Dyh

[Freedomoflight]

Hey all, I am fostering, and if all goes well, most likely adopting, a 19+ y/o DYH amazon named Paco. I know, Paco, well I didnt pick the name lol Anyways, this will be my first experience with an Amazon, and I am getting lots of advice from people, and thought you guys might like to add to it! Am picking up the guy this week, cannot wait, too excited!
Seemed really sweet when I visited him, his eyes were really calm and soft, if you know what I mean. He didnt move the whole time we were there, which, I dunno, he is on these nasty cement perches (those are the only types of perches he has) so I am guessing he is sore, but its good that he didnt like, lunge at me or move away from me, hehe.
Anyways, any advice is GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!!!

[Casa Amazona]

Congratulations!!! You're in for the ride of your life and I'm betting you'll enjoy every minute of it. Do you know for certain that Paco is a male? Based on that info, I have some thoughts I'll post later.

[Freedomoflight]

Ummm. Well, no. I can try and get that info, but I dunno if they will even have it (I am gettting him thru my birdclub, and my club only has the info that the owners give) If anyone is unsure, I will get him DNA'd, cause I know male DYHs can get pretty tricky to handle during the breeding months, and I want to be ready for that, lol. I am really counting on adopting this guy, his eyes caught me. They were soooo soft looking, you know, and inquisitive. He hasnt been out of his cage in months, so its gonna take time, and patience, but I am all for it!!!!!!

[Alika]

Amazons, especially the DYH and the YNAs, need really strong people to work with them. By strong, I mean you need to impose limits with him and stick to your rules. If you let an amazon have the upper hand, they will end up ruling the roost.

They are supposed to be worse when they're younger, settling down after they hit sexual maturity. I wouldn't know; I've never worked with a younger zon. Like you, I adopted mine as an adult (16) and the ones I work with professionally are both older as well. You probably got of lucky in that way :)

I know how it is to adopt a bird through a bird club. Again, Sam was like that. I don't know anything about her previoius life exept that she was abandoned at a veterinary clinic. Some stuff you can guess at, though. We believe she was a on a bad diet because of the condition of her feathers (plucked and shabby) and her beak (long, cracked, and dull) when we got her. With a diet correction, these things improved 100%. We also believe she shared a home with a cat and a dog at some point, since she mimics these sounds.

The nice thing about amazons is that they give really obvious signs that they're going to bite. They raise the feathers on their necks, strobe their eyes, and fan their tails. This is an amazon display, and it means they are excited in some way; don't approach one when they are doing this. My amazon will also reach slowly, beak open, to bite. It's a very obvious warning, and the bite is easy to avoid if you pay attention to it.

I think you'll find rehabbing him to be very rewarding. Move slowly, make the whole thing positive, and good luck!

[Freedomoflight]

Thanks! What kind of amazon do you own?

[Alika]

My girl is a BFA.

[Freedomoflight]

i am not as worried about the biting as I should be I guess... I have dealt with biters before.. the owners said he bites, but in a new environment, who knows?

[Alika]

Don't worry about the bites. In my experience, the more you worry that a bird will bite you, the more it is likely to do so!

Just be cautious at first and take your time, while at the same time being direct and haivng clear communication.

My senegal came to me as a notorious biter. I got a few things straight with him right off the bat, and he almost never bites me anymore.

The thing about amazon bites is that they tend to hold on and grind. I think that's what gets people the most and turns them off to amazons. My boss calls them 'dam-azons" and doesn't particularly enjoy working with them because their bites can be so bad. But it's a matter of opinion. Personally, I'd rather get bit by a zon than a cockatoo any day!

[Freedomoflight]

I fear little beaks more then big beaks, cause heak, the little beaks try it inflict all the pain while hanging on, grinding twisting chomping chewing, pinching, all of that, while big beats just bite and its over! I have been bitten by finches (yes, I have one spice that hates getting his toenails clipped, little bugger pinches hard!) caiques, senegals, cockatiels, cockatoos, budgies, lovebirds, etc, and the ones I fear most, lol, are the budgies and the lovebirds!!!!!!

[Alika]

LOL! You think like I do!

Both my senegal and my BFA have been trained to be gently restrained sans towel for grooming. I did it quickly and effectively because their bites didn't bother me. But do you know, I can't train my cockatiel this way because her bites really hurt! After a bite or two, I'm cursing and done. We have to use a towel for her.

If you can handle cockatoo bites, you should be fine. :) You have the sort of attitude I have about bites, which is great.