New bird

[soldiersmudge]

Hi, we have just rehomed a Orange Winged Amazon, she comes out of her cage, let's u stroke her head if u come from above but if u go to touch her abdomen to get her to step up she squeaks, beak open and tries to bite! She has had me 2 time LOL She has been responding sometimes to wolf whistles and also saying hello occasionally! Is there anything we could be doing to help her gain our trust? The previous owner had left her mainly in the cage for a couple of months as had started a busy job etc........

 

[Taw5106]

Hi there and welcome. Treats!!! Sounds like you have a good start, positive responses. Find out what he likes and use his favorite food as incentive. My Buddy loves home made popcorn. I think he'd stand on his head he loves it so much.

Recommendations from members has been put three food items in their bowl and see what they go for. This way you can figure out what he likes.

I tell Buddy no and no bite. He pouts like a kid but he backs off, he knows what no means. I think finding their favorite food and using it as a reward is my biggest helper. Good luck and enjoy your new friend. What's his name?

 

[soldiersmudge]

"She" is called Sally! We have a list of all her favourite foods but she won't eat from my hand, she backs away and goes round the back of the cage.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your new family member.

Since you JUST brought Sally home, I'd give her some time to adjust to her new home/surroundings/people/sights/sounds before trying to handle her.

You can quietly sit by her cage and talk to her softly. If she's shy, avoid direct eye contact. If you don't know what to tell her, read the newspaper aloud or a book. She will let you know when she's ready for the next step.

Next step could be offering her some of her favorite (preferably healthy) treats by hand.

Many Amazons aren't too fond of being "patted" all over, so if she's already allowing you to gently scratch her head and neck, then that's one giant leap into the right direction.

 

[soldiersmudge]

Ah cool so continue to just leave her in the cage? She's wolf whisling sometimes when we ask her who's a pretty girl etc. Il continue to read her a book etc, how will we know when she's happy to take the next step?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Does she willingly step up onto your hand now if you ask her to without attempting to nip? If so, by all means, take her out of the cage and have her sit on you while you read to her. (I'd recommend against allowing her on your shoulders though).

If she steps us easily, take her out and show her around her new digs. Explain everything to her. The more you talk to her, the more she will understand and learn - yes, they are very smart.

Amazons are generally pretty easy to read, too. Fanned tail feathers, pinning eyes, along with ruffled feathers "usually" indicate a very excited bird, and attempting to take her out during such excitement "may" lead to you getting nipped.

 

[soldiersmudge]

She stepped up a few times yesterday after only being around for 2/3hours but has nipped me 2/3 times now. If u put Ur hand in her cage she squeaks and opens her beak!! Il go slower and give her more time!

 

[Allee]

Welcome to the forum. I would call stepping up after only two or three hours in her new home amazing progress. Congratulations on your new addition.

 

[henpecked]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are making good progress with Sally. I'd take it slow and try to avoid the bites, you don't want to train her that biting is the way to train you,LOL. Where are you located ? How old is Sally? Does she have a band? Interested because i sold many OWA babies in the Carolinas and Va.

 

[soldiersmudge]

Cheers guys, glad we seem to be doing the right thing! We are in UK but she does have a band but the previous owner doesn't have paperwork so I need to find out what it says etc and change details!

 

[soldiersmudge]

She will step up onto a cane but still can't go anywhere near her with ur hand without her gobbling off and flying away

 

[Taw5106]

That is great progress.

 

[soldiersmudge]

Is it LOL? She actually stayed on e for a while about half hour ago, let me stroke her all over

 

[MrsKay]

Patience. Just sit your hand on her cage door. Every time you get near her and she doesn't open her beak or act afraid, give her a reward. Each time you do this she will be gaining your trust. Bring your hand a little closer the next time. If she shows signs of being afraid or aggressive, move back a little. Eventually you will have your hand right next to her, and so on, until she is stepping up on your hand. This could take days - or weeks (I read this in a 'training parrots' book)

 

[ImmunoGoblin]

It's generally not a good idea to pet a bird all over its body. Adult birds can misinterpret that as mating behavior and can get aroused or upset. Usually the head (if your bird likes it/lets you) and feet are the safe zones.

Also: A lot of times the eye pinning/tail fanning is a sign of an upset or angry Amazon, but one of my two flares/pins pretty much every time he says something. It seems to be just his "excitement" response, not "anger."

 

[Taw5106]

As far as touching an amazon all over, I heard about it being interpreted as a sexual thing, but there have been a couple of times I've had to touch Buddy's wing feather to move it back to align with other feathers on his wing, the underside and wing, recently a new feather on the back of his neck. Can or Do birds differentiate the different touches?

 

[henpecked]

if you get a mating response then quit. Otherwise touching/petting anywhere they allow is OK. When my hen is "hormonal" i'm very careful about where and when i touch/stroke her. The more touching she allows the more she trust you.(and that's a good thing)

 

[witchbaby]

Congratulations! OWAs are wonderful birds. I would LOVE to see some pics!

 

[soldiersmudge]

Sally has a cage for the garden now too! Fresh air for her!

 

[soldiersmudge]