Hey Amazon owners!

[Chariclo]

I missed him too Nina! He's such a precious boy!

[kathleen]

I've been to other forums because I am a first time potential bird owner and I'm still trying to decide what kind I want. I have ruled out the cockatoo...too loud in an apartment. I'm considering a grey and have researched quakers which are legal in my state. I decided that I was going to make frequent trips to the bird store until I decided which I want. I met an amazon today for the first time and he was very sweet. I think he thought I was his mom because he took my knuckle into his beak and tried to swallow it. It didn't hurt but are these birds biters. Would and amazon be considered a good first bird? I'm so grateful to this website. Everyone has been so helpful. Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Joel]

HE spoke to me today Joanie!!!!....I'm lookin, I'm lookin. :icon_smil ....Does it have to be tame btw?

Also, which one in the pic above (in earlier post) is Andy?

And what species are considered to be cousins to your Amazons? I'm hoping that all the ones I need to re-home are candidates for a spot on that five acres? :eusa_pray :icon_wink

Originally Posted by Joanie

Aren't they just wonderful? Each one of them is beautiful in a different way. Ramone's head has all those beautiful colors and I love the way the light hits the YNs green feathers. I would never be envious of anyone else's blessing (be pretty bad of me, considering how many of these lovely creatures God has given me), but one day I just know He'll bring me a YN female.

[Casa Amazona]

Hi Joel. Andy's the little guy on the top left of the picture. I've posted another picture of him here. It was taken the same day as the others. He really is a wonderful friend, you know. He still doesn't like to be handled, but he just lives for his head skritches. Yeah, I really would prefer a tame YNA and she needs to be a female. I hate to be a sissy, but I'm just not up for a male YNA. As to others who the cousins are, that would be just about anything with (or having come equipped at one time with) feathers. Guess I'll take it on a case-by-case basis when the time comes.

[Willow]

Boy have I been gone awhile - I'm so busy with the guinea pig rescue and my job. I just thought I'd pop in and share this cute photo I took today of my dad and Maple. Amazingly, Maple asked my dad to step him up! Too cute!

[Monica]

That's pretty amazing! What a great photo!

[The Outlaw]

Kathleen:

Here's the skinny on most amazon parrots: it pays to know the sex of the bird before you fall head over heels in love. These beautiful and loyal creatures are intelligent, excellent talkers and wonderful singers, the true divas of the parrot entertainment world. The females tend to be sweet and lovable most of the time, but are definitely devoted to only a few special folks at a time.

The males usually start out about the same, but unfortunately, due to hormonal overloads for several months a year, they can become virtually unhandleable during those periods. Its not their fault, they simply can't help it.In particular, this is a problem with some of the more available to the pet trade amazons i.e. the Yellow Nape, Blue Front and Yellow Head parrots.These are often referred to as the "hot three". Again, this applies to the males, not the ladies.

Amazons sometimes get something commonly referred to as a "crush". Its exactly what it sounds like: love at first sight. I have been blessed by my female YNA, Taco, for she fell in love with me on day one. I was her third home in almost 18 years. She had belonged to the aunt of my friend Lori and when the aunt started obtaining dogs, she didn't want to be bothered with her bird anymore. She gave Taco to her son who had been raised with her. Though she liked him, she hated his girlfriend. Consequently, she got cage bound, needed grooming and was depressed. I didn't think I really wanted a zon, I'd heard so many horror stories, but Lori begged me to take her. I was so fortunate for she saw me, displayed her feathers and has been purring ever since. I guess I reminded her of Lori's aunt whom she so loved. In the 3 years she's lived here, I've never been bitten by her. I did get a bite once when she attacked my Severe, whom she despises. I blocked the attack and she nailed me. She was so shocked and embarrassed, she never tried that again.

Some of the sweeter zons that I've met have been female Orange Wings, Blue Fronts, Yellow Napes and Mexican Redfronts (I think that's what they were called). Again, I wouldn't purchase a male amazon, but I can highly recommend the ladies.

For a first time parrot owner, I consider the Amazons, in general, to be slightly more challenging than some other species. I don't mean that in a negative way at all. I like a challenge. Keeps me honest.

THE OUTLAW

[Chariclo]

Hey Amy! Good to see you back! Was just thinking about you the other day as a matter of fact! Great shot of Maple and Dad!

Originally Posted by Willow

Boy have I been gone awhile - I'm so busy with the guinea pig rescue and my job. I just thought I'd pop in and share this cute photo I took today of my dad and Maple. Amazingly, Maple asked my dad to step him up! Too cute!

[Rue]

Originally Posted by kathleen

I've been to other forums because I am a first time potential bird owner and I'm still trying to decide what kind I want. I have ruled out the cockatoo...too loud in an apartment. I'm considering a grey and have researched quakers which are legal in my state. I decided that I was going to make frequent trips to the bird store until I decided which I want. I met an amazon today for the first time and he was very sweet. I think he thought I was his mom because he took my knuckle into his beak and tried to swallow it. It didn't hurt but are these birds biters. Would and amazon be considered a good first bird? I'm so grateful to this website. Everyone has been so helpful. Thanks in advance for your advice.

...Hi Kathleen! I can't offer too much advice, but will add what I can...

...I've had 'tiels for some 20+ years always thinking I'd also like a bigger bird at some time. Then my 13 year old daughter got herself 3 male finches (we just love them!) and 2 regular pet-shop budgies that she hand- and shoulder- tamed in short order. She was having so much fun with her budgies I decided now was the time for my larger bird.

I didn't know what I wanted - part of me wanted to rescue a bird, but part of me didn't want the headaches associated with that and wanted a newly weaned, hand-fed baby...

I did a great deal of research on most of the easily available species and settled on a hand-fed White-capped Pionus (because I absolutely love the combination of big brown eyes with that jaunty white-cap!). All the available Pionus appear to be wonderful birds, with the Maximillians being the largest and the White-capped the smallest (and supposedly fiestiest). The are quiet as far as parrots go, with some talking ability (keep in mind some individual parrots, no matter what species, will not talk at all).

I have NO regrets whatsoever, Pekoe is my baby, gives me kisses and cuddles, but will step up for the rest of the family so they can all handle him.

However, I felt there was room for one more bird. And now I was up for more of challenge. I had no particular preference as to what species I took in as an older bird (although I had ruled out macaws and cockatoos because I find their size a bit intimidating and wasn't sure I could meet all their requirements), and last Wednesday our Amazon arrived! She's a 10+ year old Green-cheek (or Mexican Red-head) that wasn't a rescue per se (she was in a very good temporary position), just a homeless bird (no one wanted her, but for no particular reason that we can determine).

Since we've only had her a few days, I can't say too much yet. She's an absolutely beautiful bird, the colours are awesome. She prefers men (which we knew in advance) and will likely prefer my husband (which is fine). She's a sunflower seed fantatic, so I'll be the only one who hand-feeds her those, so we can develop a bond of our own.

But I'll say one thing...she is LOUD! And I don't think she's even screamed yet. Just her normal voice is LOUD! Not a big deal for us, we live on an acerage, she can be as loud as she likes...and if I was in a house in the city, I think it would still be okay...not that different from a large dog barking. But if I were in an apartment, I don't know if an Amazon is the bird to get - whereas I wouldn't hesitate to get a Pionus (mind you there are individual Pis that scream too).

At any rate, I wrote all this just to give you another story about choosing a parrot and the end results - good luck making your selection and be sure to enjoy the process!

[Dayna]

Maya, here is a picture of my beloved Maya. My only large bird. I will probably keep it that way. She needs so much attention, I have NO idea how I would spread that around! I keep cockatiels too, but they keep each other!