helpppp..need answersnquick please

Ive been debating between a McCaw and an amazon...I can't spend much money...well someone has a yellow naped amazon for 400 but she is 12 years old...2 questions..can I still train one that age to speak and bond to me? He said she talks a lot but not real clear...and are they quite a bit bigger than a quaker? Thanks so much

I have a fairly recently adopted 11 year old Amazon...and bonding yes, but talking...not all birds talk. If she doesn't talk, she probably won't.

However, the purchase price is just the down payment.

And yes, Amazons are louder and a LOT bigger than a quaker, much louder, but not as loud as a macaw. Macaws are painting peeling loud.


But can I please say...please don't do this on a whim. If you don't even know how big an Amazon is, you probably are not ready. Yellow Napes are not easy birds as a general rule.

Maybe it would be a good idea to visit some macaws and amazons before you make a long term commitment. If there are shelters in your area, volunteering is a good way to learn more about different species.

Yes, macaws, quakers, and amazons are three vastly different species.

I really would not recommend a macaw or an amazon to someone really new to parrots. A yellow nape is quite a bit larger than a quaker and lots of attitude in some cases. Are you afraid of being bitten? A 12 yr old amazon can be taught new things but may not learn anything new. Talking is really an individual thing, some parrots will pick up speaking very well and others will only say a few words or nothing but household sounds. One of the best recorded speaking parrots was actually a parakeet.
If you have not been around larger birds and I am assuming this because you didn't know the size difference it might be really good for you to spend some time around these larger birds at a breeders if possible or a rescue to see if it is something that interests you once they are in front of you and interacting.
If you want to I would suggest meeting this nape before you make any decisions, see if the bird is friendly. Many times with an amazon you will know within a few minutes if they like you, which with amazon's is a very important factor. That said you would also need to be prepared to get bitten and in that case walk away an amazon that age will have pretty clear preference's of who they do and don't like and for someone new to big parrots I think it would be a huge mistake to try to tame a parrot that clearly didn't like you. Just mho.

We adopted our amazon when he was 10. He was vicious, *extremely* difficult to train, difficult to the point of needing a vet consult to get to eat a proper diet and while he didn't cost that much ($350) the LONG TERM care costs have been enormous (as to be EXPECTED with ANY parrot, but the bigger the bird, the bigger the price tag for everything they need). Oh, and I grew up around amazons. If I didn't already have that experience and a whole lot of dedication to my bird, he probably would have moved onto his 4th home fairly quickly. After 6 years, he is a very happy, well adjusted bird who is well behaved and quite fond of us (Kiwi will never be a "snuggly" bird, it's just not in his makeup). Oh, and he doesn't talk. Cute noises? Yes. Talking? A rare "hello" and thats it. Kiwi is a fairly large male BFA, and weighs 420grams. A YNA is even larger on average, and there are some YNA owners on here with 600+ gram birds To put it in perspective, quaker parrots weigh in at 90-150grams.

In short, I would not recommend an amazon or macaw as a "on a whim" decision, especially when you have little to no parrot experience (assuming you have a quaker, which are MUCH smaller and easier than zons or macaws). If you are interested in these more difficult species, take the time to save, to research, to meet some and THEN make your decision

Thanks for the replies and opinions I am not afraid of getting bitten..I have been known to be called the bird whisperer or animal for that matter,been around plenty at pet stores babysit some etc..jut being at parks animals including a very large McCaw who's owner says likes no one and not to touch her insisted on talking to following me around and then sit on my foot,they said she never ever did that,had the same thing happen st pet shops.I jut wasn't sure how big the particular breed yna was thanks again...

The yellow nape is one of the bigger amazons. That said they are also one of the more temperamental, especially if it is a male. I know it was mentioned before but this is not a bird to get on a whim. There is never a guarantee that a bird will speak. They are capable of learning new things their entire life, the question is will they. I fear that you may not have researched this enough since you are asking about the size in comparison to a quaker. They are much larger in every sense of the word! I know how exciting it can be to meet new parrots and have them respond positively to you like you experienced with the macaw in the park. Please know that a parrot out of it's home environment will behave much differently than it will once in your home. It is great that you got to handle the macaw and as a fellow macaw lover I know that it is thrilling however if I were you I would meet many different birds before deciding on which one you want to bring into your home!

