Still evil...

[Minzer84]

Ok, so tonight Iggy is supposed to be eating his dinner, but as I walk by his stand he decides to flap off of his perch and eat the back of my neck instead I'm not sure how much longer I can take this...and I'm afraid it's just going to continue after this hormonal season is supposed to be over. I feel like a bad "parront" but I may have to really find him a new home, for both of our sakes...I guess I didn't realize that getting a parrot before college and vet school would turn out so stressful...

 

[birdcrazy]

awww I'm sorry you are being very resposible trying to do what's best for him. I almost got rid of my cockatiel a month ago because her incessant egg laying was really disrupting my life. What are are you in I might be able to find a good bird rescue several rescues around here will take your bird and not find him another home if you don't want them to. Even if he doesn't work out you could try getting a smaller less demanding and smaller beaked bird so you can continue your love of parrots.

 

[Minzer84]

I'm afraid to give him to a rescue, because I don't think he would get enough attention there either...I want to find someone who actually knows what Amazons are like and what they're getting into. Which is easier said than done, I realize, and maybe by the time I actually found a suitable person, he would be out of mating season, if that's why he's acting this way...::sigh::

I've always wanted a white bellied caique, which is what I was really looking for when I got Iggy over 4 years ago (not exactly the same as a caique)...but I think I would wait until I get out of vet school to ensure I had the time and patience to spend on it...

I just feel like such an awful owner, and I hate how now I'm just going to be one of those people who get parrots and then get rid of them...I do love Iggy, he's like my child by now, but I can't have any animal attacking me in my own home when I'm not even interacting with him at the time of attack.

 

[Peta]

I just feel like such an awful owner, and I hate how now I'm just going to be one of those people who get parrots and then get rid of them...I do love Iggy, he's like my child by now, but I can't have any animal attacking me in my own home when I'm not even interacting with him at the time of attack.

Unfortunately you have found out the hard way that its not easy having parrots when your life is so full of school, college, homework etc etc. That doesn't make you a BAD parront, How you are thinking NOW makes you a GOOD parront. Don't be so hard on yourself. (easier said than done I know)

I strongly think it is the mating game, what you need to do now is think very carefully of what you can and can't cope with now and in the future. Its fine when all is calm on the western front but as we know with parrots its never calm all of the time, especially in the mating season.

A bad parront would not be thinking like this.

I'm afraid to give him to a rescue, because I don't think he would get enough attention there either...I want to find someone who actually knows what Amazons are like and what they're getting into.

especially after being attacked. In my book thinking like that make you a very good parront.

 

[karen]

Oh I can imagine how terrible you must be feeling just now. It is difficult to lose that feeling of closeness after 4 yrs (even if temp) It is much easier to take on a problem bird and then everthing is gain !! So dont feel down hearted. I just wonder if like my horse Zac, Iggy picks up on your mood , stress ,hurt etc and reacts to that as well.

At the moment I am sitting with Rox who is yelling out the window... I would have the police and council noise people at my door constantly if I had neighbours.

Can u take him to a friends for a v isit. Rox always shy and clingy when away from home. Although she is still noisy.....but she always was and always will be . She now does the opera singing la la la la on and on loud andtuneless .
It adds a whole new meaning to bird song .

Thinking of u, and I know u will do what u have to do and noone can misjudge you .
K

 

[Minzer84]

Well, this morning Iggy was doing the screaming again, and I guess it continued with my boyfriend after I left for school...but then my bf got a brilliant idea and took Iggy off of his perch and put him on the floor every time he started up again (he will NOT yell from the floor, probably a dominance thing), and it only took two times for him to stop yelling for the day...the boy may be on to something...

Still not sure what to do about the aggression, since I'm so afraid of him now. Tonight when I got home, I carried him around with an oven mitt on my hand and let him walk around on the counter and play with the cat kibble while I got his dinner ready, and he seemed fairly content.

Can u take him to a friends for a v isit. Rox always shy and clingy when away from home.

Iggy is very good around people and places he doesn't know normally, I'll have to see if any of my friends would let me bring him into their houses, haha.

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to reply to my ranting posts about my bird ...it's hard when one day he's like the birdy spawn of Satan and the next day he's Iggy again, I just get so frustrated and don't know what to do. It's so nice to have other birdy parents to vent to and get ideas from. So I guess I'll do what I can and see how things turn out for now, but still keep my eyes open for Amazon people who may wish to add to their flock and give Iggy a better home than I can. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Peta]

You are so very welcome, thats what we are here for somewhere we can rant and rave about our birds good and bad. And believe me today I could quite happily throttle Bucc, he is in a mood and so we all suffer, pictures are being thrown off the wall, toys are becoming low flying missiles and he's screaming at my washing to move out the way, Me I'm sat here with a smile on my face and ear plugs in. Gotta go curtains are now being taken down by the demon bird.

