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I have a 10 year old Hispanolian amazon that was bonded to someone else and when they got sick had to get rid of him, he screams and bites everyone but tollerates me to a point. How can I break these habbits? I have had him for 3 years and have tried one on one time, treats, bigger cages, different toys, bird and nature sounds to keep him company while I am gone. I love him but I am at my wits end with what to do. My last resort is going to be to sell him, I don't want to come to that.

To stop biting I use a cayenne pepper mixed with water and spray it on the hands, arms, etc.. wipe it in and then pick up the bird. It is not as bad as it sounds as your zon probably likes hot spices but the spray makes it "think" before it bites.

As for introductions, I won't try and introduce my new adult birds to strangers unless the "locals" (the people who live) in the house are all friends of the new bird first. Strangers often illicit a reaction of fight or flight first to a new bird, so concentrate on making the bird comfortable with it's suroundings, the new flock mates first, then strangers last.

Don't get rid of a bird, there is always a way to deal with problem birds and you have found a good place to get some great help when matters become too much. Stick with your bird and it will come around.

Dutch

Hispanolans are fairly rare in captivity. If you do decide to sell or re-home your bird, I hope you will consider finding a breeder you works with these birds. Their native island is deforested by humans and regularly smacked by hurricanes, so captive breeding continues a population that has a hard time in its native habitat.