Amazons unpredictable?

[TortoiseLady17]

We were visiting family on Saturday and stopped in at a little mom and pop pet store. They specialize in parrots, the lady says she has been breeding parrots for over 20 years and at one point had over 2000 birds. We told her that we have a quackier, cockatoo, and amazon. She then says she will never breed or have amazons in her store. They are too unpredictable and mean! Then she just keeps on bashing amazons and telling stores about how her husband was attacked by one and how her daughter gave up hers after 30 years because it bit her husband. Then she bragged about selling 9 umbrellas in 2 years. I know I am new to parrots but out of amazons and umbrellas the umbrellas seem to be the unpredictable ones! I know our amazon doesn't like me, I am ok with that have just learned to not try and make her like me. Our umbrella likes us both but prefers me, but I still would not turn my back when he is out (though I love him to death). My husband told her that our amazon is wonderful, she responded well wait till she hits breeding age. He stated she is 32, which she then responded very snidely well they live to be 80 you know! She acted like we knew nothing about the birds we keep and kept bashing them. We left and will never go back there. Sorry just needed to vent, we felt like she was personally attacking one of our kids!

 

[oled]

She dont know nothing about perrots, thy are individes, some not to trust and some to trust, also depending on who they shere ther life with. I would not ever visti that store again, she is not to trust

 

[wenz2712]

I dont blame you for not wanting to go back there!
Surely, she must know that all Parrots are individual... She obviously has a very negative attitude as far as Amazons are concerned!

Amazons are no more unpredictable than any other Birds.. We all know any Parrot can have their off days.

We all get bitten at some point by our Birds, no matter what the species!

 

[suebee]

i'd have felt the same way as you!

 

[GiosMom]

I can't tell you how many people I have met like that! So negative!! No wonder the bird bit them...I probably would have too if I had to spend 80 some odd years in a cage listening to her!! Remind me to buy thatAmazon a few treats....glad it put he rot of business!! One standard have is dealing with people who love their animals even through the bad times! I have 3 kids 21, 17 and 4 1/2....teenagers stink! And my second one was born colic! But with the pain and heartache comes joy....you need to tAke the good with the bad. If your expecting it to be all fun your misinformed!

 

[jewels04]

We had an Orange winged Amazon and returned it to the breeder after a month because it was too much for me. When it got back it was a completely different bird with the breeder than with me. It was a wonderfully loving and sweet bird.

When we got JJ he asked about my bird experience. I told him about our cockatiels and told him about the Amazon and he had the same opinion but didn't talk down about them just said he won't breed them because they are unpredictable and need a very strong owner.

I definetely would not go to that store again. Talking badly like that is not a good way to get business I would have gave her a piece of my mind.

 

[Nakiska]

You know...I had a similar experience in my life, but with horses. I was/am a horse crazy individual. But as a young girl, I didn't have horses and I just thrived and soaked up any and all horse talk I could get.

2 horses lived down the street from me and daily I'd go pick them grass and listen to them eat and pet their muzzles and necks and one day I met their owner. I was so elated to be able to talk "horse" with someone that actually owned them. I was 12 years old.

In one conversation, that I'll never forget...she was telling me stories of when she lived in Nevada and trained at some big stable. She said that the dumbest horse she ever met was an Appaloosa, and proceeded to tell me in great detail how stupid this horse was.

I was "forever" against Appaloosa's.

I got older, got a job, a car, and saved my money and finally the time came I could buy a my first horse. My best friend and I would get the local classifieds every weekend and off we'd go, horse hunting. Colette would say, there's an app...

and I'd cut her off...NO! I will NOT own an appy...never!

I wouldn't even look at them, even though Colette drug me out to see a few, my eyes and mind were shut before we even pulled in the driveway.

Years later, married, and a mommy...a neighbor was riding a horse by when I went out to get the mail. She stopped and told me how it wasn't her horse, she was riding it for a friend who was selling her. I said..."Oh? Well, what is she a quarter horse?" She said, yea...I think.

I decided I had to have her...it was love at first sight for me. I bought her. Her owners had lost her original papers but told me who to contact to get any information about her.

So I did...and I found out that the horse I'd just purchased was an APPALOOSA! LOLOL

I've owned Nakiska for 17 1/2 years. She's 24 years old and has helped me raise my 3 children. Best horse I've ever owned, but before me...she had 9 owners in 7 years! I always laugh when I think back about how one "Respected" persons opinion became set in my head...and had Nakiska been an ad in the classifieds...I wouldn't even have gone and looked.

Nakiska taught me the most valuable life lesson ever. I've never forgot it.

People are intitled to their opinions, but when it comes to pets of all types, no longer am I biased in any way. I give each and every pet I'm considering a fair chance. That's why I have so many! LOL

I find special qualities in each and every one we have. Sure, I have my personal favorites...but even the ones that aren't...leave a stamp on my heart for what ever reason, making all my pets my favorites in their own way.

