Parrots smell?

[Billy29]

I owned a cockatiel and a sun conure, and the only smell I ever had was the bird seed. Someone told me I made a big mistake getting a Amazon because it will stink up my house. I asked then who told them that and they said everyone. Somehow I don't believe it, I can't see anything being much different. Am I wrong?

 

[Karigan]

I've heard that they are muskier, but then I haven't had much experience with them. If you keep the cage clean I think you'll be okay.

 

[Karigan]

Here's a quote from goodparrotsinc

"Amazon parrots have a distinct odor that seems to emanate from their respitory system. This odor is not unpleasant and those who adore Amazon parrots often associate this smell with something good. The odor is most noticeable near their nares. The purpose for this odor is not known at this time, as most birds do not have many receptors for scent."

 

[Billy29]

I think they were saying that the poop smells. All annals have a odor, smell a dog or cat, that is to be expected.

 

[Luke252]

Well I work in a massive room with over 500 individual birds. I smell nothing. Or maybe thats just because I ve been around them for over 3 years. But in my opinion, the odour is next to minimal, if any at all.

 

[henpecked]

Amazons have a good smell, We've had lots of threads in the amazon section about their smell. Most of us zon owners call it "huffing" , it hard not to take deep breaths , inhaling that wonderful scent of theirs. Your friend "everyone" has obviously never had a zon.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Billy, if you're asking if Amazons stink, the simple answer is NO. No healthy bird stinks for that matter.

Yes, they "can" emit a (heavenly) scent, which makes it very hard (for me) to keep my nose out of their feathers.

 

[Shayne]

I love the smell of macaws too. Mine used to get a little stressed when I took him outside on my shoulder and that caused his scent to get stronger so I used to stick my nose in his belly and take a good whiff.

 

[MonicaMc]

Occasionally, my tiels have smelled something that I can only describe as buttered popcorn... and I'm not the only one to have noticed this, either!

Conures do have a musky like scent, most predominant when wet. Amazons have a much stronger smell to them! Some people notice it when the birds are really happy or excited! A few have even said it's akin to the smell of a gym sock... lol


Yup, birds smell! But most of the time, it's usually within close proximity to them as it's usually not overpowering.

 

[goalerjones]

Just beware if an Amazon strolls up and calmly says, "pull my feather".

 

[Merlee]

I do not think a healthy bird stinks, but a cage that is not kept clean would. People who have good cleaning habits should not worry about odors. The scent put out by a amazon is minimal. I noticed that my bird does it when I do something he likes so take it as a compliment.

 

[mdmarley]

well...I tend to disagree with what most have said here. Amazons ( at least my yellow nape) do seem to have a smell...I wouldn't say it's a stinky smell....but I certainly wouldn't say it's a pleasant smell.......its just a distinct smell. Now my wife on the other hand would say she smells up our house..and before anyone says anything or asks....she has never never been sick a day in her life and is healthy as a horse..and yes, I keep her cage and environment VERY clean..

 

[henpecked]

What does your nape eat? Maybe all noses aren't built the same, LOL.I've got about a dozen napes and i like the way they all smell, but i wouldn't get my nose too close to the breeders, LOL.

 

[mdmarley]

her main diet consists of Roudybush maintenance pellets....outside of her pellets, she's a VERY picky eater...I try to give a variety of "other" foods such as fruit, nuts, nutriberries, seed mix as a treat, etc..but I would say 85% of her diet is Roudybush..

 

[mdmarley]

oh...and I remember reading posts on forums like this ( years ago) that described an amazons smell as "old dirty sweat socks" ! LOL ......I didn't say it, I just remember it..

 

[JerseyWendy]

Just beware if an Amazon strolls up and calmly says, "pull my feather".

That is more than hilarious.....BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

 

[getwozzy]

Lol Jackie sometimes has that musky zon scent- it's not up there with Old Spice and it's not "stinky", but I like it and I can only smell it when I'm cuddling him... As far as "stinking up your whole house"- that's a pretty far fetched accusation that you won't have to worry about lol

 

[Luke252]

Billy, if you're asking if Amazons stink, the simple answer is NO. No healthy bird stinks for that matter.

Yes, they "can" emit a (heavenly) scent, which makes it very hard (for me) to keep my nose out of their feathers.

OMG that's so true. I don't know if its creepy or not, but I love putting my nose on my birds and smelling them. There is no stink, they smell really good actually. If anything, the only thing that stinks is the poo, but its doesn't stink that bad, plus you get used to it, and the cages get cleaned regularly anyway, so most of the poo is cleaned before it starts to smell.

 

[brianlinkles]

I love the smell of amazons! They emit a stronger scent it seems when in a heightened state of emotion. I think all the birds have distinct smells. My cag smells so different than the other birds. Dorothy is kind of like clean clothes smelling. She smells kind of fresh where I think amazons are kind of sweet/musky. Macaws have a distinct smell as well, in fact while I don't think that it is unpleasant it is the only bird that I can smell without actually picking it up. I guess they are big and emit a stronger scent!

 

[JerseyWendy]

I swear, only a bird lover such as us, would understand why we would bury our noses in our fids' feathers and inhale deeply....AAAAHHH....BLISS!!!!

@mdmarley: How often does your Amazon get a bath? Might be her diet if you can really smell her. I have 2 Amazons and 2 Big Macs, and you can't smell a thing unless the Amazons get excited and you are up VERY close to them.

And the ONLY poop that has a very slight odor is Ripley's first poop in the morning. He doesn't poop ALL night, and when he lets lose in the morning, he would put a small dog to shame. :54: