Blue Front Amazons

[boojay]

Hello, I not just new to this forum, I am new to all forums. I don't know yet if I'm doing this right so please be patient with me.

Not just new to forums but fairly new to owning large birds.

A distant friend gave my husband and I several birds when her husband passed away. We've had them under a year. I had them checked out and they are fine. I have done research to learn the "how to's".

They gave us: 2 yr old African grey (great talker), 11 yr. old Blue front Amazon (male- playful kinda talker- loves to sing with me) and a female 8 yr old Blue front Amazon (she was a breeder before they got her, she wasn't with them long before he (owner) passed away- seems timid still)- and she is in a large(huge) custom cage with the male Amazon). We already owned for many years green cheek conure and 3 cockateils.

I have not experienced any type of breeding. All I was told by the ex owners wife is she will probably be ready to breed around Nov. Well the only difference I've noticed is the Amazons both have for awhile an ongoing sound as if its possibly what mating would sound like. But today changing the water and cleaning the bowls I noticed (and I look thoroughly of anything changing with them) the female's underside (I don't want to be to explicit) was red and swollen. I don't know what this area is called yet, But when I was around the cage freakin' out seeing this, she was climbling around the cage and the swelled look went away but it was still reddish. I inspected the floor shavings and did not find blood in the droppings.

The male did not have this. Is this what to expect in mating season or could it be the brand of food? I use Kaytee seed mixture I tried two kinds of pellets-they would not eat it- I tried gradually changing it over even- none of them will eat it, but I also feed them daily assortment of fresh veggies and fruits. And a snack of a 2 inch piece celery with organic natural peanut butter.
They know the schedule and look forward to these times.

Any knowledge on this would be appreciated. I just wanted to find out a little about it before running to the vet. Thanks in advance.

[boojay]

Hey all, I have been pacing the floor not knowing what to do about my Betsy being swollen and red. So like any other OCD mom I decided to clean some cages. Especially the two Amazon's big- big Condo. LOL! Really so I could inspect the bottom better and when getting her out on Play perch stand she was not swollen anymore- no reddness at that time. I don't know still what it means, could it have been constipated? Or...

I would still love someone to reply to this, I will not let it go until I can search for the answer.

[bizzymum]

I think you are talking about the vent area of the female. I wonder if she was in breeding mode,or there could be an egg issue. I would call an avian vet and describe the area explicitly and they should have a proper answer. Any redness should not be visible on a bird. I only know that male Vasas will get a protuding vent area when they are in mating season and the females will lose their head feathers and their heads turn yellow/orange, but I have never heard of a BFA showing that sort of sign.