Coco's Story

[Sara.K]

Coco is a 22-23 year old Blue fronted amazon; I was told that he was born in 1990. He was with the same family over 20 years. They picked him up from the breeders at 7 months old. Then life happened and he ended up at the local pet store where I am currently employed. It took me months to get him to be pleasant with me and hang out while I was working. His “owner” made things more difficult for him by dropping the dog off for grooming once a month. We encountered more than a few hurdles, rowdy unruly children, people of all ages trying to poke him, etc. Then he was sold to a woman who purchased him probably on a whim Memorial Day weekend (2012) and taken home. He only lasted there for five days before he was brought back because he screamed and bite her a lot. It took me awhile to get him back to where we had been, but we did it and he was back to riding around the store on my shoulder and saying “hi” and “hello” to people. Then he caught the eye of an older gentleman who purchased him. Coco went home, again, and apparently everything was going well for 2 or 3 months until something happened and he ended up in the garage with nothing in his cage and little to no lighting. I had told the gentleman that if things “didn’t work out” to contact me and I would take Coco. I got a phone call and picked him up the next day (October 2013).



Things haven’t gone smoothly. Every day is a new day, some are good days and some are bad days. I just want Coco to be as Happy and Healthy as he can be. Period. I have been told not to fret about him that because of his age he doesn’t have more maybe another 5 years to live. I don’t believe that. I’ve been told that there is no hope for him, that he is the bird he will always be and will continue to scar me. I don’t want to believe that.


He is a sweet loving guy sometimes, he “asks” for kisses (when he is out) with kissy noises, will let me put him on his back when he is in a good mood, goes to bed when I ask him to most of the time and he used to step up nicely to come out/off his cage sometimes. He was his quirks, but who doesn’t?


And that I do believe is Coco’s story.


I am currently switching him to pellets and have found a vet for a checkup. I figured these were two of the first steps before anything else and this forum was where I received the advice and help on those. THANK YOU.

 

[henpecked]

Well don't believe every thing they've told you. I have many zons older than 30 and several over 40. I rehome old neglected amazons who are quite nasty with loads of behavioral problems. While most don't turn into 'cuddle bugs" some do. It might take awhile but you can turn them around. Mostly depends on how much time and effort you put into it. Of course insight and experience help ,but that's what this forum is for. We'll be glad to help. Thanks for giving an old zon a new chance and thanks for caring enough to try. PS Coco is not really an older zon, more middle age if anything.

 

[Sara.K]

Of course I want a cuddle bug. Id like us to be able to go back to him using my tank top as his perch under an over sized sweatshirt. But things change and he is home now. We shall see...

I do have a couple questions.

1) How many hours of sleep should he be getting a night? Perhaps this question is what kind of schedule is best? I work kind of wonky hours at the moment, but I think we can figure out a routine of sorts.

2) He was coming out and climbing all over his cage on his own. Sitting on top of his door and on top of his cage. I read somewhere that I might not want to let him do this? Thoughts? Do I need to bring him out to hang out on the outside of his cage and then put him back?

3) Showers. Spray him directly, mister, spray bottle? Ummmm...

and I think that's it for the moment...

 

[getwozzy]

Poor coco it's sad when people give up so quickly....so glad he's found a forever home though thank you for taking in an older zon! Sounds like you really REALLY are committed to him, and giving him the best. With a lot of love, time, persistence, and dedication you two will overcome many obstacles

They CAN change though... Jackie was a nasty little fellow when we brought him home, and now he's my best bud he's not a cuddle bug (yet), but we've made wonderful progress together.

 

[henpecked]

#1 zons sleep alot. My pet birds get about 8-10 hrs at night and several naps during the day. Typical day , bed about 9pm,up with me at 5am. Nap about 9 to 10am and then quiet hour(my favorite time of day) napping 1-3pm. Of course things change day to day but over all i'd guess they get about 12 hrs a day.
#2 My pet zons have their cages open about 100% of the time ( if no one is home then door closed, in their cage, they can't be trusted,LOL) They love to hang out on their cage tops and nap,play, etc. Most will sleep inside their cage with out me putting them there. I only supply food and water inside their cage. I also have play stands spread about the house and they share time there or hanging out with family members. IMO being locked away in their cage is not good for a amazon.
#3 some like showers,some like baths,some like spray bottles. More so in the past, spray bottles where used to punish bad behavior. Some older birds from unenlightened homes fear spray bottles , you'll have to find what works for you and your bird. If using a spray bottle or even a water hose, don't spray directly at the bird, direct the water upward and let it fall on them (sort of like natural rain would do).

 

[getwozzy]

Sleep: Jackie goes to bed around 7-8pm and up around 8am. He also gets 2 nap times during the day, usually when my toddler takes his naps so pretty convenient there lol. He tells me when he's ready for bed "time to go night night" or if he starts getting crabby is a good indication lol

Cage: Jackie has a cage with a play top, but the only time he's locked in his cage is night time or when I'm not home. He spends most of his free time on his jungle gym, his other stands, or on me lol

 

[Sara.K]

Coco's cage is in a corner of the kitchen behind the dinning room table. He can see everything that happens in the kitchen AND the living room. I thought a central location where people usually are would have been best.

