Considering a 13 yr old DYH

[Markus]

Hi. Today I saw an ad for a 13 year old double yellow head amazon. I'm going to visit tomorrow and prospect the idea of bringing him home. They say he's a talker.. but that could translate to biter as well.

Right now I have 2 kids, age 3 and 5. A cockatiel, and a sun conure. In the past I've had a bw pionus and an umbrella cockatoo. (this was before the college years)

Yes, I know, little kids + amazon = kids without fingers. They're bonded with our conure and even my 3 yr old will pick him up and carry him around. But they also learned the warning signs of when to stay far away.

I've never been around amazons before... So I guess the advice I'm looking for is any species specific advice. I do have years of parrot experience, so I know the general do's and don't's.

Thanks!

[Lightwing]

I would be really careful letting your little ones around an amazon. My Bacca, YNA, is very predictable and all you have to do is watch her body language to know how she's feeling, hence how she will act. I would not trust an amazon (especially mine) with any child unless they were raised around small children, otherwise it would be like handing the child a loaded gun, IMO. Don't get me wrong, I love my Bacca more than anything, but I've been nailed by her when MY attention wavered. They may not have the same bite power as a cockatoo or macaw, but they can still do catastrophic damage, especially to little hands and faces.
Hopefully someone else with more experience concerning amazons and children will chime in. My only children have only ever been covered in feathers or fur.

Good luck

[Markus]

Thanks for the advice. As much as I'd like an amazon, he just won't fit in my current family situation. Our sun conure is the perfect little clown, and I consider him "child safe".

I don't have enough time at home, as I work til 5pm every day of the week. That's just not enough time for more than one bird.

I hope he finds a good home!