 

[darkchi]

You could trying giving an avian behaviorists a call, see what they say...

here are some link I found:

http://www.itsagreysworld.com/links/links2.htm

Tried finding one in our area with out any luck, but it is hard to find anything for our fids

 

[Tracy842]

How has Iggy been lately? If I were you I would try sticking with him and see how he is when the mating season is over. If he still is too much for right now I would take him if I was closer. He and Popsicle could get togther and gang up on me

 

[Minzer84]

I was thinking about getting a bird behaviorist, but like you said, there aren't many around, especially in New England! I wrote to a couple awhile ago, and none of them answered, so that route seemed to be hopeless.

This weekend Iggy wasn't AS bad, finally got some blinds up in his room, I slept till 9:15 am on Sunday (I normally wake up to screaming at 7:30)!!! My mom visited on Saturday, and wouldn't you know it, Iggy was a perfect angel for her...she said she had no idea what I was talking about with his behavior I guess it's just me, lol. So no real aggression incidents since the attack on my neck, which is good, but I'm still scared of him, which is not so good.

I would take him if I was closer

Boy wouldn't that be great?? A vacation from the green monster, haha. I bet he would like being around other birds like Popsicle, people keep telling me to get him a friend, but I have a feeling that would only double the headache...

A new behavior that I've noticed in the past couple weeks is that he goes to the bottom of his cage and tears up the paper towels that line the bars...is that some sort of mating behavior, which would further indicate that he's hormonal?

 

[Tracy842]

I never would of gotten an Amazon myself, becuase of how difficult they can be sometime. But now that I have Pepsi, I love them. She is also called the docile giant of the amazons. If I had of gotten her as a baby she would be the best pet anyone could ask for.

I know what your going through with Iggy sometimes you just wanna scream and pull your hair out but you love them so much. Wow your doing it while going to school, don't know how you manage.

Here are some books and DVD's you could check out.


[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Karen-Pryor/dp/1860542387/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9399674-1380039?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174927496&sr=8-1"]http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Shoot-Dog-Karen-Pryor/dp/1860542387/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9399674-1380039?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174927496&sr=8-1[/ame]

This is training for everything from animals to people. Also talks about clicker training I havn't tried this myself, but highly reccommened by alot of people for parrots.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Solving-Behavioral-Problems-Companion-Parrots/dp/1895270278/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9399674-1380039?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174927603&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.com/Solving-Behavioral-Problems-Companion-Parrots/dp/1895270278/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9399674-1380039?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174927603&sr=1-1[/ame]

This lady is absoulty fantastic. She has DVD's as well. Hoping to go to a workshop she is having here in July!!!

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/CAPTIVE-FORAGING-Dipl-Scott-Echols/dp/B000NPKEIK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9399674-1380039?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174927716&sr=8-1"]http://www.amazon.com/CAPTIVE-FORAGING-Dipl-Scott-Echols/dp/B000NPKEIK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9399674-1380039?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174927716&sr=8-1[/ame]

This is a DVD about foraging. I'm going to order it soon, I've seen alot of it. Its been known to solve problems in parrots such as feather plucking so maybe you can check it out.

 

[NicoleN]

HAHA..a friend? OMG, you should talk to Karen about when her Amazon had a friend. Hmmm...maybe not another Amazon at least.

If Iggy is being good while your mom is around, then maybe she could move in until the end of May. Just an idea.

I think the tearing up is definitely a sign of his umm...'sexualness'. I think it'd be considered a nesting behavior because he's trying to rip the stuff up to make a nest. Maybe? Just a guess.

 

[karen]

NO NO not the friend ...or fiend just not worth the risk. I started to twitch and wink like Defuss in the pink Panther movies every time he seen Cloussea as soon as I read that suggestion.:22_yikes: Only a plan when boyfriend builds u an aviery.......a sound proof aviery.
Parrots are just so unpredictable , so clever, so stubborn, so beautiful........they say dogs are a reflection of their owners so if our guys reflect us ..we must be like the cast for one flew over the cuckoos nest.:29:

 

[meghanxx4]

You say that your scared of Iggy, maybe he senses your weakness towards him and takes advantage. Maybe your mother wasn't scared or didn't show it atleast and maybe that why he was so nice to her. You also mentioned that when your Boyfriend placed him on the floor he stopped screaming, and when you place him back on his cage or on the counter he goes back to screaming. I know alot of people say to keep birds below eye level or else its like they're the boss, thats why alot of people dont recommend putting bird on your shoulder or head. So maybe if the cage is at eye level or higher than eye level place him on something lower. Just and idea, and alos try not show any weakness toward them(i know thats easier said than done aswell) but just a few ideas.
I woul keep him till the end of mating season, because who knows it may be a mating behaviour, infact it probably is.

 

[TexDot33]

You say that your scared of Iggy, maybe he senses your weakness towards him and takes advantage ... You also mentioned that when your Boyfriend placed him on the floor he stopped screaming ... I know alot of people say to keep birds below eye level or else its like they're the boss, thats why alot of people dont recommend putting bird on your shoulder or head. So maybe if the cage is at eye level or higher than eye level place him on something lower. Just and idea, and alos try not show any weakness toward them(i know thats easier said than done aswell) but just a few ideas ...

Wow, out of the mouth of a 'child' comes words that we should listen to ... Meghan, please, take a bow!!

She has 'hit' the provebial "nail right on the head" here ... I know that in training I have heard of people people putting thier birds on the floor as punnishment, remember you are BIGGER THAN THEY ARE ... also, I am sorry, I can't remember if Iggy is clipped ... if he is not, DO IT! It will make a difference in his behavior as well!

I can also recall a story I once heard about a macaw that wanted you to know that she was rule of the roost. The story goes that the owner would introduce her Hy macaw to new people. The Hy would greet the person, and look them up and down and get a feel for the new person. The Hy would let the person get comfortable with the bird and then later the Hy would tap the new person on the shoulder with her beak, lunge at the person's face (never did she bite anyone) with her wings spread fully and yell, "BOOO" and then LAUGH at the person as they screamed in fear :52: ... birds know who they can take advantage of, and they know who the leaders are ... you need to be the leader, and not the butt of the joke ...

 

[NicoleN]

I can't remember if Iggy is clipped ... if he is not, DO IT! It will make a difference in his behavior as well!

Wow. I can't believe I completely forgot about clipping to curb aggresssion. Good thinking Tex

 

[Peta]

All my guys are flighted and I love it that way, BUT if Bucc or Kito ever became aggressive then I would have them clipped without a doubt. Try to show Iggy that your NOT afraid of him, because they really can pick up on that so quickly.

Meghan, you've hit the nail right on the head there, Keep Iggy well below eye level at all times, hence YOU are the dominant one not him. It is all so very easy to say I know.

Bucc is not aggressive toward any of us. But every now and then he will fly over and land on my head if I'm not quick enough to bring the hand up. When I go to get him off he will give me a nip, just to tell me that he's not happy with that. I never allow him to be above eye level at anytime. He will climb on the top of his cage which is taller than me, but if I need to get him in, then he has to come down to me, before I pick him up.

 

[Minzer84]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! Iggy is clipped, I couldn't imagine being divebombed by him (I am amazed by your pictures of your birds flying, Peta)!! Also, I did take the top of his playgym off so that he is always below eye level, and his dinner stand is fairly short. His cage IS taller than me, but that doesn't seem to be much of a problem since he's always out of his cage when I'm home. But despite the fact that he is clipped and always lower than me, that's when he chooses to attack and scream and be a nightmare...which seems strange. When he bit my neck last week, he jumped off of his dinner stand and grabbed onto the back of my shirt and proceeded to reach up and take a chunk out of my neck even though he had been lower than me. So far the floor punishment is still working...

I'm sure you're all very right with not letting him see that I'm afraid of him, and it's definitely easier said than done, those bites HURT (as you all know)!!!! I'm trying to pick times when I know he is calm and pick him up with my bare hand for a few seconds and then put him down and tell him what a good boy he is the whole time. I figure that might be a good way to work back to trusting each other...I held a female orange wing amazon yesterday who would never dream of biting anyone, I was in complete awe, but it reminded me what Iggy was like before, and I felt a little bit better and more confident.

And don't worry, I have no intention of getting Iggy a friend, it definitely sounds like an all around bad idea...I think they would pretty much egg each other on all day. And then I might just jump out of a window...but I do want a sound proof bird room someday when I own a house (which is not for a long time, lol).

I'm trying to be patient with Iggy, and you guys are such a huge help, I look forward to reading all of your suggestions and ideas every time I come on. It really helps to have a bird support group I'm going to try to keep him past mating season and see what happens, which shouldn't be a big issue because who would want to adopt an aggressive amazon anyway?

Once again, thanks to all of you, sorry for the verbose response!

 

[Peta]

So far the floor punishment is still working...

If that is what works for you both, then keep with that. No good trying to change something that is working.

I am amazed by your pictures of your birds flying, Peta!!

Its awesome to see them flying around and it works for me, Bucc chooses not to bite (unless I'm doing something which I know he doesn't like or want, or I scare him) he just flies off. Usually when I don't want him too. It does have its drawbacks sometimes believe me, like at bedtime, and he decides that he doesn't want to go to bed, off he flies. Pros and cons with everything I guess