Scared wild-caught mealy Amazon

Amayaluna

New member
Jan 27, 2019
14
0
Georgia
Parrots
Mealy Amazon
Hey guys, my family has a wild-caught mealy Amazon. Now, before you jump to any conclusions, we do not support the industry. They were caught by government and sent to zoos (for free) to all parts of the world. We live on the other side of the continent and a contact zoo got quite a few of those birds. They had no space or means to keep the birds so we adopted one a month ago.

Obviously, we don't know the age or gender, but we call our mealy Amazon Izzy. We've only had budgies and lovebirds and we have an Alexandrine parrot, but none of them were wild-caught, so we've never had this kind of trouble before.

1. Izzy is very scared, which is natural and we do realize it will take a lot more time. Izzy got used to taking food from our hands but that's as far as it goes. One thing that makes me think we're doing something wrong is that we have to start progress all over again every single day. For example, yesterday, I gave Izzy his favorite pomegranate seeds one by one and gradually, he started moving closer to me and wasn't scared at all when I moved closer too. Then he even took a walnut from my mouth. Next day, I wanted to give him a carrot, but he was scared just by my hand and wouldn't take it. I placed it in front of him and he took it. And eventually, by the end of the day, he took things from my hand again. So what are we doing wrong? or is this natural?

2. Izzy has trouble flying, or more like landing. Every time he flies away from his cage (his cage is open all day long, we close it only at night and when nobody's home (happens rarely) so he has a lot of freedom) and he crashes into literally everything. He doesn't even land on his own perch (which is on top of the cage and has a lot of branches so he can move around) He even got a bruise once that fortunately healed up. He's extremely clumsy and often slips from his own perch and falls down. What can we do to avoid injuries? We don't wanna lock him up since mealy Amazons are couch potatoes and have tendency to get too fat :D (and he eats A LOT).

Sorry for a too detailed post. Any help with this will be appreciated, especially if you have experience with wild-caught birds.
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,643
10,007
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Slow way down! You are moving way too Fast!

Wild caught Parrots have become loving members of our Homes for a very long time.

First: Read with understanding the two Threads at the top of the Amazon Thread. I Love Amazons - ... and Understanding Amazon Body Language. Start with Understanding Amazon Body Language. Process: Sit down next to your Amazon and Read Out Loud in a comforting voice both Threads. With the Body Language Thread, Re-read it until you understand it as well as a first language, because your Amazon will expect you to know this. Understand that it is the foundation and you Amazon has likely added and will add more.

Second: Change your Vantage Point!
It is Never the Fault of the Amazons!
It is Always the Fault of the Humand!
Use this for all interaction and you will quickly find what you are doing wrong and correct it.

Third: You should be building on what happened Yesterday by first repeating it before you go on to something new. Offing an Amazon something from your month is Not Recommended! A tiny error on either your part or the Amazons and you could be on your way to the ER. Also, our months contains a ton of bugs that are not safe for Parrots.

Fourth: Slow Down! The goal is to build a relationship on trust! Creating a Trust Bond takes time! Repeatable days of Only Good Things Happen when Humans are around is center to that Point.

Fifth: An Amazon is going to connect with your face (head) and guess that the rest of the tree that is with your head is just that. Now, since your Amazon is Wild Caught, why would it not be fearful of your waving arms and hands. After all, they can appear more like a snake than something safe. Keep your arms and hands in close to your body. Remember, the quick action /movement of your hand and arm can look like snake attacking.

Mealy's are the Big Lovers of the Amazon Family.

If your Mealy will step-up on your hand or a carry perch, walk Him (her) around the room and introduce safe fly ways and by ways, AND safe landing places. Kind of a Real Estate Agents Tour of the home.
Remember "Slow Down."
 
Last edited:

EllenD

New member
Aug 20, 2016
3,979
65
State College, PA
Parrots
Senegal Parrot named "Kane"; Yellow-Sided Green Cheek Conure named "Bowie"; Blue Quaker Parrot named "Lita Ford"; Cockatiel named "Duff"; 8 American/English Budgie Hybrids; Ringneck Dove named "Dylan"
I'll write more later when I have time, but I gotta say that you need to always keep in the front of your mind that this is a WILD BIRD!!! You're treating this bird like it's a captive/pet bird that you just adopted from another home and it's just going to take a little time to get it to settle-in and adjust...That's not the case with the bird you have in your house!!!

Wild animals are a whole other situation...This bird has never been inside a building before, he's never been with people before, and you're allowing it to fly all around your home, feeding it from your mouth (that is very bad and you need to not ever do that again, you're going to make the bird very sick and you are going to lose an eye or your lips), and wondering why it's "resetting" every day as far as it's tameness...It's perfectly normal for this bird to keep "resetting" every day, as it's not a captive-bred bird! It's like if you went outside with some nuts and spent a couple hours trying to coax a wild chipmunk or squirrel to take one from your hand; eventually he'll do it,
but the next day he's going to still be wild and forget about what happened yesterday!!!