If someone was to tell me that such and such species of bird is "Unpredictable" I'd have to reply...all birds are unpredictable and that is one aspect about them I love...they keep me on my toes! LOL

Toni

 

[oled]

We had an Orange winged Amazon and returned it to the breeder after a month because it was too much for me. When it got back it was a completely different bird with the breeder than with me. It was a wonderfully loving and sweet bird.

When we got JJ he asked about my bird experience. I told him about our cockatiels and told him about the Amazon and he had the same opinion but didn't talk down about them just said he won't breed them because they are unpredictable and need a very strong owner.

I definetely would not go to that store again. Talking badly like that is not a good way to get business I would have gave her a piece of my mind.

O yes, a perrot can be totaly different depending on the person handling it. Nothing to do with the persons ability having a perrot, just cemistry i think

 

[TortoiseLady17]

Nakisha, thank you for that wonderful story!!

Everyone is initialed to their opinions, and everyone has their favorite animals, but if you are trying to set me an animals, don't bash the one I already have! She was just not professional, and now everyone who goes in their to learn about parrots will be turned away from amazons. It was just very frustrating.

 

[henpecked]

She probably didn't have any zons for sale.

 

[cnyguy]

Everyone is initialed to their opinions.

Yes they are-- no matter how wrong their opinions are-- like that parrot breeder's. There may be certain Amazons who are unpredictable and mean, but in my experience, most of them are neither.

 

[Chaz12]

Amazon parrots make great pets if handled correctly. If they feel neglected or abused, well they can get agitated. When agitated they can be unpredictable. Example of a incident that happened to me... I was playing cards with friends and had Sassy on my shoulder.. She was being good until I told a joke to a lady sitting next to me. The lady slapped me on the arm, playing around. Sassy took it serious and started trying to bite her. Well she could not get to her and started to bite me. I calmed Sassy down and placed her back in her cage. The next morning the lady tried to hold Sassy and she bit her on the finger until blood was drawn. Memory on these birds is very good and to this day, Sassy does not like people with dark hair. Does this make Sassy a bad pet.. No, it doesn't but you must know your bird and its behaviors to avoid certian situations. Sassy can be handled by me-I am her caregiver and my wife is able to handle her too. Sassy just looks at certain people that look like the lady whom hit my arm and gets agitated. Amazons are one person birds- meaning they choose favorites. So my adult children can not handle her without getting bit.. And if a total stranger thinks he is going to steal a Amazon, well the parrot will bite him. They are smart and know their owners.

 

[paulhanlon]

All animals are the same in a way and parrots are no different any animal is able of bitting its just a case of building a trust relationship with them if pet shop owners are going to bad mouth the amazon parrot they may aswell bad mouth the whole parrot species now i have done most of my research on the orange winged amazon due to the fact im getting one this tuesday he will be my first and i know how much hard work he will be but thats the thing that makes it joyfull you have your good times and bad times and if your bitten you move on with it and you learn the animal it is bad to bite its a simple soloution really when you think about it

 

[thebirdnerd]

I would say amazons are probably some of the most predictable birds out there. An amazon is very clear when it is about to bite..I've seen more cockatoos bite without warning..Amazons are great birds...Just pay attention to the body language (Dilated pupils, fanned tail).

 

[TortoiseLady17]

I would say amazons are probably some of the most predictable birds out there. An amazon is very clear when it is about to bite..I've seen more cockatoos bite without warning..Amazons are great birds...Just pay attention to the body language (Dilated pupils, fanned tail).

As we have both an amazon and a cockatoo, I could not agree more!

 

[Mozzie]

I totally agree with thebirdnerd. Amazon's will totally warn you. Their body language is so easy to read. Our amazon has never bit any of us. She is our only bird I can say that about.

 

[Thekatsmeow]

This is an older thread but I found it very interesting. I am still learning Rocky's body language and she and I are still building trust since she hasn't even been here for a month yet. Her moods change from day to day. I never really know what mood she will be in until I try to interact with her. One day she wants to be near me and steps up easily and then the next she lunges to bite when asked to step up and just wants left alone. She gives clear signs so I wouldn't call her behavior unpredictable. She is just a moody little chubber like her mommy lol. When she wants left alone I don't take it personally. I know there are other birds that are more prone to being very snuggly but it seems their drawback is that they are much louder. I would love to have one that is more needy than her but the potential for screaming makes me leery.

 

[henpecked]

If your walking that thin line between cuddly and screaming, a amazon is a better choice IMO. They seem to be more "adaptable", they might fuss, but they adjust. If your strong and can resist their begging , most are quick to learn it doesn't work. I work some very cuddly zons who don;t scream for attention. They might ask but screaming doesn't get the desired results.Being sweet does.

 

[sarafigal]

Very interesting. My blue front has only been with us for three weeks, and she is now comfortable enough to be very volatile. One morning she'll peer at me from a cocked head and say, "Hi Baby!" Then she'll come out of her cage and wait for her breakfast. The next morning she lunges and bites like a winged fury. Up and down, back and forth... Life.

 

[Thekatsmeow]

Wow Sarafigal, thats exactly the behavior of Rocky. We have both had our birds for the same amount of time so I am wondering if this is normal "adjusting" behavior.