My BFA is not a BFA

He's a Mealy Amazon and also without band.

Mealies are SWEET birds. They can be loud when they want to be, but they ARE pretty sweet (and large).

Who filled you in about what type he is? AND, has he been to the vet for a checkup, so you can find out WHY his beak is so long?

I can't believe no one (including myself, who has a BFA) noticed that in your original post! BFA's have yellow heads with varying amounts of blue, so its really obvious your guy isn't one. I guess I was just too focused on that beak. Mealy's are actually one of my favorite zon species because of their large size (and they are plain gorgeous birds!). They are also a lot less common (in my area, at least) than blue fronts.

BTW, have you found anything out yet about why his beak is so overgrown? I hope it's just due to poor care in the past, and will be resolved with a trim and a loving new owner who won't ever let it reach that point again! Keep us posted....

Mealy amazons are BEAUTIFUL

That is a Fabulous picture! I found out today when a couple from the exotic bird shop came over to do his beak and claws. They said a lot! About the bird, training, etc. Also said he is rare. They haven't had one in 15-20 yrs. They said it was animal abuse. His toes are now bent, he has never been handled, and would have died soon of malnutrition. They will give me the names of a-vets when I am able to take him ($$$). For now they said lots of fruits and vegetables (his diet has been very poor - when they looked at the seed he was getting.). No seeds from any fruits. Speak in a low voice when he gets loud and he will eventually quiet down. Make a fist to reach out to him so biting isn't so bad. Never go to touch him from above or behind. How to clean his perches, water bowl and perch height, my cage should be just a little bigger.

He has been calm ever since they left! Also said he was a very good tempered bird and would be fine. It is so nice to see him eating without problems and actually moving around the cage like he is supposed to. He has not said a peep!! They also don't think he'll be too noisy. And because I took him in they would give me $100 off a bigger cage and would bring it here. Also had a very difficult time trying to cut down that peak. It was very thick, took off a good inch, and he's been that way for quite a while. I was told he was four. But because of the orange around his eyes that makes him older but don't know how much. Or if he really is a boy. Wheww... that was a lot...

I'm feeling much better today and not so worried about having an angry and loud bird. He seems so tame now. I am supposed to give him a week before starting to work with him. Very informative for me... You guys as well. So glad I found you

Oh, and he might have been a wild capture since he does not have a band.

Also wondering how much bigger he will get. He looks a medium size to me now.

Cool! Could you post another pic of him all manicured up

When I got Rosie she was also very malnourished and had organ failure, plus was nearly emaciated. I was able to reverse this without vet care(since I had no idea at the time) by giving her a excellent diet. Dark leafy greens are great, as well as squash(orange and yellow are best), watercres, dandelion leaves, and much more.

Because of his health you should try to get him on harrison's high potency, either course or fine. I would buy a small bag of both to see which he likes more.

Also check out chop mixes, they are a fantastic way to introduce good foods to your buddy. This is a great recipe, I use it as my base and add more healthy foods to it. Because it is all finely chopped your bird won't be able to pick out it's favorite foods. And you can make it in bulk too, then freeze it. I made 3 months worth, at first Rosie wasn't that excited about it but now she adores it and she is willing to try many different types of foods.

*edit*
It can take a long time to get a bird back to full health, so be patient and hang in there.

AmazonKitty said:

Also wondering how much bigger he will get. He looks a medium size to me now.

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He is full grown, individuals of a species can vary greatly by size depending on gender, genetics, locality/subspecies and how well they were taken care of as babies.

A wild caught bird should have a open band, it is possible it has been removed or that he was smuggled into the country. Smuggling is terrible and if that's the case your bird is very lucky indeed. Most smuggled birds don't survive.

My galah had been double open banded(both bands had same identification), which baffled everyone including my vet lol

I'm glad your feeling better and that you took him in.
Very nice of them to offer you 100 off a new cage, a change will probably do him good.
With him being as neglected as he was it will take time as you work with him, but will be worth every second.
Would love to see some new pics PLEASE!!
And we are all here for questions and comments!!

My sister had a mealy amazon when we were young, and he was really beautiful! They are on the bigger side for amazons. I think you are doing well with him!

Getting him onto a good diet seems like a good plan for the future. Mine really likes baked sweet potatos, apples, peas, bell peppers, broccoli and scrambled eggs. The first thing I got him to eat besides sunflower seeds, which he had been on exclusively for many years, was celery. I took out his food overnight, and offered him the celery for breakfast. Good luck!