And he's crashing all over your home because he's never ever flown inside a building/enclosed space before, and he's scared to death!!!

As Sailboat said, you need to STOP and SLOW-DOWN!!! You should still be talking to this wild parrot through the bars of his cage, reading to him, talking to him, etc. If you just let him out in your house all day long, which I know was well-meaning, but he's going to kill himself or hurt someone else, and destroy your home as well! He's flying all willy-nilly and crashing out of fear and because he's trying to find a way outside and he can't, and he doesn't understand "walls"...

Taming a wild parrot usually takes YEARS of patience and love. And starting out by treating the bird like a wild animal and respecting that by keeping them inside of a cage that is located in the "main room" of your home, where you spend most of your time as a family, so the bird can simply get used to being around people...Talk to him all the time, work on feeding him through the cage bars every day, but SLOW DOWN and stop letting him out in your house! This is going to be a LONG MARATHON, not a sprint, and you won't make any progress at all by treating him like a captive-bred bird and letting him simply fly all over your home crashing and bashing into things, like what happens when a wild bird accidentally gets inside of your home...He's a wild animal, and it usually takes literally YEARS to get them to become at all tame...

Also, you're risking your health and safety, and of course that of the bird. He's going to kill himself by crashing into things, or simply die from the stress of being trapped inside a house he can't get out of and being constantly touched by people, etc. And he may very well reach over and poke out your eye without you even realizing it happened, that's how quickly that happens...Please respect that he's a completely wild animal and both he and you/your family are at risk of injury or worse if you keep treating him like he's not a wild animal...
 

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
10,702
USA
Parrots
Full house
I can't add anything more than the above experts gave you. O just wanted to say you really are doing great, and your Amazon must be interested in being friends to already take things from you hand! Especially a wild caught bird. So I think you are your way to a wonderful relationship, just time, repetition, and patience. Thank you for the rescue.
 

reeisconfused

New member
Aug 11, 2018
137
0
Parrots
rescued IRN Max and Cockatiel Honey
Hello to you! Thank you for taking Izzy in.

Wild birds are VERY different from captive birds. Imagine living out in the open all your life and then suddenly you’re caged and kept with people you don’t trust. It’s absolutely terrifying to them. I think you’re headed in the right direction with Izzy since she’s taking food from your hand.

I have a wildcaught rescue as well and boy, is it a challenge. Remember that this bird has spent all her life scared of humans and so, it is natural for her to hesitate along the way. The bond is there, but not as strong. Please take your time with her because wild caught birds are NOT easy to tame (ofcourse, there are exceptions). I’ve had Max for 6 months and there has been little progress only.

As for the crashing, Max did that a lot in the begining as well. He was crashing so much to the point he was injuring himself. Have you taken Izzy to a CAV yet? That might be a good idea. Izzy is not used to the setting of a household which is why she keeps crashing into things because she can’t find another way.

I do think it is good for her to be out all day because keeping them inside only frustrates them further. If Max is in the cage for too long, plucking begins. However, please keep a VERY close eye on her. Because she is not used to humans and the house, she may fly into things she shouldn’t get into. Example, in his first month home, Max crashed into a bottle of oil, knocking it over and getting it all over himself. I had to give him a VERY thorough bath.

I would suggest adding shredding and foraging toys in her cage and on her playgym as those are the ones birds take to quickly. Ofcourse, they may not understand it at first because they’ve never seen anything like this but they will get the hang of it soon.

Do you have a window by which Izzy could hang out and maybe sight see? This helped a lot with Max. I have a balcony next to his cage and it is meshed so he spends his evenings out there having fun.

Overall, I think you’re doing good with her. Bottomline: patience, patience, patience.
 
OP
Amayaluna

Amayaluna

New member
Jan 27, 2019
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Georgia
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Mealy Amazon
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  • #6
Hello to you! Thank you for taking Izzy in.

Wild birds are VERY different from captive birds. Imagine living out in the open all your life and then suddenly you’re caged and kept with people you don’t trust. It’s absolutely terrifying to them. I think you’re headed in the right direction with Izzy since she’s taking food from your hand.

I have a wildcaught rescue as well and boy, is it a challenge. Remember that this bird has spent all her life scared of humans and so, it is natural for her to hesitate along the way. The bond is there, but not as strong. Please take your time with her because wild caught birds are NOT easy to tame (ofcourse, there are exceptions). I’ve had Max for 6 months and there has been little progress only.

As for the crashing, Max did that a lot in the begining as well. He was crashing so much to the point he was injuring himself. Have you taken Izzy to a CAV yet? That might be a good idea. Izzy is not used to the setting of a household which is why she keeps crashing into things because she can’t find another way.

I do think it is good for her to be out all day because keeping them inside only frustrates them further. If Max is in the cage for too long, plucking begins. However, please keep a VERY close eye on her. Because she is not used to humans and the house, she may fly into things she shouldn’t get into. Example, in his first month home, Max crashed into a bottle of oil, knocking it over and getting it all over himself. I had to give him a VERY thorough bath.

