Dyh

[Freedomoflight]

Yeah, I fear the little beaks! Give me a macaw over a budgie any day!!!!!!!!!! Even my spice finch makes me go OW when he bites me, and if my caique chomps down (which he rarely does anymore) I just say hey, stop it. My friend meyers has a smaller beak then my caique does, and I think that her birds bite is worse then mine, lol tho she can probably beg to differ!
Is your Zon stick trained? I have read a lot about the 'need' to stick train zons, so that when they are in moods you dont have to handle them.....

[Alika]

No, but it is a good idea.

When we first got Sam, she came with a horrible old-fashioned cast iron, round cage... bad in a lot of ways, but I won't get into that. Anyway, she was notorious for climbing on top of her cage. If she did that, you couldn't get her down without a stick, because she would lunge at you.

She was stick trained back then, but we haven't needed it since. I'd imagine if we ever needed to, we could use it again and she'd probably be responsive to it.

Nowadays, she has a bigger, newer, square cage. I took a chance and got her one with a playtop, which she loves. She spends most of her day up there, chewing on foot toys and shredding old phonebooks. I've never had a problem getting her to come down off her new cage.

She sometimes gives my husband crap, but when he is firm with her she reluctantly steps up to his hand, anyway.

[Horacio's Mom]

Hi, I have a 2 year old amazon that I raised from a baby. He's a red lored from what I've learned and we think he's a male. I also have what I think is a female. Could you explain what's wrong with the old iron cages? That's what they are in. Also, I need some advice on diet. They eat everything and I just use seeds for training. But his beak is still a little cracked. Is that a lack of vitamins? Also, I don't know what the letters you use mean. Help???
Thanks,
Elena

[Freedomoflight]

DYH- double yellow headed amazon

The older cages that are iron are not good for birds because they can contain lead, and if they are painted, the paint can contain lead, which, if swollowed, can lead to lead poisoning or/and death. Also round cages are not good because they give the bird less space, and no where to hide, as apposed to the new square cages, that have corners that the bird can seek refuge in.
What is your staple in your diet? Is it pellets, or seed? What kind of seed do they get? Lots of sunflower, peanuts? Sunflower and peanuts are bad in large quanitities, because they contain all bad fats. Do you mean the beak if cracked, or flaking? There is a difference. My caiques beak is flaking right now, and doesnt look in the best of shape, but that is because it is growing out. Birds beaks continually grow, and so they keep them the right length by chewing on wood, etc.
if you could possibly post a pic of his beak, that would help a lot.

[Monica]

After I got used to budgie bites as well as bites from other small birds, I was a bit surprised by Noel's bites, but was able to get used to them as well! But after I got used to her bites, and no longer being bitten by the smaller birds, it was an even BIGGER surprise as to how much a smaller bite could hurt! LOL

I can't wait though to hear more about this zon! I hope all goes well!

[Alika]

BFA = blue fronted amazon
YNA = yellow naped amazon

Besides the things already listed, the old iron cage that Sam came in was waaay to small for her, it was the wrong shape, and it had a built-in, flat iron perch in the middle that was horrible for her feet. The only other perching options were a built-in, too-small iron ladder and her actual food cups. Her foster mom was trying to teach her to use a water bottle because she couldn't keep her water clean. We later learned that the reason she couldn't keep her water clean was because her water dish was the only comfortable place for her to perch, and she spent almost all her time there.

I used to have a picture of it, but now I can't find it. Bummer.

[Freedomoflight]

This guys cage is WAYYYY to small for him, at best its a 2 by 2. I am getting a nice big cage on loan from my club, and if things work out, I will be out cage shopping! Fun Fun!
Monica- I will post pics and tell you loads about him as soon as I get him! He hasnt been out of his cage in a while, and is known as a biter, but seems like a real sweetheart!

[Horacio's Mom]

Originally Posted by Freedomoflight

DYH- double yellow headed amazon
The older cages that are iron are not good for birds because they can contain lead, and if they are painted, the paint can contain lead, which, if swollowed, can lead to lead poisoning or/and death. Also round cages are not good because they give the bird less space, and no where to hide, as apposed to the new square cages, that have corners that the bird can seek refuge in.
What is your staple in your diet? Is it pellets, or seed? What kind of seed do they get? Lots of sunflower, peanuts? Sunflower and peanuts are bad in large quanitities, because they contain all bad fats. Do you mean the beak if cracked, or flaking? There is a difference. My caiques beak is flaking right now, and doesnt look in the best of shape, but that is because it is growing out. Birds beaks continually grow, and so they keep them the right length by chewing on wood, etc.
if you could possibly post a pic of his beak, that would help a lot.

I checked on the picture I posted of Horacio and you can't see his beak well enough. It was taken last year anyway. Thank you for the information on the cage. I'll save up for a new cage. He spends most of his time outside anyway. He just sleeps there.

His beak is flaking. I didn't know they grew like that. (First time Parront).
He loves to chew on wooden clothes pins and furniture of course. My coffee table looks like distressed maple. I'm just waiting for him to finish going all the way around. He has a good diet full of all kinds of varied parrot food. His seed are only for training. He loves apples and eats everything but the peel. Also loves his vegies. Especially corn on the cob.
You are all fantastic. Thanks for your support.

I was reading about Monica saying you can use a dog whistle to "clicker train" or a ball point pen. Horacio is currently playing with the clicker around my neck. He pulls it up and clicks it. I think he's trying to clicker-train me.
Again. Thank you everyone.
Elena and Horacio

[The Outlaw]

Congratulations. By all means DO have your bird DNA'd. Its essential with DYH, YNAs and BFs. The males are MUCH more difficult than the ladies. Also you need to be absolutely certain that this bird is clipped. Amazons can and do often fly at faces when they are hormonal. Comparing a female to one of the hot three males is like comparing apples and oranges. The females are very gentle and make some of the best of the Amazon pets. However, the males can be dangerous. I like amazons a lot. They are honest, beautiful and very devoted. However, a hormonal DYH or YNA cannot control themselves. They are along for the ride. Some can be so difficult that they spend months in cages until this passes. Then, they settle down and become the dream pets we all desire.

You have to understand what drives them. We have one of the best Amazon experts anywhere right here on Birdboard. That is Joanie Doss.

For the record, I have helped 3 Amazons find new homes and have adopted a 20 year YNA hen that is a doll. The male YNA at I found a home for was Allegra, Barb's bird. He can be so sweet and cuddly, absolutely lives for her but can be ornery too. He's in his 20's too and still has lots of fire.

[Rue]

Congrats on your Amazon! I adopted a 10 year old Green-cheeked or GC (Mexican Red-headed - or MRH) hen this spring and she's wonderful! Love her to pieces!!! She's my shoulder bird...happiest when hanging out on me as I go about my business...

One things...Amazons can be real 'perch potatoes' . I have to work hard to keep mine moving and get her to excercise...even her cage never gets messy! Mostly because she'll only perch in two places...one is in front of her food bowl and the other on her sleeping perch!