My first Amazon

[ashbee]

Hey guys!


I picked up my newest feather baby a couple days ago. She's a 6 month old Blue Fronted Amazon.


I've had many species in my time, budgies and cockatiels, ringnecks, lorikeets, eclectus parrots.. But Piper is my first amazon. I've been wanting a BFA since I was a teen (i'm 32 now) and I finally decided that i'm ready for one.


Originally I was looking for a baby that had just been weaned. I put my feelers out and had a few possibles, all a couple hours drive away, but I love my car and I love driving so travel time was never an issue for me. Then I saw this girl advertised for less than the average price for a BFA and upon opening the ad I could see why. Some of her top beak is missing.

She was advertised as a hand raised aviary bird. Super friendly and still relatively tame even though she had been out in the aviary for some time. I bookmarked, and kept looking. But I found myself going back to her, several times over a couple of days lol.
Finally I decided to just message the guy. She was advertised as an aviary bird, but I messaged and asked if he thought she would be suited to indoor life rather than aviary life. He replied and of course sang her praises, telling me how friendly she is and even though she doesn't like hands, she still wants to be with people and would make a lovely companion bird.

Regarding her beak, I actually forgot to ask for details about how it happened but she was in some sort of accident while she was being hand raised. He said it's slowly growing back, and she doesn't have any problems eating or drinking and it's just cosmetic.

So I decided to go for it. She's 6 months old so she's still just a baby. And I haven't actually had to work on gaining a bird's trust in a long time. I got them all young and hand raised myself. So it will be good for me to actually have to put some effort in to building trust with this girl.

It was about 10 hours round trip (hey I did say I like driving lol) and on the way home I had her travel cage strapped into the front passenger seat. She spent the majority of the trip home glued to the side of the cage closest to me. Every time I looked at her she'd look directly at me with those big beautiful eyes lol.

Fast forward a couple days and she is settling in great. She gets very chatty around dinner time, and while she freaks out at hands going near her, she is not at all shy about flying over and sitting atop a head.

I started some touch/target training with her today, and she is picking it up extremely fast. She will already go to wherever the target stick is pointing, and tomorrow i'm going to try targeting an area away from her so that she has to fly over to it. I'm hoping that at some point in the near future I will be able to target my arm and have her fly over and land, and eventually we can work on hands and fingers.


I'm not sure what she was being fed in the aviary, but she LOVES vegetables. All of my birds are fed a chop diet, pellets and sprouted seeds, and Piper went absolutely crazy over her first chop meal.

Anyway, sorry for the novel lol, here are a few pictures I took today.

She is my first amazon and while I did try to research as much as I possibly could over the years, I will still run here with stupid questions for you all lol, because reading about a bird and owning one are apparently entirely different experiences

 

[jousze]

She’s so beautiful! I love how the blue feathers are put!
First thing that shocked me is that the beak is good, I mean it’s almost not bad at all. While I was reading I was expecting a super bad beak..

As she is just 6 months old the beak will grow back so she will be “normal” if we can say this.

Sad to tell you that you chose the annoying parrot [emoji23] Mambo is super lovely, kind and everything you wants. But he is bipolar, and annoying. He needs to take everything I’m taking, if not he growls. And right now he is molting I have the feeling he is on his period.. on day scared, the other in the need of scritches, the other aggressive... oh my god hahaha.
Of course this is a joke, all birds are annoying but we love them anyway.

For the target training Mambo learnt super fast also, try using a banana, she maybe is like Mambo and is obsessed with them, she will forget you’re holding her and she will go directly to your hand. Mine does this with strangers, then he realises he’s on the hand, he growls a bit and then he’s okay with it hahaha!

Congrats on your new baby


Jose

 

[ChocolateChipCookiez]

She's so cute! Simply adorable! And it looks like she's very curious of the camera XD. Her beak looks better than I expected..

Either way she's adorable!​

 

[Anita1250]

What a cutie pie! I have a 36 year old BFA who I hand fed from the age of 11 weeks. She reminds me of him when he was a baby. Her beak looks fine. I am sure it will grow back as it is only the tip that is missing. Good luck with her! Hope you have a long and wonderful relationship like I do.

