Hi, newbie seeking advice!

[becky11192]

Hi all,

I have joined the forum to try and gather lots of info as me and my family might be taking on a blue fronted amazon. His name is Monty and he is 10 years old, his current owner can't keep him anymore due to his divorce.

I'm trying to do lots of reading but just wondered if anyone had an good tips and advice!

I think we might be having Monty for a weekend to see how it goes and then we'll decide after that.

I'm very excited but I just want to know as much as possible to make everything a bit smoother for both Monty and myself.

One thing in particular that keeps popping up in my reading: non-stick cookware? Some advice on that would be fantastic please.

Thanks!

Becky

 

[wenz2712]

Hi Becky and welcome to the Forum I am also in the UK. Have you ever had experience with parrots?

Amazons are great Birds to have I have a Blue Front and Yellow Crowned.

They are very entertaining Birds and are great fun to have around. Is the BF you are thinking of taking on tame?

There are lots of Amazon experts on this forum, especially Henpecked, who I am sure will be along shortly to give you lots of great advice

There are lots of cookware that give off toxic fumes, which are deadly to a parrot. To play safe, I dont have mine anywhere near the kitchen when I am cooking.

 

[Tammy]

Welcome to the forum. I have a rehomed Orange Wing Amazon. The best advice I can give you is time & patience. My Amazon likes to be in the center of the activity. I have newspaper around the house for his favorite perches.

I hope everything goes well on your visit & that you can give Monty a new forever home.

 

[becky11192]

I personally have never had a parrot before! But at the moment, Monty lives at his owner's (and my stepdad's) workplace, so my stepdad has been caring for Monty for quite a while now anyway and has a lot of contact with him.
So I've never actually seen him but I want to find out lots of info for myself.

According to my stepdad he is a pretty tame bird, e.g. Monty hops onto his shoulder when the cage is opened and sits there happily for quite a while.
However, apparently he is not fond of ladies and has a tendency to bite women so I don't think I'll be letting him on my shoulder!

Thanks for letting me know about cookware. He's not going to be near the kitchen anyway and the kitchen door is always closed so that should be ok.

I really hope the visit goes well and we can keep him

Thanks guys x

 

[oled]

Welcome to the forum. BF Amazon is normaly easier than other Amazones. So if he is socialized then it could be the right bird for you. But with a new partner (you) it will take time to bond. But if you go easy forward you will have a frind for life. There is a lot of literature where you can get tips about how to behave when taking care of a Amazon. Good luck!!

 

[Mitchell]

I your worried about cookware and the teflon coatings, try Ceramica Cookware. Its a bird safe coating for those who have feathered friends near the kitchen. As far as blue fronts, I had one before my divorce. Great birds, talk well and mine was never really agressive being handfed from 3 weeks old. Amazons can be quite noisy, but they are very entertaining companions in which I think you'd love. I would get it in a heartbeat!

 

[roxynoodle]

It's not really a good idea to let a bird on your shoulder, especially one as large as an amazon. Sometimes they can cause bad damage to your face even though they are bonded to you. It can happen because they think there is danger and are trying to get you to "fly away" or it can happen due to jealousy of another person coming into the room.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new baby!

I don't use any non stick cookware myself just in case.

 

[becky11192]

Monty is actually coming this afternoon now for his trial (or possibly forever) visit! I have an exam today so when I am home he will be here which is pretty exciting.

I'm at home quite often so hopefully we will bond nicely after we spend some time together, but I know it may take time and will just see how it goes
Would it be a good idea to just try and talk around Monty a lot at first so that he gets used to me?

Yeah apparently he is a big talker which will be nice! And the more time my stepdad has spent with Monty, the more he keeps talking!

I don't think I'm going to try and let him on my shoulder so no worries there! I'd rather not take the risk of getting bitten or stressing Monty out.
He recognises my stepdad so it will probably be my stepdad who opens the cage, feeds etc at first. At least then Monty has some familiarity.

Monty isn't going to be near the kitchen but I've let my parents know about the cookware issue.

Thanks so much for the tips so far!
I will post a picture this evening of Monty for you all (well this evening in England, don't know what time that is for people elsewhere!)

Very excited to meet him.

Becky xxx

 

[roxynoodle]

I know how excited you are. Yes, talk to him as much as you can. Birds really like that even if you are just talking about your day or what you are going to do next. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[becky11192]

Monty is here. Very shy at the moment but I'm sure it's been a hectic day for him.

He keeps turning his back and puffing out his feathers.

But apparently he did talk to my brother a bit earlier.

Just got to give him time I guess

 

[MikeyTN]

Its not just the cookware you have to watch for! Flat top stove can be just as bad!!! Plus the oven part have the same issue....

Good luck with Monty!!!

 

[becky11192]

Not a very good picture but here he is.

 

[roxynoodle]

He is very beautiful!

 

[becky11192]

He's coming out of his shell a little this morning.
My stepdad gets up at like 5:30am and I've heard him chatting since then!
Just me in the house now and he's talking a little. Also does not keep turning his back on me today so hopefully that's a good sign x

 

[becky11192]

He's been chatting a bit this morning

He looks like his feathers are all puffed up, is this normal? Also keeps making a clicking noise.

 

[wenz2712]

He looks adorable The clicking sound is probably something he has picked up along the way. All Birds puff their feathers out at some point. If he does it constantly, then take him to an Avian vet for a check up ! Do you have any toys in the Cage for him to play with? They need lots of toys to keep them amused

 

[BillsBirds]

Nice looking bird! Give him things that he can chew, and tear apart. Things like leather laces, wooden spools & beads, paper to shred like paper towel tubes, wine corks to chew, and other things like that. Of course, make sure everything you give him is safe. No chemical dyes, cleaning chemicals, paint, etc. And, certainly, buy him bird toys! Good luck.

 

[becky11192]

Nah he's not puffing up all the time. To be honest I now actually think he was just cosy because he's a bit puffy again now and he's going to be covered for the night.

He got VERY lively earlier today, which was very entertaining and nice to see he was singing and laughing and talking. He also keeps calling 'mum' to my mum whenever she leaves the room which is quite amusing!
So he seems to be starting to settle in nicely.

He's got a few toys in his cage at the moment. Will soon have more as he is going to be moved into a bigger cage anyway

 

[MikeyTN]

He's a very pretty Amazon!!! What you think so far?

 

[becky11192]

I love him already!
He is such a character.

He was very excitable earlier, which was nice. He seems quite happy