protective of food and poop to get back at you?

[Allentheamazon]

Does your amazon purposely poop on places that he knows he should not poop to get back at you? Yesterday he was walking on my keyboard and trying to get the keys off like a boss I growled to him for the first time . I thought by doing what he would do to warn me when he does not like something would send him a clear message. The next thing I knew he flew to the top of my laptop and pooped on my keyboard...D:<!!

Another thing, today I was trying to add more pellet to his bowl while he was eating...he bit me!! The hardest since I got him. I don't get it..:/ Is he protective of his food or what? He never really bite me. Moreover, he have not bite me for months now.

 

[Teddscau]

Amazons are known for being one of the worst biters, right up there with parrotlets and lovebirds. As for pooping on your keyboard, he probably pooped because he'd just flown. The first few months I had Noah, he'd become agitated when he had to poop, and would often fly off (often to my mom) to poop. Also, if your Amazon found the confrontation with you stressful/upsetting/irritating, that may have also caused him to poop, as birds often poop when startled or upset. Had he been trying to get back at you, he probably would've looked you in the eye then chomped down on the laptop's screen. Or started yelling at you.

As for biting you when you were filling his bowl... At the time, he was focusing on eating, and may not have realized you were there trying to fill his dish. Another possibility is that the act of eating triggered his resource protecting instincts, and that's why he bit you, even if you were providing him with even more food to eat. For example, my shih-poo, Teddy, is the sweetest, most gentle guy. Anyways, the other day was his birthday, so he got a special treat, but I gave him too much. So, I let him know that I was going to take it from him to break into a smaller piece. He stiffened his posture and turned his head protectively. When I grabbed it (he knew it was me), he chomped down on my hand and broke the skin. Now, this guy is super submissive and has never behaved aggressively towards humans. However, the food was overly stimulating, causing him to reflexively bite down to protect his resource. He wasn't being agressive, trying to scare me off, or trying to hurt me. When an animal is focused on something (playing, grooming, eating, watching a squirrel outside), they'll likely react instinctively (i.e., bite) if interrupted.

Also, parrots can be very protective of their cage and the things in their cage. By filling his dish (and therefore invading his territory), he could've taken it as an act of disrespect and felt threatened, and responded by biting you. With Noah, he knows that I have the utmost respect for him and his belongings, so I can take yummy sunflower seeds out of his dish while he's eating, or step him up when he's in the middle of eating yummy treats from his dish, without him becoming upset, because he knows I'm not truly taking things from him. Based on a strong history of positive reinforcement, etc., he'll willingly step up for me even if he's doing something that's extremely enjoyable. This is because he knows we're going to train, eat snacks, preen, or have a bath. He trusts that I'm not going to force him to do anything he doesn't want to do or isn't comfortable with.

Next time he's eating, you could tell him you're going to fill his dish and ask him to step up using a perch (if he doesn't want to, don't make him) and show him you have a treat for him. When he steps up, reward him and fill his dish, putting a couple of treats in his dish as an extra reward to show him that if he cooperates, good stuff happens and that you aren't trying to be a party pooper.

 

[SailBoat]

Does your amazon purposely poop on places that he knows he should not poop to get back at you? Yesterday he was walking on my keyboard and trying to get the keys off like a boss I growled to him for the first time . I thought by doing what he would do to warn me when he does not like something would send him a clear message. The next thing I knew he flew to the top of my laptop and pooped on my keyboard...D:<!!

Another thing, today I was trying to add more pellet to his bowl while he was eating...he bit me!! The hardest since I got him. I don't get it..:/ Is he protective of his food or what? He never really bite me. Moreover, he have not bite me for months now.

So, you have an Amazon and his name is Allen, correct?

A few question from this side:
-How long has Allen been with you?
-How old is he?
-Is he a DNA verified male?
-What species is your Amazon?

I'm not sure if your questions are serious or if you are reacting to Life as part of the Wonderful World of (Amazons) Parrots in general!

If this is all serious, I would recommend that you take the time to read the two Sticky Threads (highlighted in light blue) at the top of the Amazon Forum. I would set a chair next to your Amazon's cage and read a loud to him the Second Thread that covers: Understanding Amazon Body Language. Read this over and over to your Amazon until you understand it as if it is your first language! Read it at least once a month for the next year to assure that what you are seeing, you understand!

The first Thread is titled: I Love Amazons - ... It is a very large Thread that will provide you with a wealth of knowledge regarding life with an Amazon.

I would recommend that you change your view of understanding your Amazon. Start from the position: It is NEVER the fault of the Amazon! It is always the FAULT of the Human! When you start from this vantage point, you will more quickly understand what you are dong wrong and you can correct it much quicker!

 

[Allentheamazon]

Amazons are known for being one of the worst biters, right up there with parrotlets and lovebirds. As for pooping on your keyboard, he probably pooped because he'd just flown. The first few months I had Noah, he'd become agitated when he had to poop, and would often fly off (often to my mom) to poop. Also, if your Amazon found the confrontation with you stressful/upsetting/irritating, that may have also caused him to poop, as birds often poop when startled or upset. Had he been trying to get back at you, he probably would've looked you in the eye then chomped down on the laptop's screen. Or started yelling at you.

