Change in behaviour

[cml]

As of late, Stitch is behaving a bit odd.
We've had a wonderful time since we overcame aggression issues etc last spring, and lately I have been working on regaining the trust for being held for longer period of times. The last couple of weeks have been great, Stitch has been terrific, and we'd come to a point where I could comfortably grab him, have him on his back etc. He even looked forward to it during training sessions, as he knew he would get lots of praise and a supertreat. You could really see his eagerness and that he knew he was doing well.

Then a few days ago, he suddenly would have none of it and he bit me, for the first time in ages to draw blood. I was quite sad, because I thought we were doing so well. But he would have no part in being picked up, and today he accepted a hand on his back very calmly, but as soon as my thumb started pointing downwards (as to a grab) he became very cross with me and started walking about angerily on his training perch.

Another thing that has happened is that he for the last few days no longer wants his evening head scratch and cuddles. Its been our routine that he always comes up to the bars just before going to bed (by himself) and asks for a scratch. I then scratch his head for a few seconds and tell him good night.
This isnt how its been the last few days, he's been a different bird, attacking the bars if I come close.

These two things are the only areas in which he's changed, which I find odd. He's still super friendly in all other aspects, plays with us when out, steps up without any biting, still loves all training other than handling etc.

His poop is all normal, and his weight is unchanged, I always monitor this as most of you probably know. Other than this strange behaviour, he's acting just as normal.

Any ideas?

[marie83]

Any environmental cues which means he is thinking its breeding season? Anything that may have frightened him? Might he have a slight injury thats making him grumpy but hasn't chanced his physical appearence, posture or movement? I do think you've probably considered all of this though but just in case.

[cml]

Im not sure, but I dont believe it to be a change in the environment. The parrot room is not affected by the time of year outside, as its completely run on timers, and with blinds over the windows if there's any light, so that their day rythm can remain constant.
They sleep from 10pm till 11am everyday and that hasnt changed either.

One thing that has changed recently is that we've started to let them fly whereever they want in the appartment when we are home (we have a very big appartment), allowing them more degree of freedom. They've always been out of the cage as much as possible, but generally we've been in either the parrot room, the hallway or in the livingroom, and seldomly in all at once. It might be that he is a bit unsure because of this, but I dont think so because he's completely at ease when out.
If anything, he and Leroy both seem more content from this change =),

He has become a bit nervous of things, more so than he was as a baby, but I figured this was just a phase, and it doesnt seem to be connected to this.

The injury part is quite possible, but it much be a very small hurt if it is, because there is no other sign of it. Maybe his wings hurt a little bit, and he doesnt want to be touched there, but they cant hurt that much because he's still doing his attack jet style flying (I love to watch him fly, he's so good at it, really beautiful to watch =))

Other than that, no, and Ive seen no change in movement.

Thanks for your input marie!

[friend2parrots]

the situation does indeed sound puzzling...

sometimes, even when I don't know what's causing my GCC's moods, I have found it helpful to do some flight recall exercises across the longest continuous width of my house with him, until he seems tired. he then seems so much more relaxed. so i was thinking perhaps what might help stitch is doing some more of these "laps" across your home right before the specific training exercise that seems to provoke his aggression, so he can burn off some steam beforehand. but it sounds like you are probably already doing this --

also, i was wondering, at what age do the white fronted amazons reach maturity, and how old is stitch? (from what i've read, amazons go through an extended hormonal period when they first reach maturity, but it varies between the species)

[cml]

They should reach maturity at the age of 2-3 years for males and slightly older for females.
Stitch is coming up at 2 years this may, so he's not much short of it. He might be early into "the terrible two's" but I was hoping I had some more time before that phase hit us ^^.

In the wild, their breeding starts right about now, and goes on for a few months, so I guess it can be hormonal...

Yeah, they fly about a lot during the afternoon, and usually get a little tired towards the evening.

