Crash the Red-Lored Amazon

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I first posted this in the "New Members Forum":

Hello all...I'm new here because last week I had a parrot literally drop onto my porch. I heard a loud crash and went out to see what it was and this parrot has flown into my bedroom window. He was being chased by the big, huge crows that we have in the neighborhood. He was dazed but seemed ok. He was very hungry and thirsty. I searched craigslist and various other places to see if anyone had lost a bird like this....and nothing! No answer to flyers either. I kept him overnight until I could figure out what to do with him. I felt bad for him and wanted to make sure he was ok so, I took him to an avian vet. The vet stated that he was extremely underweight, malnourished and neglected. He also did not have an id band or any microchip. His nails were so overgrown that they curved over on to themselves. He couldn't hold onto a perch hardly at all. I had him all trimmed up and he seems to be doing much better. He has really bonded with me so I guess I need to be looking for items that will help him flourish. I didn't expect to take on the expense of a bird, so I need to try to find items for him he will like that are fairly inexpensive. I already found a nice cage on craigslist for him so now I need some other things to keep him busy! Do you have any advise on "must haves" for this guy?

I have been doing a ton of research about how to care for him. I have been feeding him Harrison's coarse pellets (recommended by his vet) and fresh fruits and veggies. He seems to like just about all of that. The only thing that he continually tosses out of his bowl are any type of peppers.

He has really gotten used to taking a shower and seems to like it! I only shower him during the afternoon when it is warmest. I don't heat my house ($$$) so I am concerned that he may get cold. I cover his cage with a blanket at night so that he isn't too cold. I live in California so it doesn't freeze here or anything but, I think it is cold at times.

I never thought that I would have a bird much less a beautiful parrot like this! I did have a parakeet/budgie when I was about 10 years old but that was more than 30 years ago! It is amazing how quickly I have become attached to him. I am calling him "Crash" because that is how he came into my life...is that mean???

I am really enjoying reading through the forums and getting as much information as I can.

UPDATE:
I still have Crash and he seems to be doing well. I will be taking him in to the vet for his blood panel next week. I am a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information that I need to know in regards to caring for this guy properly. I have checked out many books from the library and have spent endless hours online doing research to make sure that I am doing the right thing for him. Anytime I notice anything (fluffed feathers, regurgitation, sneeze, etc...) I go online to find out what it could be and am so worried that it could be something serious. Maybe I am becoming a avian-hypochondriac!

He hasn't showed much interest in the chew toys that I bought for him and that also worries me a bit because I thought that they like to chew on everything! He eats fine and generally likes everything that I offer him (only healthy and organic of course!). I do wonder if he drinks enough water though because I never see him drink. He does have a water dish as well as a bottle because I'm not sure which he would prefer. I offer him water in a small clear glass dish in my hand and he drinks it a couple of times a day but I don't want to have to do that everyday to make sure that he is drinking.

Based on what I have been reading about how time consuming owning an Amazon will be, I'm still not sure if I am fully prepared for the responsibility of owning this guy. I do have to travel out of town a few days a month and am not sure how that is going to play out yet. I did contact a bird rescue group in my area just to see what my options would be in case I decided I wasn't up for the task and they told me that there is a couple month waiting list for amazon foster families!
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It sounds to me that you are doing a great job with Crash He is eating all the right things.. I dont see my Amazon drink for her bowl very often, but she does!

He will play with toys after a while... he just needs to get used to them.. Wherever he was before you, he may not have had any toys, therefore it is all new to him

Do you have any relations that could look after him when you have to go away?

1st thank you got taking in this poor birdie

how is the birds behaviour in general??

he may not play with toys as he does not know what there for, so play with some in front of him or there not his type of prefered toy

not knowing how old this bird is, i would say watch out for hormonal behaviors, as they can come sudden, or in the case of my nut very aggressive

they can get there fluids from the fresh they eat

as for traveling out of town, is there any1 that can pop in on him?? and be prepared for the iggy when you get back lol this soon passes

wenz2712 said:

It sounds to me that you are doing a great job with Crash He is eating all the right things.. I dont see my Amazon drink for her bowl very often, but she does!

He will play with toys after a while... he just needs to get used to them.. Wherever he was before you, he may not have had any toys, therefore it is all new to him

Do you have any relations that could look after him when you have to go away?

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No, I don't have anyone that would be able to "bird-sit". I am taking a class for first-time bird owners that is given by the rescue that I mentioned and they stated that would be a good way to maybe exchange bird-sitting favors with another owner...hopefully there is someone that is willing to do that!

suebee said:

1st thank you got taking in this poor birdie

how is the birds behaviour in general??

he may not play with toys as he does not know what there for, so play with some in front of him or there not his type of prefered toy

not knowing how old this bird is, i would say watch out for hormonal behaviors, as they can come sudden, or in the case of my nut very aggressive

they can get there fluids from the fresh they eat

as for traveling out of town, is there any1 that can pop in on him?? and be prepared for the iggy when you get back lol this soon passes

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I think he might be hormonal! He doesn't like my husband or my son! He wants to bite both of them and he has drawn blood on both of them! He lets me pet him...he loves to have his head rubbed but he doesn't like to step-up. He seems to want to regurgitate a lot when I get up really close to him and baby-talk to him...otherwise he doesn't do it too much.

