Age and Activity Level of Amazons

[Merlee]

I have a YN and he is 27 going on 28 this year. He is a very sweet perch potato which made me wonder about the different activity levels of amazons throughout their life stages. I know as amazons get up in years, they become perch potatoes, but I was wondering at what age does this happen.

My boy does not play with anything more than cardboard, but wondering if it is age related, or if it's caused by his past lifestyle. It could even be just his personality. I am just trying to learn more about parrot behavior because I have been wanting a 3rd bird, possibly a baby in the spring. Some insight on what I could be getting myself into with a baby as it matures would be great.

Could you share how your bird's activity level has changed as it matured?

 

[JerseyWendy]

After I lost my Quincy a friend of mine GAVE me a WC 40 year plus old YN male. I named him RAMBO (for a good reason). He was VERY active, VERY destructive and VERY bad. Hunter just looked at him with this horrified look on her face.

Now Rambo didn't last very long with me because that bird truly put the fear of God into me. My GF Ginger took him home, and the 2 of them actually ended up having a GREAT relationship.

Hunter is going on 15, and she's active enough. Not as active as Sam, but active and playful. I am also VERY fortunate that both Hunter and Sam get along well, and I can let them out at the same time, with no issues. Both are flighted and will come to me when they want some lovin' and/or play time.

Yes, I actively "play" with them. It stimulates them (AND me) and we get lots of laughs out of it. They both play on their backs, they go fetch things (they don't usually return them though), they run on the couch, on the bed, they hide under pillows.

The thing we do most regularly is "party" together. That means I play some music loud, pick up the zons and dance and sing around the house. It takes Hunter less than 10 seconds to get going. :54:

 

[SandyBee]

Bosley is 36 and is very active, he loves to play with me he's a rough and tumble kinda of guy. He is fligjted and flies all over our house and he likes to dance. He is not big on toys, he has wood blocks he likes to chew and he's always game to shred cardboard or paper. He likes to play with me and fly, but he also enjoys an afternoon nap.

 

[Birdman666]

Depends entirely on the bird, and how it was raised.

I've known 2 year old perch potatoes who never learned how to play... and I've known a 92 year old "family heirloom" bird who had to meet and greet everyone who walked into the room...

 

[Merlee]

This is great! Thank you. Well, I expected to see some sort of pattern, but I see there isn't. lol.

If I were to bring in a baby dyh into the household, do you think it would help my YN learn to play by watching? I have noticed at times he doesn't want to come out of his cage, but when he sees our macaw come out to play, he then changes his mind when I come back a few minutes later to ask again. When that happens, he practically runs and jumps on my hand when offered.

 

[Birdman666]

Well, they do learn from each other. Whether or not that would liven this one up remains to be seen...

Be patient. Spend time interacting...

With my red lored, who was cage bound, and a horrible, horrible biter when I got her, what did the trick was getting her out and about...

I started by taking her to the park, where there were tons of kids and lots of activity, and worked my way up from there... (This is actually part of my standard rehab - socialization & retraining anyway. Get them out and about.)

Letting him climb trees, and remember he's a bird also helps. (Which assumes the bird is clipped. And will come back to you when you call him.)

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh yes, kids can have AMAZING effect on parrots, in my case especially on my Amazons. They seem to be able to get them out of their shell, and get them going.

Here is baby Hunter with my Mark when he was only 6.


And Hunter being held by Mark's friend (yes, I let everybody hold her)

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Beautiful pictures Wendy My Zons at least 30 yrs old.i was told by the owners he didn't play .But he did with me after he adjusted. I love to see him upside down ,play on his back and tear through toys. You can tell hes older than my other birds .Because he rests a lot too.I have a feeling though he was quite the hellion when he was younger. Now my Rb2 that I got in June. Was a little devil [) Into everything .Now in November ,hes starting to grow up

 

[SarahT]

My BFA is 20 or so years old. He is a perch potato but I have always put that down to his upbringing. He was with his previous owner since a young age and was with them for 20ish years. When we went to see him he was in a small, tatty cage with one mangled toy - he was clearly miserable. He was on a crap diet, had no stimulation and no time out of the cage. We have had him nearly two years and he is a different bird, but much quieter than your average bird!

 

[Birdman666]

My red lored goes through periods where she just wants to hang out on her bird tree and look out the window, and other periods where she wants to be handled, and go out and about.

She is fond of puzzle toys. She likes taking things apart.

My other amazon is fond of food. Her idea of forraging is roaming from cage to cage seeing what the other birds haven't finished in their treat cups.

She is bonded to my grey. What ever my grey does, she goes along with it.

HE is active. So, she gets her exercise that way. Without him, she would probably just sit in front of a food bowl all day long.

 

[cnyguy]

My YCA George remained active up until the end of his life at about 70 years old. He grew gradually less energetic over the years, and in later life, always took an afternoon nap for an hour or two. He never was too interested in parrot toys, but always enjoyed untying knots in string and chewing up pieces of wood. He was never too comfortable outside his cage-- I suspect something happened in one of his previous homes that caused him to be reluctant to stay outside his cage for very long. But he was happy and contented inside his cage, and always found fun ways to keep busy.