Update on Meyers Parrot Aggression

[a_dead_bird]

Alright, I took Bartleby to the vet today. You guys had me so paranoid that he could be seriously ill, I couldn't get him there fast enough, so good job! The vet said he seems perfectly healthy: lungs and sinuses sounded clear, and normal weight. I expressed my concerns about exposure to my friend's flock, as well as the sudden aggression. He just

Comments

[lindabcs]

I've had to 'reset' the rules with my 27yo male YNAmazon, and it can do wonders. Part of it is that for those two weeks, you should only have positive interactions- no biting, running, flying about panicked, or chasing. You both get a choice about interacting (or not) through the cage bars and many of those interactions will involve positive (treat) reinforcement and no chances to practice the "bad" behaviors. After two to four weeks of practicing only the good and coming to expect the good, good is more likely to happen when you start to re-introduce out of the cage opportunities.

I taught mine target training while he was in his cage- that made his 'escapes' and getting him to go back in WAY easier. He learned that touching his beak to the target resulted in him getting cheese 100% of the time, so he was thrilled to continue practicing targeting outside of his cage for cheese, and would follow the target right back into his cage in order to get his reward. I seldom have to use that skill now, as he knows that going into his cage always earns him a treat now, so he's happy to do so, but that is what overcame the "OMG, let me try to bite the everloving snot out of you rather than go in my cage" issue we were having... 700g of PO'd Hormonal Amazon was not fun.

[a_dead_bird]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I'm already feeling positively about the process!

And I have to say, "700g of PO'd Hormonal Amazon" had me giggling. I can imagine how terrible it can be, but that description is kinda funny :)