doesnt get particularly bitey during the season anyway, just with the outside thing.

 

[greycloud]

Umm. that was not a trained predator hawk. He was trained in flight return. Hawks=Birds of prey=predator=natural!
You take a chance exposing your bird to these predators, especially if you are seeing or hearing them. I can promise they have seen and heard you before you even notice.

 

[Melissa2010B]

Umm. that was not a trained predator hawk. He was trained in flight return. Hawks=Birds of prey=predator=natural!
You take a chance exposing your bird to these predators, especially if you are seeing or hearing them. I can promise they have seen and heard you before you even notice.

You don't think it made a difference that the hawk was used to being close to humans, and that she was holding the Too out on her arm like that?

 

[greycloud]

Absolutely not! I have know of several people who had birds taken by hawks. One was a grey on her owners shoulder whil she was gardening. It was horrible. Another was an owner with her birds on her cages outside and the hawk swooped down while she stood with her hand on the cage, and took her goffin Too.
You have to remember that birds of prey are always hunting. An easy target is just that.

 

[Melissa2010B]

Absolutely not! I have know of several people who had birds taken by hawks. One was a grey on her owners shoulder whil she was gardening. It was horrible. Another was an owner with her birds on her cages outside and the hawk swooped down while she stood with her hand on the cage, and took her goffin Too.
You have to remember that birds of prey are always hunting. An easy target is just that.

Thanks then. I'm gonna pass this on to my friend too, because he really cares about his yellow naped macaw and we would all feel horrible if that happened.

 

[Melissa2010B]

By the way, while this was going on, I emailed Rod Villemaire, the soon-to-be "Bird Man of Animal Planet" and he did a video with my photos.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYmac9T06t4]YouTube - My pet birds / cockatoos / parrots beak broke, Q and A with Rod Villemaire of Bird Planet TV[/ame]

 

[wildheart]

Ag shame poor Oz, that must have been sooo painful!

I am glad that it healed so nicely, thanks for sharing.

 

[Melissa2010B]

Ag shame poor Oz, that must have been sooo painful!

I am glad that it healed so nicely, thanks for sharing.

Yeah he's been back to his same old mischievous self the last few days.