 

[ashbee]

Thanks so much guys!

I know what you mean about annoying birds.. My Eclectus was SUPER SUPER clingy, but independent at the same time.. Like he'd want to have everything I had and be involved in everything I did, but if I put a foot wrong he'd yell at me for it LOL. God I miss that bird.
He was stolen from me almost a month ago. A few days after I moved into my new rental after leaving my jerk husband of 16 years.

I haven't given up hope, I will search the ends of the earth for that boy. He was my heart bird.

But now I have Piper to at least fill some of the void lol.

And while she doesn't want to step up at all and freaks out if hands are offered to her, she will happily take a treat from said horrifying scary hands. But she does this growl thing while she's taking it, as if she's telling me "i'll take the treat but i'm pissed off at your hand being so close to me"

Jose, I actually bought some bananas today so I will definitely give that a try, thank you!

 

[jousze]

Thanks so much guys!

I know what you mean about annoying birds.. My Eclectus was SUPER SUPER clingy, but independent at the same time.. Like he'd want to have everything I had and be involved in everything I did, but if I put a foot wrong he'd yell at me for it LOL. God I miss that bird.
He was stolen from me almost a month ago. A few days after I moved into my new rental after leaving my jerk husband of 16 years.

I haven't given up hope, I will search the ends of the earth for that boy. He was my heart bird.

But now I have Piper to at least fill some of the void lol.

And while she doesn't want to step up at all and freaks out if hands are offered to her, she will happily take a treat from said horrifying scary hands. But she does this growl thing while she's taking it, as if she's telling me "i'll take the treat but i'm pissed off at your hand being so close to me"

Jose, I actually bought some bananas today so I will definitely give that a try, thank you!

Yeah that growl means don’t come closer or I’ll cut your finger off.

Maybe is just Mambo’s taste, but 3 or 4 amazons that I’ve met they were all crazy for bananas haha so yeah tell me what once you try!


Jose

 

[ashbee]

It kind of sounds like a growl/purr thing and at first I wasn't sure what she meant because she doesn't pin her eyes while she's doing it lol and I was like well maybe I shouldn't do it, but she looks around for my hand holding the treat, and once I hold it up she will come to me, and then start softly growling as she's reaching for it but she'll take it super gently.
I'm sure you've seen it but i'll try to get a video because I suck at explaining things LOL

 

[SailBoat]

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Amazons!

Please take a bit of time to read out-loud while sitting with your Amazon. Amazons Love to be read too. As a recommendation, start with the two Highlighted Threads at the top of the Amazon Forum. Start with Understanding Amazon Body Language and read it as tho it will become your primary Language. Note: This Thread covers the basic foundation of their Body Language as each Amazon will add to this foundation as they become older. Your BFA is young and most of these will be developing over the years to come.

The other Thread is Titled: I Love Amazons - ... It is a huge Thread with well over thirty segments that as a group will support your long living and loving Amazons. Consider it as a reference to be returned to often during your many years with your Amazon.

The Beak: Your Amazon appears to have been in a cage that she worked hard a getting out of. Both the upper and lower beaks show signs of extensive 'working' against bars. The good news is that it will all grow out over the next couple of years. The tip of the upper is broken far back from the 'hook' and very near the nerve endings in the upper beak. At the time it happened, it is very likely that she was in some pain when eating or applying pressure. Again, good news, she will grow her traditional hook as it grows back.

Hands are commonly a problem as they have a history of bring wonderful treats and likely some discomfort in her past. Use a hand held perch to move her about and also your arm as a step-up point. With time and trust she will become more comfortable.

Again, welcome to the Wonderful World of Amazons!
Just remember, Amazons Rule!!!
And the pride of an Amazon Person is understand that they are in fact, owned by their Amazon!
Enjoy!

 

[ashbee]

Thanks so much! I had the Amazon body language thread bookmarked well before I got her, it has been AMAZING to read and incredibly helpful and now that I have Piper with me I refer to it like a cheat sheet. I will definitely check the other thread out as well, so thank you for the tips.