Thanks for all the replies,y'all...I'm thinking it over. She is a girl
Yna the guy said it was his gf's and she moved away,he says the bird will come out of cage to be held but that she def.prefers women and he claims she has never bit anyone....I will think it over.thanks again PS. I know everyone has to start sometime with their first larger parrot...lol if. I never had my first child I wouldnt have 6 now...(all grown)

I hate to say it, but if you "can't spend much" then most likely a large parrot is not for you. Also, please don't take this the wrong way, but I think we can tell by your questions, even just the size question, that you have not done NEARLY enough research yet to take on an Amazon. Yes, you have to have your first big parrot in order to get experience with them, but you need to RESEARCH first. Also, about not having a lot to spend... $400 for the bird... how much for the vet exam? Say another $400 for a few routine tests? And the cage...NONE of the cages sold near me for that price should house and Amazon, in my area you would be looking at at LEAST $700 for a decent cage. Amazons need a lot of toys, it is pretty easy to drop $100 on suitable toys at the get-go, plus a good healthy diet of maybe $40/mo if you are really frugal... and in the first month alone a responsible person is looking at over $1600, so "can't spend much" is not a suitable situation for a parrot like this.

Also, your question about training is the most concerning to me. Being an "animal whisperer" is one of the most DANGEROUS ideas someone can get about themselves. Yeah, my husband has "a way with animals" but he gets bitten sometimes because he has not STUDIED animal behavior, and does not UNDERSTAND HOW THEY THINK. Yeah, for some weird reason a lot of them seem to like him for no reason, and that encourages him that he has it all figured out, and then he gets bitten, and sets me back in my work with a bird because he has no IDEA what he is doing.

You asked if a bird that age can be train. First lets get the whole talking thing out of the way - some birds never talk at all and if that is not ok with you, don't get a bird. Also, if she talks now unclearly, she will likely continue to talk in a garbled fashion.

On to more important things - you asking about her age is a VERY CLEAR SIGN that you do not know how to train a bird, and have not researched it. BIRDS NEED TRAINING! They do NOT think like dogs, cats, horses, or people they think in a way that is very unique and takes effort to understand. If you try to make them think like you you will traumatize them, and they will become a "problem bird" due to no fault of their own! Again, I come back to RESEARCH. You OWE it to the bird to know what you are getting into and have a plan.
-What if the bird screams all day? What if she screams all night?
-What if she eats your computer, or chews up your window sill?
-What if she needs $3000 of vet care after eating those things?
-What if she pulls out all her feathers? Some birds even CHEW HOLES in themselves when their needs are not met.
-What if she bites, and I mean BITES everyone who comes near her?

She is, after all, a wild animal, even if she has been hand fed. Parrots are not domesticated.

Also - this man is claiming that this 12 year old bird has never bitten anyone - He is LYING. Any 'Zon owners out there want to disagree? I will happily take it back if anyone out there has an amazon (dare I say, any parrot) that is sexually mature and has never bitten.

Also, YNAs are not cheap birds - if he is selling this one for cheap, you can bet this week's lunch money that there is a problem with the bird. There are some RARE occasions where a non-problem bird is rehomed for a very low fee, but nine times out of ten there is a REASON for the low price - you know what they say; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Also - why didnt the GF take it if it was her bird? 12 years of no biting or other issues does not *typically* lead one to abandon their companion to the whims of an ex-boyfriend.

I do not want to sound harsh, but we have all seen this situation way too many times - someone thinks they want a large parrot, so they go and get one without doing the RESEARCH (how many times will I use this word? AS MANY AS IT TAKES!!!) before getting one, and they end up with a miserable bird who makes them miserable, and then the poor bird is shipped off to a new family to start the horrible process all over again. Don't get this bird. Do a few hundred more hours of research, the good the bad and the ugly, and then decide what species to get, save up for it, and don't go bargain hunting in the parrot section. We all wish you and the bird the best, but I think so far we also all agree this sounds like buying a bird on a whim that you know nothing about. It is a recipe for disaster.