I am soooo happy to hear that beak is now under control. Poor thing looks like he could barely eat with that before. I'm sure now that he can open his mouth properly he will really enjoy starting to sample new foods, especially fruits and veggies! Now would be a good time to familiarize yourself with what is/isn't safe to feed parrots, and start seeing what his favorite foods are. I am glad the folks who trimmed him were able to give you so much good advice about him, and some direction with getting him on the road to recovery. That was also extremely kind of them to offer a discount on a nice cage, I would definitely take them up on it. Keep in mind good cages last for decades, so invest in the biggest/nicest one you can afford since it's pretty much a one time expense.

Also, on the subject of his feet, I have some experience in that matter. Kiwi was kept in a cat crate his whole life before we got him, so his feet were flat and not adjusted at all to branches (which is very bad for them, since they are designed to perch). When we got him, he couldn't really grip very well, so we started him with extremely wide branches he barely had to curl his toes around, and gradually tapered him down to smaller branches (over about a year). It takes a while for damaged feet to get used to perching normally again, and if the damage is severe enough, they may need arthritis medication from a vet to help ease the pain. Best of luck with the little guy!

Kiwi, It is so sad to hear about his feet and to think how long he had to live like that. I am glad you found him too and how you knew how to help him! What is wrong with these people?? As soon as I can he will have his new cage, though it really isn't that much bigger (about 4" on the side and 3" in out in the front). Doesn't sound like much.

Julya, He can eat eggs?!

I think a lot of people are very misinformed about parrots, and don't look at them as the "type" of pet they would consider taking to the vet or put a terrible amount of care into. I think they get put in the same "category" as fish and reptiles by a lot of people, which is disposable decorations (which isn't acceptable for any living creature). I was just talking to a lady the other day who was shocked we adopted Kiwi, and even more shocked such a thing as avian shelters existed. Her exact words were "well it's not like they're a dog or a cat". Misinformation abounds regarding these beautiful, intelligent animals, but thankfully there are people out there who want to care for them .

And yes, they can and do eat eggs (cooked, of course). It's a good source of protein for them. Kiwi gets some eggs almost every morning, as we bring him to the table for breakfast/dinner. Parrots are omnivorous and beyond a few toxic foods, they can eat a lot of the same (healthy) foods we do. You need to familiarize yourself with toxic foods, but a varied diet is the key to their good health. Many of us include our birds at the table during mealtimes. It's a great bonding experience for them!

How big is the cage you have him in now?

My personal opinion is that instead of first getting him into a bigger cage, use that money and have him seen by an avian vet.

Since he is not banded, there is no way of telling whether he was WC or CB (wild caught vs captive bred). Also, if he's mature, it's next to impossible to say whether he is 6 years old or over 30. It's also possible that he was used as a breeder at one time.

But none of that should really matter. What matters is that he is finally in a loving, caring home. He will have to learn how to trust, eat properly (good food), and he may even have to learn how to play.

Yes, he can eat eggs (either hard boiled or scrambled). But I wouldn't give it to him on a daily basis, maybe once or twice a week.

Gaining his trust is the most important thing for now. What you could try is sitting next to him and read to him. It doesn't matter whether it's a gossip magazine, a cartoon, or a thriller. Just try and avoid direct eye contact. Once he is comfy with you sitting there reading, you could try and give him a treat from your hand. (apple slice, carrot, almond, etc.)

Take it one day at a time. Don't have any big expectations, that way you won't have any disappointments. Instead love him for who he is, and he may just surprise you one day.

AmazonKitty said:

Kiwi, It is so sad to hear about his feet and to think how long he had to live like that. I am glad you found him too and how you knew how to help him! What is wrong with these people?? As soon as I can he will have his new cage, though it really isn't that much bigger (about 4" on the side and 3" in out in the front). Doesn't sound like much.
It may not sound like much but 3" by 4" is 12 inches square of space and that's an extra cube foot for every foot in height the cage is. I know a couple inches wider seat on an airplane is much more comfortable and that's only for a short flight. This is his living space so he will spend more time that that there.

Julya, He can eat eggs?!

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He can and my birds like them too. I would also go slow on them for now though until he is seen by a vet and you know better what you are dealing with. I agree with JerseyWendy that the vet appointment is more a priority than a larger cage right now.

I'm glad all went well with his beak and nail trim. I'd love to see a photo of the new look!

My amazon loves eggs! I usually scramble a couple with some veggies, like shredded carrot and finely chopped broccoli. I give Ollie a spoonful in his bowl, then I eat the rest. Yum! And not every day, once or twice a week. If the new cage is only a little bit bigger, then maybe the cage you have already is fine.

I noticed he wasn't a blue front amazon... however, I'm still leaning towards orange wing, because that's what he looks like to me. Granted, the image is of poor quality and it's hard to see his true colors, so I'd love to see some better images of him!

I believe he is a blue-crowned mealy. The top is blue and a pretty purple. I will try to get a better picture.

I made hard boiled eggs for us for lunch. He didn't touch em, maybe scrambled next time.