Regarding her beak; I'm not entirely sure what her situation was before I got her, but she tends to chew on the cage bars A LOT, even when she is not contained and knows she can come out if she wants to, and also when she's sitting atop the cage. She just spends a lot of time chewing on the bars.


Is this something I need to address, or will she grow out of it as she becomes used to not being cage-bound?

 

[texsize]

Welcome to being owned by an amazon.

As for biting the cage bars be sure to offer toys with/made out of wood that she can chew and destroy.
Because she is so young she may not know HOW to play with toys.
Playing with the toy yourself and showing her how much fun it is will/should get her interested in playing with it.

With the beak damage she has you might want to keep in mind she may have difficulty climbing up and down the bars. Perhaps putting in wooden ladders to help her climb up and down from higher lower perches will help her navigate inside the cage.

Sounds like you 2 are off to a long loving relationship.

texsize.

 

[SailBoat]

Yup, agree fully with my good friend and fellow Amazon lover above.

Consider very soft wood as a starting point, like White Pine Trim Lumber - 1/2" (13 mm) or thinner. Visit your near by Big Box Store and visit their lumber section. Look for the cut-off barrel as there are commonly shorts that they sell at a very low price. We are regular visitors and a few of the staff members will safe some pieces for us.

What to look for: Target pieces that you can create an impression (cut) with your fingernail.

Note: We always have pictures on our mobile phones as a way of explaining what you going to do with the wood pieces.

 

[munami]

Oh wow! I gotta chime in too. She is absolutely stunning. Also your photo work is so beautiful. I wish you two a long and happy life together!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

What a beautiful creature! Agreed,very inquisitive about the camera hahaha! I too was expecting a nasty looking beak but her's looks fairly well and as mentioned will grow back. My blue front also loves banana's Its the first thing he goes for in his bowl..even his medication is banana flavored lol.
Good luck and can't wait for more updates on her and remember "Amazon's Rule" and "Amazon's Have More Fun"




Jim

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed. 'Boats is being too modest (he is the author of the said stickies) but these are accumulated bonanzas of wisdom, hard won by him over many years. They are digital GOLD. They will help you over the years to understand your BFA and keep her happy and healty for decades. Remember - there are no stupid silly or dumb questions.They only get stupid silly or dumb if you keep asking the same questions ! Love the pics - she looks so alert and happy in them. This board loves pics and videos, so you have made a great start here . GOOD LUCK !

 

[Anita1250]

Look for the old fashioned clothes pins in the dollar store. The ones that are all wood with the little ball on top. They are great because I can push them down on the cage bars and they stay put for a good chewing. This way the bird doesn't have to hold it. Mine loves them.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I keep going back to Piper's second photo..she looks SO happy and inquisitive,like she is saying " Hello there!! who's inside that thing?"
Very sweet looking birdie



Jim

 

[Inger]

Dear Piper: I love you! You are so cute and I can see personality popping out of your pictures. Welcome to the forums!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ashbee]

Thanks everyone! I'm very glad to be here, I suspect i'll be here A LOT lol. I've researched for years and years but I don't think anything can really prepare you properly for sharing your life with one. Looking forward to many adventures lol.

She voluntarily flew over and landed on my outstretched arm today. Progress! She's doing so well.

I'll pop into Bunnings tomorrow and have a poke around their wood/lumber section. Thanks for the tip! I gave her some toys today that were Sam's and she's nearly done with them already lol. The two biggest ones are in several different pieces now and she's working her way through the third.

I also went to Officeworks and got her one of those small drawer organizers (like the one below) and put treats in the drawers and she's having an absolute blast opening them and getting stuff out. I have a large bird puzzle box somewhere that I got for Sam but he wasn't ever really interested in it, but it looks like it would be right up Piper's alley so I might look for it tomorrow.

I'm in the process of cleaning my kitchen bench after Hurricane Piper spent the morning on it with her toys and food. Well, i'm glad she enjoyed herself lol.

 

[ashbee]

Who needs fancy toys when you have... Empty toilet rolls

 

[wrench13]

With most parrots variety is the spice of life. Salty used to love those and paper towel guts, but because I overdid the availability he ignores them now.