I just read your other posts, and I have to add that I do NOT think it is wise to add a second bird, especially one so different in every way, particularly in size, before your first bird, Binky, has reached full sexual maturity. You are heading into a very tough time with him likely, as his hormones go crazy and he goes right along with them. Once you have had Binky for a few years and understand how he communicates, have learned more about bird behavior and training, and REALLY KNOW that you WANT to share your life with another bird, THEN think about adding one. Quakers live 30 years when cared for properly. If you are the mother of 6 grown children, you are at the VERY LEAST in your 40s, right? If you do things right, there is a good chance Binky will still be alive when you are in your 70s. So say Binky makes it that long and you are committed to him and keep him his whole life. When you are 70 years old (at least) do you want an Amazon who will still be in the prime of life if you care for her correctly? Do you have a plan for how you will make sure she is cared for if she outlives you? Can you guarantee you will never have to sell her due to moving? A Quaker is hard enough to keep in a quiet neighborhood or apartment building, an Amazon is even harder.

Wow,well ummm OK.t.y for your very lengthy opinion. Enjoy those 21 birds you own.

Dear Michelle, I don't want to sound harsh but I think your a little nieve.It is a rare 12 yr. old bird that has never bitten. Also the larger the bird the greater the expense. Toys alone you're talking hundreds for a bird that large. An Amazon needs a huge cage to do well. To give you an example I've had tropicals for 3yrs. 2 birds I already have about 2thousand invested. Just because you get the bird second hand your still talking cage,food, toys ,vets for20+years there is no such thing as cheap with parrots. A larger bird can also do real damage biting. I would recommend for a beginner a GCC or Parrotlet they are easy birds and not as costly to keep as a larger bird. Best of Luck, Let me know what you do. Bonita

T.y Bonita.the bird with the cage is 500.the cage is48 inches tall 30 something wide,I forget exactly how wide,.lots of toys included,he sent me pics.where I live which I have researched the yNA goes for 625 to 650 ...thanks for the advice on a good beginner parrot and for not taking my head off,some of these people seem to be vicious,birds themselves ;-) have a great night....also have a VERY large perch stand that I had already purchased for my little bitty quaker

PS...by not much money,I DID NOT mean that I can't afford to provide for a bird,vets.fruits.veggies.food,toys.etc...ummmm I provided for 6 children just fine I'm sure I can provide for a parrot..which ever type I choose.

Michelle, I am sorry you did not like our advice. However as a community we are responsible to speak up when we believe someone is about to do something that will not be in the best interest of the birds. You gave us very little information to go on, and everyone here advised the same thing. No one here has been vicious, and no one has taken your head off. You came asking for advice on a forum full of advice. I am sorry you are upset by the advice you received. It sounds as though you actually had no intention of listening, however, unless we all agreed with your course of action which none of us did based on our experience with parrots. Every single person who commented expressed concern. That is not one person "biting your head off" it is a group of experienced people all saying the same thing - something it would be foolish to ignore.

Yes, you are an adult and can do whatever you want - but ignoring the voice of experience is never wise, especially in such a flippant manor. Hopefully you do not end up with a bird you are not prepared for, regardless of your choice.

PLEASE NOTE that none of us said not to get an Amazon, we all expressed concern about the timing, and presuppositions you have demonstrated through your question and answers.

Michelle,
A lot of folks have given you wonderful advice already; I have read your other threads, and although you have owned Binky for a month and half, I do not think that adopting an amazon or a macaw will be the same experience as your quaker. Bigger birds, bigger attitudes, bigger beaks, bigger costs, etc.

Those that have replied to this thread so far have put some harsh realities on the table for you, and although you seem to be taking them as personal insults, I assure you they are not. These members have been here for quite some time, and they are very experienced parronts who have unfortunately seen too many times of someone who has bitten off more than they can chew.

I hope that you heed some of the advice that's been given to you, because we are all looking out for their best interests (and yours).

Best of luck!

This thread is now closed.