Blue Fronted Amazon

[Kiwi2010]

Hi Guys,
Just wanted some info on Blue fronted amazons!
Basically, we know a breeder who sells handreared baby amazons (blue fronted) we're thinking of getting one, I just want to make sure I know all about it,
Are they good talkers?
How are they as overall pets?
Do they usually turn cage territorial?
How are they with kids?
What is their average lifespan?
Any more info would be perfect,
Thanks guys

 

[Spiritbird]

Well it is like this. The two kinds of birds that are turned into shelters are the cockatoos and amazons. They can be difficult but delightful. Good talkers too. I would suggest a female if you really want an amazon. You can also adopt one almost anywhere. If you are thinking of getting a parrot please get the book Parrots for Dummies. It has tons of information and is a good resource. I am sure more forum members will pitch in here.

 

[Kiwi2010]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply! , i would love to rehome one, but I'm not sure of any shelters around here which help adopt and rehome birds! but i'll try and look for one, .

 

[cnyguy]

I am a big fan of Amazons myself, having shared 40 years of my life with a Yellow-crowned Amazon named George. George was close to 70 years old when he passed away in February of this year-- so you see that Amazons are potentially long-lived birds.


Amazons are generally known for being good talkers-- but there are always exceptions. Being cage territorial is an individual thing; some Amazons are and many (like George) are not. They can be comfortable around children, as long as the children show them the proper respect and both parrot and kids are well supervised. An Amazon's bite could do a lot of damage to tiny fingers (adult-sized ones too).


Amazons can be fun and entertaining and full of charm. They can also be noisy, messy, stubborn and demanding. Living with one is definitely a challenge-- and a lifetime commitment (or ought to be)-- but I think it's worth it.

 

[Kiwi2010]

Thanks for your reply! I look forward to get him!!

 

[SharonC]

I adopted Fred in June...and I absolutely love him! I'm his fourth home in six years, and he will be with me, until I'm too old to care for him.

You do need to research, as Amazons do need lots of attention, guidance and love. They can be a little "bossy" and sometimes "difficult" if not socialized and handled properly. They are well worth the effort!!! Fred has enriched my life....

 

[AndrewH]

There are many types of Amazons (from all over central/south A.). Read about them. Mealy Amazons are not the most brightly colored, but have known several and they seem nice. BFAs on the other hand can be a bit more of a handful (lots of BFAs in shelters).

 

[Kiwi2010]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies! , I'll definitley take a look at shelters etc!

 

[dodsonjames]

Hi Guys,
Just wanted some info on Blue fronted amazons!
Basically, we know a breeder who sells handreared baby amazons (blue fronted) we're thinking of getting one, I just want to make sure I know all about it,
Are they good talkers?
How are they as overall pets?
Do they usually turn cage territorial?
How are they with kids?
What is their average lifespan?
Any more info would be perfect,
Thanks guys

Hello, i own a blue fronted
Luka is interesting to say the least.
I got him as a rehoming from a couple that didn't have time for him as they had 3 kids. He was 15 when i got him and have had him for over a year. Im not sure if my experience relates to all BF amazons, as my bird is rehomed and didn't have the greatest owners.

The previous owners kept him in the basement and they said that he/she would get so desperate for attention that he would break out of his cage and somehow climb all the way upstairs to see them. They never tried to teach him anything other than his name. he didn't have any toys or anything else when they gavehim to me.

But luka is not cage territorial, he loves his cage but isn't protective.
He is reallllllly attached to me but tolerates the rest of my family. He is nicer to them when i am not in the room, but if someone else picks him up he gets desperate to find his way to see me.

the previous owners never had problems with the bird and their kids, but im sure luka probably just ignored them. He really isn't interested in younger people whenever they are at our house. He likes our cat and dog and is always playing tricks and trying to tease them.

He has never really bitten anyone. He loves to taunt people and act all big and bad, but has never hurt anyone. He loves to get my brother or our other pets to come close to him... and then he play attacks and laughs at them.

Talking is the hardest thing with our bird. He says his name like crazy. its just about the only thing he will say.... over and over and over again. Ive taught him to say his name in different voices... he says it all scary like darth vader, he says it all happy and playfull, and he says it slow and romanticish.

ever since getting him i have tried over and over to get him to say different things, but he just likes to say his name more than anything. I spend lots of time talking to him, and he has picked up how to say, Hi luka, Hi, what, huh?, hello, and pretty bird, but 98% of what he says is his name.

Our family always jokes and says he is a stupid bird, even though we all think he just dosn't try to learn or play as he hasn't done it for 15 years. He loves hearing whistles and tries to mimic them, but he is horibly off tune. We have played and whistled the tune from kill bill hundreds of times(youtube: kill bill whistle) and he loves hearing it and gets all excited but his attempt to mimic the tune is awful at best. he is soooo far from the song that it is comical.

Overall i think he is great. He has fit well in our family, and isn't too demanding of my time. Id recommend a blue fronted to experienced bird owners. of course everything is dependent on the birds natural temperment and how they are brought up but i think they are great birds.

Jimmy

 

[dosaye]

Jimmy, Congrats on Luka, Al ot of love attention is what Luka needs. I hope all goes well with you.

 

[Conurekidd]

Looks like this subject was generally covered. On how nice and beautiful there are.
Spirtbird said what needed to be said. Theres a reason amazons and toos are the most re homed species. Because there generally one person parrots. They can be very vocal.
Both bites are worse than any other parrots bite. (though my worst bite did indeed come from a macaw). There really only intended for one type of person.