I would suggest adding shredding and foraging toys in her cage and on her playgym as those are the ones birds take to quickly. Ofcourse, they may not understand it at first because they’ve never seen anything like this but they will get the hang of it soon.

Do you have a window by which Izzy could hang out and maybe sight see? This helped a lot with Max. I have a balcony next to his cage and it is meshed so he spends his evenings out there having fun.

Overall, I think you’re doing good with her. Bottomline: patience, patience, patience.


First of all, thank you for a calm reply, the first two scared me a little. :52:
As for crashing, we never leave him unattended. He learned to clutch the curtains when he can't land anywhere else, so when this happens, we take his perch to him and he gets on it without a problem.
I got him toys that he enjoys a lot. Destroys a smaller one in half an hour :D
His cage is actually near a window (half of the cage is covered by a curtain, I read that if something outside scared him, he will be able to take cover), we live on the 6th floor and mostly he sees nature and birds flying around.
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
LOL--thst having been said, the 1st two (and three etc etc) are still entirely correct, as is "reeisconfused". Passion is sometimes mistaken for amger or yelling, but I promise, it's all out of love (not anger).
 
OP
Amayaluna

Amayaluna

New member
Jan 27, 2019
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0
Georgia
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Mealy Amazon
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  • #8
I'll write more later when I have time, but I gotta say that you need to always keep in the front of your mind that this is a WILD BIRD!!! You're treating this bird like it's a captive/pet bird that you just adopted from another home and it's just going to take a little time to get it to settle-in and adjust...That's not the case with the bird you have in your house!!!

Wild animals are a whole other situation...This bird has never been inside a building before, he's never been with people before, and you're allowing it to fly all around your home, feeding it from your mouth (that is very bad and you need to not ever do that again, you're going to make the bird very sick and you are going to lose an eye or your lips), and wondering why it's "resetting" every day as far as it's tameness...It's perfectly normal for this bird to keep "resetting" every day, as it's not a captive-bred bird! It's like if you went outside with some nuts and spent a couple hours trying to coax a wild chipmunk or squirrel to take one from your hand; eventually he'll do it,
but the next day he's going to still be wild and forget about what happened yesterday!!!


And he's crashing all over your home because he's never ever flown inside a building/enclosed space before, and he's scared to death!!!

As Sailboat said, you need to STOP and SLOW-DOWN!!! You should still be talking to this wild parrot through the bars of his cage, reading to him, talking to him, etc. If you just let him out in your house all day long, which I know was well-meaning, but he's going to kill himself or hurt someone else, and destroy your home as well! He's flying all willy-nilly and crashing out of fear and because he's trying to find a way outside and he can't, and he doesn't understand "walls"...

Taming a wild parrot usually takes YEARS of patience and love. And starting out by treating the bird like a wild animal and respecting that by keeping them inside of a cage that is located in the "main room" of your home, where you spend most of your time as a family, so the bird can simply get used to being around people...Talk to him all the time, work on feeding him through the cage bars every day, but SLOW DOWN and stop letting him out in your house! This is going to be a LONG MARATHON, not a sprint, and you won't make any progress at all by treating him like a captive-bred bird and letting him simply fly all over your home crashing and bashing into things, like what happens when a wild bird accidentally gets inside of your home...He's a wild animal, and it usually takes literally YEARS to get them to become at all tame...

Also, you're risking your health and safety, and of course that of the bird. He's going to kill himself by crashing into things, or simply die from the stress of being trapped inside a house he can't get out of and being constantly touched by people, etc. And he may very well reach over and poke out your eye without you even realizing it happened, that's how quickly that happens...Please respect that he's a completely wild animal and both he and you/your family are at risk of injury or worse if you keep treating him like he's not a wild animal...


I think I should have been clearer on certain things. The walnut wasn't inside my mouth, I've owned parrots and I know human germs are no good for birds.
And I already do everything that you've mentioned. I sit in the same room, put on a relaxing music and read to him in a calm voice. It's kind of a meditating time for both of us. My mom talks to him all day while I'm at work and puts on music and they sing together.
He doesn't fly around all the time, once a day or not at all. He spends time climbing up and down his perch. If I lock him inside a cage for months, I'm afraid he will start plucking. His cage isn't small but I don't think it's big enough. Please take the fact that we don't live in US into consideration, pet birds are not a thing here and pet bird accessories are not readily available. I had to order everything from US and am still waiting for a new cage and toys.

P.S. we never touch him and will not do so until he decides he wants to come to us.
 
OP
Amayaluna

Amayaluna

New member
Jan 27, 2019
14
0
Georgia
Parrots
Mealy Amazon
  • Thread Starter
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  • #9
Slow way down! You are moving way too Fast!

Wild caught Parrots have become loving members of our Homes for a very long time.

First: Read with understanding the two Threads at the top of the Amazon Thread. I Love Amazons - ... and Understanding Amazon Body Language. Start with Understanding Amazon Body Language. Process: Sit down next to your Amazon and Read Out Loud in a comforting voice both Threads. With the Body Language Thread, Re-read it until you understand it as well as a first language, because your Amazon will expect you to know this. Understand that it is the foundation and you Amazon has likely added and will add more.

