Dyh

[Alika]

Originally Posted by Rue

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!

I'll second that. It's not a bad idea, also, to limit the amount of food you feed them to help prevent obesity. Birds don't need to eat all day. Give him small meals that he can consume in one setting two or three times a day.

[Freedomoflight]

I will ask again when I pick him up- and ask what he is like when he is hormonal. He looked like a doll, I cannot wait to start working with him. I am trying to remember if he is clipped or not- if he is not, that is the first thing on the list to do!
Perch potatos- good to know, I will keep that in mind when setting up the cage.

[Casa Amazona]

Of my seven Amazons, two of them are DNA males, both DYHs. They can both be problem children when they're hormonal. One of them is just too ornery to handle, but the other can be handled nicely when he's not in breeding season. Even at that, I watch him very closely and only handle him under optimum circumstances because he's the fastest bird I've ever been around and can turn on a dime, so to speak.

Three of the others are females (a DYH, a BFA and a Mexican Red Head). They're not even on the same planet as the males in terms of hormones and aggression. All three of them can be real snuggle bunnies, although my DYH female can go into overload and bite really hard, but never out of meanness or aggression -- just overload -- something I've learned to work with.

The other two haven't been DNA'd, so I can't say for sure whether they're male or female. One (a Yellow Crown/Orange Wing) behaves like a female in terms of gentleness. The other (another Mexican Red Head) behaves very much like the males.

It will be very interesting to see the results of the DNA on Paco. Regardless, I think they just make wonderful friends. They're like people -- you just get to know them and create a friendship based on their individual personalities.

[Freedomoflight]

Thanks for the input, I will definatly get him DNA'd so that I will not be guessing at anything.
Now, what kind of toys do your amazons like?

[Alika]

Mine won't play with any of her hanging toys, but she LOVES foot toys! She'll chew on vine rings (a sort of wicker) and leather, but what she really loves is blocks of wood, cardboard boxes, and old phonebooks. I set them up on her playstand for her and she will keep herself entertained for hours.

I buy all my foot toys from www.busybeaks.com.

[Casa Amazona]

Originally Posted by Freedomoflight

Now, what kind of toys do your amazons like?

Toys, toys, wonderful toys! We like to destroy blocks of colored wood strung on anything (Liza Loo, Kiwi, Lol-a). We love to play with bells and make the house sound like it's next door to a church (Liza Loo & Adora). We love round bells and use them as foot toys (Kiwi & Rosita). Sometimes we like to swing, but not too often (Liza Loo & Lol-a). We like to groom rope (Kiwi). We like to play with rawhide and try to untie plastic chains (Rosita).

Liza Loo (BFA), Kiwi, Rico & Rosita (DYHs), Adora & Lol-a (MRHs) and Andy (OW/YC)

[Stizby]

I have a yellow nape named Stella. She is a toy fiend! She loves any toy that makes noise. One of her all time favorite toy is actually a baby toy -- plastic keys on a toy car remote (like the ones we have to open doors to the car). The remote has buttons on it that make car noises and beeps like a car honking its horn when the buttons are punched or squeezed. Stella has beaten up this toy so badly and will easily go into overdrive attacking the dumb thing. There is nothing quite like an amazon freaking out as it "kills" the toy.

Stella loves to chew wood but it can't be too chunky or she will give up. And she loves to forage -- hide a peanut in something and when she gets it out, she trills in amazon glee. Those of you with amazons will know what I mean.

By the way, while not technically a "toy", Stella loves her boing. I have one in her cage that she loves to bounce around on and I have one hung from the ceiling in my living room over a playstand. She will flap her wings wildly on the thing and make it spin in circles. It is a very good way for her to get in some exercise.

And by the way, amazons are plain goofy about taking showers or baths. Stella does the whole vampire act -- think of dracula and how he would hold his cape up to his face. Stella will do that exact same motion with her wings and dip and sway into the shower stream. I have never seen a bird more happy in the shower than Stella!

[Freedomoflight]

This guy definatly needed a bath. I remeber him looking like it. How would I go about it, assuming he has not had one in a while and not knowing how he will act?
Thanks for the toy input, I already have a shopping list made up :)

[Monica]

Maybe the best would be to start of with a misting bath, and if he's tame-ish, take him to the sink in the kitchen and let the water run some and see if he has any interest... If not, you can always try puttin him in the bathroom while you take a shower, and if he's interested, letting him join?

Otherwise, give him a big shallow dish (like a casserole dish), fill it with water, and give it to him. Maybe he might like it? Or you might try running the vacuum in the same room and see if he takes an interest in it... or putting either ice or foot toys in the water and see how he reacts..

[Freedomoflight]

Haha, the vaccum thing, that really does work, about half the time I run the vaccum, Higgins takes a bath, its funny.
I just dunno exactly how tame he is..........
but I am sure a bath would feel good to him.