New and bringing home my amazon "brother"

[NickeyG]

Hello all, I'm new and from the gulf coast. I have a few questions and I'm sure ill figure out how to navigate this site better soon. Here's the story though and I'm hope for a few pointers if that's ok

I'm getting ready to bring Chico, a 32 year old double yellow head amazon, into my home. He is a year younger than I am and I grew up with him so I consider him my brother. He was my mother's parrot that she bought as a hatching in the 80s.

Well growing up I was the only person other than her who could truly handle him. I took care of him and he was my friend. My mother died 5 years ago from cancer and since then Chico has lived with my grandmother. He was devastated when she died and I was also devastated and had a new baby at the time and was not mentally able for him.
My grandmother couldn't find him a home so she has kept him but she is old and doesn't get around to well.she doesn't let him out of his cage ever and I feel sorry for my old friend and brother. Both her and my mother have asked me to take him in the past but I didn't have room at the time. When I visit I try to take him out and play a bit. I usually get a few bites, although he never bit me as a child and I'm pretty sure he remembers me since he says "hey Nickey" when I visit.

I guess my question is am I insane? I don't want to see Chico go insane. Is it too late to make him happy again? I have found memories of our friendship growing up singing and whistling dealing with our teenage years together when he first started biting me sometimes and I just hate to see him in that cage all the time.
My grandma talks to him and pets him through the cage and puts his cage outside on warm days but he's now a little over weight and I think he would be happy here. I live in a subtropical climate and there are lots of wild birds. I know his favorite foods and words but he barks more because of her dogs than he does talk. Will he remember his words from a long time ago?
I'm sorry to ramble I just know this is a big decision and I've pretty much decided to take him I just want to know if he's to old to return to the happy cheeky singing buddy I once had
Thanks in advanced and sorry if I posted this in the wrong place

 

[Flboy]

Hi and welcome! Large world, which gulf?

 

[TiredOldMan]

Yea Gulf Coast covers a lot of territory

 

[NickeyG]

Sorry I wrote that in a hurry. Mississippi gulf coast.

 

[Laurasea]

Welcome to you and Chico!!! The years leave us all with a few dings.... Absolutely you can improve the quality of his life. I have only pet sit Amazon's, but we have "Amazon snobs" that's what they call themselves!!! Lol I think they are s smart and friendly bunch they will give you guidance! If this Chico is family then you treat him like family and it will work I hope you bring him home and give him the life and mental and physical freedom he hasn't had in awhile..

 

[NickeyG]

Thanks you. I just hope that he can remember how he used to be and how we were such good friends. I also hope he isn’t to old to learn new things. . I’m not quite sure how good his memory will be. I plan on bringing him home next weekend and I’m going to get a space ready for him and his cage in my living room. I have a pic of my mother holding him from a long time ago I may frame and sit next to his cage. . Since I’m currently a stay at home mom and my child just started school recently I’ll have plenty lf one on one time for him. I’ll probably find myself in the amazon group soon with a lot of questions. I myself have normally owned budgies in the past so it’s a big step for me.

 

[Anansi]

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family! We look forward to hearing more about you and Chico!

I don't doubt that you can rediscover that old magic with Chico, so long as you go into it with lots of patience. Basically, don't expect him to get right back into the swing of things overnight. You'll have to earn his trust all over again. But patience and consistency will get you there. Just try to remember to go at his pace. He'll eventually come around.

 

[texsize]

I am glad you joined us. Lot's of humans here that are owned by amazons.

I am sure your Chico remembers you and will warm up to you with time and patience.

Amazons are the bounce back king.

I have a great relationship with my Bingo and I have had him for 32 years now. Had my share of bites mostly all my fault.


be sure to read the sticky threads at the top of the amazon thread and study the body language. It will save you a world of hurt.

 

[Scott]

Welcome Nickey! I suspect you and Chico will get along very well after a period of adjustment. Take things slow, he may be a bit shy once moved.