Second: Change your Vantage Point!
It is Never the Fault of the Amazons!
It is Always the Fault of the Humand!
Use this for all interaction and you will quickly find what you are doing wrong and correct it.

Third: You should be building on what happened Yesterday by first repeating it before you go on to something new. Offing an Amazon something from your month is Not Recommended! A tiny error on either your part or the Amazons and you could be on your way to the ER. Also, our months contains a ton of bugs that are not safe for Parrots.

Fourth: Slow Down! The goal is to build a relationship on trust! Creating a Trust Bond takes time! Repeatable days of Only Good Things Happen when Humans are around is center to that Point.

Fifth: An Amazon is going to connect with your face (head) and guess that the rest of the tree that is with your head is just that. Now, since your Amazon is Wild Caught, why would it not be fearful of your waving arms and hands. After all, they can appear more like a snake than something safe. Keep your arms and hands in close to your body. Remember, the quick action /movement of your hand and arm can look like snake attacking.

Mealy's are the Big Lovers of the Amazon Family.

If your Mealy will step-up on your hand or a carry perch, walk Him (her) around the room and introduce safe fly ways and by ways, AND safe landing places. Kind of a Real Estate Agents Tour of the home.
Remember "Slow Down."


That is exactly what I do, I sit near him, put on meditating music and read about Amazon parrots, I study and he relaxes. I will make sure to read the threads on this forum as well.
I've been observing his body language and know what he does when he's afraid, so I know when I'm pushing too much.
Thank you for the advice about the hands, never thought of it that way.
My mom also makes sure he has the same routine everyday so that there's predictability, I've read that's what they thrive on.
Unfortunately, he doesn't perch on our hands yet so I can't do much in terms of introducing new areas to him. He does a little exploring of his own. He usually doesn't move away from his cage and perch, but started exploring the outside of his cage and flew over to the nearby cupboard the other day.
 

reeisconfused

New member
Aug 11, 2018
137
0
Parrots
rescued IRN Max and Cockatiel Honey
Hello to you! Thank you for taking Izzy in.

Wild birds are VERY different from captive birds. Imagine living out in the open all your life and then suddenly you’re caged and kept with people you don’t trust. It’s absolutely terrifying to them. I think you’re headed in the right direction with Izzy since she’s taking food from your hand.

I have a wildcaught rescue as well and boy, is it a challenge. Remember that this bird has spent all her life scared of humans and so, it is natural for her to hesitate along the way. The bond is there, but not as strong. Please take your time with her because wild caught birds are NOT easy to tame (ofcourse, there are exceptions). I’ve had Max for 6 months and there has been little progress only.

As for the crashing, Max did that a lot in the begining as well. He was crashing so much to the point he was injuring himself. Have you taken Izzy to a CAV yet? That might be a good idea. Izzy is not used to the setting of a household which is why she keeps crashing into things because she can’t find another way.

I do think it is good for her to be out all day because keeping them inside only frustrates them further. If Max is in the cage for too long, plucking begins. However, please keep a VERY close eye on her. Because she is not used to humans and the house, she may fly into things she shouldn’t get into. Example, in his first month home, Max crashed into a bottle of oil, knocking it over and getting it all over himself. I had to give him a VERY thorough bath.

I would suggest adding shredding and foraging toys in her cage and on her playgym as those are the ones birds take to quickly. Ofcourse, they may not understand it at first because they’ve never seen anything like this but they will get the hang of it soon.

Do you have a window by which Izzy could hang out and maybe sight see? This helped a lot with Max. I have a balcony next to his cage and it is meshed so he spends his evenings out there having fun.

Overall, I think you’re doing good with her. Bottomline: patience, patience, patience.


First of all, thank you for a calm reply, the first two scared me a little. :52:
As for crashing, we never leave him unattended. He learned to clutch the curtains when he can't land anywhere else, so when this happens, we take his perch to him and he gets on it without a problem.
I got him toys that he enjoys a lot. Destroys a smaller one in half an hour :D
His cage is actually near a window (half of the cage is covered by a curtain, I read that if something outside scared him, he will be able to take cover), we live on the 6th floor and mostly he sees nature and birds flying around.

Oh I didn’t mean to scare you, haha. One wild bird owner to other, I want you to know the hardships of owning one. They’re incredibly different in every aspect and it can be incredibly frustrating at times when you feel like you’re not making any progress and feel like they don’t reciprocate the love you have for them. Sometimes their brains just hit reset button all of a sudden and its back to square one and you gotta start again. I think the best thing one can do is remove any expectations from their birds, especially wild caught ones, because it takes YEARS to build trust with them. Rescuing a wild caught is not for everyone. Although I did not know anything about wildcaught birds, I’m extremely glad to have Max in my life. Sure he doesn’t like hands and other things, but he does love me a lot in his own way. Sometimes, you gotta be content with that. :)

I think Izzy should improve with flying in the house overtime! She’ll get the hang soon enough.

