How much time per day?

[EmeraldIsle]

How much time per day would I have to spend with a yellow naped Amazon parrot in direct interaction to keep it happy? I'm self employed and I work at home, so I'm home all the time except when I go shopping for groceries or something. I spend a lot of time on the computer, sometimes playing video games, sometimes working or surfing the web. I sleep at odd hours since I don't have to show up at a job. I just sleep or nap whenever I feel like it I think the times I sleep tend to change fairly often. There would be no one else around to take care of the bird. Just me. I've had a couple of cockatiels and some parakeets before. So taking all this into consideration, do you think I could keep a yellow naped Amazon parrot happy? Also I'd like to let the parrot be fully flighted and have a variety of perches and play gyms to fly to and play on. And how big is the size of their poop?

 

[ellsiebird]

Im sure that would be plenty of time for a parrot, though i have no experience with amazons myself, my senegal is happy if i give her a hour or so of one to one interaction, she then tends to spend the rest of her time causing mischief or sleeping alot, but she loets me know when its her attention time.
i cant stress enough howe much work parrots are so be warned, they really are like feathred children, (attention seeking, tantrums , good days/bad days etc ) so REALLY do your research or if possible spend some time with one.

Be prepared for poop, poop and even more poop (again like children!) some times my senegal can have little sly ones, other days i have seen some that appear bigger than the bird itself and can only imagine what an amazon is capeable of!!

As you may have seen on this forum parrots can have there issues, but they also bring you alot in return for your work

 

[flappinhappy]

I have 17 no that is not a typo LOL the majority are rescue birds and some came to me from broken homes or a death of owner I have wild caught and very young Yellow Nape, Panama, Double Yellow Head, Orange Wing and I think they are the best however you are so right they want to interact not be left alone and just toys are never enough.

 

[Conurekidd]

I have an 8 y/o yc amazon. And he really doesn like to be left alone. But I take him out and about alot. He has the opportunity to roam the entire house for a few hours a day
I'd say you have the time but are you going to have time 20 years down. Cause that's still relatively young for a larger zon. There poop can get big depending on how long they hold it in. Lol

 

[Rambo]

We have an 18 yr old male YN who is home alone 8-10 hrs a day almost every workday since my wife and I both work. When we get home we try to spend as much time as possible with him before bedtime around 10 p.m., and several hours a day on weekends directly handling and interacting with him, but there are many times when we will not come right home from work or leave for most of the day on weekends. He entertains himself or sits and preens when we're not directly interacting with him and is quite the happy bird all the time. I feel bad that we leave him alone so much, but he hasn't shown any adverse affects or behavior due to our sometime lack of attention. I feel it's the quality of time that we spend with him when we're with him that counts the most, so I would say go for it.... you won't regret it! As for being full flighted, I've heard too many stories of birds escaping unexpectedly or crashing into windows or mirrors during flight, so I would advise caution. Our YN has never had full flight since he was a pup and gets around the house just fine wherever and whenever he wants.

 

[lordburrito]

Just make sure, he has lots of toys, and make sure you change it at least 2 times a week, and I think that he'll be OK, but still, when you're at home, try to interact with him, as much as you can... and also, if you choose to have fully flighted bird... is the best way to have a very happy healthy bird!!! The most important are the first 5 years when he's a baby... when they are developing.. the cruelest thing you can do, is to clip he's wings, it's the same thing, if you would crush you childs legs or hands, and try to prevent him from developing from the begining of his life. You can prevent him from crushing into the windows by making a flowers or anything else with the colored paper, and just stick it with the tape on the windows... There are also all sorts of accidents happening with clipped birds, like crushing them when steping on them (while they are crawling on the floor), and crushing them when sitting on them on the couch, or smashing them with "sliding doors" while they are crawling behind us, and we don't see them . If you want to clip your birds wings, better buy yourself a feathered monkey.... an for carrying him outside.. you can buy a parrot harness ... as simple as that...

 

[Conurekidd]

As much as I agree on flighted birds and the seviourity of him or her growing up without wings. Some can't train a flighted bird and a flighted baby at that lol.
But this is a opinin to the caretaker and it's based on his personal desion.
I wish you DON'T clip the wings because amazons are good at flying clearly rather than being a clumsy kamaqisie pilot lol. As Greys and macaws are known for.
Parrot proof your home first. Like the stickers on the window. Just imagine a 2 lbs bird flyin to the window full flight. Toxins in the area. Make sure there nothing he can get into that would make him sick as well stuff you don't want destroyed. Amazons are the best Chewers and mine will demolish a wood toy in minutes.
But as far as clipping it will be on you and only you. I think relating it to a childs legs or hands are a bit intense considering hands and feet don't molt out. More like taking away travel like a car. Leads us walking everywhere. Same with a bird.
Also remember that birds fly. It's what god gave them. Wings. But if he wasn't prepared for human he wouldn't of made it to where they grow back. Only clip if it means you have tried all options of training and he wont focus. They you will have to make a very vital decision.

