Amazon Parrot question. .?

Question

What parrot "experts" out there would buy an Amazon (Double Yellow Headed, Yellow-Naped) from a handfeeder who takes excellent care of her birds but keeps them in a large aviary without a lot of handling?? I picked out a baby Double Yellow from her weeks ago, and while I go in to visit/hold the baby as much as I possibly can (he is still hand-feeding) he is getting progressively less friendly and is obviously very "bird-oriented", socializing with all the other parrots he lives with rather than humans. He will, however, always step up when told to (With a growl and sometimes a nip) yet will not let me handle any part of his body anymore or scratch his head. Is it good or bad for the baby to be around other parrots so much? (I was always under the impression it's bad) My other option is to try a different Amazon, a younger Yellow Nape, and see if it turns out friendlier than him, or go with a baby African Grey. I've known people who got Greys from her & they were very sweet.

Answer 1

Socialization is good.  A bird needs to learn to be a bird.  But if the bird spends too much time being a flock member, humans can become less attractive.  Is the bird a male or female?  The female Amazons seem to be sweeter.

  A chick being hand-fed should be friendly and not nip.  They can touch and experiment with the beak, but not do harm.  If you have been able to cuddle the bird and now can't, it isn't a good sign.  Hopefully, the bird is just being like a teenager:  wants mom close but not too close.

  If you are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the bird, then perhaps you should consider a different bird.  You are making a very long term commitment, so you need to be comfortable with your choice.  Good luck.

Answer 2

Working With Baby Birds

Training your bird at a young age is ideal when compared to re-training or correcting the bad habits of an older bird. Some pet owners can become sidetracked by the freshness of having a new bird and enjoying their cuteness while they’re still baby birds; however, you must remember that in order to set the stage for the future, it is important to socialize your bird, work on good communication, and establish trust at a young age.  Just as human babies need to learn to eat with a spoon and play well with others before they tackle long division, baby birds need to start with the basics. Spend time with your young bird developing trust and teaching the basics of good bird behavior. For example:

Body handling. If you help your baby bird become accustomed to being gently handled now, you will prevent many problems later. For example, gently playing with your bird’s feet and toes will help it tolerate toenail filing. Gently lift its wings, so a trip to the groomer doesn’t become a nightmare later on.

Toweling: Start using the towel as part of your play with your baby bird, gradually working into wrapping your bird up in the towel. When you or your vet need to wrap the bird in the towel for its own safety, the experience will be much less stressful.

Beaking: Baby birds use their beaks to explore, but now is the time to let your bird know that anything beyond gentle nibbles is unacceptable. Frown and tell your bird “No,” and leave it alone for a minute or two, so it associates biting with being put in “time-out.”

Harness: It can take some time before a bird accepts wearing a harness or flight suit, but things will go more smoothly if you start when the bird is young. Once you get your bird into the harness, take it outside, at least briefly, so it learns why the harness is worth the bother. It’s also a good time to try out the carrier. Take short car rides that don’t end at the vet each time, and your bird might look forward to them.

You will begin to notice better communication between you and your baby bird. Working with your bird frequently allows you to become familiar with the body language and preferences of the bird, making it easier to know what your pet wants and how to respond to its actions. By taking time to teach your bird new tricks, you are encouraging desired behavior. Your bird will begin to demonstrate the favorable behavior because it learns it receives your attention then, as opposed to misbehaving. The stimulation training provides your bird is also very important to cater to their intelligence and appease their curiosity.

Answer 3

The Amazon will be easier to handle than a gray....he/she will be ok once you get him away from the other parrots...it doesn't hurt anything for her to keep the babies together like that...the best thing to do is to let the parrot pick you, not you pick the parrot.........good luck!!