Interaction is key with wildcaughts but also remember to give them space! Some days, Max hates everyone, including himself haha. Celebrate every small milestone you have with her because it IS a big deal. :D

Also, If you can stand *somewhat* near her without her freaking out, I think you should start target training her. It’s extremely effective and will keep her brain active. Look up videos of it on youtube.
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Time and consistency are going to be your best friends with regard to this bird. Some wild-caught birds take years, so don't overlook the little accomplishments. The fact that he isn't terrified of everything is good (and by terrified, I mean having strokes or slamming into cage walls all day--this can happen with really scared birds). Slow and steady....and lots of patience. Try to establish a routine and narrate what you are doing as you do it--- if you turn on a light, say "I'm turning on the lights"...if you start the dishwasher or take out the trash, tell you bird what you are doing and use the same key-words every time. This will help build predictability and familiarity.
Trust is like a bank--you build up enough savings, and hopefully, if you make a withdrawal, it doesn't bankrupt you or put you in debt. If it does, start back at square one and start saving up before making any new "purchases".
If you are feeding the bird from your hand, don't move. Let the bird do all of the initiating (because, if you are putting your hand in his cage, you are already initiating something that will stretch his boundaries).... Offer treats, but if he is scared, set it down and move to a more neutral location (for now). I would work on just letting him get used to your daily routine as a passive observer- yes, interaction is key, but it has to be done in baby steps. Take it day by day and read his signals. This is going to take a really really really long time, so don't let your human concepts of time etc influence the rate at which you feel pressured to move to the next step. Much of this should be determined by the bird.
 
Last edited:
OP
Amayaluna

Amayaluna

New member
Jan 27, 2019
14
0
Georgia
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Mealy Amazon
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  • #12
Hello to you! Thank you for taking Izzy in.

Wild birds are VERY different from captive birds. Imagine living out in the open all your life and then suddenly you’re caged and kept with people you don’t trust. It’s absolutely terrifying to them. I think you’re headed in the right direction with Izzy since she’s taking food from your hand.

I have a wildcaught rescue as well and boy, is it a challenge. Remember that this bird has spent all her life scared of humans and so, it is natural for her to hesitate along the way. The bond is there, but not as strong. Please take your time with her because wild caught birds are NOT easy to tame (ofcourse, there are exceptions). I’ve had Max for 6 months and there has been little progress only.

As for the crashing, Max did that a lot in the begining as well. He was crashing so much to the point he was injuring himself. Have you taken Izzy to a CAV yet? That might be a good idea. Izzy is not used to the setting of a household which is why she keeps crashing into things because she can’t find another way.

I do think it is good for her to be out all day because keeping them inside only frustrates them further. If Max is in the cage for too long, plucking begins. However, please keep a VERY close eye on her. Because she is not used to humans and the house, she may fly into things she shouldn’t get into. Example, in his first month home, Max crashed into a bottle of oil, knocking it over and getting it all over himself. I had to give him a VERY thorough bath.

I would suggest adding shredding and foraging toys in her cage and on her playgym as those are the ones birds take to quickly. Ofcourse, they may not understand it at first because they’ve never seen anything like this but they will get the hang of it soon.

Do you have a window by which Izzy could hang out and maybe sight see? This helped a lot with Max. I have a balcony next to his cage and it is meshed so he spends his evenings out there having fun.

Overall, I think you’re doing good with her. Bottomline: patience, patience, patience.


First of all, thank you for a calm reply, the first two scared me a little. :52:
As for crashing, we never leave him unattended. He learned to clutch the curtains when he can't land anywhere else, so when this happens, we take his perch to him and he gets on it without a problem.
I got him toys that he enjoys a lot. Destroys a smaller one in half an hour :D
His cage is actually near a window (half of the cage is covered by a curtain, I read that if something outside scared him, he will be able to take cover), we live on the 6th floor and mostly he sees nature and birds flying around.

Oh I didn’t mean to scare you, haha. One wild bird owner to other, I want you to know the hardships of owning one. They’re incredibly different in every aspect and it can be incredibly frustrating at times when you feel like you’re not making any progress and feel like they don’t reciprocate the love you have for them. Sometimes their brains just hit reset button all of a sudden and its back to square one and you gotta start again. I think the best thing one can do is remove any expectations from their birds, especially wild caught ones, because it takes YEARS to build trust with them. Rescuing a wild caught is not for everyone. Although I did not know anything about wildcaught birds, I’m extremely glad to have Max in my life. Sure he doesn’t like hands and other things, but he does love me a lot in his own way. Sometimes, you gotta be content with that. :)

I think Izzy should improve with flying in the house overtime! She’ll get the hang soon enough.

Interaction is key with wildcaughts but also remember to give them space! Some days, Max hates everyone, including himself haha. Celebrate every small milestone you have with her because it IS a big deal. :D

Also, If you can stand *somewhat* near her without her freaking out, I think you should start target training her. It’s extremely effective and will keep her brain active. Look up videos of it on youtube.