[cml]

Today's training session was much better again, he was a bit pissed, but allowed me to grab him five times without any biting at all. He did a little walk to show that he was a bit pissed about halfway through, but he quickly moved passed it =).
Hopefully it was just some strange quirk in his mood that changed the behaviour of the last few days.

[friend2parrots]

Glad to hear your training session went better today - it sounds like the particular lesson you are working on is desensitizing him to being grabbed and held ? Its definitely a great thing for him to learn. so maybe he is just adjusting to the lesson - perhaps it might help to rewind to the point at which he was showing the least bit of discomfort, and start working again from there.

They should reach maturity at the age of 2-3 years for males and slightly older for females. Stitch is coming up at 2 years this may, so he's not much short of it. He might be early into "the terrible two's" but I was hoping I had some more time before that phase hit us ^^.In the wild, their breeding starts right about now, and goes on for a few months, so I guess it can be hormonal...

hmm.... i think i agree with you that it just might be the case that Stitch is entering his hormonal "terrible twos". because he seems to be the right age, according to what you've said. It would also explain the "trying to bite through the cage bars" that you mentioned above.
Because territorial aggression is supposed to increase when their hormone levels increase.

so it might be that the "quirks in his mood" might be caused by the hormone load in his system thats just starting to increase. it sounds like youve already done the research on this . from what I've read about young amazon males, their terrible twos can last for at least a year, and is longer for the larger species of amazons. (luckily WFAs are the littlest of the bunch! )

well in any case, good luck, and don't take his nips and bites personally - from what you've written, it does seem that hormonal forces are at work guiding his instincts, in a way that he may not always be able to control.

[terri]

CML .I think its great how your schedule with them is .[It seems you have everything covered that you read about].Amazon bites are no fun .I find my grey and new amazon are the ones to show their moodiness more and are head strong.I had a couple thoughts see if they might apply.Hes not molting is he? Normally my male caique whos sweet as pie.Became almost vicious and I realized what it was and returned back to himself when it was over.Also terrible2s are a real thing .You also hear about what amazons turn into when they are maturing and can be difficult.I think all we can do for that is be aware and learn everthing you can.Last thing I think its great that your letting them have more flying freedom [he must love it] but this reminds me a little on what my grey does normally his out time is pretty structured.But sometimes when hes being well behaved and not getting into things.We let him do what he wants and sometimes because of that he gets a big head and insists he wants to do what he wants and we get bit or he does act put out.Do you think the extra freedom is making him be like this .Sounds like hes upset with what you want him to do .I would ease back and put less pressure on him and focas on your relationship until he seems like his old self

[Dave & Karen]

Birds will take advantage of new found freedoms which could be a part of it all, it could very well be that he wants out of the cage and to be able to do what he wants when he wants before he has anything to do with you, then after he's been flying around freely he may think he's too good to associate with you etc... I've seen that in our parrotlet after setting up our bay window for his play space... to the point that when he's out and if the curtains are open he'll go play in the bay window but won't come out or let us pick him up etc, flying away just before a hand gets too close, then if caught he'll put up a fight. I noticed this so I closed the curtains and didn't let him in the bay window for a few days and he was back to normal so I opened the curtains again to see if that was the cause and sure enough... as soon as he got in there again he wanted nothing to do with us and would fight it all the way when it was time to get him out or put him back in his cage so now the bay window is something he has to earn by being nice while he's out, and if he comes to us when it's time to put him up or if we need to leave and he needs to be in his cage etc, then he's allowed to go back in there the next day etc... Since then I've moved his toys and made him more perches and play areas in our room so the bay window for him is a rare occasion at best and he seems to have lost his attitude so you might want to try rationing his new found freedom for a few days to see if he improves, he could very well be acting out because he has free reign of the house instead of what he was used to... then you can give him free reign when he's behaving but go back to only the parrot room or wherever he used to be able to play at any sign of his acting out so he still knows who's in charge.

[GreenWing]

'Could be hormonal... but how are his feathers? Does it look like he might start a molt?

Tiki has been a major punk the last couple of days, and we noticed today that she is starting to molt. From what I've read, birds can be really crabby during the molting process.