Behavior Question

[CocosMomma]

I've always wondered why Coco does this - video is only 1 min 20 sec.

When husband comes in room she either gets arrogant and tells him goodbye, or goes into the mode on video...

Baby-like it seems to me. When he leaves, she acts 'normal' again. Notice, head bobbing, baby begging (?) noise; sleepy eyes.
Anyone seen this before?

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee216/rc766/Coco/th_11-7PicsandVideos024.jpg (http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee216/rc766/Coco/?action=view&current=11-7PicsandVideos024.flv)

[Jim]

Not very sure about zon body language but I'll tell you what I see relative to my boys. They like Sharon but I'm the favored.

When they don't want her around they either display their dislike, pinning eyes, slightly raised wings, slightly fluffed-up, things like that. They also will do similar things Coco is doing but in macaw language.

I have always taken it that they know this will get my attention, which it always does, so they do it so I pay attention to them or possibly to feel safe since I'm the one they come to when things are a-miss.

Maybe you could watch and see, when hubby isn't around, if he does something similar when he wants you or is a little up set.

Just thinking out loud.

[CocosMomma]

Jim,
Thanks, that is VERY helpful.:beerchug: :thanx:

Actually, as I now think back, she's done that once or twice a few years back from being scared in her environment (she is afraid of toys larger than her for example) and one time when she was at the new house and feeling a bit unsettled, I found her in a corner doing that - sort of calling to me to come get her.
Now that you mention it... why didn't I think of that??!!:doh: :rotflmao:

Thank you for taking the time to think this one through with me - I was thinking, why the baby-acting stuff? She's all grown up.:shrug2:

I want to know why she does what she does so I can make sure I meet all her needs.

Of course, the times she's done it, she's got my attention, as you say the same way as your macaws. Lots of attention and comfort. I guess, a sort of - mommy come rescue me. The head bobbing and noises are definately like when she was hand feeding.

[Jim]

You're more than welcome. :)

edit:
Coco, forgive me sweetie. I called you *he* above. My bad, sorry!

[SadennaAndFlock]

how old? yep that looks like baby body language I see it alot with babies that are not weaned yet or just weaned...might be an attention thing as the noises seem very much like a baby wanting to be comforted or fed, I have seen adult female birds do that towards their mates during breeding season when they want to be fed by them they fluff up and bob their head and make cooing noises almost.

[Shirley]

In the video, just looking at the behavior, she looks like she's about to doze off to sleep, slightly rocking forward/backward, beak closed, eyes going half-shut off and on.

The baby-begging behavior I've seen displayed by parrots is more obvious, with head thrown back a little, beak open, crying a little like a colicky baby, asking to be fed. A scratchy-sounding cry, wings slightly flared and slightly fluttering or quivering. Maybe the camera inhibited her behavior here.

[SadennaAndFlock]

looks like a sleepy baby thats been fed but has not quite realized it yet...macaws, and cockatoos are very much beggers when young and the head bobbing and wing flip is very very noticeable, pionus and amazons that i have seen as babies sometimes are not quite as oh whats the word I am looking for the movement is not quite as emphsized I guess as some larger birds....

[Shirley]

Since she's 11, I'm inclined to think it's mating-related?

[SadennaAndFlock]

mmm possible if she does it when the husband is around...she might see hubby as a potential mate...

[Jean]

Females often flip their rear end upward and make those noises when they are flirting. If they are close to you they will butt right up next to you and do that when flirting or looking for a potential mate.

[CocosMomma]

Apologies for the lengthy response!:nuts:

:thanx: all for your great input and brain-storming this with me!
She is 11, and I am definately her mate. At certain times of the year she will try to regurg food to me, flirt, and do other typical signs. At these times, I cannot handle her as usual cos it stimulates her and would make her go through the motions of trying to lay an egg (altho never has). I cannot encourage that sort of thing;) . I have learned what not to do during these times, and these symptoms have lessened as she has matured... Pooooor thing..... I understand. It's just part of the package.:rotflmao:

She strongly dislikes my husband. She tolerates him on the level that he provides treats, changes her music station, and is fun to chat with from a distance. If he even walks near her, and she has a wide "personal zone", she will growl loudly at him, rear back - express a fear-type response more so than agression. She has never bit him. He has never been anything but nice, helpful, and giving her lots of treats, so he doesn't deserve the cold-wing:) . The only way she would ever growl at me is if I tried to take a toy away from her that she was playing with or something... I'd have to work very hard to make her growl at me.

