When Amazons Attack!!!!

[tastakelin]

I have posted before asking why my blue front, Julio bites me when my husband is around. Well, it has become very clear that he thinks of my husband as his mate. He is regurgitating and doing other obscene things to/for him.
If I have a lot of time alone with Julio we are ok with eachother. He is not thrilled to be with me but lets me take him out of his cage and sometimes I can even scratch his head for a few minutes. But when my husband is around, Julio turns vicious. He actually hangs off of his playstand trying to get to me so he can try to tear my face off. Today I sat down next to my husband and Julio charged at me with his wings spread like Karate Kid style. I flinched and he laughed hysterically at me. I have been pushing through it and trying not to get intimidated, but after having my lip sliced open twice and multiple bites on my hands, I have decided to turn to you guys for advice. Has anyone dealt with these hormonal issues before?

 

[ScottinVentura]

I have posted before asking why my blue front, Julio bites me when my husband is around. Well, it has become very clear that he thinks of my husband as his mate. He is regurgitating and doing other obscene things to/for him.

Do you know that your bird is a male? Have you had him sexed? If he is, you're in luck if you can get your husband to work with you and Julio.

Female Amazons are the ones in charge in the relationship. If your bird is a male, he'll obey his "mate" - your husband. My Blue Front is definitely male, and he's picked me as his mate. At first he tried to do the same thing when MOH was around, but I let him know clearly that I wasn't happy with that (scolding, leaving the room, etc.) and it worked. He now accepts treats, never tries to attack, and is generally a happy bird. I'm still his favorite, obviously, but he knows I want him to be nice and he goes along. Your husband will have to do this, there's really no part in it for you, except for being there.

If your bird is actually female, then I'm afraid you're in for a rough road until she settles down, sometime after she's 12 or 13 years old.

 

[Spiritbird]

Hi there Tastakelin While I do not have an Amazon parrot I did do some research on your situation. I found a good article in the following links: Amazon Parrot Behavior Revealed

http://www.parrotparrot.com/articles/amazon.html The articles I read stated the males are the males are the more aggresive ones in breeding season.

 

[ScottinVentura]

One thing that really helped me when I first started with parrots was finding out how they are in the wild - it explains so much about their behavior in a house, and it can give you insight into what they will respond to. I've been looking, but I can't find an electronic version of an excellent article I found several years ago. I did find this one, that has some good basic information:

The Behaviour of Wild Amazon Parrots Peggy’s Parrot Place

 

[tastakelin]

Thanks for the advice. We were told that he is a 5 year old male but we have not had him DNA'd. The person who sold him to us turned out to be a liar, so I'm not sure he was honest about anything.
I read an interesting article about one person birds and how people sometimes subconciously 'get off on' being the bird's 'favorite person' and end up encouraging the bird to only like them. I think my husband may be doing this a little bit. He has started scolding Julio when he charges and attacks me, which he responds to. We'll keep trying...I just wish he loved me as much as I love him. The bird, not my husband.

 

[ScottinVentura]

The person who sold him to us turned out to be a liar, so I'm not sure he was honest about anything.

That's unfortunate, but to be fair, it is really difficult to tell a male from a female, unless you're another Amazon.

I read an interesting article about one person birds and how people sometimes subconciously 'get off on' being the bird's 'favorite person' and end up encouraging the bird to only like them. I think my husband may be doing this a little bit. He has started scolding Julio when he charges and attacks me, which he responds to.

It's flattering to be the favorite, no doubt about that, but it sounds like your husband is willing to give it a shot. I don't claim that this specific thing will work for you, but I found the most effective tactic for me and MOH to get along with Boo was for me to stand back and talk to Boo quietly and calmly while MOH got closer and closer. If Boo lunged, I scolded him and left the room. After a few minutes I'd come back and we'd go through it again. It didn't change all at once, and there were some setbacks, but 7 years later we all peacefully coexist, and Boo has accepted that I want him to be nice.