All my questions and concerns about Amazons

[CDavis]

1: I will be getting an Amazon in about 9 months (will be named maverick because I already have a bird named goose and goose and maverick would be awesome) I want a yellow naped Amazon because one of my good friends has one that I have handled and I really enjoy him but I am very open to suggestions so if you could tell me your favorite Amazon and why that would be amazing.
2. I have the time and the funds and the patience to give both the Amazon and Goose amazing lives so that is not a question or concern.
3. I think both birds would benefit from having an aviary in my back yard and I would love to build it myself so if any of you guys have any tips or links to how to build an aviary please let me know.
4: what should I expect most of the stuff I have read has been on pages sponsered by breeders and I want to make sure I have the whole truth on what it's like to live with these awesome birds I have spent a couple days with them but that nothing compared to the years you guys have.
5: I have looked and I cannot find an Amazon breeder in all of North Carolina so what are your views on breeders shipping birds. (If anyone here is an Amazon breeder near North Carolina please let me know and you will have a customer)

 

[SailBoat]

First welcome to the Real World of Parrots: The Amazon Forum! THE place that Amazon's Rule!

Regarding Breeders and Amazons, and that mid Florida is a day drive from NC. Why not make contact with a real Amazon Breeder, who happens to be a well-known contributor (and a bit more) of this Parrot Forums: Henpecked. If he doesn't swing in a Post here, you can MP him. IMHO, why not go for the best and leave the rest behind. After all, that's a standard if you're really going to become 'Owned By An Amazon!'

As an Amazon Snob! I like them all! Yes, I have a couple of favorites. but at the end of the day; All Amazon's Have More Fun!

Yellow Napes are one of those favorites! Napes are big personality Amazons! As one of the largest Amazons, they have the physical presents to back-up that personality.

A backyard aviary is a subject in and of itself and once you get closer to funding this project that would be the time to really get into the dos and don'ts. Prior to that, check the building codes in your area to better understand what requirements you will need to full-fill.

So, you want to be 'Owned By An Amazon!' I strongly recommend that you spend your time looking (reading) the Amazon Forum and getting an understanding of what others have experienced. Also read the first Thread in the Amazon Forum: Understanding Amazon Body Language! This is THE starting point in a long and wonderful life with an Amazon. If you fail to read and understand your Amazon's Language - Well, you will 'feel' the BITE of your error!

Amazon's Rule!

 

[CDavis]

Does henpecked have a website? Because I wouldn't be opposed to driving to Florida

 

[SailBoat]

Easier than that! In the upper right hand corner of your Parrot Forums you will see: Welcome, your forum name and at the bottom of that is a light blue line: Private Messages: Check and email him. NOTE: Since you're new here, you may have to contact a Moderator to forward your email. Once that's done, you can communicate and get what information you will need.

However, do not be surprised if he has more question than you. His babies only go to those who meet his requirements!

 

[Peppo]

Read and read some more so you know what you are getting into! If you are prepared, you will be in for an awesome ride with an Amazon. My male DYH is 23 years young and is the light of my day. Unpredictable sometimes, never boring, up to do any thing new and such a lovebug. Be prepared and you can't go wrong. Life isn't dull with an Amazon.

 

[CDavis]

Peppo what is the DYH like and how are they different from the yellow naped in terms of temperament

 

[Peppo]

They are both "the hot three" but I am a firm believer that they are individuals. I have never had a yellow nape but have been told a male DYH might be the friskiest! That being said it is up to you to a large extent how they end up. Both need a firm companion but lots of love goes a long way in getting a the cuddle bug out of them and you so can. Plenty of socialization, new adventures but being firm when you mean no. They do tend to be one person birds but can learn to tolerate others. My vote has to go to the DYH as the most beautiful. They are also amazing talkers and singers. Mine is asking for supper right now. Good luck!

 

[CDavis]

Speaking of one person birds which of the amazons are more likley to enjoy meeting new people and going new places I'm going to try and create an extremely adjusted parrot

 

[BeatriceC]

I can't speak for all Amazons, but our YNA is a fiercely one person bird. I have spent literally years worming my way into his heart, as I am the non-favorite human, and I've only made slight progress. We have a truce agreement. He lets me pet him from time to time, but only if I ask nicely and he's in the mood. He does let me take him out on a stick, and I've started working with him on target training, buy my status in his life is still (almost painfully) clear.

That said, Goofy has a bit of a history. He lived with a confirmed bachelor for his babyhood and for a few years post-adolescence. He mostly hung out at his first human's shop (he was a mechanic), but didn't interact much with the customers. To that end, he doesn't mind strange people moving around him, so long as they don't approach him. Then he hit adolescence and became unmanageable to his human. His human was also being forced to move into smaller accommodations and didn't have room, plus apartment living and a cranky amazon don't mix well. So MrC took him at that point (original human is MrC's brother-in-law). At that time, my stepdaughters were still in high school, but he still didn't take too well to either of them. He's a little bit better with the one, but to this day he still tries to attack the other. In a few short years, they moved out. Prior to me, MrC had a live in girlfriend who tormented the poor bird (this was part of what led to the break up). His distrust of women only solidified with that treatment.

At this point, he's got such a long history (he's 32 now), he's pretty set in his ways. It has taken patience and persistence to get as far as I have. MrC is actually shocked at how much I've been able to do with him, but I think that's just the fact that I'm more stubborn than he is.

So, like somebody else said above, it's possible to get a well socialized amazon, but it takes work and a lack of bad experiences over the long haul. You're going to get out of your bird what you put into him, at least equal, but probably even more. There are, of course, exceptions, as each bird is an individual, but if you want a well socialized bird you're going to have to work for it.

