To Adopt or Not to Adopt an Amazon

[Maria9]

Hello all.

I have been a part of your site on and off throughout the years, owning different feathered friends. I currently have two parakeets, Joey and Phoebe, who are not hand tame, just a really bonded pair.

I have a co-worker who had had a DYHA for 30 years since she was a baby and he's looking to give her away. I love birds, but have had some bad experiences with the larger ones and have some scars to show for it. So, I now have a bit of a fear that I never had before but would still love to have a bird I can bond with. The question is... because this DYHA has been bonded to this man for 30 years, is it possible for her to now bond to me? She doesn't currently like his wife and I'm worried it's a woman thing.

Any thoughts and suggestions are so appreciated.

Thanks so much... Maria

 

[texsize]

I would say you should meet the prospective Amazon in the flesh and see if he takes to you.
If the bird chooses you then you are in like Flynn. There does seem to be a "honeymoon period" where things go well for a week or two and then they can change.

Study the amazon sub-forum sticky on body language. If you carefully read there body language you can reduce the chance of getting bitten.

Good luck.

 

[Laurasea]

Beware the co worker will likely lie about behavior issues. Doesn't mean it won't be a good bird for you, but most rehome people lie. Especial if they've had for 30 years and just want to re-home, without a major life reasons.

See if the bird takes to you. Probably hasn't been getting the attention she deserves. Yes she can bond with you! Absolutely! She might be thrilled with you right off, or she might like you but go through a greif process.

My rescue Quaker Penny, liked me right off, but then had an angry couple of months. Everything's upset her. Then she gave me her heart, and us so happy.

 

[Billdore]

I was just given Perry by a friend he’s a yellow crowned amazon. Our first meeting he was super aggressive towards me bit me a couple times and wanted to rip my toes off. Once Perry came to my house and was away from his stressful situation he was a totally different fella and we have been best buds ever since. Perry is also 30 but has bounced around. Just thought I’d share with you because you just never know. Good luck ��

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I agree with Wes (Texsize) and Bill...You need to meet that Amazon..and not just once but multiple times. We have another member Jon (Saxguy) who was looking for another Ekkie after his passed away. He visited a rescue and found Tucker,another Ekkie,and also met Baxter,a Yellow Nape 'Zon,and they just hit it off splendidly and Bill's relation with Perry is great. Yep..it can happen. Like mentioned..you need to go visit this girl. Maybe your co-worked would allow you to take her home for a "trial" visit to see if you're a good fit? It's a shame after thirty years he is considering rehoming her..maybe its for the best and she'd be happier and cared for better with you. Please keep us posted!


Jim

 

[SailBoat]

We have always taken on Amazons that had no want to ever be around, let alone Trust another Human ever again... Since they also came to us seriously ill, their first experiences with us was having medication shoved in them. So, our starting place had always been very dark. In every case, with an abundance of Love and zero expectations they had all come to first not wanting to kill us, to being Okay with us around, to fulling Loving us.

If this 'opportunity' comes with an open timeline, i.e. you do not have to take the bird NOW. Request several visits and allow the Amazon to begin to know you without needing to be in her face. In fact, if you can, let the first visit be little more than a viewing from a distances. Let the discussing be about work, type of food the Amazon enjoys or dislikes, the weather, etc, etc, etc... The goal is to let the Amazon become familiar with your voice and a bit of your personality from a safe distance.

YES, take the time to learn Amazon Body Language prior to any visit. FYI: A fast read is far from enough. Amazons can be very clear with their Body Language and if you haven't a clue, well the bite is not their fault.

Male or Female only Amazons -- Pure BS... Amazon's are known for their fickle love affairs; they follow a fundamental basic, If You Can't Be With The One You Love, Love The One You Are With... Point being, an Abundance of Love, No Expectations, and Working At Their Rate Works!!! Understand, we start from a deep, dark hole and build a relationship from there...

If you walk in with a preset determination that you have been bitten hard by an Amazon, I assure you, you will be bitten again. Amazons are busy reading our emotions, they will pick-up that you are nervous from across the room. Hence the importance of providing distances on that first meeting. Allow each of you time to figure each other out. It will also give you an opportunity to get some kind of feeling what's really going on in the relationship in the household.

As has been stated above... See if the Amazon has an interest in you! And, as stated above, if yes, that's golden!!! If not, does not mean it can't happen!!!

Lots more, but enough to get you reading...
At least, set up a meeting!

 

[Maria9]

Wow, thank you all for the great advice and great news, that she can re-bond. I know the couple (I work with both) well and they treat her very well. He actually owns her. She keeps her distance because Sam, the bird, wants to take a bite out of her, although she will take food from her. She just knows there's fear there and manipulates. The idea is that if things don't work out with me, they want her back. They are both very concerned about who takes her and they know me and know I love birds so they approached me. I don't know exactly why he wants to adopt her out, but I'll find out during one of my visits, which has already been mentioned by them. So things are on the right track. And, I will definitely read about the body language. I know some of it, but with my last parrot, I never saw it coming. Was happy one moment, attaching the next. I'll keep you all posted!

Maria

 

[wrench13]

Good Luck! There is no love like an Amazon love. Just remember 2 things. Work and progress at the Amazons pace (which my be on the scale of weeks or months) and not your human pace. And remember , it;s never the fault of the parrot; it is always the fault of the human. Just those 2 things are going to make accepting you into this Amazons life much less stressful.

 

[LucyBird]

I love birds so I go to bird stores often to see all the birds and think about who might be the next one to join my family! Today I went to meet a 20 year old white fronted Amazon who stepped up nicely and then started to bite my finger really hard. I am lucky to have a very kind bird that I know well and can read her body language but I actually surprised myself when I did not see the bite coming from this bird. Afterwards when I thought about it, I thought that I really have no idea what this bird's life was like for the past 20 years, if he was happy or sad, or maybe depressed with his owner passing? Just like with people how we never really know what someone has been through, it seems similar to parrots (except they cannot tell us the story of their life!).

With time and a lot of patience, I think any person can learn how to have common ground with a bird but it will be a long journey. For me, having the bonding period with a baby bird is important to me but I hope to one day be ready to adopt a bird that needs a new home. As we all continue to learn about our birds, I think we can learn how to give them happier lives and have an understanding and appreciation for the joy that they bring us.

Have you met the bird? How does it seem to be going with you spending time with her? Would they be giving you the cage as well? I have a small Amazon but met a DYH today and they are large birds so this one would need a lot of space and a large cage.

Looking forward to hearing how the visits go, would love to see pictures of the bird too!