New to this birdy thing

Hey Everbody!
I am new to having a bird as a pet. Last night I took in a 5 year old yellow naped amazon. I do not know to much about him except that I am his 3rd owner (and we will be his last). I was told from the pet store last night to give him a couple days to get use to us before trying to handle him. Any other suggestions on how to make him happy would be appreciated!

Welcome! I'm sure all the zon owners will respond shortly.

Hi and welcome.....
I wish you all the best, being a guardian, if done correctly, it can be the most rewarding thing in the world.
I have an African Grey Mishka, who if the love of my life. Unfortunately my knowledge is limited with Amazon's.
You sure took on a big responsibility, taking on an Amazon, having never had a bird before. There are many guardian's on this forum, who will guide and assist you, every step of the way.
I found a great link, pertaining to Amazons, read through it, many interesting articles and tips.

Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots - Yellow Naped Amazons as Pets - Yellow Naped Amazon Parrot Species Profile

Good luck

Congrats on your new family member! I'm in WV too, in the eastern panhandle. I'm not sure where you're located but if you're close enough to meet up and ever need some help please let me know!

You've gotten what's known as one of the 'hot three' which is a male yellow nape, yellow crown or double yellow head. The reason they're called the 'hot three' is because they can be challenging to live with sometimes. Especially during their adolescence, which at 5 years old, is probably going to occur pretty soon for you, in the next couple of years at least, if not sooner, so be prepared for that. You'll probably be doing a lot of moving him with sticks. Just don't take it personally. I've only ever seen one YNA in full blown adolescence and it was not pretty (enough to make me decide I never wanted any part of it!). The scar took almost a year to fade entirely. We had to move him with sticks only for a long, long time. Now certain people can handle him but the rest of us better still stay away. He's attacked a few of us, injured some of us, but he's doing what young, hormonal male amazons do and defending his territory and he'll be doing this for the next couple of years. Being a rescue we know what to expect and will just soldier on through. His previous owners couldn't handle it, though, which is why we ended up with him and a lot of the amazons we have.

BUT, Amazons, especially the 'hot three' are some of the funniest, sweetest, entertaining, gregarious birds out there, IMO, and are well, well worth any trouble they may cause.

Read up on all the stuff here and at companionparrotonline.com. She's written a pdf on Amazons and one on rehomed parrots. They're not inexpensive, but they're worth every penny and saved me when I took in Kazi. Her book on companion parrots has been a life saver too!

What's his name? Any pics? Mine just woke up and called for me. Must be time for breakfast!

Welcome and Congrats on taking on this stunning bird we as amazon lovers will give you the best advice needed to get you and your new feathered friend bonded and to have a happy life together and I'm sure our zon expert henpecked will be along soon to give you some helpfull advice keep us posted and post some pictures please we would love to see him

I live in the eastern panhandle too! I live in Bunker Hill, but it's more like Inwood. I do not know how to post pictures on this I never have used a forum before. I have not tried holding him out of fear lol he has taken treats from my hand and let me move him using a stick. His name is Malcolm, but I would like to change it do you think I can without upsetting him? He was so good last night not a peep till we all woke up! I been reading that a novice should not take this type of bird on oh well to late now. I just didn't want such a pretty baby have to keep moving from one home to another. We are his 3rd owner already.

Malcolm is not interested in my holding him he nipped at my finger. Guess I will give him a couple more days to adjust to home. Here is a picture of my new baby

Do you think we will let me hold him eventually? His old owner was able to and so was his grandson which is one of the reasons I took him in since he likes children. I have a 6 year old and Mal seems to really enjoy it when he is talking to him.

I already love him! He is in the living room where I spend most of my day reading my school or writing papers. So...time and attention he will have and even if he does not allow me to hold him its ok he has a forever home with us. Is there a best type of pellet I should get him? I have to run to the pet store and get him a few things that he is lacking. Should I leave food in his cage at all times?

Hey Brittney and welcome to the forum. You need to read some of the older threads here in the amazon section. Lots of good info and might help answer some of your questions. Just in the last week we've covered this subject quite a bit. He's in a new home now and trying to find his place in the new flock, so to speak. Give him some time and don't be in any hurry to take him away from his safe spot (the cage). You can do lots of interacting without having to handle him. Wait for him to show some interest in going/doing things or stepping up. Talk,sing ,read, give treats play with toys and all that. Make your self interesting to him and give him a reason to want to be with you. Keep his cage near the center of activity in your house and include the whole family as much as possible. Meals and vocal time in the PM are great times to interact. Early AM and PM are active times and noon is nap time (quiet time at our house). Talk to him before you approach and learn to read his body language , when he wants your attention/affections only give him brief amounts. Don't be pushy or flood him with cuddles/kisses ,or keep trying to MAKE him step up. Ask once and be prepared for "NO". Read around and ask question, loads of good members and info. Welcome to the wild world of amazons.LOL

Most every one has their favorite pellets for one reason or another. A good place to start is Zupreem Natural Daily maintenance pellets, not to much sugars or fats and plain colored.You can try different sizes but i'd try "large parrot". Check the date and only use fresh pellets. You can store excess in airtight container in the freezer. Good luck and keep pellets available through out the day.