No no! You didn't scare me, the others did a bit :D I guess it's going to be a long ride. I AM grateful for the accomplishments we have. One thing I love about our relationship is when I sit near him and start eating his favorite fruits (pomelos, to be exact), he looks at it and chirps and tells me he wants some too, I give it to him and when he's done and wants more, chirps again and so on and on.
I used to have a budgie that hated to be touched, he did perch on our hand and shoulders and whatnot, but absolutely hated to be touched. So I can deal with Izzy being distant to an extent, we just want him to be happy with his life.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Know that wild caught birds can, over time, become tame and comfortable in captivity. I have a pair of Goffins caught sometime in the 1970s. The male has no fear of people, takes food by hand, and can be head-scratched with ease. For whatever reason the female has bonded far more intently, loves to cuddle, sit on a shoulder, and is extremely gentle. Amazons are a different species with their own temperaments, but all things are possible with love and support!
 
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Amayaluna

Amayaluna

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Know that wild caught birds can, over time, become tame and comfortable in captivity. I have a pair of Goffins caught sometime in the 1970s. The male has no fear of people, takes food by hand, and can be head-scratched with ease. For whatever reason the female has bonded far more intently, loves to cuddle, sit on a shoulder, and is extremely gentle. Amazons are a different species with their own temperaments, but all things are possible with love and support!

But you don't know how long it took them to become tame, right?
 

noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
I know you are asking about a very different bird species, but here is my experience with wild-caught birds:

My uncle had a wild-caught African Grey that was acquired as a young (but not baby) bird in the 80s (things were sketchier then--he got him at a pet-store and it was the norm in many places)...I want to say he was about 1-2 years old at the time and my uncle was 20ish and knew very little about what he was getting into (he got the bird, the cage for $100 HAHA). He turned out to be a good "parront" but it was a labor of love and way more expensive than he ever expected. The bird was a huge part of the family---a constant fixture.

He bonded with my uncle rather quickly (given his situation)---I want to say within a year or so, but they didn't have kids at the time and he spent a ton of time with him. I know he did get bitten early on, but the bird was probably overly bonded to him, so he could get away with murder 90% of the time once that bond was established. In hindsight, there was some hormonal behavior that probably should have been discouraged and was not due to lack of knowledge (aka regurgitation).

He allowed my aunt to handle him over the years, but it was more like a snarky boss-co-worker kind of relationship (bird being the boss). She got lots of warning bites when putting him back in his cage etc (but he still loved her 2nd most to my uncle). You could tell the bird liked her in his own way.

About 20 years in, we (teens at the time) got more confident and he simultaneously mellowed out a bit (I was able to hold him after spending hours just sitting in the room talking to him---had to ease into it even then and still got bitten a couple times). We also just were more accepting of the idea that we might get bitten and had better self-control in terms of our own reactions/expectations.

As kids, we were all pretty intimidated by him because he was kind of jealous and he would swoop around unexpectedly and bite if anyone other than my aunt or uncle tried to touch him. He never attacked us or anything (although he reportedly dive-bombed my cousin at some point and literally pierced her ear when she had him on her shoulder)--it was just understood (especially after the ear incident) that if you tried to invade his bubble he would react (unless you were in his top 2 people list). It wasn't like the adults forbid us to go near him---but in the background of videos (when I was 2-3) you can always hear someone saying "remember, don't touch the birdy". We played in the same room and rough-housed around him and he was fine with it (actually, he probably enjoyed it) but we all had a healthy understanding of what could happen if we pushed the limits too far. I never felt scared when I was respecting his rather small bubble (regardless of my age).

I make him sound terrible, but we were all obsessed with him by the time were were old enough to appreciate him and there was a ton of respect there (even as kids, we loved him). He was super chill and fun to hang out with (he just didn't want to be touched by us and he did learn not to fly everywhere whenever he felt like it). He died of PDD (never sure where he acquired it) but in his 30+ years of life, I know that he had a huge impact on all of us (there was good and bad, but looking back, it was all for the best and certainly a valuable lesson in trust and commitment).


I forgot to add- he was always weird about toys and very easily spooked by unfamiliar objects near his cage (but not in the general environment). He also HATED puppies and enthusiastic/energetic dogs (would hiss and growl at them if they entered the same room) lol.
 
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Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
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1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
My mom has owned her wild caught amazon for over 40 years. While she will step up and come when you call etc... she is still very much a wild bird despite decades in captivity. She was an adult when captured and she simply has to be accepted for what and who she is (which is not a human raised pet). She does not like to be petted, she is not interested in most toys, not interested in learning 'tricks', doesn't talk and she will attack anyone she doesn't know (also goes after my dad, though she hates him slightly less than other men). She is very vocal and has been a free range bird during the day for as long as I've been alive/can remember, though I am unsure how long she was caged out of necessity before that became possible. A very strong willed creature with her own prerogative in life and pleasing humans isn't it. On a positive note, she is about as healthy as a bird her age could possibly be. Good, strong genes that allowed her to survive the brutality of capture, transport and quarantine. She was also gentle enough with me she'd sit on my crib as a baby and was my constant companion growing up, though even I couldn't really pet or touch her past stepping her up on my hand or arm. She's on good terms with my mom as well, though occasionally inflicts a nasty bite to remind her she's still a wild animal at heart.