He is tryig to feed you aw, he LOVES you. And it does sound a bit like he's hormonal, though I know nothing at all about Amazons, from what I've read here from the other Amazon owners, I think you are doing a GREAT job. So nice of you to take him in and to love him. I hope it works out for you both!

discourage all kinds of mating behavior, only give head rubs, if he does the regurgitating thing, stop an turn away. step up will happen, when his more confidant with you (or he may need teaching as his not done it before)

try not to hug/sit close to your son an husband in front of your bird lol this was the same with the nut, but she latched onto my man an i was the one getting attacked lol
so please take care if your son is alone in the room and bird is out, i say this mainly as a precaution, as you do not know its past history
with my nut, she did flying attacks, as she is flighted

so clipping might be an option for you?

but it could simply be, he is being defensive as he is in a new flock an wants to assert himself
in time he will learn the flocks routine and settle

its same as having a new baby, nut is the 2nd child i never had and now we have gotten into each others routines she is fine oh do not be to upset if your bird changes to liking your husband more and suddenly as nut was all mine at the start lol

also you are doing a fab job an don't over worry about things other then closed doors and windows lol

Thanks for all of the encouragement...I really appreciate it! My son is 14yrs. old and pretty tall so he is not little. Maybe Crash just thinks that he is another testosterone laden man in my household seeking attention! ;-)

What a great story! He flew right in your life. It sounds like you're doing great. Exchanging bird sitting is a good idea, wish I could do it here. My male amazon is bonded to me. He also loves my husband, & we make sure that he has alone time to play w/him w/o me in the room. Tom does his favorite things w/him & also gives treats. Good luck!

merlinsmom13 said:

What a great story! He flew right in your life. It sounds like you're doing great. Exchanging bird sitting is a good idea, wish I could do it here. My male amazon is bonded to me. He also loves my husband, & we make sure that he has alone time to play w/him w/o me in the room. Tom does his favorite things w/him & also gives treats. Good luck!

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I will have to give that a try and see if he warms up to him. Thanks for the info!

You are doing a great job! Plus, keeping him is a good deed. He has chosen you. That's why he came to your house, instead of next door. Everyone else has given you good advice, so, I'll just add thanks for taking in this angel that eas sent to you. And, don't overworry about everything. Birds, like children, are a lot more versatile than you think. Welcome to our flock.

He will play with toys in time. My amazon didn't know what toys were either. They seem to really like things they can hold in their foot and chew on. Popsicle sticks (new, unused) can make good, cheap amazon toys. Also little blocks of wood. Mine also really likes bells.

It does sound like he was outside a long time.

My blue fronted amazon loves, loves, loves his bells. Any type of toy with a bell on it is great for him. He also chews wood, but only very thin strips. He makes toothpicks out of them. And he like to chew on cotton rope so I have a few toys with that in his cage. It takes some time and experimenting to find out what they like.

Sounds like you're doing a great job by him. Having a large parrot to care for is certainly a lot of work especially when you weren't planning on it. Have you looked on this website?

Reuniting Lost & Found Birds/Parrots - 911ParrotAlert

Sometimes people will post about lost and found parrots on that site.

Makes you wonder where he came from doesn't it? Did he escape through a door or window accidentally? I sure would be missing him if he was mine, but it's nice to know there are people like you out there in the world who care. He was obviously someones pet at some point.

Any questions you have, we're all really willing to try to help out too!

You should join our social group, Bonding With Amazons. If you look near the top of the page you will see a blue bar and one of the words is "community". Click on that and then click on social groups to find us. Henpecked is the member who runs it and he's working out of town right now, but he manages to stop in and check on us. And the rest of us are around to contribute right now.

roxynoodle said:

You should join our social group, Bonding With Amazons. If you look near the top of the page you will see a blue bar and one of the words is "community". Click on that and then click on social groups to find us. Henpecked is the member who runs it and he's working out of town right now, but he manages to stop in and check on us. And the rest of us are around to contribute right now.

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Joined...Thanks!

That's good! If you haven't already you might want to read our previous discussions; at least one was about amazons and getting them to bond with other family members, and to become better socialized.

KellyH said:

My blue fronted amazon loves, loves, loves his bells. Any type of toy with a bell on it is great for him. He also chews wood, but only very thin strips. He makes toothpicks out of them. And he like to chew on cotton rope so I have a few toys with that in his cage. It takes some time and experimenting to find out what they like.

Sounds like you're doing a great job by him. Having a large parrot to care for is certainly a lot of work especially when you weren't planning on it. Have you looked on this website?

Reuniting Lost & Found Birds/Parrots - 911ParrotAlert

Sometimes people will post about lost and found parrots on that site.

Makes you wonder where he came from doesn't it? Did he escape through a door or window accidentally? I sure would be missing him if he was mine, but it's nice to know there are people like you out there in the world who care. He was obviously someones pet at some point.

Any questions you have, we're all really willing to try to help out too!

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Thanks for the website. I did check it out and looked through the first 30 pages or so before I realized that I could do a specific breed search! Unfortunately, there wasn't anyone searching for Crash...or maybe fortunately?! I can't believe how many missing birds there are.

roxynoodle said:

That's good! If you haven't already you might want to read our previous discussions; at least one was about amazons and getting them to bond with other family members, and to become better socialized.

Click to expand...

I will go check it our right now...Thanks!