Let me tell you why I got my Sammy.
I wanted a parrot who loved ME. Not the family. Not anyone else. ME
Call it selfish. But it's selfish that so many are in shelters.
I wanted a bird with my ego. The whole "don't bother me right now" is a typical amazon attitude. And I love it. Thats me at times. I wanted a parrot who was near my age and could live my lifetime with me. It's not uncommon for a zon essp blue fronts to exceed 50 years. This goes for all large birds. The fact that I have a parrot whom can take my finger off but chooses not too lol. I love that

Amazon share extreamlly strong bond to there human. Essp babies.
So first place yourself in a position that you already have this zon. Place yourself
25 years down the line. Acually 50. See yourself with your bird? If so then go for it.

Just please know zons at a young age are moody and it will pass.
There the second or first (idk) to be in a shelter or classifieds for trade.

Here's a useful link on hormones. The Amazon Parrots: Information and Photos

And here's another The Amazon Parrots: Information and Photos

And here's a species spicific Blue-Fronted Amazon Birds

 

[ScottinVentura]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply! , i would love to rehome one, but I'm not sure of any shelters around here which help adopt and rehome birds! but i'll try and look for one, .

I think you'd be more successful that way than getting a baby. Here's why: when an Amazon gets sexually mature, his instincts are telling him he has to fly away from home, find a new flock and a mate, and settle down. You probably won't want that to happen (the flying away part). He'll get frustrated and moody - on top of the seasonal moodiness that will already be there. It isn't pretty. Getting an older bird, you get to become the new flock. You fit neatly into what his instincts are telling him should be.

A much older bird will also be through the whole moody teens stage. My BFA was somewhere older than 13 when I got him, and he's a sweetheart. The worst I get from him is an unwillingness to be social when it's mating season. He came to me with an assurance that he was a vicious biter, and he didn't like men. Here in his new flock, he's a gentle, playful pleasure to have around, and I haven't even been nipped since I got him here. The only time he actually bit me was completely my fault, the first day we were introduced. I tried to force him to do something he didn't want to do. You don't force Amazons. That beak can crack brazil nuts open, or open a bloody gash in your hand. I went home, read everything I could about parrots in the wild, tracked down a few people who study them, asked questions, got all the information I could, then went back. Once I started doing things he could understand, in ways he understands, and stopped expecting him to be something he wasn't (a feathered person, a feathered dog, or anything else that I was used to) our whole relationship bloomed. I look at him and read his mood before I approach him. If he's agitated or nervous, I calm him down. If he thinks something is a threat to him, his "nest" (cage) or his flock, I reassure him that he's safe, we're safe, everything is safe. If he's in a good mood, I'll play with his toys with him. It gets easy after you've done it for a while. He trusts me completely now, he feels secure in the house, and he's much more welcoming of change.

 

[Conurekidd]

Iv only heard this problem with purchasing unweaned chicks.
If you adopt a fully weaned zon then you will most likely be the mate.
As he's fledging away from mom now. (hand feeder)
And I do agree. Much less trouble on older zons. I had to deal with a 5 year old pain in the ass. But I loved him. I still visit so often. He's a good boy now lol.
So I would DEFINITLY check the classifieds and shelters. Watch out shelters though. Most are flippers and don't give full ownership to the bird. Also you can move without signing a bunch of crap and still at anytime if they want him back they can take. IMO that's bs.
Im not giving you money for you to keep my bird. The birds mine lol. Sorry no one will ever tell me where I cant live. But it's up to you and how you feel.

 

[SKB]

I have my BF for the last 3 years. She is now five years old. We had her sexed when we re-homed her and this is her forever home. We adore Audi. She had never had a bonded relationship with anyone before me. I am a female and she loves me very much and of course I love her very much.
She is a great singer and talker. She can bite my husband but she never bites him that hard.
I work in the bird department of a pet store and one of our Amazons really bit my finger very badly and I got an infection.

My bird has learned the best by watching youtube videos of other parrots,
Audi has her favorites and she tells me which ones she wants to watch. She is a very smart bird.

I have many videos of Audi on youtube. She is truly the love of my life! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZevhzoHiQ]YouTube - ‪Audi July 2011, Very cute, laughing singing opera.‬‏[/ame]

 

[merlinsmom13]

She is very cute, a lucky girl. Aren't amazons fun?? Merlin doesn't have a dignified bone in his body, there's nothing he wont do or try. Welcome to the forum, we need more amazon owners here.

 

[Conurekidd]

She is very cute, a lucky girl. Aren't amazons fun?? Merlin doesn't have a dignified bone in his body, there's nothing he wont do or try. Welcome to the forum, we need more amazon owners here.

Haha ditto

 

[leomacaw]

i have a white-fronted amazon. its size is obviously smaller than blue-fronted.

i'd like to ask is it true that white-fronted also can live up to 40, 50... or its lifespan is far shorter...

please could anyone answer me?

 

[Conurekidd]

All amazons large to small can typically live past 50 years. The smaller ones usally don't exceed 75 though like the larger ones do

 

[leomacaw]

All amazons large to small can typically live past 50 years. The smaller ones usally don't exceed 75 though like the larger ones do

Oh great! You've solve my question in my mind for a long long time.

I really love to have them for my rest of my life.

 

[Abzeez]

Yes more amazon owners!!!