Question for henpecked or anyone who knows orange-winged/blue-front mixed amazons

[KBEquine]

There is a bluefront/orange-winged amazon on my local craigslist whose aged owner needs to place a bird or two. On the one hand, I'm not sure I "need" another bird. On the other hand, I have fallen for amazons in general.

Does anyone have experience with this particular cross who can tell me what to expect from one (I know they are all individuals, but is there a 'normal' personality for the cross)?

Any other suggestions? For example, should I expect more upheaval by adding a 2nd amazon to the flock, rather than, for example, a new species (I was told that many birds are more territorial with a 2nd bird of their same species than with a new bird of a completely different species & I don't want to upset the Yellow Crown boy by adding a bluefront/orange-winged female).

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[roxynoodle]

I guess I can't speak for zons in particular, but since you already have other birds, I'm guessing there won't be too much upheaval. I am new to my zon, but his former owner did say he was always "top bird" when he had others. I laughed and said my Nanday has always been top bird as well. So I wondered who would earn that honor and strangely there isn't any of that going on. They have really similar personalities though.

But, more than a decade ago when I first got my Blue Crown, my Nanday was very angry, jealous, and did make sure the new bird knew she was the dominant one. And whenever my sister's Meyers came to stay for a weekend, that was repeated.

But, I brought home the Amazon and she was totally thrilled. That may have been because she was grieving over the loss of the Blue Crown though. I guess I don't know for sure.

 

[KBEquine]

Hi Roxynoodle:

Thanks for your comments. I would have agreed, except that my experience has been that adding some birds will upset a flock & adding other birds won't - The original 'big' parrot in the house was the Pionus, who had no problem with the addition of the 'zon, but had a big reaction when the Grey came to live. I was fully prepared for a reaction to the 'zon, but since there was none, was surprised by the reaction to the CAG.

But those are different species in the same home.

My question goes more to the fact it would be the 2nd 'zon in the house, and we would have one male & one female. They will have separate cages in the same room, if she comes here to live. They are both used to spending time on the top of their cages & both have lived in multiple bird houses, but so far as a I know, neither has lived with a 'zon of the opposite sex for more than a week or so.

So I'm wondering whether having a male & female 'zon in the same house might result in them bonding, him becoming less 'companion' and more aggressive, and the same with her - I know in his last home, there was a female BF with whom he immediately fell in love (but she wanted no parts of him). He was placed with us a week or so later, so I don't know how they related to each other & they were the only 2 birds in the house, so there wasn't a need to establish territory against others, etc.

We've got a pretty amenable flock right now - most are on their playtops or the playstands almost 24/7, all are flighted. They don't 'visit' each other (except the Pionus, who I will find perched on or in everyone else's cage, on occasion.)

Much as I find this female fascinating, I would want to add her to the flock, only if the addition isn't likely to upset the status quo. (And I'd hate for the Pionus to be hurt or worse, should he visit the 'zon's cage & be attacked where he used to be welcomed (or at least ignored) because there is now a female 'zon to protect.)

I guess I am really asking for an opinion from someone who is experienced with how the addition of a female 'zon might change the personality of a flock that already has a male 'zon in it.

 

[roxynoodle]

I agree, those are all good concerns. I hope someone answers you.

Before bringing home the Amazon I was talking to a breeder about another Blue Crown. She had a young male and a young female, who didn't bother to bond and breed with each other, and she was looking to rehome them. When she asked which I might want, I said it probably didn't matter. She did tell me that with the Nanday being female, it would be better if I took the female.

So I think it might be a good idea to have same sex of the same type of bird based on what she said.

 

[henpecked]

Sorry, I've been out of town.I don't think species of zon is much of an issue.I always say you're taking a risk by adding another zon. However i have a house full, some get along and some don't. The birds that most often cause problems are the hens. All of the rescues we've introduced have been older birds that were more or less bonded to humans at some point in their life.The trouble with birds bonding with each other has not been a problem (yet).As long as there's plenty of human interaction i don't think you'll need to worry about that.Most of my zons tolerate smaller birds in neutral (common) areas of the house but several can be aggressive about their cage or favorite person.I would keep the new bird well apart from the other birds until they have adjusted to their new home and you have a feel for their attitude. The birds that can't be trusted are usually clipped so every one can be out and safe. I wish i could be more reassuring but older zons can be complex and opinionated.There's just no guaranteeing what behavior a new older zon will have. If your YC is well bonded to you (or another family member) don't expect him to welcome another rival for your attention. Yes they might tolerate each other and will usually enjoy socializing as a flock but more so when your not involved.

 

[KBEquine]

Sorry, I've been out of town.I don't think species of zon is much of an issue.I always say you're taking a risk by adding another zon. However i have a house full, some get along and some don't. The birds that most often cause problems are the hens. All of the rescues we've introduced have been older birds that were more or less bonded to humans at some point in their life.The trouble with birds bonding with each other has not been a problem (yet).As long as there's plenty of human interaction i don't think you'll need to worry about that.Most of my zons tolerate smaller birds in neutral (common) areas of the house but several can be aggressive about their cage or favorite person.I would keep the new bird well apart from the other birds until they have adjusted to their new home and you have a feel for their attitude. The birds that can't be trusted are usually clipped so every one can be out and safe. I wish i could be more reassuring but older zons can be complex and opinionated.There's just no guaranteeing what behavior a new older zon will have. If your YC is well bonded to you (or another family member) don't expect him to welcome another rival for your attention. Yes they might tolerate each other and will usually enjoy socializing as a flock but more so when your not involved.

First, thanks for sharing your opinion. I eventually decided that the species wasn't important, but the fact I might be adding a zon at all was probably the question.

THEN, my Pionus went after my Grey (yeah, the 8" bird chased the 14" bird off its cage). Which leads me to believe my flock isn't quite as settled as I'd thought it was & I might need to work through some "Pionus issues" before even thinking about adding another zon.

The Pi surprised me. He doesn't like anyone or anything but me. He & the zon are both bonded to me, so I would have expected him to be aggressive toward the zon, not the Grey who doesn't really care whether I live or die. I guess the good news is I got to the Pi before the Grey got over his surprise & came back to his cage . . . I saved him from himself, but it just isn't in him to be grateful.

I guess I clearly don't understand the feathered ones as much as I thought.

 

[roxynoodle]

You know what though? Birds in the wild squabble all the time, too. It's kind of their nature. My Nanday will get mad at her toys even. She will beat the crap out of them and scream at them. Obviously they didn't do anything to her, lol! So I wouldn't be worried that your flock isn't as settled as you thought, or that you didn't understand something. In other words, don't blame it on yourself is what I mean.

I'm glad the Pi didn't get hurt, but I could see my Nanday doing that as well. She probably wouldn't think twice about going after even a large macaw. She's convinced she's huge and fearless.

I guess you need to decide if you want the new bird that much, or if you are happy with your current status quo. Either way, I think the decision is fine.

And yes, you could try clipping the wings of any bird that's being aggressive, either for the time being, or all the time if it's needed.

I do admit, I'm happy that all the animals I have are getting along. No one hates anyone else or is trying to eat anyone else. That hasn't always been the case, and it can make things difficult. My Dalmatians wanted to kill cats; one of my horses wanted to stomp the pet belly pigs, etc. It was hard to keep them separated and to spend enough time with all of them that way.