Izzy may or may not eventually come to like you or want you to pet him. Either way, it is important you be patient with him and learn to accept him as a wild caught bird living in a very foreign environment. Imagine if you were abducted from your home by aliens 50X your size who gave you food and some things to do and medical care etc... WOuldn't you still long to go home no matter how kindly they were? That's how Izzy feels, and while he can't be returned to the wild at this point it's helpful to always keep in mind where he came from and that being with you was never his choice. Let him come around in his own time:)
 
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Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Know that wild caught birds can, over time, become tame and comfortable in captivity. I have a pair of Goffins caught sometime in the 1970s. The male has no fear of people, takes food by hand, and can be head-scratched with ease. For whatever reason the female has bonded far more intently, loves to cuddle, sit on a shoulder, and is extremely gentle. Amazons are a different species with their own temperaments, but all things are possible with love and support!

But you don't know how long it took them to become tame, right?

Actually I do! I purchased them in 1987 as a breeding pair that was unproductive the previous 12 years. Initially placed them in an outdoor aviary, moved 4 years later and housed them in a walk-in facility. They tolerated my entrance to feed and clean, allowing occasional head scratches. Peanut and Popcorn produced 3 live chicks the next 5 years, but abandoned each after roughly 4 days. Because the babies required feeding every 2 hours at that stage, the nest box was removed after the third. They remained together until male cockatoo aggression forced a permanent separation 23 years later, after at least 35 years together.

They were separated in 2010; Popcorn (male) remained in the flight cage while Peanut (female) was housed in a standard cage. Peanut suffered an upper respiratory infection requiring antibiotics, and I was amazed with her docile nature and willingness to be held, even when cured. I began to handle her a lot and decided to place her in a bird-room containing two of her adult offspring, a TAG, Moluccan, and Citron. All of these birds were/are tame and uncaged, and Peanut fit in beautifully. At this stage she would not perch on my finger, stand on a shoulder, or cuddle. Over the course of about 6 months she happily did all of the above. Popcorn has shown no desire for close contact other than accepting food and plenty of scratching. He is not afraid and I respect his reticence. Several months ago I introduced him to my female Citron, they've bonded and live together. No nestbox, have no desire for a frankencockatoo! He's smaller and has shown absolutely no hostility.

So, it has been a process with some unintended consequences. I understand you wish to tame your Amazon from the outset. Lots of superb advice thus far, take it slowly and be patient!
 

texsize

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Oct 23, 2015
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My Orange Wing Amazon was a wild caught bird and my first parrot. I bought him in 1985.

I was able to teach him to step up(on a gloved hand) and eventually able to get him to step up on my bare hand cuz I lost the glove.

He became bonded to Pacho (female Red Lord Amazon) that I bought in 1989.
I tried to give him the best life I could but he never learned to talk and was never friendly with us. I did not want to stress him out. A trip to the vet would make him pant and get very frightened.
He died in December of 2016 of what looked like a stroke. I think he was an old bird but there was no way to be sure of his age.
I did not know anything about parrots at the time I got him.
Just take things slow, lot's of good advice above.
 
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Amayaluna

Amayaluna

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Mealy Amazon
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I know you are asking about a very different bird species, but here is my experience with wild-caught birds:

My uncle had a wild-caught African Grey that was acquired as a young (but not baby) bird in the 80s (things were sketchier then--he got him at a pet-store and it was the norm in many places)...I want to say he was about 1-2 years old at the time and my uncle was 20ish and knew very little about what he was getting into (he got the bird, the cage for $100 HAHA). He turned out to be a good "parront" but it was a labor of love and way more expensive than he ever expected. The bird was a huge part of the family---a constant fixture.

He bonded with my uncle rather quickly (given his situation)---I want to say within a year or so, but they didn't have kids at the time and he spent a ton of time with him. I know he did get bitten early on, but the bird was probably overly bonded to him, so he could get away with murder 90% of the time once that bond was established. In hindsight, there was some hormonal behavior that probably should have been discouraged and was not due to lack of knowledge (aka regurgitation).

He allowed my aunt to handle him over the years, but it was more like a snarky boss-co-worker kind of relationship (bird being the boss). She got lots of warning bites when putting him back in his cage etc (but he still loved her 2nd most to my uncle). You could tell the bird liked her in his own way.

About 20 years in, we (teens at the time) got more confident and he simultaneously mellowed out a bit (I was able to hold him after spending hours just sitting in the room talking to him---had to ease into it even then and still got bitten a couple times). We also just were more accepting of the idea that we might get bitten and had better self-control in terms of our own reactions/expectations.

