Adopt an amazon?

[kyekyah]

I live in Australia, and so for us Amazon season is still a few months away - which means a baby will be about six months away.
I can wait, but it was frustrating after researching between bird species for nearly three months now - that the wait continues

I did find on gumtree.com a female double yellow headed from last season looking for a home. I contacted them and they said they hand raised her from the egg, and she has been kept inside the family home since. He says 'she loves scratches and I get her out, and take in the shower, but she can be temperamental sometimes.' (I have asked them to elaborate)

As a first time amazon owner to be, should I steer clear of these issues and just wait? Or could the older female be manageable?

Advice please!

 

[Seagulls]

I have never heard of an Amazon in my life that couldn't be described as temperamental. Especially the Hot 3, which the Double Yellows are.

Dealing with their mood swings is just part of the Amazon experience to me. But if you can hang in there for the bad, you get to be there for all the good!

Honestly, that girl sounds perfectly normal to me. If she's from last season, that just means she's coming out of the beggy "IMMA BABY, IMMA BABY, I WANTSES THE ATTENSHUNS AND THE FOODZ" to normal adult behavior.

But I'm not really an Amazon expert! Not many people around where I live like Amazons. Most of them have Indian Ringnecks and GCCs.

If I were to liken the Amazon to "common" pets, I'd call them cat-like. They can switch on a dime from affectionate to biting the crap out of you. But the Amazon will at least warn you first. Pinning eyes, fanned tails, feather-afro fluffing. These are signs that the bird is energetic and excited. And once they reach a breaking point and get overloaded, they get aggressive.

 

[Merlee]

All exotic birds will be tempermental at some point. I adopted an amazon who is 27 years old in January. OMG, what a sweetie. If I were to get another bird, it would definitely be one over 20. Babies are sweet but once they become adults and hormonal, the demon in them comes out.

What you decide to get depends on how patient and understanding you really are.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I would be all over that DYH. Yes, Amazons "can" be temperamental, but it all depends on the individual bird.

Of course I'm a wee bit biased here, I LOVE my 2 Amazons with a passion.

I have a 14 year old Yellow Nape girl who's THE most mellow bird you'd ever want to meet, and I have a DYH boy who is just a little over 1, and he's SO much fun.

I'd say don't go for it....but RUN for it before someone else snatches her up.

 

[kyekyah]

Haha, I've been talking to him about her all day - it's looking like she has found her forever home, and that I have found my baby

 

[JerseyWendy]

WOHOOOOO!!!! That is just AWESOME!!! I'm all smiles here...and YOU must be beyond excited.

 

[kyekyah]

I AM SO EXCITED!
I've asked him to take her to a vet first to make sure she has a clean bill of health - and then she can be mine! The empty cage will finally be filled with our feathered family member!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh please take some pictures and share them once you have her home, will you?

Do you have a name picked out for her yet???

 

[kyekyah]

I can't pick a name, its too hard to pick the perfect one!

Here are some pictures of her growing up:


And now:


Well I don't think the last two photos are that recent.. but sometime when she started looking adult

 

[JerseyWendy]

She is GORGEOUS!!!!!

You will have SO much fun together, NO doubt in my mind. Once she gets used to her new home, learns to trust you, just take her with you to as many places as you can think of. The more she sees, experiences, the better socialized she will be.

You'll think of a name, I'm sure of it.

 

[Betrisher]

I think she looks regal in the last two pics. What about 'Queen' or 'Duchess'? She's a beautiful girl and I hope you have a great time together!