Meet Yoshi the Blue Front

[nikkiscriv]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum as well as the bird world, but I am quickly learning. My husband grew up with a Cockatiel, but I have never had the privilege of owning a bird. We decided we wanted to get one several months ago, so we spent a lot of time researching and visiting our local Bird store. We originally planned on getting a Quaker Parrot, since they were a little smaller but also were very intelligent and had speaking capabilities. Despite Blue Fronts not being a "beginner" bird I fell in love with their personality and set out looking for a well socialized young bird.

Fast forward a few months and we now have a 4 and 1/2 month old Blue Front, who we have named Yoshi. We bought Yoshi from a small hobby breeder in Missouri who has been very supportive. Yoshi has been absolutely incredible. When I picked him up from the airport last Wednesday he was a little shy as could be expected, and we gave him the evening to himself in his new cage to get adjusted. The next day he was already ready to be part of the action, so we wheeled his cage into our living room where it has been ever since.

I am already in love with him! He will step up for both my husband and I, though sometimes he is a little resistant. Yesterday I brought him outside to enjoy the gorgeous Texas fall weather, and he hung out on my arm quite content for a couple of hours. His wings are clipped, by the way

He is so smart - hatched on 5/29/11 and is VERY close to saying "what's up" "good bird" and "pretty bird". He LOVES to dance and take baths and will call for us if we leave the room. Anywho, I thought I would introduce him to the forum. Though he is my first bird, I think he is an incredibly special guy. His breeder almost kept him because he had such a great, loving personality so I am very thankful for the opportunity to have him.

I'm sure I will have many more questions but my first is regarding nail trimming. His breeder clipped his wings and trimmed his nails before he was shipped here, but I wanted to know what the proper length should be for an Amazon's nails? My hand is covered in small scratches just from holding Yoshi, but his nails don't seem particularly long to me. Maybe my skin just needs to toughen up a little?

Also for those with Blue Fronts - what are the dimensions of your cage? Yoshi is currently in a 24 x 22 x 38 playtop cage, but I know that is too small for him. I bought this cage when we were still planning to get a Quaker.

 

[oled]

Fabulous steps forwar in so short time. Welcome to the bird world and this forum

 

[AmazonLover]

Wow what a nice blue front you have! By the is ur blue front bonded to you right? Dose he step up onto ur hand? Ya, ur cage are too small for blue front. But it's ok to let him/her to have the cage u have right now. But pls do remember to let him/her to come out from the cage offen and longer time outside the cage.

Your blue front hatched date it was same date as my birthday!!! Lol... And my blue front are around the sane age as urs. But could be older den urs...

By the way I own a blue front too. I have it with me abt 2weeks already. Bit kindly still learning some good tips in forum. Hw to build trust and bond. But all I knw it's need alot of tine. But what's the basie I have to do now? What I do now is I will feed him by my hand most of the time, when I at home I will push the cage inside my room together with me and chat with him. And let him come out the cage.

 

[nikkiscriv]

Thank you - he has been such a joy to have around. He is not bonded to me, but he will step up onto my hand and my husband's. We are trying to have as many people as possible come visit him so that he will hopefully not become a 'one person' bird. He is typically out of his cage for a minimum of 3 to 4 hours per day - on the weekends he is out for most of the day. I've decided to wait until I can find a decent deal on an oversized cage rather than buy a new cage that is only slightly larger than his current one.

 

[osnyder]

He's so beautiful! Congratulations on your new family member and welcome

 

[mtdoramike]

Welcome, you are sooooo lucky. Amazons are my dream bird. I have been around several and love their personalities and the way their feathers almost look like scales hahahaha. Your bird is gorgeous. But be careful taking him outside. Eventhough his wings are clipped, some birds can fly quite a distance when spooked. Also I think most groomers do what they call a short clip or something like that on stout bodied birds such as Eclectus, African Greys and Amazons. This is to leave their flight feathers a little longer than they normally would on other species, which helps give them a better glide rate and not just drop like a rock.

I have seen a few birds fly away all the while the owners are saying, "we just had his wings clipped a couple of weeks ago". Fortunately they wound up in the nearest tree and after some hair raising antics, they were able to retrieve them. The mobile bird groomer that I use cautioned me about taking Mac our eclectus outside after his wing clipping a month or so ago.

 

[DukesAquarium]

Congrats, looks beautiful...
i just adopted a DYH amazon myself, he is a good working progress... amazon are so cool!
I already have a congo grey and a senegal parrot and my amazon is the most outgoing and loudest out of all of them..

 

[BirdieNumNum]

Welcome to the forum! Wow Yoshi is so beautiful!! I don't think I've ever seen a BF with blue on its cheeks... is that common? I really REALLY love his coloring. I hope I can get an Amazon someday! Probably not until I'm out of college though . Good luck with Yoshi!