Blue fronted amazon

[arshadahmad]

I have found a new born blue fronted Amazon that I would like to purchase.

The breeder says I can take the bird home when it is 4 weeks old. Internet says these parrots need to be hand fed until 12 -14 weeks old. Should I bring home the 4 week old bird or have the breeder feed it until 12 weeks old. I have no experience with hand feeding birds.

 

[Jen5200]

My personal opinion..... If you have no experience hand feeding, I would suggest that the breeder should do it until weaned. There are just too many things that can go wrong and it’s not worth the risk.

 

[Kiwibird]

In short NO NO and definitely NO! Do not bring home a 4 week old amazon. Do not bring home and unweaned baby bird of any species. Do not let an unscrupulous breeder try to convince you that doing so will "strengthen your bond" with the bird or any such nonsense. That is lazy breeder talk for "I'm too lazy to do my job and want to push it off on you". The role of a person hand feeding a baby parrot is that of the "parent". Since baby parrots do not bond with their parent birds for life and eventually leave the nest (and their parents), it is outdated and disproven logic that finishing hand feeding a bird (taking on a parental role) in any way benefits your relationship with the bird. More importantly, baby parrots are so delicate, in inexperienced hands they can easily become sick or die. I'm a very experienced bird owner and I wouldn't take on an unweaned baby. Its simply not worth the risk and has no benefits to me or the bird.

All parrots who come home with you should fully weaned- meaning they can eat solid, adult bird food on their own (fruit, veggies, pellets, seed, nuts etc...) and do not need any "hand feedings" with formula at all. Any responsible breeder will not sell unweaned babies. In some countries, it is actually illegal to sell unweaned baby parrots. Juvenile parrots (i.e. newly weaned) are very curious and it is a prime moment in their development to forge a lifelong relationship, as you will be assuming the role of "friend" rather than parent.

Im glad you asked before you brought home a baby who wasn't ready, but I did want to say blue fronts are great birds. Amazons in general make good companions with the right training, proper socialization and good general care. Mine is very intelligent, inquisitive and friendly. I didn't get him as a young bird, but I've had him 11 years and couldn't ask for a much better companion.

 

[Scott]

Welcome, glad you've found a new companion in the form of an Amazon. Your instinct to question is correct!!

I offer this thread written by one of our experienced breeders as cautionary tale: http://www.parrotforums.com/breeding-raising-parrots/74363-so-you-bought-unweaned-baby.html

 

[Anita1250]

I agree that you should not bring an un-weaned Amazon home. I did so 35 years ago, and had a good outcome. However, I did not know the perils involved. My bird was 12 weeks old, but still needed some hand feedings. We learned as much as we could ( wasn't much internet then ) and muddled through. Had I known how badly I could have hurt the bird I never would have done it. We were lucky. My Sam in now 36 and has been a joy to live with. Talk the breeder into fully weaning your Amazon. You will have a great bonding with him/her whether you hand feed or not.

 

[texsize]

as stated above 4 weeks is way to soon.

texsize

 

[Birdman666]

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! AND IF YOUR BREEDER PRESSURES YOU TELL HIM YOU WITHDRAW YOUR PURCHASE, AND FIND ANOTHER BREEDER!!!

Because, bluntly, this one is ****!!!

Parrots need abundance weaning. It's CRITICAL to their development.

Any breeder who would give an unweaned bird to an inexperienced hand feeder is **** in my opinion... THE BIRD COULD DIE! SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW...

 

[Aves99]

Agree with others. Let the breeder finish the hand feeding!!