Hello from Denver

[Everett]

Been looking at this forum for a while now, reading and learning.

My friend gave me his two birds because he can't keep them anymore. As far as I can tell, Spanky is a Yellow Crowned Amazon, and Harley is a Blue and Yellow Macaw. My buddy has had both birds for around 25 years, I think he got them when they were young.

I don't think they've had much interaction for quite a while. My buddy said they used to get on his hand but it's probably been years since then. As far as I know they've been cage bound for years.

I want the best for them so I've been reading a lot and watching videos to see how to take the best care of them. Harley is the one I was most concerned about. Probably over the course of a year she plucked all the feathers out of her chest and legs. Since she's been here it appears that they are starting to grow back ever so slowly, and she seems to really love me and the new environment. I get her out to train at least once a day. I taught her to spin around, and flip upside down, then I found target training so, we're doing a lot of that too. She hasn't been brave enough to step on me yet, but we'll get there.

In the last few weeks, my concern has gone from Harley to Spanky. When I started trying to interact with him he turned into a devil bird. His eyes dilate like crazy, his tail fans out and he acts like he wants to kill me. The other day I was putting food in his bowl by opening a small door on the side of the cage. Before I could get the door closed, he was out. He then proceeded to come across the outside of the cage at me, when I stepped away, he jumped off the cage onto the floor so he could chase me across the room. I was able to get him to step up in a perch and get him back to his cage safely. Poor guy, I know he's traumatized by the move, and new environment and is probably doing all he knows.

I read the post on this forum telling how to approach his cage slowly and reward him by leaving him alone. So I've started approaching slowly and clicking once he calms down, and then I'll leave him alone for a bit and do it again. I'm also having a hard time finding something he likes as a treat. He'll eat peanuts at times, but other times he just spits them out. I need to find something that he really likes. I've given him bread and he does enjoy that, but I also heard that birds can have wheat and gluten allergies like humans, so I wondered if that was part of what was making him mean.

Well that's my rambling for now. If you have any ideas on treats to try, or insight for either of my new friends I'd appreciate it.

[Michael]

Welcome. I hope you find the forum helpful and enjoyable.

[Weka]

Hi Everett -- I'm a newbie Coloradoan, as well. Loving all the snow we're getting this week.

Wow, what a wonderful thing, that you are taking on both Spanky and Harley. I really feel for the older birds that are out there, as I'm guessing that there are quite a few that would make awesome companions, given a chance.

I don't have much to give in the way of advice yet, but still wanted to say "welcome" nonetheless and to wish you and your birds much success.


Weka

[cml]

Welcome to the forum! Its very nice of you to take the parrots and offer them a better home!

[JamieleighFox]

In the last few weeks, my concern has gone from Harley to Spanky. When I started trying to interact with him he turned into a devil bird. His eyes dilate like crazy, his tail fans out and he acts like he wants to kill me. The other day I was putting food in his bowl by opening a small door on the side of the cage. Before I could get the door closed, he was out. He then proceeded to come across the outside of the cage at me, when I stepped away, he jumped off the cage onto the floor so he could chase me across the room. I was able to get him to step up in a perch and get him back to his cage safely. Poor guy, I know he's traumatized by the move, and new environment and is probably doing all he knows.

Hey! I'm new here aswell. My amazon Levi (just got her a month ago, nine years old) acts kinda like Spanky at her worst, so I kinda relate. My sister walked by her cage and Levi moved, my sister wasn't aware of movement (and she's kinda scared of birds aswell) so she jumped away from the cage. This made Levi feel powerful and bossy I think, that she scared somebody. So I learned that I should always be calm around her and never let her think that she could scare me. Wish you all the luck with your two birds

[Pajarita]

First of all, thank you for taking them in and trying to give them a better life. The first thing you need to do is take both of them to an avian vet and have a complete exam (physical, CBC, chemical panel, bile acids and body Xrays) because, unless they've been fed very well (fresh food mostly and just a little bit of seed), at their age, they are likely to have medical issues. And, if they do, it's most likely diet related (I say this because 99% of older birds issues are diet related) so you need to know before you start giving out treats as rewards for training (for example, if the birds have fatty liver, both bread and peanuts are no-nos and, if they have high uric acid, you will have to nix the peanuts).

My other suggestion is for you to let them out for, at least, 3 hours every day right before their dinner time -which, this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, should be at 3:30 pm so they can get their endocrine system in tune with the season (lights should be turned off at this time and the birds should be allowed to go to sleep naturally as the night falls). This will help A LOT with the amazon's aggression as he sounds like a male and they get extremely mean when they are sexually frustrated (which happens with older birds that have not been kept at a solar schedule). Letting them at this time is best when you cannot handle them properly because they will be hungry for their dinner (this is the only time they should get high protein food like seeds, nuts or pellets and a measured, small amount at that) and will gladly go back into their cage for it (just put the food in their bowls, leave the room and only come back when is completely dark and I bet you they will be sleeping inside their cages).

This is also good to establish trust because they will really and truly appreciate the gratuitous freedom (it's not free if they have to work for it as in training). Parrots are very smart and soon realize when somebody does them a kindness and, when it comes to birds, nothing is kinder than allowing them freedom from a cage.

Let us know how they progress and whether you have any other specific questions.

PS I have 6 amazons, all but one, older birds (28 to 50 years old), all rescues.