[FONT=&quot]Your bird is gorgeous

Top on your list, a visit to an avian vet is a must. Let the bird be checked over, peace of mind for a healthy bird.
Your bird must have time to settle down and adjust. Just imagine how many new things the bird has encountered, in these two days. So many new faces and voices, it must be so scary.
To gain your trust could take days, weeks, months even years. Each and every bird is so different. He obviously feels a comfort zone is his cage.
Sit near the cage, talking and singing to the bird. Let him become familiar with your voice. Leaving the cage door open, offer him treats through the bars at first. When he willingly accepts them, try placing a treat near the open door. Eventually he will starts taking the treats from the door, make no attempt to touch him. When he does come out, he will probably climb around on the cage. Let him explore in his own time. To get him back in, place a treat inside the cage, making sure it's visible.
Let your child sit quietly, near the bird (which is difficult for any child) in the same room, for him to to become familiar with the bird. Please always be present, when your child is in the same room as him, especially if he is outside the cage. Birds can be extremely unpredictable. Your child could make a loud noise, and startled the bird, resulting in the bird biting or attacking him.

Good luck

[/FONT]

Malcolm is just unsure about everything, hence the nip. The nip was probably a 'leave me alone because I don't know you people' nip. He'll probably bite more and harder too as he gets more comfortable at first. I can promise you he didn't go through 3 homes in 5 years because he was a perfect angel! But that doesn't mean he can't be a wonderful companion. Kazi was my first parrot too. Ill-advised, but we're managing pretty well! My right hand and arm is all scarred up from the bites, but Kazi came from a pretty rough background and needed (and needs still) some work.

Start now. Don't leave him alone for a few days or anything. You don't want to overwhelm him, but you've got about a 2 week 'honeymoon' period where he's going to be on his best behavior until he starts to settle in, so use that! This is the time to build trust and remember that EVERY interaction with Malcolm is either going to build trust or destroy it, so think before you act. If you're afraid of the beak (and you'll have to get over that eventually, the best way is to just get bitten a few times, IMO) use a stick. Have him step up, praise him like crazy (parrots LOVE drama and amazons LOVE praise, so combine the two!) and then have him step off and praise him like crazy.

Also, figure out what his favorite treat is. He's got one, his 'crack', that he'll do just about anything for. With Kazi it's almonds, so I bought a bag of slivered almonds that I use as training treats and bribery. When you're ready to have him step up on you (and you want to do this sooner rather than later) hold your hand to his breast and say "step up" *after* you've let him see the Most Awesome Treat Ever in your other hand. That will possibly occupy him enough not to nip at you. It's what I had to use with Kazi.

If you run into any trouble message me here or email me at seethergrlATgmailDOTcom and I'd be happy to come pay you and Malcolm a visit and help in any way I can so you guys can have a long, happy, interesting life together!

Parrots are challenging, they really are, but I think they're a lot like having kids - a lot of work and frustration, but in the end it's all worth it because they're just that awesome.

I would like to say that I had an orange winged zon I was told it was DNA sexed male and it was 18 months old I was lied to it turned out it was an 8 year old female breeding zon I had her a week before I gave her up and I regret that so much and now I'm welcoming a hand reared blue fronted zon into my home and I will be with her 24/7 I made my mistake I will not make the same one again I really hope you can become the best of friends and have the best friend ever for life

Congrats on your new Amazon! I will be getting my new baby when he is weaned in 2 weeks. I didn't relize there were so many WV people on this forum. If you haven't found a Vet. yet there is one in Winchester called Linden Heights Animal Hospital. There is a lot of great people and a lot of great info. on here. I already own 2 other birds but I relize my Amazon is going to be totally different and we are up for it. As someone else suggested go back and read all the previous posts on Amazons. That's what I did. Like I said a lot of great info.

Today has been crazy kids coming and going all day, but Malcolm was a trooper. Once things had settled down here I was able to hold him! Yay me!!! I don't know if my vet I go to already does birds will have to call and find out. Malcolm has been eating well and talking to us all day I think he will adjustfairly well to my family.