 

[acco205]

I usually spend a good 2 or 3 hours with my red head per day in the afternoon and maybe an hour before work on week days. shes perfectly content to sit and listen to the radio and shred paper and cardboard until I get home.

be warned though, amazons can waken the dead!

I have to be careful about how much attention she gets in the morning or she will get upset when i leave for work.

I keep her cage in my home office so that even when I cant play with her hands on, she can be in the same room so we can talk while I work. This plus at least a little hands on training and practice has been working out well, but then again, we've only known each other for a few weeks now.

good luck!

 

[Conurekidd]

Amazons = 2 year old child lol

 

[HRH Di]

Amazons = 2 year old child lol

a 2 year-old who can fly

 

[Conurekidd]

I stand corrected haha

 

[Lesleybird]

Hi, Amazons are good climbers and if they never learn to fly then they don't miss it. I never learned to fly and I don't miss it. A bird can be difficult to train if they have free flight of the house and will land on lamp shades, get into things that they should not. I have three amazons, two cockatoos, and and a new Harlequin macaw. None of them can fly and they have a good life and climb all around in and out of their cages. Be careful if your bird is fully flighted it will be landing on curtain rods and watch out for electrical cords, phone cords etc. Better that you have a climbing tree in a room that you are in a lot and to clip the wings at least until they are trained. If you ever take the bird outside without a leash it can easily fly away and get lost. Don't worry, if you work home then it will have plenty of time out of it's cage and attention.
Have fun with your new amazon, Lesley

 

[lordburrito]

Hi, Amazons are good climbers and if they never learn to fly then they don't miss it. I never learned to fly and I don't miss it. A bird can be difficult to train if they have free flight of the house and will land on lamp shades, get into things that they should not. I have three amazons, two cockatoos, and and a new Harlequin macaw. None of them can fly and they have a good life and climb all around in and out of their cages. Be careful if your bird is fully flighted it will be landing on curtain rods and watch out for electrical cords, phone cords etc. Better that you have a climbing tree in a room that you are in a lot and to clip the wings at least until they are trained. If you ever take the bird outside without a leash it can easily fly away and get lost. Don't worry, if you work home then it will have plenty of time out of it's cage and attention.
Have fun with your new amazon, Lesley

I'm so sorry... but how can you be so cruel ??? Monkeys are made to climb an walk ... birds are made to climb and fly... my amazon has never been clipped, and is a well trained bird also, and the only difference is, that she interacts with me whenever she want to... You need just a bit more patience, and have an eye on them, when they are outside of the cage.....

 

[Conurekidd]

It's really not your path to judge. It's HER birds not yours.
I hate clipped birds. But I'll never tell someone there cruel because of there wings are clipped haha. Thats rude. I can't stand critics and auto assimptionist.
You guys stand out in the world. Trust that.
Don't bother replying unlesns its regards of the op. Stay on topic
That's what pms are for.
I'm only zayin because she IS NOT cruel for what she has to do. It's HER desion lol
I can Garentee she takes great care of her fids

 

[sirsid_22]

As much as I agree on flighted birds and the seviourity of him or her growing up without wings. Some can't train a flighted bird and a flighted baby at that lol.
But this is a opinin to the caretaker and it's based on his personal desion.
I wish you DON'T clip the wings because amazons are good at flying clearly rather than being a clumsy kamaqisie pilot lol. As Greys and macaws are known for.
Parrot proof your home first. Like the stickers on the window. Just imagine a 2 lbs bird flyin to the window full flight. Toxins in the area. Make sure there nothing he can get into that would make him sick as well stuff you don't want destroyed. Amazons are the best Chewers and mine will demolish a wood toy in minutes.
But as far as clipping it will be on you and only you. I think relating it to a childs legs or hands are a bit intense considering hands and feet don't molt out. More like taking away travel like a car. Leads us walking everywhere. Same with a bird.
Also remember that birds fly. It's what god gave them. Wings. But if he wasn't prepared for human he wouldn't of made it to where they grow back. Only clip if it means you have tried all options of training and he wont focus. They you will have to make a very vital decision.

Totally agree with this post 100%...taking a birds wings is like taking your freedom away...flight is what makes a bird a bird. I would only clip like said above, if only 100% needed after all else failed.

 

[Pedro]

Amazons = 2 year old child lol

Sorry i really have to disagree there, i have 5 kids & i don't see any evidence that any Parrot acts like a 2 year old, that IMO is labling.

I have the most fun with my Amazons, as with all my parrots. They scream from time to time, bite sometimes but for the most part are fun to have around.

Wing clipping is a personal subject & not one i like to discuss. As there are many reasons for it. I think we take our birds freedom away by putting them in a cage & trying to domesticate them. Just my opinion & yes i do admit i am like everyone else that owns parrots. But even i have to wonder if i really am doing the right thing by my birds or am i just being selfish. When you really think about it we do take their independance away from them one way or another. And another thing are our birds really happy with the life we choose for them????