Baby versus adult - Shopping list too!

[prettyinpink]

Hey guys... I was wondering if there is any real difference if I were to get a baby instead of a adult or a adult instead of a baby? Pros Cons?

I'm mostly just wondering... A baby Amazon showed up by my area...

I was also wondering if someone could give me a shopping list. The original amazon I was suppose to get everything with it. Now you guys said to keep my options open so I saw this and was wondering what you guys thought.
How much do you think I would be spending total?

Thanks guys!!

[Sorechia]

In my opinion babies bond well with the owner, and they grow up with the way you live, like my sun conure is "growing up" with kids around so she isn't surprised or startled by yelling or running around. This however is just MY opinion. I know that others think completely different.

[DeguMom]

How old is the baby? Is it from a breeder or is it a "rehome"? All those factors make a big difference in deciding (for me).

IMO, depending on the age, a baby at some point, wants to leave the "nest". If you are part of the "the nest" the baby will be frustrated by not being able to leave you and move on with its life.

However, if the baby is beyond the leaving the nest age, I don't think it really matters too much. Babies can be nippy though, as they explore the world and learn how hard is too hard to bite people.

If you're concerned about how much you'll spend, you can go around to local stores and get prices for the items you'll need. Cage, perches, food, dishes and some toys to start with. Price them around town, and keep notes of how much each item is.

[Lisa B]

well, the most rehomed birds there are, are- Cockatoos and Male Amazons.
so if an older zon was to come your way, you need to dig deep and find out how many homes it has, if its male or female, and what baggage comes along. Even hand fed babies become a hand full at maturity. My male zon is not the typical male. He is going to be 20, and has nailed me 3 times in 19 years. Hard enough to make me drop to my knees and see stars. I have the scars to proove it. Another rehome amazon I had in her 20's was a complete doll. She was wild caught back in the early 80's.
Zons dont tend to be cuddly hands on birds. Maybe as babies, but remember we ALL grow up! Zons definitly need a dedicated owner, who knows there will be good times and bad, and fully understand this undertaking. If a person is truly committed, and learns the signs, zons can be great family members. Just keep in mind, tho domesticated, they are still wild at heart.


I also opt to adopt if at all possible.

list:
cage 300.00+(initial)
toys 120+(initial)
food 30+(weekly -fresh, good pellets and a varried seed mix)
travel cage perhaps 29+(depending and initial)
lighting if he needs it 89+(inital)
vet visit if you have other birds or if you wish to be on the safe side 149+

[prettyinpink]

It's a baby... and it's from a breeder. Am I allowed to paste links from outside sites? Like Hoobly?

This is the description:
"have reduced the price of my amazon baby, we are asking 500.00 for him/her. this baby is very sweet & loving , she already steps up and wants to be with you all the time. this baby hatched on 3-10-09. he/she is almost 10 weeks old. he/ she is perching and on 3 feedings a day or every 8 hours. this baby's mother is an double yellow head amazon & the dad is an orange wing amazon. anyone who gets this baby will have a life long friend! if you have anymore questions please e-mail or call 903 208 0508. please no calls after 11pm."

Whoa... Lisa... I've read that Zons are cuddlers. Hmm. I wonder if it just depends on the bird?

[prettyinpink]

When do Amazons start talking? Now I'm not getting them for the talking part I'm just curious... I can't find any dang books on Amazons in general just parrots. I picked up the complete guide to bird care and training... I'll have to check barns and noble.

[Ringneckmom]

Talking will depend on the bird some as they are being weaned others after weaning. It is hard to say when as each bird will be different. Some may not talk at all.

As far as cuddly, not really. When younger they will be that way and as they get older they do live a good head and chin rub. My zon LOVES his head and chin rubs. He puts up with me hugging on him right now but not for too long and sometimes not at all. He may let me as he gets older and then again he may not. That will depend on the bird and for the most part zons are not cuddly - but they sure make up for it in fun.
They love a bath! It is funny to watch them doing all their contortions with that.
He is still young so it is hard to say.
Are they going to hand feed the baby out or is that the price if you take it and hand feed it? I would ask cause that is a price I see when you take over hand feeding. If it is find out the price for him to be fed out. DO NOT TRY TO DO THIS ON YOUR OWN OR YOU MAY KILL YOUR BIRD!!!

As far as young or old.... with young you don't have any baggage to deal with, but you do have to deal with all the other things like what we call the terrible twos - when they start to test you and can become nippy and such. Also when they reach sexual maturity they can be little brats. With young bird you don't really know what the personality will be where as in an older bird you will see what their personality is.

With an older bird, you are past the tween stages but will have to learn how to read the bird and get used to his personality. You might also be getting any baggage he has from previous homes as well as any bad habits that may come along like screaming for attention, not eating a varied diet - making it harder to change the diet and stuff like that.

I think everyone else has done a good job of listing the expenses that you will need to start.


Bonding will happen with any bird if they are given the chance to settle in and know you. That an older bird cannot bond well with you is just a crock of BS. I have several birds that were older when I got them and they are sweet and loving and will seek me out for love and attention.

An older bird is just going to need time and patience to get there most times. They are not going to adjust in 2 days where as a young bird will adjust quicker most times.

[RubyMuse]

this bird is not weaned - do not support the sale of unweaned babies, the other poster is right -the "baby" will want to leave it's "parents", ie: you and move on

[prettyinpink]

Thank you guys! YES Clara I read that and NO I would never take on a bird that I'd have to feed if I didn't know how to do it and I don't... They also are selling a gray that needs to be hand fed.
Sounds like I'm going to stick to the older Zon... he's only three too. But I wanted to know if there's a difference between the babies. I get to see Alex (older Zon) on Monday if she keeps the date this time... and from what she has told me he's pretty well behaved.

Thanks again guys!

[Sorechia]

Originally Posted by RubyMuse

this bird is not weaned - do not support the sale of unweaned babies, the other poster is right -the "baby" will want to leave it's "parents", ie: you and move on

I have never heard this in my life. Can you explain what you mean? I hand fed my Too since she was 5 weeks old and she is now 5 years old and never wanted to "leave" me. I also handfed my sun conure and she also is wanting to leave me. Can you explain this theory? Thanks