 

[Kiwibird]

Good choice on getting an amazon! I personally quite biased towards the stocky green guys They are great birds, self-entertain well, social (when properly socialized), intelligent, not terribly prone to behavioral issues (when properly trained/socialized/cared for). I think you will find the behavior of yellow napes, double yellow heads and blue fronts fairly similar (with YNAs being the largest in general of the hot 3 zons). Do know, those 3 species of amazons are known for having particularly rough puberties (which will start age 4-6 and last until 10-12-ish when they mellow out into a mature adult). Every bird is a unique individual, of course.

As for an outdoor aviary, it is advisable to buy one pre-made. Many metals safe for other animals contains alloys (the worst/most common offender being zinc, but there are others) which are highly poisonous to parrots. Due to their climbing nature, they will have a lot of oral contact with the metal, so there is no safe way to use any kind of zinc-coated fencing or chicken wire. Not to mention they chew wood voraciously, so framing the aviary will be a challenge in either finding a durable non chewable material or making it so any wood cannot be reached by the bird. Stainless steel is really the only safe and secure building material for parrots people can do at home, so if you have the ability to weld it and buy stainless materials, I'm sure you could build one. But I have a feeling a nice quality non-toxic powder coat one pre-made would be cheaper and easier (that or a very large cage for outside, like a double macaw).

 

[CDavis]

So Beatrice what are the differences In the different types of amazons if none are better and things than others is it purely coloring and size are any of the birds quieter than other because I do live in a residential area

 

[BeatriceC]

I didn't say that "none are better than others". Birds, like humans, are individuals. There are some pretty strong common traits among species and sub-species, but with enough work, you can overcome most of the "negative" traits that they have. I put negative in scare quotes because what some people view as negative, others will see as a positive. Additionally, birds change with age. While Goofy was an unholy terror when he was younger, he's pretty quiet now. Every once in a while he does his porn star imitation, which is mortifying, as it's at top volume, but for the most part he just mutters at a barely conversational volume. This was the same bird that was given up because, among other things, he was too loud. The difference is mostly the intervening 18 years.

So back to what I said, each bird is an individual and you're going to get out of the bird what you put into it. My advise would be to visit with a whole bunch of birds before you make a choice. My birds are all rescues, and my macaw was acquired with very little notice and just a short meet and greet before she was in my car and on my way home, but if I actually actively sought out a bird, I would spend a few weeks or more looking and interacting with a bunch of different birds to see who's personality was a match with mine.

I love my amazon, by the way. Even though he's MrC's bird, I love that little green monster just as much as I love my own birds. He brings so much joy and laughter into my house, I can't imagine life without him.

 

[CDavis]

Thanks a lot for all the help I have 9 months to learn and choose the perfect bird but I will be sure to harass everyone with a ton of questions until and probably after I get him

 

[wrench13]

Also check out Panama and of course the yellow shoulder amazons. Much smaller, more mellow, not as loud, though all parrots have their loud periods. Both of these are rarer in aviculture, but worth the hunt. I wouldnt trade my Salty for gold. Well maybe gold..... no not even gold.

 

[BeatriceC]

Also, birds, like toddlers, like to make a liar out of you. I just said Goofy was quiet.

Ummm, yeah.

He's currently shouting his entire vocabulary at top volume. He has his moments. This happens a few times a year, so of course it would happen as soon as I said he was a quiet bird. I'm currently being serenaded with:

Come here
Hi, Goofy, Hiiii
Sara (neighbors kid who's graduated from college already)
Stuart (my kid...wanna guess who gets in trouble the most?)
Hello
What's up
NO
Charlotte (new bird, we say her name a lot)
Cheese, please!
Help me up
Good boy
Dinner time?
And of course the porn star imitation (this is not my fault. He arrived here already doing that.)

I'm sure there's more I'm missing. He's saying these on repeat at top volume. Apparently he misses me. I just moved my desk and my birds into a different room today.

So, just like Wrench said, even quiet birds have their moments.

 

[CDavis]

That sounds awesome haha you should record him sometime but I was thinking blue fronted Amazon but it really kind of depends on what kind of birds the breeders I find have

 

[CDavis]

I have been researching Amazons a ton and it says that when they reach sexual maturity they can become super aggressive and chronically bite. Is there any way to prevent the aggressiveness because they seem like the perfect bird for me but I don't want to have a bird that is aggressive for the next 60 years

 

[CKP]

We just got a BFA named Maverick! How funny!

Good luck on your search! I feel like a new parent; no amount of research or reading could prepare me for looking at Mavy and thinking "what the heck do I do now???"

 

[SirEdwin89]

I have been researching Amazons a ton and it says that when they reach sexual maturity they can become super aggressive and chronically bite. Is there any way to prevent the aggressiveness because they seem like the perfect bird for me but I don't want to have a bird that is aggressive for the next 60 years

This comes down to getting out what you put in. Yes, when he/she reaches puberty they will likely have a bit of a temperament change. How far that escalates, largely depends on the person dealing with it. They require you to set boundaries, and be firm with the boundaries after you set them. Of course, every individual can be different, and the more time you have to spend with them, and the stronger the bond you form becomes, will greatly impact how severe the "negatives" of puberty can be.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Also check out Panama and of course the yellow shoulder amazons. Much smaller, more mellow, not as loud, though all parrots have their loud periods. Both of these are rarer in aviculture, but worth the hunt. I wouldnt trade my Salty for gold. Well maybe gold..... no not even gold.

Al??? who would then change out your transmission or do your taxes???


Jim