As for biting you when you were filling his bowl... At the time, he was focusing on eating, and may not have realized you were there trying to fill his dish. Another possibility is that the act of eating triggered his resource protecting instincts, and that's why he bit you, even if you were providing him with even more food to eat. For example, my shih-poo, Teddy, is the sweetest, most gentle guy. Anyways, the other day was his birthday, so he got a special treat, but I gave him too much. So, I let him know that I was going to take it from him to break into a smaller piece. He stiffened his posture and turned his head protectively. When I grabbed it (he knew it was me), he chomped down on my hand and broke the skin. Now, this guy is super submissive and has never behaved aggressively towards humans. However, the food was overly stimulating, causing him to reflexively bite down to protect his resource. He wasn't being agressive, trying to scare me off, or trying to hurt me. When an animal is focused on something (playing, grooming, eating, watching a squirrel outside), they'll likely react instinctively (i.e., bite) if interrupted.

Also, parrots can be very protective of their cage and the things in their cage. By filling his dish (and therefore invading his territory), he could've taken it as an act of disrespect and felt threatened, and responded by biting you. With Noah, he knows that I have the utmost respect for him and his belongings, so I can take yummy sunflower seeds out of his dish while he's eating, or step him up when he's in the middle of eating yummy treats from his dish, without him becoming upset, because he knows I'm not truly taking things from him. Based on a strong history of positive reinforcement, etc., he'll willingly step up for me even if he's doing something that's extremely enjoyable. This is because he knows we're going to train, eat snacks, preen, or have a bath. He trusts that I'm not going to force him to do anything he doesn't want to do or isn't comfortable with.

Next time he's eating, you could tell him you're going to fill his dish and ask him to step up using a perch (if he doesn't want to, don't make him) and show him you have a treat for him. When he steps up, reward him and fill his dish, putting a couple of treats in his dish as an extra reward to show him that if he cooperates, good stuff happens and that you aren't trying to be a party pooper.

Thanks for the reply!! Its just my dog would poop to get back at me so I thought maybe parrots might be the same in that sense. But I do know they are very different animals!

As for the eating part. I tried to fill his bowl before too but stopped when he growled at me. But last time I was so confident that he would not bite me since he has been such a good boy lately..and I was wrong!!! lol! The bite was not that serious actually(did not drew blood or anything), but it was the hardest he ever bit me. So I was curious in the reason behind it that's all.

 

[Allentheamazon]

Does your amazon purposely poop on places that he knows he should not poop to get back at you? Yesterday he was walking on my keyboard and trying to get the keys off like a boss I growled to him for the first time . I thought by doing what he would do to warn me when he does not like something would send him a clear message. The next thing I knew he flew to the top of my laptop and pooped on my keyboard...D:<!!

Another thing, today I was trying to add more pellet to his bowl while he was eating...he bit me!! The hardest since I got him. I don't get it..:/ Is he protective of his food or what? He never really bite me. Moreover, he have not bite me for months now.

So, you have an Amazon and his name is Allen, correct?

A few question from this side:
-How long has Allen been with you?
-How old is he?
-Is he a DNA verified male?
-What species is your Amazon?

I'm not sure if your questions are serious or if you are reacting to Life as part of the Wonderful World of (Amazons) Parrots in general!

If this is all serious, I would recommend that you take the time to read the two Sticky Threads (highlighted in light blue) at the top of the Amazon Forum. I would set a chair next to your Amazon's cage and read a loud to him the Second Thread that covers: Understanding Amazon Body Language. Read this over and over to your Amazon until you understand it as if it is your first language! Read it at least once a month for the next year to assure that what you are seeing, you understand!

The first Thread is titled: I Love Amazons - ... It is a very large Thread that will provide you with a wealth of knowledge regarding life with an Amazon.

I would recommend that you change your view of understanding your Amazon. Start from the position: It is NEVER the fault of the Amazon! It is always the FAULT of the Human! When you start from this vantage point, you will more quickly understand what you are dong wrong and you can correct it much quicker!

Allen is a white fronted amazon and he is almost 6 months old now~ I got him when he was 2 months old so he has been with me for 4 months now.

Yeah I know that it is never the fault of the amazon! LOL. It is just everything is new to me still since he is my first bird except the budgie I had when I was a kid. This is not a serious thing since Allen and me get along really well. I was just curious in the mindset of amazons.

Oh dont let me start on how many things I have read :22: I did read the threads you recommended but I have to admit I have not experienced enough to truly understand them yet. I still have a long way to go...D:

 

[Allentheamazon]

One other thing, I can touch Allen anywhere without getting bitten so trust is not an issue here. He follows me around and sometimes he would fall asleep in my hand. I love him so much <3. Right now I am training him getting into harness...which is harder than I thought!

