Taming a Mature Amazon

[Akinachan97]

Hey everyone ^-^

I recently bought a 15 year old, male Orange Winged Amazon. It's been almost two days since I've had him but I haven't let him out of his cage. His previous owners really neglected to take care of him. He's rather large for a bird of his kind, his nails are over grown, he's malnurished, and he's not hand tame. He isn't aggressive but I would really like some advice on how I can get him to accept me and my family. I'm scared that he's not getting enough excercise and that he isn't enjoying his pellets too much. I've only seen him drink water only once. What should I do? I'm really concerned.

Miss A

 

[thekarens]

A vet visit should be top priority. If he was used to eating seed at his previous home I'd continue offering seed and also offering fresh vegetables.

 

[Akinachan97]

Thanks for the reply! I'll be sure to take him to the vet as soon as he's a bit more comfortable with us. What about his nails? Should I trim them myself? I don't want him to be afraid of me.

 

[crimson]

well Miss A, welcome to the forum!!....

there is plenty of excellent advice on here, I don't linger in the Zon section, but I might now since your on, haha.

 

[crimson]

just to inform everyone on here, Miss A is a lovely young woman whom I purchased Sunkist from just a few weeks ago. we have been in constant contact with each other.

she had asked me about advice on her newly adopted Zon so I directed her to here ....just about the best place for advice.

 

[snowghost]

If he is malnourished definitely rush him to a vet, the over grown nails can be clipped at the vets.

 

[crimson]

miss A, maybe you can post a picture, that would help members really see how he looks.

 

[Terry57]

Hello Miss A and welcome! Any friend of Beth's is a friend of mine
I would agree that a vet visit is in order, and I would let them clip his nails. I also agree with Karen about still giving him seeds if that's what he was eating before.
As far as him accepting you, patience and time...and lots of love

 

[Akinachan97]

Thanks a lot everyone! For your wonderful advice and kind welcome. I'll be sure to take him to a vet sometime next week to have him checked up. You see, he wasn't really eating seeds either. He ate white rice, vegetables, fruits, and lentils. I'm feeding him a variety of vegetables and fruits, along with his pellets and seeds. I'm also thinking of buying vitamins. As for his nails, my mother clipped one of his nails today but he didn't give her a chance to cut the other ones. Our local pet store offered to cut his nails for us so we're off tomorrow to have them trimmed!

 

[Akinachan97]

A special thank you to my friend, Beth. She referred this forum to me!

 

[getwozzy]

Welcome to the forum!

Like others have said- continue his current diet and slowly switch him over to eating fruits, veggies, and pellets- with the pellets you might have to try different brands to find the ones he'll eat voluntarily....or hide them in food- I grind up pellets super fine and put it in the birdie bread I make.

Amazons are food lovers- sit by his cage and read him a fun story, give him some apple slices to munch on- or whatever he finds irresistible (this may involve a lot of trial and error!). I recommend everyone who lives with you to interact with him one-on-one because the more people he's socialized with, the better.

 

[MomtoPercy]

Welcome! Welcome!! Like Terry said, any friend of Beth's is a friend of ours

First, get that boy to the vet. He can do all the necessary checks and he will rexcommend the appropriate supplements, if any, your zon needs. And let the vet can do the nail clip - it will be a bit traumatic for your bird so it is best that you don't do it (not a good way to start a relationship and all that).

Take it slow with him. Spend as much time as you can by his cage, chatting to him, feeding him titbits, singing/whistling to him and so on. Don't force anything, he will come around in time.

What's his name? And where's his pic??

 

[Allee]

Welcome Miss A. Let us know how he reacts to his nail trim and vet visit. I would ask the vet for advice on the vitamins before you start giving them. Sometimes soaking in pellets in apple juice or water works to transition from seed. Keep trying, sometimes it takes a while.

 

[RavensGryf]

Hi Miss A, welcome! Glad that Beth directed you here. I LOVE this place