New Owner, Molting/behaviour question

[SandyBee]

Hi

We adopted a DYH Amazon and we have had him 3 weeks now. He's a really good bird and has bonded with me. |He eats well and eats a pelleted diet, enjoys pasta eggs, some vegetables. Haven't bee able to get him to eat any fruit.

He was vet checked just before he came home, wings and nails done.

He has started losing white feathers and today started losing small green feathers. From what I've read it seems like a normal molt. How long do they lose feathers for? No bald spots and he's not plucking. I am give him daily showers.

I have a behavior question too, I have been trying to get him to step up with no real luck. He will sit on my leg, let me scritch him. Preen my hair and listen to me when I ask him to go home(cage) he sits on the couch with me lots. He started putting one of his feet on my arm, but bites his own leg when he does it. Not hard but every time. Any idea what this means? anything else I should be doing?

 

[ann]

his molt should last a week or two. as for stepping up, you could hold a treat far enough away that he has to put one foot on your arm to reach it. when this happens give him the treat and praise him. keep holding the treat farther away and repeat until he steps up completely. you could also try clicker training him to step up. keep the training sessions short, about 10 min and do this 3x a day . for fruits and veggies try offering them sliced, cooked, frozen, diced, shredded, on a bird safe kebab, sliced on a mandolin, juiced, pureed, or in birdie bread. just keep offering them and eventually he might take to them. here's my recipe for birdie bread if you would like to try it:
1 cup of your birds pellets finely ground in a coffee grinder, food processor, whatever you have.
1/2 cup raw quinoa ground in a coffee grinder
1/4 cup ground un-salted almonds (i use the pre sliced ones and grind them up)
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup corn meal
1 tsp baking powder
2-3 eggs grind up shells and add to dry mix
1/4 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup water
a sprinkle of avian vitamin supplement
combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and stir
beat eggs and oil together and beat into dry mix
add water and beat in. if mix is too dry add more oil, egg whites or water
cook 1/2 a cup of quinoa
some broccoli
some carrots
chop up carrots and broccoli once cooked and add to mix with the quinoa
you can also add apple sauce in place of water and other fruits and veggies and greens
mix it all together and bake for 30 min with 350 degree heat and check half way. let cool and cut into cubes. serve one cube every 3 days and store in the freezer.
good luck

 

[JerseyWendy]

Bosley is a BEAUTIFUL DYH.

It sounds as if he's scratching or preening his leg. Does he do it to both legs or possibly mostly to the one that is banded?

My Hunter did the same thing for a while, and during my last vet visit we removed the band. Sure enough, she had some sore spots. But she's 13, and the vet expected to see some. It's been 5 months since the band has been removed, both legs now look identical, and the excessive chewing on the leg has completely stopped.

 

[SandyBee]

Bosley was adopted from a rescue soceity his age is approx 35 and he is not banded.
The rescue suspects he was wild caught but there is no way to confirm this.

He does it to both legs. He wants to step up, but something holds him back. Even when offering a treat he likes he will refuse the treat rather than step up. At 35 he's been around the block a few times.
This has been the first time he hasn't run when I put my arm/hand near his feet. A stick forget it, he runs as soon as he sees it coming. Not sure what the biting behaviour of his own foot is, over excitement or aversion. The chewing is not hard nor excessive it just happens as he puts a foot on me. He preens normally it seems.
He is very loving and sits on my leg with no issue, but not my hand or arm.

Thanks for the birdie bread recipe I will have to make him some.

 

[oled]

3 weeks i really a short time and he is all ready sitting on your leg. Just keep on offer him treats and hold your arm or finger as close as possible. I am sure that he soner or later will step up.

It will take time before he really trust you and bond close.

Good luck !!

 

[SandyBee]

We keep making progress.
He lets me scritch him often, runs down his cage and onto my lap when I get home from work. He comes and eats with me all the time. Goes in his cage when asked (or tricked LOL) He has even gotten on to my shoulder a couple of times, but very briefly. He plays with me with his beak and takes my fingers in it without clamping down.

Still will not step up, even for his favorite foods.
Should I be doing anything else?

He is eating well, he is on a pelleted diet eats seeds only as treats. Eats many veggies. IU haven't found any fruit he likes yet, I keep trying LOL

He's active and makes all kinds of purring noises, vocalizes and doesn't scream MUCH LOL

Thanks for all the help, this is my first bird, I know crazy taking an amazon on especially an older rescue. But it is a good fit, we love each other and the sanctuary we got him from is really good and very supportive.

 

[Kiwibird]

What a handsome little guy! Sounds like he is just experiencing a normal molt, which should last a few weeks. The loose primarily down, body and head/shoulder feathers, along with a few bigger flight and tail feathers. From my experience growing up with amazons, as well as having my guy (also an older rescue) for 5 years, this is the right time of year for them to have their major yearly molt. He may also experience a smaller molt of his extra down feathers in the spring as the weather warms up, and will occasionally loose a few feathers here and there during the rest of the year (perfectly normal). Do be aware, birds don't feel so good when they molt, and it can lead them (especially amazons) to be a bit 'testy' for a couple weeks.

As for him "biting" his leg, it just sounds like a little quark he has to show you he's excited/happy (every bird has them), especially since he only does it when your playing with him. My guy will slightly lift his wing and roll his head around under it when he gets excited, it's quite hilarious! You will also likely see him preening (gently running his beak over individual feathers), which is normal, healthy behavior. It's kind of like you brushing/combing your hair. So long as he has a healthy diet, is spending lots of time with his "flock" (you and your family) and has adequate mental stimulation (toys, foraging opportunities, supervised exploring out of his cage ect...) he will likely never pluck. And so long as you are aware of the symptoms of a skin or parasitic infection, you can typically catch and treat them before they lead to feather chewing. Keep in mind, parrots only pluck as a behavioral issue when they are being neglected in some way. Don't neglect him, and he won't pull his feathers. Best of luck to you and your new buddy!

 

[SandyBee]

Thank you,

Yes it seems it is a normal molt, he has stopped shedding feathers and now new pin feathers are growing in. He isn't being too crabby about it either!!

The biting the foot seems like excitement, when playing now he bites less, but as we try new things he bites his foot. I guess it's a quirk, he doesn't hurt himself. Must be a comfort thing. He has come on to my arm and shoulder now everyday, but only for a moment or two. The trust is building, we just have to keep working.

When I get home from work and on weekends he is out of his cage, exploring, playing and sitting on my knee. I bought him a T-stand on wheels and he goes on it and I am getting him all around the house now. Last night I said go for a ride and he jumped on his stand, it was so cute.

He has a good diet, but loves human food. I am eating healthier because of it LOL
He wants dinner with me off my plate.

Thanks for all the helpful advice!!!