YSA or YCA, best temperament. Suggestions?

Luciana

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Nov 14, 2018
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Hi all!

I shared a home with a yellow-shouldered amazon (barbadensis) for 29 years, and he was the most glorious thing on Earth. Never bit enough to hurt anyone, was playful and loved people. He was not much of a talker, he was just pure charisma. He'd even be chill and affectionate towards his vet, a competent and sweet man who did The Most Horrible Things to him - I know I wouldn't be so forgiving in his stead. But, you know, Billy the parrot always took the higher road. He was SO perfect, that even his screams were reasonable (which is important as I live in an apartment building).

In my teens my family adopted a A. Aestiva (blue-fronted), in his teen years, and that was not so cool. He was playful and fun, but got too attached to my father and became highly aggressive, so we had to rehome him (in an aviary with a lovely lady parrot and there was romance in the air, last I heard).

Thing is, those were simpler times, and most likely they were poached. So this time I'm researching to find legal breeders with a-OK documentation. Could not care less whether it's a hybrid or not, I just need it to have an ethical provenance.

But I digress. What I mean to say is that being calm and affectionate would be the main thing to me, not the talking ability. I was going to buy a Barbadensis (YSA) from a breeder, but I got the news today that she died at 8 weeks. :( Very sad. YSAs are rare, though I might still find one this season.
crowned-headed amazon). They say it's Ochrocephala, but can't tell the exact taxonomy. So, my questions would be:

- are YSAs more or just as friendly as YCAs (obviously, on average)?
- will an YCA scream to high heavens? I mean, piercingly loud?
- is it true that, in general, females tend to become less aggressive than males?
- anyone owns a YCA and can tell me about it?

I was SO intent on having a YSA... but they're hard to find in Brazil. Question is, would an YCA make me just as happy?
 

SailBoat

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Jul 10, 2015
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DYH Amazon
I'm an Amazon Snob and in my World, it is every Amazon is perfect.

Over the years, I have been owned by a very wide cross-section of Amazons. If there is one thing I have learned is: Let the Amazon Choose You! Never let it be you choosing them. You can start from that position and I assure you that I have and have been successful. But you are just much farther down the relationship side of the process when you start with them choosing you!

Any Amazon can and will be loud. I love a happy, loud Amazon. If the Amazon is screaming at you: You are either not paying attention or your Amazon believes you need to move and quickly. A happy, loud Amazon is a joy to hear and to join in with them only takes it all to a new level of a joyful relationship.

If you live someplace that noise could be a problem. You need to reconsider your choice of location.

At present, you are searching for an Amazon and not looking for an Amazon that wants you!!!
 

wrench13

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Nov 22, 2015
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Yellow Shoulder Amazon, Salty
We have our YSA, Salty, and could not imagine a better, nicer parrot. Smart, playful, accepting of more than one person, sings so well, talks well, and affectionate. Really worth searching one out, in our opinion. Native to Venezuala, they should not be too hard to find in Brazil.
 

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