Hello there!
I'll get right to my story, hoping that some of you could help me with some pieces of advice, as I find most of you more experienced than I am with large birds.
Three weeks ago I took in an Amazon. His story is pretty sad, because, as far as I know, he had at least two previous homes where he used to be left alone, unattended for several days, and the owners didn't care enough to give him food every day. He should be about 5 or 6 years old. I'm not sure whether he is a Blue fronted or a Double Yellow (his feathers could suggest both).
Once arrived in my home, I gave him food and fresh fruits and vegetables, bought two toys, started a vitamin treatment etc. He is pretty quiet and bored. He barely makes some chirping sounds whenever excited, but no words or parrot talk whatsoever. I got him to eat from my hand and began stick training, which went well in the first stage, with 15 min. training sessions. Also, I sit near his cage whenever I have to work on my laptop, just to have him used to my presence.
Now, here's the rub:
He won't accept any new toys. I got him a nice toy ladder for him to play and he stepped out of his cage for the first time when I placed the toy in his cage. I tried with treats, but it won't work. It's like than ladder is the devil himself.
Yesterday he got off his cage for the first time by free will. I encouraged him by talking softly and offering treats and spaghetti. Spaghetti is a trick I used to employ when taming cockatiels and it seems to work with Amazons as well - Coco just chews it happily. At some point during the day, I think he tried to fly and when I got into the room I noticed he couldn't. Coco was on the floor, trying to get to his cage (which is quite tall for him) and could barely lift his body a few inches from the ground. I helped him with a stick and, after giving me the jungle whistles, I managed, I don't know how exactly, to help him climb. He only found his way back into the cage in the evening, when I turned off the light.
Today seems to be angry at me for whatever reason, even though what happened yesterday was entirely up to him (I tried not to scare him more than he already is).
Needless to say I cannot touch him and he wouldn't step up under any circumstances.
I have several major concerns:
1. His muscles seems to have atrophied because he didn't use his wings or his feet at all. I arranged an appointment with a doctor next week. Avian vets do not exist in Galati (I'm from Romania) and I have to get to Bucharest. But whatever the doctor tells me, I still have to make some training with him to tend to these problems and I don't know how. I know that there might be serious medical consequences here.
2. Is it possible that he could not be tamed? I have a lot of patience and am willing to try it until it works, but I don't know what my next step should be. I'm not interested really in having him talk, because this should be entirely his choice. But I would like him to have a good friend, that is me.
3. He seems gloomy. If I don't enter the room, he just sits in the same spot on his perch doing nothing - not playing, not chirping. His behavior is not that of an Amazon except when he gets angry.
Sorry for the long story, but it's necessary for you to understand Coco's problems.
I am looking forward for your opinions.
I'll get right to my story, hoping that some of you could help me with some pieces of advice, as I find most of you more experienced than I am with large birds.
Three weeks ago I took in an Amazon. His story is pretty sad, because, as far as I know, he had at least two previous homes where he used to be left alone, unattended for several days, and the owners didn't care enough to give him food every day. He should be about 5 or 6 years old. I'm not sure whether he is a Blue fronted or a Double Yellow (his feathers could suggest both).
Once arrived in my home, I gave him food and fresh fruits and vegetables, bought two toys, started a vitamin treatment etc. He is pretty quiet and bored. He barely makes some chirping sounds whenever excited, but no words or parrot talk whatsoever. I got him to eat from my hand and began stick training, which went well in the first stage, with 15 min. training sessions. Also, I sit near his cage whenever I have to work on my laptop, just to have him used to my presence.
Now, here's the rub:
He won't accept any new toys. I got him a nice toy ladder for him to play and he stepped out of his cage for the first time when I placed the toy in his cage. I tried with treats, but it won't work. It's like than ladder is the devil himself.
Yesterday he got off his cage for the first time by free will. I encouraged him by talking softly and offering treats and spaghetti. Spaghetti is a trick I used to employ when taming cockatiels and it seems to work with Amazons as well - Coco just chews it happily. At some point during the day, I think he tried to fly and when I got into the room I noticed he couldn't. Coco was on the floor, trying to get to his cage (which is quite tall for him) and could barely lift his body a few inches from the ground. I helped him with a stick and, after giving me the jungle whistles, I managed, I don't know how exactly, to help him climb. He only found his way back into the cage in the evening, when I turned off the light.
Today seems to be angry at me for whatever reason, even though what happened yesterday was entirely up to him (I tried not to scare him more than he already is).
Needless to say I cannot touch him and he wouldn't step up under any circumstances.
I have several major concerns:
1. His muscles seems to have atrophied because he didn't use his wings or his feet at all. I arranged an appointment with a doctor next week. Avian vets do not exist in Galati (I'm from Romania) and I have to get to Bucharest. But whatever the doctor tells me, I still have to make some training with him to tend to these problems and I don't know how. I know that there might be serious medical consequences here.
2. Is it possible that he could not be tamed? I have a lot of patience and am willing to try it until it works, but I don't know what my next step should be. I'm not interested really in having him talk, because this should be entirely his choice. But I would like him to have a good friend, that is me.
3. He seems gloomy. If I don't enter the room, he just sits in the same spot on his perch doing nothing - not playing, not chirping. His behavior is not that of an Amazon except when he gets angry.
Sorry for the long story, but it's necessary for you to understand Coco's problems.
I am looking forward for your opinions.
