Just brought home my first Amazon

EmmyJordan

New member
Jan 8, 2019
21
1
Boondocks of TN
Parrots
Three African Grays Jasper,Tilly and Elliot
A double yellow headed Amazon Keegan and a parakeet Milo
Hello everyone I am new to this blog so hang in there I'm figuring it out as I go along. I just brought home a double yellow headed Amazon on Sunday. His name is Keegan and he is 18. I'm have absolutely no experience with Amazons,I have been reading quite a bit about them online, learning body language and such. He has no interest in stepping up,his past owner had him for a year and he never got on her. He seems very interested in everything I do ,always watching me ,comes out when I sit at his cage. Yesterday he started coming out to sit on his door when I sit with him. He doesn't lunge to bite me anymore when I scratch his head,as long as I don't push it. He doesn't like my husband at all, and does quite a display of aggression.Apparently he was like that at his last house. I am taking it slow with him because he seems real shy if I overwhelm him with trying to touch him. I have two Timnehs as well and they are very interested in him, and I'm praying they will get along ok as long as my one Timneh Tilly doesn't think she's an invincible little pitbull and go climbing on his cage again. Keegan flipped out and bit her toe. She is fine,he barely got her ,but there were a lot of tears on my part. I've been reading a lot about Amazons and have run into a lot of horror stories and have myself scared out of my wits about him now, like what have I gotten myself into. I really like him don't get me wrong and he doesn't seem vicious,just shy, like he's not going to bite unless pushed to the limit. I really like all the little sounds he makes. I just really want to do a good job with him and not fail him, I think his life has been hard so far. Okay stress rant over!
 
Stressrant away :)
I am glad Keegan landed with you (18 years old, his last home only lasted a year... do you have any idea how many he has had sofar?). I hope he will remain a mild mannered young man- he sounds like fun!
 
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His last owner just said the gal she bought him from handed him to to her in a parakeet cage said his name is Keegan and.that was it, so his life is a mystery. His last owner said for all she knew he could have just lived in that parakeet cage. She said he would walk around the house sometimes but mostly just sat in his cage quietly.
 
Read the blue sticky thread at the top of the Amazon forum. The I love Amazon's by Sailboat. You are going to find so much good info in it. Here is the poem he has in it.
Baggage – Re-homed Pray
By: Evenlynn Colbath


Now that I am home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked into my warm new bed,
I would like to open my baggage,
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry –
So much to forget.

Hmm, Yes, here it is, right on the top –
Let’s unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my side hides Fear and Shame,
As I look on these things I have tried so hard to leave –
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn’t good enough – for they did not want me.

Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things,
And take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To finally put away my baggage...


Provide with Permission
A present to the Parrot Forum /Amazon Forum by: Steven (SailBoat)
Last edited by SailBoat; 10-31-2016 at 10:43 AM.
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Thanks so much for that! All of our birdies have come with so much baggage it breaks my heart. They are so much like humans.
 
Yes, it makes me sob whenever I read it
But the joy you will feel when Keegan is no longer shut down, when you see that happy light in his eyes it will be worth it.
 
We are a DYH Amazon Household as well and are clearly owned by his Lordship.


Amazons as a group are dead-on smart and expect you to be as smart. Hence they require that you learn the Basic Amazon Body Language, and then be quick enough to learn their individual additions.

Work long and hard at providing them a reason to trust you! Only good things happen when Humans are around. A very useful tool is: It is never the fault of the Amazon! It is always the fault of the Human! When you learn to view everything from that Vantage Point, you will more quickly understand what you are doing wrong and correct it.

Since you are comfortable sitting next to your Amazon, add reading Understanding Amazon Body Language thread found near the top of the Amazon Forum (highlighted in light blue) reading it out loud in a comforting voice to your Amazon. After your reading this thread over and over as many times as it takes for you to know it as a near primary language you can limit its reading to refreshers. This is also and excellent tool for Hubby also. And as commented on by my good friend Laurasea please see the other Thread at the top is: I Love Amazons - ... This Huge Thread is a resource to loving and caring for Amazons (Parrots in General). At least read it front to back once and then come back to it as needed.

With Hubby on the second member list, (so am I with our DYH), he gets to provide all the goodies. And, once as a group, you build the needed trust to obtain 'Step-Up' status, he gets to be the primary transportation (assuming your Amazon is not flighted).

You really need to get your newest member to your Avian Vet. If at all possible a Certified Avian Vet. Or, an Avian Vet that has a direct connection with a CAV. He needs a complete New Parrot Wellness examination and complete Blood Testing including major organ. As part of this, I would recommend a DNA Sex test. Just an FYI, at 18 it is possible that surgical Sex testing may have occurred. Have your Avian Vet check for a Tattoo.
Lots more, but this will get you started.

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Amazons, after all, Amazons Have More Fun!
 
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I read the body language article yesterday, it was very good. Amazons definitely do not joke around and do give a lot of warning.
 
I read the body language article yesterday, it was very good. Amazons definitely do not joke around and do give a lot of warning.


One really needs to have their language down solid! They fully expect you to know what is being presented! As you stated, They do not joke around!

You will find that if you up your communication with your Amazon. Life will be far more enjoyable. The neat part about being a Crazy Parrot Person is that with Amazons, it helps greatly. They are really big into; Where are you, what are you doing, Oh, you are coming this way communication. You communicate with them, they communicate with you. Also, Sneaking up on a napping Amazon and surprising them can be downright dangerous and does nothing for one's Trust Bond.

Warning: Amazon are known to be deep thinkers (some may say daydreamers). Communicating with your Amazon as you are approaching is helpful in assuring that they become fully aware of you coming their way. Like sneaking up on a Napping Amazon, which is easy to note, arriving in front of one that is considering the balance of the Universe can be as dangerous.
 
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I think Keegan is going to be a pretty good guy. it doesn't bother him when I put my hand in his cage at all to get his dishes, his last owner said vacuuming out his cage didn't even gaze him. I'm not going to do that though because that would freak out my Grays.
 
Welcome to you and your growing menagerie!

Greys and Amazons hail from different universes, but your joy as a parront will increase dramatically.
 
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Yes David! Very interesting roads! We live on the Plateau of Middle Tn, it's very beautiful. But not nearly as nice as the Smokies. Scott,thanks , They are Very different birds. All our birds have very different personalities ,I'm not so sure how much is parrot and how much is mistreatment. One our Grays was badly abused when my husband got.her and she was just completely wild and bitey. That was 7 years ago and has calmed down a lot, she adores my husband and barely tolerates my existence. About Keegan , he finally asked for head scratches last night!! I was so excited, I had him in his cage with the blankets on it and he had his face smooshed against the bars and wanted a scratch. He even let my husband touch for a few seconds.
 
Whooop, way to go Keegan!
 

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