About Blue Fronted Amazon with 5 years old kids!?

Question

I have recently bought 6 weeks baby BFA and is going very good.

My question is some web site says BFA is not good with kids

Is it true ?. I have 5 years old daughter and want to make sure before it is too late.

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

If you socialize the bird with all the members of the family, you should not have a problem.  Normally it is when you bring an older bird into your home that you may have a problem.  Since the bird and your daughter will be growing up together, it should be ok.  Just remember that it can have a painful bite, so until you have him trained, watch him closely with your daughter.  But she should definitely be encouraged to handle and pet him.  All members of the family should.  Amazons are very sociable and normally enjoy kids and animals.  Please read my profile.

Answer 2

It would nave been better to check into it before, not after getting the bird, but you might be OK.  At this point it depends on your daughter.  A BFA can take a finger off, adult as well as child.  Your bird will, at some time in his life, test his beak.  Of course it will be best if you know how to handle it before he tests it, so that you don't accidentally encourage him to learn to bite.  This has nothing to do with your daughter.  What does depend on your daughter is how you have raised her (and how you are likely to raise your bird).  Can you tell her, "Stay on the porch and I will be right back."  when you leave your car keys on the hook?  Or will she have walked to the car without you?  Do you think you will have to fight her over keeping her fingers out of the cage when you are not around or do you think she will have to have a finger bitten off first?  I train service dogs and I know that when I give a command my dog will still be following my command even if I am not in the room.  If your young bird observes you grabbing her arm and scolding her for going near the cage, this behavior will leave an imprint on both the fid and the kid.  They will compete for your attention and you will have a demon on your hands - and then it will be too late.  The bird will have tension imprinted on him when he goes to his next home.

On the other hand, if you can keep your daughter a part of the bird's socialization into the family and your daughter us a part of the process, there is no reason for concern.  Remember that these large birds mature slowly, so you won't see the sexual aggression for at least 8 years.

I have an African Grey Timneh.  We have gotten through the beak strength testing and now she occasionally 'squishes' my finger, but never vey hard and I allow her to do this.  I don't think a child would be able to handle this and I don't allow other people to handle her when she is in that mood.  But she is handled by everyone who comes into the house.  I am saying this because unless your BFA is using his beak for testing or there is any problem, I think it's imperative that your daughter be used to handling your BFA and he is used to her.  A young age for them both is the time to start.