kim & Percy
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| 10-06-2011 12:52 PM |
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Had Percy for about four weeks now after taking him off my mum due to aggression and biting which has gradually got worse over several months. Everything was going well and Percy seemed calmer, going in and out of his cage and being quite chirpy and chatty. He had to go to the vets last night to have his nails clipped and I was dreading getting him there how would I get this bird into the cage to my surprise he went into the cage without any problem. The vet was brilliant turned the light off and got Percy out of his little cage wraped him in a towel and cut his claws without using any sedation. Percy was chatting away in the car all the way home and climbed into his usual cage like a good boy when we got home. However today he's like the bird from hell !! He was fine all day until I let him out at about 5 oclock he flew onto the window sill like he usually does then he just flew at me took a chunk out of my finger and was still coming back for more. I left the room shut the door for a couple of minutes and went back in. His eyes were pinning and his feathers were ruffled and he flew at me again he wasnt at all happy and kept going for me. It took an hour and a half to get him into his cage my finger dripping with blood I really dont know what to do for the best. I was mucking about with his cage before the attack could this have provoked him. When we finally got him into the cage he let me stroke him and was chatty. One thing I do know is that Im terrified of him please help!! |
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steve b
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| 10-06-2011 01:28 PM |
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Sorry to hear about this Kim, i'm sure someone on here can help, i have never had an ammie so don't know all there traits. |
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Daddy to 3 Budgies an Orange Wing Amazon, an African Grey and a flock of Lovebirds |
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Helen W
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| 10-06-2011 01:55 PM |
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Kim,
You are understandably afraid of him, but you really must do your best not to show him that.
It will take some courage and commitment but get him up tomorrow as if nothing different has happened. If you expect him to change, he might. If you suspect him to attack you, he will. I suspect you're right, it was probably fiddling with his cage that set him off. I would guess one issue is to try to learn his signs early on, so that he doesn't have time or opportunity to draw blood. However, all parrot owners know it is inevitable from time to time.
What you really should be doing is congratulating yourself for your success so far. From what you described, Percy is already so much more improved - keep up the good work.
Just one question - how old is Percy? I'm just wondering if he might be a bit hormonal right now. We all know that puberty can cause confusion in us, whatever our species  |
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kim & Percy
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| 10-06-2011 02:01 PM |
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Hi Helen
Percy is four yrs old. Im really quite scared of letting him out tomorrow should i keep him in his cage or will this add to the problem.
How long are they normally hormonal for any ideas, its bad enough with the teenagers let alone the bird lol ! |
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Helen W
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| 10-06-2011 02:08 PM |
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I would suggest that any routine you have already developed you stick to - it really will pay off in the long run. Birds are a lot like toddlers, routines work really well for them. Changing his routine and leaving him in his cage might well complicate things. You have already done the most courageous thing and taken him on for his benefit.
And I know what you mean about hormonal teenagers, birds HAVE to be easier! Silly season can last a few months, so be patient with him. Remenmber, he loves you really, he just has a strange way of showing it. |
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kim & Percy
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| 10-06-2011 02:23 PM |
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thanks, but at the moment I really do think he hates me. He never liked me when mum had him hopefully one day we can be friends. I will continue with the routine apprehensive bout letting him out tho but will persevere. Wish me luck! |
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Doddie Kent
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| 11-06-2011 01:57 AM |
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This will stir up a can of worms, but.... sometimes a wing clip can remove huge aggression. It's not permanent, it doesn't hurt, and it grows out, so it might be worth thinking about. Get an avian vet to do it - both wings - and you'll be surprised at the result. I've had (still got) Ammies here, and I don't know why it works, but nine times out of ten it does. Think about it.
Doddie |
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Sheena
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| 11-06-2011 02:47 AM |
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Have you tried Camomille tea which certainly calmed a cockatoo I had which had attitude. |
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clair
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| 11-06-2011 02:48 AM |
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morning kim how are you getting on today?? |
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life is to short for regrets, learn from them and smile x |
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Paul Brooks
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| 11-06-2011 03:05 AM |
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Doddie
I so agree with you in this situation |
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Kathy
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| 11-06-2011 03:10 AM |
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Have to back-up what Doddie said re wing clip.
We have a Mealy Amazon who, on her first day out of the cage (a Saturday), flew straight at my sons face & chomped. Cue stressed phone call to Doddie & plan formed to wing clip whilst looking for female-only safehouse.
Clip took place on the Tuesday & whilst she was being held in towel started being all cuddly & "gurgly" to me. That was it!! Bang, I was instantly totally in love - the transformation was nothing short of miraculous!
She still hates men but the men in my life all know this & don't have anything to do with her so its all peace & love as far as Millie is concerned. She has been off again this last couple of weeks but I am convinced she is jealous of another safehouse bird we have at the moment so I just give her lots of love & she's fine again.
Hope you get it sorted - its not nice being anxious about a bird. |
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steve b
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| 11-06-2011 03:40 AM |
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How come both wings are clipped, someone told me that for best result you clip just one so it throws them right off balance when they do try to fly, I.E. full lift at one side but non at the other, like having one wing so they don't try to fly for fear of crashing.
Is the reason both are clipped to allow a bird to make a short leap of faith back onto it's place of safety as opposed to being able to fly for ever.