 

[EllenD]

Honestly I don't think he pooped on your laptop to punish you or to get back at you, he flew up on top, he perched, and he had to go. They often poop after just flying and perching on something. I'm not at all familiar with your history with your bird, how long you've had him, how old he was then or how old he is now, what training you've done with him, etc. That being said, I guarantee you that "Growling" at him, or any other form of punishment or negative reinforcement will not get you the results that you want. He will respond much more attentively and in the manner you want him to if you use only positive reinforcement. If he likes to sit with you while you are on your computer, as my birds do as well, but he jumps onto your keyboard and starts chewing on it, simply say "No" or whatever command you want to associate with him not doing something or not chewing on things (just say it firmly, do not yell it or say it in an angry or mean way), and move him away from you and the computer, possibly to a stand or on top of his cage, even out of the room for a short amount of time, like 5 minutes. Then bring him back in with you, and if he does it again then say "No" firmly again and then again take him away from you and the computer, this time for 10 minutes. Trust me, he'll quickly get it.

As far as him biting you while you were filling his food bowl, this is very common in my personal experience, I currently have a Quaker parrot that does this every single time I go to pick his bowl up to take it to the kitchen, or even while I'm setting it back down for him. It just started about 2 months ago (he's just about a year old), and he has never bitten me one single time, not ever before, not once. At first I was more disappointed than angry, he didn't bite me hard at all, but it was more than a nip, and it was clear to me that it was a "Hey, that's my food bowl, not yours" bite. So I approached it the same way, with positive reinforcement. If I go to pick his bowl up to fill it and he goes to bite me, I firmly say "No bites", and I leave his bowl sit empty for 5 minutes. This really upsets him in the morning as he wants his breakfast. It took probably 4 times that first morning he bit me, and he was up to his empty bowl sitting there for 20-25 minutes and the entire time he was sitting on his T-stand screaming at me while pacing back and forth! I just sat right next to him on the couch watching TV. I didn't say another word after "No bites!", I just dropped his empty bowl, left it sit, sat down and totally ignored him. I let him scream and pace, said nothing to him, and never even looked at him. Finally on the 3rd or 4th time I picked up his bowl and he just stood there watching, no bite. So I said "Good Bird, Good Lita Bird!" over and over again, making a really big deal about it verbally the entire time I was filling his bowl with his pellets. Then I kept praising him continually while walking his bowl over to him, put his bowl back down, said "Good Birdy, Good Quaker" one more time as he immediately jumped up on the bowl and started eating. He has done it maybe 2-3 more times when I first went to pick his bowl up, but each of these times it only took once of him not getting his food to get it.

They get it. They like rewards, they like praise, and more importantly they RESPOND to rewards and praise. They will never respond to punishments, yelling, "growling", hitting, flicking their beaks, or any of the other horrible things I've heard that people have done out of frustration or anger. Think of your Amazon as a very intelligent, emotional creature, just like a 4 year old toddler. It works.

"Dance like nobody's watching..."

 

[SailBoat]

Allen is a white fronted amazon and he is almost 6 months old now~ I got him when he was 2 months old so he has been with me for 4 months now.

Yeah I know that it is never the fault of the amazon! LOL. It is just everything is new to me still since he is my first bird except the budgie I had when I was a kid. This is not a serious thing since Allen and me get along really well. I was just curious in the mindset of amazons.

Oh dont let me start on how many things I have read :22: I did read the threads you recommended but I have to admit I have not experienced enough to truly understand them yet. I still have a long way to go...D:

One other thing, I can touch Allen anywhere without getting bitten so trust is not an issue here. He follows me around and sometimes he would fall asleep in my hand. I love him so much <3. Right now I am training him getting into harness...which is harder than I thought!

At 6 months, Allen is still trying to figure this World out! And, that is why knowing his age is so very important to understanding what and why he is doing what he is doing!

Regarding poop, at six months, it just happens and it is your responsibility to move Allen back to a stand or cage when he needs to have a movement. At this age, you need to pay attention to his eating and movement schedule. If he is on a one hour schedule and its been 55 minutes since his last movement, you're a bit late in getting him back to a safe place!

At this age, you should be activity working with him on Training: Handling, Socializing, Bite Pressure, Taking, and if you want Tricks. For a comparison, take a looking in the Amazon Forum for an ongoing Thread regarding: Salty! This young Amazon is being activity trained and enjoying it!

Trust is always a big thing with Amazons! Regardless of how long you have been together - always work on Trust. The other important word is Bond (Bonding) and like Trust, it is always something that you need to be working on. The same is true regarding Socializing!

The concept for any Parrot allow anything on their back is totally outside of their Nature. The Trust and Bond issue quickly come to the surface when attempting to place Harness on them! Also, IMHO, placing something over their head is reverse from what would be a place to start. I would start with something sitting around them while other training is taking place. Touching the Parrots tail, then working to the back and then it resting on the back would be the way I would approach this problem. Regardless of, which way it is done, it is clear measure of trust!

At this point knowing Amazon Body Language is important since as he gets older, you will start seeing the Body Language being using more and more over the next year!

Enjoy!