As kids, we were all pretty intimidated by him because he was kind of jealous and he would swoop around unexpectedly and bite if anyone other than my aunt or uncle tried to touch him. He never attacked us or anything (although he reportedly dive-bombed my cousin at some point and literally pierced her ear when she had him on her shoulder)--it was just understood (especially after the ear incident) that if you tried to invade his bubble he would react (unless you were in his top 2 people list). It wasn't like the adults forbid us to go near him---but in the background of videos (when I was 2-3) you can always hear someone saying "remember, don't touch the birdy". We played in the same room and rough-housed around him and he was fine with it (actually, he probably enjoyed it) but we all had a healthy understanding of what could happen if we pushed the limits too far. I never felt scared when I was respecting his rather small bubble (regardless of my age).

I make him sound terrible, but we were all obsessed with him by the time were were old enough to appreciate him and there was a ton of respect there (even as kids, we loved him). He was super chill and fun to hang out with (he just didn't want to be touched by us and he did learn not to fly everywhere whenever he felt like it). He died of PDD (never sure where he acquired it) but in his 30+ years of life, I know that he had a huge impact on all of us (there was good and bad, but looking back, it was all for the best and certainly a valuable lesson in trust and commitment).


I forgot to add- he was always weird about toys and very easily spooked by unfamiliar objects near his cage (but not in the general environment). He also HATED puppies and enthusiastic/energetic dogs (would hiss and growl at them if they entered the same room) lol.



Thank you so much for sharing the story. If I get to bond with Izzy as much as your uncle bonded with his african grey, I will be the happiest. My biggest fear is, Izzy will never get comfortable enough.
You did mention that your uncle's bird was acquired as a young, but is there any way to know this? I have been researching all over the internet, but seems like there is nothing you can do to really know the age, even approximately.
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
I know you are asking about a very different bird species, but here is my experience with wild-caught birds:

My uncle had a wild-caught African Grey that was acquired as a young (but not baby) bird in the 80s (things were sketchier then--he got him at a pet-store and it was the norm in many places)...I want to say he was about 1-2 years old at the time and my uncle was 20ish and knew very little about what he was getting into (he got the bird, the cage for $100 HAHA). He turned out to be a good "parront" but it was a labor of love and way more expensive than he ever expected. The bird was a huge part of the family---a constant fixture.

He bonded with my uncle rather quickly (given his situation)---I want to say within a year or so, but they didn't have kids at the time and he spent a ton of time with him. I know he did get bitten early on, but the bird was probably overly bonded to him, so he could get away with murder 90% of the time once that bond was established. In hindsight, there was some hormonal behavior that probably should have been discouraged and was not due to lack of knowledge (aka regurgitation).

He allowed my aunt to handle him over the years, but it was more like a snarky boss-co-worker kind of relationship (bird being the boss). She got lots of warning bites when putting him back in his cage etc (but he still loved her 2nd most to my uncle). You could tell the bird liked her in his own way.

About 20 years in, we (teens at the time) got more confident and he simultaneously mellowed out a bit (I was able to hold him after spending hours just sitting in the room talking to him---had to ease into it even then and still got bitten a couple times). We also just were more accepting of the idea that we might get bitten and had better self-control in terms of our own reactions/expectations.

As kids, we were all pretty intimidated by him because he was kind of jealous and he would swoop around unexpectedly and bite if anyone other than my aunt or uncle tried to touch him. He never attacked us or anything (although he reportedly dive-bombed my cousin at some point and literally pierced her ear when she had him on her shoulder)--it was just understood (especially after the ear incident) that if you tried to invade his bubble he would react (unless you were in his top 2 people list). It wasn't like the adults forbid us to go near him---but in the background of videos (when I was 2-3) you can always hear someone saying "remember, don't touch the birdy". We played in the same room and rough-housed around him and he was fine with it (actually, he probably enjoyed it) but we all had a healthy understanding of what could happen if we pushed the limits too far. I never felt scared when I was respecting his rather small bubble (regardless of my age).

I make him sound terrible, but we were all obsessed with him by the time were were old enough to appreciate him and there was a ton of respect there (even as kids, we loved him). He was super chill and fun to hang out with (he just didn't want to be touched by us and he did learn not to fly everywhere whenever he felt like it). He died of PDD (never sure where he acquired it) but in his 30+ years of life, I know that he had a huge impact on all of us (there was good and bad, but looking back, it was all for the best and certainly a valuable lesson in trust and commitment).


I forgot to add- he was always weird about toys and very easily spooked by unfamiliar objects near his cage (but not in the general environment). He also HATED puppies and enthusiastic/energetic dogs (would hiss and growl at them if they entered the same room) lol.



Thank you so much for sharing the story. If I get to bond with Izzy as much as your uncle bonded with his african grey, I will be the happiest. My biggest fear is, Izzy will never get comfortable enough.
You did mention that your uncle's bird was acquired as a young, but is there any way to know this? I have been researching all over the internet, but seems like there is nothing you can do to really know the age, even approximately.


Yeah- I have know idea how they guessed that age as he wasn't a chick when they got him. I guess he could have been older...I wonder...may need to text uncle..
 

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