Anyone here have an older Amazon?

[tassanil]

My Double-Headed Amazon (Willy) is 60+ years old, and I’ve had him for just over a year. He doesn’t fly and only rarely stretches or opens his wings. He did try to fly once, but he fell straight to the ground. I’m wondering if there’s still a chance he could learn (or re-learn) to fly at his age. Recently he’s been leaning forward as if he wants to take off, which made me curious.
I know Amazons can live well into their 80s, so I’m also wondering: what are the usual signs of slowing down or aging—aside from sleeping more?
Would love to hear others’ experiences with senior Amazons.

 

[texsize]

As I understand it, it’s a case of use it or lose it.
The muscles weaken and shrink and are no longer capable of the full motion of flight.

I have heard rehabilitation is possible with a lot of work and slow progress.
Check with your avian vet to make sure his heart and everything else is up for the excersize necessary.

 

[tassanil]

ya I agree "use it or lose it" definitely applies here. His wing muscles have likely atrophied over the years, which would explain his current inability to fly. I can not even physically open his wings a tiny bit without him protesting and I don't want to. On one visit with the vet, he did though and said he definitely has arthritis.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

If he tries to fly and hits the ground hard instead he could easily bruise or even fracture his keel, that ridge of bone down the center of his breast, or fracture his femur, the ,largest leg bone which is located deep inside the pelvis. Since Willy is an elderly parrot, I would be extra careful of him falling or taking a hard landing because I assume parrots like humans can develop osteoporosis with age.

 

[tassanil]

Those are really good points and as much as I’d love to see him fly, I know I have to be extra careful. I just hope he doesn’t “decide” to try it when I’m not watching..that seems most likely though, since he'd want to follow me into another room.

 

[wrench13]

Nothing wrong with you SLOWLY developing his wing muscles, not with an aim for him to fly , but to be able to glide or do a soft landing on the floor, should he fall off. My Salty falls off or slips off his play chain all the time and I keep his wings full enough so he does not crash to the ground.

Do training over a bed so he has a soft place to crash on.

I;ve seen folks hold the feet and spin in a circle, slowly, to get the bird to open wings and start exercising.

Member Sailboats knows more about senior Amazons then all of us combined!

 

[tassanil]

great idea to practice over a bed...I can try this. Willy is pretty particular though LOL I don't think he likes being upside-down.

 

[rheashard2]

Nameliss isn't a flyer. Vet recommended me to hold her on hand. Raise and lower arm stimulating her to flap her wings. I'm to give encouragement, a rare treat and a key word so she'll flap her wings. The safety is that I'm holding on to her. I don't have to worry about keel bone first crashes. Your older bird may be able to develop muscle so "falls" can be minimized.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

My macaw is almost as old as Willy. He is in his 50s and I have cared for him for 51 years. Mine only flies if desperate (slips off 2nd story banister, slips off chair). At his age, he doesn’t take chances! He runs around the house and climbs stairs with great speed. The only difference I have noticed is that he sleeps more than he used to (as do I). I have come to the conclusion that birds aren’t too thrilled about flying. It takes a lot of energy and is potentially very dangerous. Staying close to the ground is a safer option!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

My budgies seem to love flying but it's a lot easier for a 40 gram bird than a 400 gram bird, I guess.

 

[tassanil]

My macaw is almost as old as Willy. He is in his 50s and I have cared for him for 51 years. Mine only flies if desperate (slips off 2nd story banister, slips off chair). At his age, he doesn’t take chances! He runs around the house and climbs stairs with great speed. The only difference I have noticed is that he sleeps more than he used to (as do I). I have come to the conclusion that birds aren’t too thrilled about flying. It takes a lot of energy and is potentially very dangerous. Staying close to the ground is a safer option!

Macaw whisperer cute

 

[cracin]

been raising parrots for 30 yrs. have a pair of dyh amazons--i give them a 12 foot x4 ftx6 foot flight avery.with only 2 pearches one on each end=1 end has water other has food keeps them lively

 

[cracin]

when i spray they usually spread wings hang unside down flap wings while showering thus giveing there wings plenty of muscle use.

 

[tassanil]

when i spray they usually spread wings hang unside down flap wings while showering thus giveing there wings plenty of muscle use.

Wow! Willy still hates showers. I use a very light automatic mister with warm water and only let the water fall from above—I never spray him in the face. He doesn’t try to move away, but he also doesn’t show any signs of enjoying it. His wings stay closed and he barely even shakes his head!! I also tried a shallow dish in the past and he hated that, he stretched his whole body in the opposite direction trying to get away from it.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I'd keep trying. Maybe change the water temperature.

 

[nkrbkr]

Yes, keep trying new ways to give him a bath. They can be surprisingly particular! It took me a year to figure out (through lots of trial and error) that my lovebird will only accept a bath in the kitchen sink. I have to be holding his food bowl, the stainless steel one is the only acceptable option, under the faucet while it’s on a dribble. He will also not bathe in anything but cold water. Lol

Thankfully, my Amazon is not particular. She’ll accept a spray bottle bath in her cage, on her tree stand, or in the shower on a shower perch. I’m hoping to get her an outdoor aviary for the warmer months. I’d love to try to bathe her outside as well.

Just keep trying. You may find something Willy enjoys!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Some of my budgies bathe only under the kitchen sink sprayer with me holding a salad sized plate for them to sit on, enjoy the spray and wash their bellies in the plate water. Water must be cold but not frigid. Another budgie bathes sitting on my hand held under the sprayer. She never flaps- just enjoys the spray and getting very wet. Others bathe in a large open water dish. Two more bathe in a large water dish on top of the cage IF I splash the water with a large leaf of romaine lettuce. Some don't bathe at all. Go figure.

 

[rheashard2]

Anyone here have a bird who refuses any kind of bath? Nameliss bathes using her water bottle. She becomes aggressive at the sight of a water bottle.

 

[texsize]

Anyone here have a bird who refuses any kind of bath? Nameliss bathes using her water bottle. She becomes aggressive at the sight of a water bottle.

Just about.
Bella my CAG doesn’t like being given a mist bath unless she’s in the mood for it.
When I take a shower with her I can flick/splash water on her and sometimes get her in the mood. Then when I let her out of the bathroom she makes a beeline for her cage and water dish.
She splash’s around in it and I can usually help her get wet with a spray bottle at that time.

Any other time I approach her with the spay bottle she takes off like her tail is on fire.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Anyone here have a bird who refuses any kind of bath? Nameliss bathes using her water bottle. She becomes aggressive at the sight of a water bottle.

I think Nameliss' bathing method is absolutely the most interesting I've ever heard. It's like she walks over to her personal spigot and turns it on herself! What other bird has figured this out and decides it works for them? I would put a bowl directly under the water bottle to catch the water as it runs off her body but something tells me you already do because Nameliss insists on it to keep her house dry and tidy.