amazon stench?

[birdman5000]

i just adopted a mexican red head from the county animal shelter, and it has a wierd musky smell to it, almost like cigarettes smell but not, anyway i have encountered 1 other zon(lilac crowned) in a pet shop with the same smell, but my grandmas yellow nape, doesnt smell like that, and niether does my friend's 2 other zons of different species, i was wondering if anybody here knows of why they have this smell, i asked a vet and he said it could be diet or the birds previous owner smoked around it, that the smell was based on personal opinion of what "smells/stinks" and what doesnt. have you ever encountered or heard of anything like this??? i appreciate any response anybody may have thanks

[Monica]

Amazons are supposed to have a musky/old sock smell to them from what others have said... I've heard that a good diet, bathing opportunities and maybe even feeding some aloe vera (or putting aloe vera into bathing water) helps keep the smell down...

Of course, an overweight amazon may smell very bad compared to an amazon who is in better shape (I do believe I once heard this somewhere... a vet said it... can't recall where though, sorry).

[Lisa B]

all amazons emit a smell. some pleasant. My girlfriend had one that smelled like lilacs....lucky her.....Mine doesnt smell so pleasant....
he smells like pee lucky me

[birdman5000]

thanks guys:) he/she is definately not overwieght so i guess its diet the smell has gone down since we got it, its not nearly as noticable now. but when he is close to yer face and he wafts his feathers you can smell it...lol

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by birdman5000

thanks guys:) he/she is definately not overwieght so i guess its diet the smell has gone down since we got it, its not nearly as noticable now. but when he is close to yer face and he wafts his feathers you can smell it...lol

All bird species have unique smells. While I love the smell of an African Grey, the musk of Amazons is not up my alley. I like the smell of my cockatiels and doves. But I have no idea what my rosellas smell like because they're not tame.

I quoted your message because you said your 'zon is definitely not overweight. Keep in mind that obesity is a tremendous problem with amazons so please have him weighed on a regular basis.

[Beaks]

Lisa
they all have that musk smell because that is what the oil smells like that they spread on their feathers.

Birdman5000
If your bird smells like smoke just give him a bath with a little dawn and warm water but you will never get rid of the musk smell because all zons have it.

[Isaac-1]

My BFA also has a musky smell, I have noticed it tends to be stronger when he has regular baths.

Ike

[birdsnreps]

i happen to like the amazon smell :) my moustached kinda smell like them, even though they are not even close to being related to each other lol. eventually, you can get rid of the cig stench, but not his natural smell. just keep bathing him and eventually he will loose the cig smell, which i think is disgusting :( we took care of a cockatoo who's owners had always smoked around her, poor girl, her name was cheesecake and she was completley bald except on her head and a few, nasty feathers on her wings. the feathers she did have were chewed on, and they were a really dark yellow, stained from the smoke, it was totally gross :( the bird was the sweetest thing ever, but idk why her owners were doing that to her :(

[denmor55]

My Lilac crowned amazons have that smell But I do not think it is offensive just kind of a Sweet Musky Oder.

[Beaks]

i sniff my zons daily LOL

they smell good