Help?

[TAGyourIT]

I am counting on you all to tell me it is a bad idea...

First of all, I KNOW better than to play with animals in pet stores...I am WAY to much of a softie.

Today I was in a pet store that I rarely visit (about 45 min from my house) I was kind of wasting time and went to look at the bird toys. I noticed they had several birds there for sale. The first bird that caught my eye was a beautiful M2. While I was sitting there talking to the 2 I heard a whistle. I turned around and noticed a bird staring at me. It kind of looked like an amazon, but I had never seen this species in person before. A man who worked at the store walked by and I asked what kind of bird he was. He told me he was a yellow naped amazon. (I grew up with a DYA, but have not been around many other zons) This bird looked rather large for an amazon to me, but then again...It has been a long time since I have spent much time around one.

The man I was talking to about the bird just happened to be the owner of the store (it is a small chain pet store here) He told me the bird was somewhat aggressive and that he had already had 2 homes. He had pretty much become not handleable. There was only one employee there who could safely handle him and that employee didnt work there anymore. So I am guessing this bird has been pretty much been cage bound.

He tried to get him out of the cage and the bird was having no part of it. His wife came over, another employee came over...no one could get the bird out. I asked if I could give it a try and it was kind of a "at your own risk, parrot bites hurt" kind of thing. The zon took to me right away, stepped right up and in no time was snuggling into my shirt and lowering his head for scratches. By this time all the employees were standing around in amazement. Well NOW you HAVE to buy him! He hates everyone! "I have never seen him that friendly!"

He was a VERY sweet bird and he kind of picked me from across the room...I stayed with him for a good hour just holding him, asking him to step up, scratching him, gently grabbing his beak (which my birds love) he seemed to be eating it up. Never showed even an OUNCE of aggression toward me. He even easily was redirected when I would not allow him to climb up my arm and onto my shoulder. He was happy being held on my hand/wrist and brought in close for cuddles.

He seemed very sad when I put him back. He was trying to talk to me the whole time I was holding him, he just seemed like he kind of picked me.

The store said they would sell him to me for $800. I think they would come down even more though.

A few problems... I have 2 Macaws that I rescued recently and I swore that was going to be it for awhile. They are both doing excellent, and both had great vet checks, but I just wonder if it is to soon to add another. They were both pluckers and both are growing back in wonderfully, but I dont want to sacrifice that.

The Zon seemed very quiet, he talked when I held him, but not while in the cage.

I dont know...I really dont know what to do. I think I loved this birdie at first whistle :) I took a few pics with my phone that I will post.

Talk me out of it before I go back and get him!!!!!!!!!

Here he is...

[shellbeme]

Wow, he sure is pretty. :( I have no experience with zons but I know what it's like with those impulse purchases. I would definantly sleep on it first. They steal your heart in the store but you'd have to be sure, do you have time for a fourth?

[debbielabella]

talk you out of it? no way! he is gorgeous! and he picked you! I don't take that lightly from an amazon. Either they love you or hate you. There's nothing like the love of a zon. They are very loyal devoted companions that will keep you entertained and amused for the rest of your life. Both you and he are very fortunate to have found each other. I hope you are able to get him, it sounds like his chances aren't good for a happy life and he took to you right away.

[dmiller91]

don't have one myself, but I'm no help. I'd be packing him in the car.

[birdiemommy]

I'm a softie too. I would worry that if I left him, he would never meet anyone else that he would bond with. As you said, your other rescues are settling in fine. Sleep on it, and go back and see if they will lower the price a bit if you get him. Also gives you a chance to interact with him again and see how he responds.
Oh wait, I guess I am not helping, am I? I love zons

[tkirsch9368]

Go get him girl! He is pretty much begging yout ot ake him home......:)

[Emmilyy]

He's very pretty.. and it deffinately sounds like he's picked you! i don't know how you managed to leave without him! :P

i agree that you should sleep on it.. think about the birds you have and how it would affect them.. from the sounds of it your rescues are doing great - i think they'd be fine with a new addition.

I think, if you have the money, space, and time - go for it! Its amazing her took to you so fast when he didn't to anyone else - and who knows if tht will ever happen for him again? I LOVE LOVE LOVE zons, they're by dream bird, even before Greys!

[debbielabella]

something to consider, part of this is myth, part just my personal experience. My amazon, Tiki, is very jealous/possessive and needs to feel he is the center of attention. He chose my son and gets upset if he shows attention to other birds. Even though I am his second choice, he still expects me to put him first. I've heard that macaws are jealous types, don't know if that's true of yours or not. You're probably good at balancing because you have multiple macaws, and I don't know if it's just Tiki that's like this because zon's are supposed to be more independent, but thought I would share my experience just the same.

[becca623]

If that happened to me, I would have left the store with him. I adore amazons.

[TAGyourIT]

I went back yesterday and played with him again. I wanted to see if it was a fluke. It was not... he remembered me right away. The owner was there again, but this time it was a different staff. Again, they were all coming up to me shocked... "I have NEVER seen that bird interact with anyone" He has NEVER been that friendly...

I just dont know. I can afford another bird, and I have time... but I dont want to take away from my current birds either. The only "jealous" bird that I have is my B&G. We are working through that though. I am trying to show her that she CAN play alone, and I think it is working. She is interacting more with my TAG also. Not face to face, but their cages are across the room from each other and they are talking and whistling back and forth.

While I was there one of the employees asked if I was interested in taking her Moluccan Cockatoo. (free) She doesnt have any bad habits, is in perfect feather, friendly, she just doesnt have the time to devote to her, she is working two jobs. She watched me interact with the zon and said she thought that her 2 would love me...

I'm telling you... I have to stop going to pet stores all together. It seems like I could fill my house with birds if I wanted to.

I am going to call my avian vet and talk to her about it also. She is very knowledgeable, knows my birds, and seems very level headed... I just dont want to take in a bird that I cant care for long term.

It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO hard to not leave with that bird though...

BirdieMommy - That is also my fear. He has yet to bond with anyone... I fear he will just be sold to the highest bidder and wind up bounced around home to home until he truly DOES become unhandleable.