I don't see it as a can of worms Doddie, if it works and benefits the bird's welfare in the long turn i'm all for it |
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Victoria Whitfield
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| 11-06-2011 05:39 AM |
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A birdline wing clip i.e. both sides allows the bird to 'fly' to the ground if startled without damaging themsleves on landing whereas a clip one side can result in broken bones and serious injury as they simply cannot fly and land with an almighty thud. With a birdline wing clip they cannot get lift to fly away but they could fly for a few yards horizontally. Does that make sense?
I have a clipped ammie that can jump like a kangaroo and often does when he wants to attack visitors, loves me and the other half but everyone else is fair game.
Good luck, patience and routine will win him over. |
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Doddie Kent
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| 11-06-2011 08:48 AM |
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Let me tell you a story... anyone who knows me has already heard this a million times. I used to have dogs. The last two were a German Shepherd and a Greyhound. The GSD had died, I was walking the Greyhound, Jake, who was elderly, with no teeth left at all, through the woods. Frisco, Medium Sulphur Crested 2, soppy tame and who just loves dogs of all sorts, was on my shoulder. Clipped, I might add: she's a Show Bird, and is clipped on a regular basis for obvious reasons. Anyhow, Frisco saw a couple of Dalmatian dogs in the distance, and took off from my shoulder. Remember, she's been clipped. She dropped from my shoulder level to my waist height and made a beeline for the Dalmatians, about 200 yeards away. Jake Greyhound kept pace with her, I was running behind in a panic. As dog and bird got close to the Dalmatians, Jake turned sideways so Frisco slammed into his ribs. He stood over her, bared his gums and glared at the Dalmatians, who were so surprised they took off in a hurry. Lucky for Frisco, she of no brain cell at all, who wanted to cuddle them and be friends. This is just to illustrate that a clipped bird can still fly, just can't fly upwards. They are catchable, that's all. Any clip that stops a bird from flying is cruel - birds need to be able to save themselves if they fall. Frisco was a bit put out not being allowed to play with the Dalmatians, I was just relieved that she was in one piece. When birds are clipped, it seems to remove some of the aggression. Not all, let's not be daft about this, but it makes a significant difference. I would recomment a wing clip to try with Percy. Steve B - a can of worms, because there are people for and against wing clipping, and huge debates start up. I've no wish to stand on a soap box, I just want to say that my experience is that not only with Frisco, who's a sweetie anyway, but also with my very, very savage Blue Fronted Amazon, a wing clip made a huge difference, and with the BFA made it possible to live with him - he would fly the length of the room to kill me, he meant business. He never became a tame bird, but life became much easier once he'd been clipped!
Doddie |
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kim & Percy
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| 11-06-2011 09:10 AM |
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he's out at the moment....reluctantly, walked in and out a few times he looks but dosnt seem to take much notice. He's on the window sill seems to like it there, i have walked in the living room and out through the conservatory (quite calmly) without being attacked. It was like a scene from a horror movie at home yesterday I was absolutely terrified but todays another day and thinking positive. Might consider wing clipping feel bad going that route really but if it helps with the aggresion it may be worth a try! |
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Sheena
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| 11-06-2011 09:18 AM |
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Keeping my fingers crossed for you. |
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Doddie Kent
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| 11-06-2011 09:21 AM |
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If you do decide on a wing clip, have a Birdline one. It's the kindest. If you go to an avian vet (it MUST be an AVIAN vet) ask for a strong clip, both wings, not leaving the primary feathers on the wing edge. If you want to come to me (South London/Surrey area) I can do it for you, but it's a distance. Have a think.
Doddie |
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Helen W
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| 11-06-2011 09:32 AM |
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Kim,
I would like to support the comments on wing-clipping. Done the BL way, it really isn't cruel. It isn't permanent and for aggressive birds can help. Charlie CAG, who has now been with us 3 years was not very sociable when he arrived, plucked and was generally very wary. Whenever he was let out, he would head for the highest point in the room. When time came for him to go to bed or to come down for some food, we couldn't catch him. Some of the members who were on the old forum would tell you that I used to post about chasing him the 35 foot length of our lounge, sometimes for an hour. It meant we couldn't let him out if we were due to go out, since we couldn't ensure his safety without supervision.
What really concerned me was that once or twice he ended up hanging from the net curtains and he also collided with the mirror once. I was terrified he might crash and break his neck.
Pete particularly was against a wing clip but we decided to give it a try - particularly as it was not permanent and if it didn't suit, it would only last up to 6 months. Well, a wing clip and two weeks with Shaz transformed Charlie's life. He now steps up, since he needs our help to get where he wants to go. He spends all day out playing on his java tree and playstand, enjoying life. The only time he goes in his cage is when he goes to bed. It has developed his trust for us and enriched his life - oh, and he now has a chest full of feathers.
So, what I'm trying to say is that by meaning that a bird needs you more, can help develop the bond with you. |
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kim & Percy
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| 11-06-2011 11:08 AM |
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hi doodie whereabouts are you? We are in Berkshire
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Doddie Kent
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| 11-06-2011 11:28 AM |
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I'm in Coulsdon, near Croydon, Surrey. I used to go to the Berkshire Agricultural Show with Frisco, it took me around an hour to get there, if that's any help. If you'd like a clip for Percy, pm me and I'll give you my address & phone numbers. I'm here most of the time, and I always take my mobile when I go out.
Doddie |
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