New amazon owner

[Grendel]

I got her this past Thursday night and this is what I know about her.
Name is Jewel, and is supposed to be a DNA sexed female but I don't have any paperwork. Her first owner died when she was about 1-2 years old, and she lived with her last family for past 4 years. She bonded to the woman in the household and would come to other women, but would bite the woman's husband if she was around. He also did apparently tease her sometimes. She was housed in a large cage in the living room next to the front door and would perch on top of it. The rest of that house hold consisted of 3 boys and two dogs, one of which (golden retriever) apparently did not like the bird and would try to start things ( I don't know the details). The woman used to take it to the vet and for beak/ nail grooming etc. I have her left over food pellets that she was eating but I don't know what it is because it is in an ulabeled container.

 

[lizardsmells]

Congrats on your new addition and thank you for taking in an older bird!

If her husband teased the poor dear it's no wonder he got bitten. I'd probably bite a jerk too.

I bet if you take a pic of the pellets one of us can tell you what they are.

If you have any questions, ask away! There are lots of knowledgeable and helpful people around.

 

[wenz2712]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Congrats on your new addition and all of us Zon owners will be happy to help in any way we can!

We also have an Amazon group.. feel free to join

Bonding with Amazons

 

[Grendel]

Here is a bit more info. When I came to meet her she was already agitated, and when she stepped onto my had from her owner she went Hannibal Lecter on me, drawing blood in multiple spots and taking a small chunk from my pinky finger. Since she has been home, she has been reliably stepping up to my hand, has not attempted to bite, but is definitely still scared and will sit at arms length. She won't let me touch her otherwise, but will come ver to take a treat fromy hand, and then retreat ( I feel all this is expected at this point).
Her new set up is a cage on my back porch with perches below head level. Next to her is the cage with my Quaker. She was also very interested ( tilting her head etc) when she saw me petting the Quaker, almost astonished that I did not just eat it . Do you think it is a good thing for the other cage to be next to her, and her cage being outside, or is it going to contribute to more agitation. backyard is shady with a lot of trees and many native birds all day.

 

[melissasparrots]

My older female amazon did the same thing. Her owner said she didn't bite and I do believe that she didn't bite the owner. But she really wanted to bite me. I bought her anyway and she had one episode of kind of trying to bite me once I got her home but I followed through and that was the last time she tried to push me around. I did get some nasty bites from her if another bird was too close or the dog stuck her nose to close and my hand was available. If she can't reach the one she wants to bite, then she will bite whoever is closest as a substitute.

Do be careful of your quaker. One of the first days I had Ellie home she spooked and landed on top of the quaker cage. The idiot quaker charged at her and she grabbed him by the neck and threw him on the floor. Thankfully she just had feathers and he was fine. However, it did teach me a lesson that amazons do not always combine well with other birds and things can go wrong in a hearbeat even when your standing right there. I'm always careful with my amazons and quakers because both can be territorial and both will charge and attack the other if they happen to invade the wrong space.

Personally I keep pet birds inside. I live in a climate where it gets down to negative 15 in the winter, so keeping birds outside isn't an option so I have no experience with it.
Melissa

 

[henpecked]

Hey grendal, welcome to the forum. sounds like your doing OK. They're always "testy" when in a new home.When shw steps up put her right back down and don't take her away from her cage. Of course praise and reward her.take it slow and she'll warm up to you. Read some of the older post and pick up some other good tips. Don't be shy and ask lots of questions.

 

[Cowtown]

Congrats on the rescue.... I know you will do well... Like others have posted, there is a lot good people here that will help you with any questions.
The main thing is patience Zons (as all birds) are very powerful and quick... they can take a chunk out of a finger, hand or arm in a flash... My Eckkie is not as big as a Zon and he has gotten me a couple times and feeling like a pair of pliers are being clamped down on my finger....

Just giver her time and I bet she will warm up to you, just talk to her and watch for her signs that she does not want to messes with.

 

[Skeletoes]

Congratulations! Hope she got exellent person.

 

[Chaz12]

Congrats on your new pet.. Ya, Amazons are not friendly to everyone. They are one or two people birds. I am a male and am the only person whom can take Sassy out of the cage. She likes my wife also, but is not as friendly toward her. Sassy was handfed by a female, but took to me. There was some biting involved during the first week. I would walk her on two sticks saying up, to break her of biting. But being handfed, she was easier to get out of the habit of biting.. Today she lets my scratch her neck, under the wing, plays with me, ect..

 

[MaraWentz]

All Amazons are different. I have helped raised two. The female only likes 2 people and the males used to be friendly to EVERYONE. he sang and danced and played and then he bonded to our female and only like around 3-4 people and is a mute.

 

[henpecked]

Hey Grendal, How are things going ?