He gets covered at night, but without a set bed time yet :/ I will work on that. And I will start keeping the cage open when I'm home. I put a bendable rope on the outside of his cage by the window and he likes to sit and look out the window. However he HATES it when the deer are in the yard. He screams until either I let a dog out to chase them off or until I go out and scare them off...

His vet apt is next week.

And I spent all my money on grocery's today for him The musics up and he is making all sorts of happy noises. Today is a good day.

How can I load pictures up in threads?

 

[getwozzy]

Coco's cage is in a corner of the kitchen behind the dinning room table. He can see everything that happens in the kitchen AND the living room. I thought a central location where people usually are would have been best.

He gets covered at night, but without a set bed time yet :/ I will work on that. And I will start keeping the cage open when I'm home. I put a bendable rope on the outside of his cage by the window and he likes to sit and look out the window. However he HATES it when the deer are in the yard. He screams until either I let a dog out to chase them off or until I go out and scare them off...

His vet apt is next week.

And I spent all my money on grocery's today for him The musics up and he is making all sorts of happy noises. Today is a good day.

How can I load pictures up in threads?

HAHAHAH!!! Intruder alert! Intruder alert!!! Release the hounds!!!! Lol. Jackie screams when he sees the wild fids outside, or if he hears a blue jay he goes nuts so I have to go outside and shoo the jays away lol

Good to hear he's in a good mood today it's fun to let them try new foods and see their reactions...sometimes Jackie says mmmmm! Lol his latest favorite is corn off the cob... Gobbles it up!!

I use photobucket.com, but mainly I use their iPhone app since I can snap the picture, upload it to photobucket then get my image code and paste it in a post and done!

 

[Sara.K]

Coco tells dogs he doesn't know "NO" over and over again until either they go away or I make them leave his cage area alone. We have a dog friendly house so friends bring them over when they visit. Thus far he just doesn't like black dogs... He chomped on my little dog and made her bleed when I introduced then one night. I kind of let it happen on purpose... Now she leaves gives him alot of room and stays out of his reach.

The kitchens a mess, but the beans are soaking, the barley's undercooked to stay crunchy and a big old bowl of stuff's been thrown together. Thus far the uncooked "YES" - Butternut squash, Yams, Carrots, apples, red bell peppers and grapes. He dropped the sweet potato, and turned away from the greens I pulsed... Hmmm. I hope he at least tries this stuff all mixed up. If not I guess the dogs will get a frozen treat a day until all the muffin mash is gone...

 

[Betrisher]

I do hope you and Coco build a great relationship - you sure deserve to! Please keep us posted on his progress and do share any ideas you might have for making an older, more troublesome bird happier. Best of luck to you and Coco!

 

[jbail1026]

Sara! You are awesome for taking on this Amazon - his troubled past and all of his baggage I'm sure will translate into some challenging days and painful bites - but he will be SO WORTH IT! They are just the funniest parrots. I know I'm partial, having grown up with one, but with time, patience, a good diet, and lots of love and understanding, you will end up with a good buddy for life. He is SO LUCKY you opened your heart and home to him. Best of luck to you both.

Oh, my input from fun with George...
1. George's cage door is open all day - I only close him in at night when he's covered. I know some Amazons like to roam the house, but G just hangs out on his cage - he does have a removable play top thing that he climbs on a bit, but mostly he just likes to hang out and monitor the kitchen and living room. I keep him off my shoulder - just in case he gets startled and bites. I use a wooden dowel to move him around or he sits on the couch or chair arm with me.
2. George initiates a bath once a week - usually on Saturday. He starts splashing in his water dish and I get the spray bottle to help him out. I tell him what a pretty bird he is (even though he isn't while wet) and he preens and laughs.
3. Handing him food is a great way to bond.
4. George likes to say hi to my dog and ask her how she's doing. I love that.

 

[Sara.K]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Things are going well. I joined the forum, oh perhpas four days ago, and Coco is now switched to pellets only. He took to the Roudybush maintenance like a champ, and yesterday I spent the afternoon in the kitchen prepping his fresh food for the i don't know how long. I still need to finish some of that prep. PLUS this morning he spent perhaps a half hour with his head in his fresh food dish... He was so quiet I kept checking on him.

I'm excited and nervous about his vet visit next week... If things continue the way they are I will be asking more questions. I just don't want to get ahead of myself or Coco for that matter.

 

[getwozzy]

WOW! Sounds like he's doing VERY well!! Glad he likes all of his new foods keep up the good work!

 

[JerseyWendy]

....

I'm excited and nervous about his vet visit next week... If things continue the way they are I will be asking more questions. I just don't want to get ahead of myself or Coco for that matter.

Just ask away. And good luck at the vet.

You are doing a GREAT job!!!

 

[MikeyTN]

Yay!!!! I'm glad it worked!!! So you did yank the seeds after all. ...

 

[Sara.K]

Yay!!!! I'm glad it worked!!! So you did yank the seeds after all. ...

YES! They are gone. I put a tablespoon in with his fresh foods once or twice in the evenings, but that was it. Thanks for telling me how to switch him!

 

[ShellyBorg]

Sounds like you guys have a great start!