 

[NickeyG]

Thanks everyone! I feel really lucky I found this forum. I’ll be going to Jackson Friday to visit my grandma and bring Chico back to the coast with me. I’m a little nervous because I’m already sure I want to change him to a healthier diet than he’s been on (primarily seed) yet back in the day it was seed and usually some of the family dinner. I’ve recently convinced my grandma to start sharing more food with him I know he likes but she tends to forget. I have been researching pellets for parrots and I’m hoping he’ll take to that in addition to being shared meals with like we always used to before mom died.
I’ll be sure to update Friday on the amazon forum and post some pics. I’m the mean time I’ll post a couple of older pics in a minute when I figure out to do so.
Does a 32 year old double yellow head still get hormonal like a teen in the spring ornis it more mellow? I haven’t lived with Chico since I was a teen myself only visited

 

[NickeyG]

I meant in the spring time or is he more mellow.. dump typo sorry

 

[noodles123]

WELCOME-
Any parrot owner has to be insane (at least a little), due to the INSANE amount of time and energy birds require---So, from one "crazy" person to another, welcome haha
That having been said, make sure you know all about household dangers:

BEWARE of common cleaners--LYSOL, WINDEX, BLEACH, SCRUBBING BUBBLES ETC---pretty much anything except avian approved disinfectants like f10 sc or vinegar and water can REALLY HARM your new bird's respiratory system
DO NOT USE anything with Teflon/PTFE/PTFOA----it is hidden in many unexpected places besides the kitchen, including (but not limited to) drip trays, irons, ironing boards, bake-in-a-bag meals, popcorn bags, air-poppers, slow-cookers, humidifiers, blow-dryers, curling irons, hot-rollers, self-cleaning ovens, rice cookers, space-heaters etc)
DO NOT use any candles (scented or unscented---the wax and smoke is danerous, as is the perfume and flame..
AVOID anything scented (perfume, hairspray, room-fresheners, paints, markers, hot glue, burning foods, scented oils etc...
All of these things can kill your bird...some immediately, some over time. RESEARCH UNTIL YOU CAN RESEARCH NO MORE !!!

 

[NickeyG]

Thank you. I’ve been doing more research and I’m starting to see a lot of things maybe have changed about parrot care since I read my moms book back in the early 90s (such as sunflower seeds being not that great and finding out about the pellets for bird)
When I was 8 years old cleaning the cage became my job because my older sister and Chico had a mutual hatred for each other (they still do)
I always used dawn dish soap and a scrub brush back then. It was a big job! . I would put him on my shoulder we would whistle and sing and I would and disassemble his cage and take it out and water hose it. My grandma uses a grill cleaning brush and that worries me for some reason. I’m sorry for yakking so much maybe I’m a little crazy too but I just want to do it all right. Perhaps there are newer things and approaches I don’t know about. . Is it ok to use parchment paper in the bottom instead of newspaper? Sorry for so many questions I’m just a little nervous I guess

 

[Jen5200]

Welcome to you (and Chico when he comes home with you)!

Lots of fun stuff for you to read up on . There’s some great ways you can adjust his diet - I personally would let him settle in a bit, remember you, and work on building trust with him and then very gradually start adjusting his diet (I would be concerned about too many changes in a short period - others may recommend something different). Don’t worry - you’ll do great. Many of us use vinegar and water, or a steam cleaner to take care of the cages. I would think Dawn should be fine if you rinse everything well after washing. I use plain brown kraft paper that I get on a roll for cage bottoms. I can’t remember if parchment paper has any coatings on it? What I feel is safe depends a bit on whether or not my birds are in contact with it, or it’s under a grate where they can’t reach it.

Looking forward to hearing more about the adventure....and feel free to ask all the questions you need to, no such thing as silly questions!

 

[noodles123]

I wouldn't use baking parchment, as it has chemical additives etc to prevent sticking (possibly even a clear-coat teflon).


I use basic, white paper-towels (no colors, no special scrubbing types)--Just white paper towels in a double layer.

 

[Scott]

Changing Chico's diet may be a challenge, but a variety of nutritious pellets are available for you to experiment. Some birds take well to vegetables and fruits, others are stubborn. Some great ideas here: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

 

[ChristaNL]

Hi- I do not have an amazon, but I love reading about them!
Plze "yak"away as much as you like.


I am always so happy that a bird actually gets to stay in one family.
You are doing great already!


And I think Choco will remember.

 

[NickeyG]

Thanks again everyone. To my grandmas house I go tomorrow. We are going to spend the weekend with her and Chico and bring him back Sunday. I’m hoping to let him out of his cage for a little bit of bonding or re bonding rather while I am there. I’ll make a new post in the amazon group when I get a chance with updates and all.
Right now I’m looking at toys trying to remember what he likes. I know he likes to hang upside down from and squawk and laugh from some of the toys he has had in the past.
My mom always bought him toys and such but I don’t think my grandmother has. Like I said she has tried to care for him he best she knows how but I knew I’d probably end up with him one day I just haven’t been ready until now.

 

[Scott]

Awesome, have a great visit. Looking forward to pics and an update when able!