If he gets close to her, and I am also close, she will jump over to me and start cuddling with me. If he gets close to me and she is on me, she will not bite me (as I always am careful to watch for), but she will tell him goodbye. In other words, I'm having mommy time - so, get lost, sucker...:funny:

So I am more inclined to think she is trying to get me to rescue her from him. Make herself seem baby-ish and helpless so mommy will rescue her from the big, bad mean man??? I am fascinated by parrot behavior and want to understand my fids as completely as possible. She won't do it every time he comes around, but WILL do it if she is near me.

Before and after the video, she was neither sleepy nor making the noises, we were playing, talking and having fun. She just started when he walked in, and that's when I turned the camera on. The minute he leaves, she back to a normal posture, playing, talking, the world is fine.

Also notice at the very beginning of the video, you will see her move toward me right before she starts making the noises.

I do really like to understand best I can what she is thinking and experiencing so I can react in a positive, comforting manner. I am appreciative for ALL the input, experience and even though different species, it is helpful information to brainstorm through this, whether a macaw or an pionus!

[SadennaAndFlock]

Amazons are funny birds..they can change personalties faster than flipping a light switch and I commend those who have them...

If she is healthy and all I would not worry about it...it just could be like you said her way of getting your attention

[CocosMomma]

Amazons are funny birds..they can change personalties faster than flipping a light switch and I commend those who have them...

You are soooooo right!!!:agree:

Over the years, many (including hubby) have thought me crazy for my love of zons... I have a yellow nape and tres maria amazon (males) in a breeding program..... they were some spunky fella's, and I can't count how many othere zons I've trained and fostered over the years... I used to work for a pet store taming and training them to make them more likely to get adopted. YES, they are unpredictable... in a predictable kind of way. Hubby calls Coco "psycho-bird".... I wouldn't have it any other way!!!:nuts: Flipping a light switch is a perfect description!:thumbup:

[SadennaAndFlock]

LOL I agree with your husbands description..they can be. One minute sweet and cuddly and the next want to rip your arm off and beat ya with it...especially during breeding season and all those hormone surges going. I think they are very neat birds and can certainly be entertaining thats for sure. It seems from age 5-6 up to about 8 seems to be when people seem to have the most problems with them and they wind up getting rid of them instead of riding out the hormonal wave and working with it. The one thing I have learned about zons is you cannot let them get away with anything or you have lost the game totally they are good and bullying and bluffing and use that to their advantage and they can be scary sometimes.my husband teases me that have no problems with large macaws but won't mess with an amazon..hmm I wonder why..lol

I always advise people to stick train their amazons for the simple fact they can avoid being bitten during those hormomal times but yet can still transport their zon from one place to another in the house safely, I have also heard many will keep their zons clipped for the saftey of other birds in the house and for the safety of people in the house due to some becoming aggressive suddenly and all to attacking other people in the hosue, and other animals in the house with no provoking....I mean you can train all you want but can't do nothing about mother nature when those hormones get going...lol

[CocosMomma]

Coco was a real 'bullet' from age 2 through 5!!!!:funny: :funny: :funny:

During her times of highest hormones, it was actually easier for my husband to handle her because I'm her mate. But it helps that she is stick-trained for those times of craziness! It is true what they say of a zon: "if they can't bite the one they love, they will bite the one they are near," so you always have to watch that!:D (Generally speaking, of course, and mostly, for her, during times of hormone or excitement overload.)

Since I had previous experience with amazons, I was prepared to handle those tough hormonal years, and that is when many end up in breeding or re-homed. Even when more mature, they are still subject to hormonal impulses, year round, despite her not being one of the "hot three" and despite the fact that they do lessen in frequency and intensity with age.

It really does make a difference for her how much light she gets (a MINIMUM of 12 hours of darkness), and more if she gets hormonal), and since too much protein seems to be a trigger for her personally, (I believe: ample food + ample protein = ideal mating and egg laying conditions in her mind), I don't give her any extra cheese or protein other than what is in her pellets when she is hormonal. Just seems to set her off somewhat.

One gets very good at reading their body language. This is why I want to understand this thing she does around my husband from time to time, cos it is always best to understand what a zon is saying. If you don't - you will potentially suffer the punishment! Coco fully expects to only have to tell me her feelings once!:D Some days, I am soooo slowwww.....:wub: