Think I'm too old to get an Amazon

Gizmomania

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Parrots
Duskies: Gizmo & Niko, hatched 3/12 & 5/12; pineapple GCC: Skittles, 5/10/13; Pan Am: Harley, 1/27/13; CAG: Maalik, 7/27/13; Eclectus: Ziggy, 4/4/04; BHC: Walter 6 y; baby Jardine's: Bogart-May!
I've been reading up on these magnificent birds, and am absolutely fascinated by them. Our local bird shop has several DYH and a lavender head on the premesis. However, each are under a couple of years old. I've held one of the DYH, but didn't have a chance to interact with the LH.

The huge problem is that I'm already well into my 50's, and know that if I do get one it will definitely outlive me, placing the burdon of responsibility on one of my kids. On a positive note is that all my kids are big bird and animal lovers.

So...should I take the plunge? If I do, should I try to find an older bird, or would a young one that I/we train ourselves be a better way to go?
 
My honest opinion on this one is: Go for it. :) You only live once. If you can provide a good home for a baby/young Amazon now, then do it. You'll never know what tomorrow may bring. Socialize him well, and you should have no problems in the future. :)

I'm in my late fourties, and I got my Sam last year, when he was only 7 weeks old. NO regrets here. :D
 
There are so many older really sweet parrots waiting for some one to love them! Many are great birds that because of life change or outliving there owner find themselves in rescues. Please look around and see what is out there. Many have had full vet care and the rescue had found out what type of behaviors the bird has. One way to make sure what type of bird you get, ie outgoing, talkative ect is to get a older bird past hormones and teenage issues. With a young bird you never know how they may turn out!
 
I vote for finding an older Amazon who needs a new home. There are many out there who desperately need good, loving homes like yours!
 
We do have several rescues here in San Diego. However, they don't make it very easy to adopt one, as you must attend 3 seminars plus have a home visit.

I'm definitely going to be doing some soul searching on this one. I realize they strongly bond with their owners, and hate the thought of my dying and having the bird endure being rehomed again.

Would a lilac crown be the least temperamental of the amazons?
 
I have attended a couple classes with others who are adopting. I would recommend any bird owner going to them. You get a chance to learn something you may not have known before. I also do home visits for people when they are having "issues"with their birds. Sometime cage placement and safety in the home is overlooked, when a outsider sees it. Things like plug ins and candles, what they use to cook in. Its not always a bad thing.
Also think of it this way. You have had a bird for years and because of your health you need to rehome it to the best home you can. Would you want it to go to some one who does not have the time to go to a couple classes or does not want there home to be seen?
 
I am 58, and I wouldn't hesitate to take in a young Amazon-- with the assurance that he/she would have a good home when I'm no longer around. :)
 
I'm in my 50's as well. I have a 12 y/o macaw who goes through the hormone changes in the spring. I picked up a 27 y/o yellow nape. What a difference in personalities. My amazon has not shown any aggressiveness whatsoever. If you go with the older bird, I think the transition will be easier for the next person if something happens to you.
 
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First I'd like to say how much I love this board. I've belonged to quite a number of different types of boards over the years, and I have to say that hands down, the Parrot Forum members are by far the best!

You have each been SO helpful to me! Now I can look at owning an Amazon much differently than I was.

You're absolutely right: we only live once. So why can't I have one of these amazing birds?

I've already begun my search for an older Zon to adopt. Now I have to decide upon which type to bring home!

Thank you again for all your help, everyone!
 
I agree that you need to go for it and I like the idea of you rehoming a bird. I am in my early 40's and rehomed a 20 year old green wing macaw who is an absolute sweet heart! I couldn't have asked for a better bird companion!! Not all rehomed birds are pickers, screamers and biters! And if they are, with a little time, patience and proper training they can become wonderful companions! Good luck and keep us posted!
 
We do have several rescues here in San Diego. However, they don't make it very easy to adopt one, as you must attend 3 seminars plus have a home visit.

I'm definitely going to be doing some soul searching on this one. I realize they strongly bond with their owners, and hate the thought of my dying and having the bird endure being rehomed again.

Would a lilac crown be the least temperamental of the amazons?

I don't care for dealing with the rescues here in San Diego. It's more like an interrogation than an adoption. But I don't want to sway you if that's the way you want to go. Another option might be talking to the owners of Birdsmart in Clairmont Mesa? Here is the link to their store. Home - BirdSmart

They deal with it all and they are really nice and knowledgeable people. Check them out. Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will all work out for the best.
 
As much as I like the idea of helping a bird in need, dealing with rescues is an emotional roller coaster. Boysmom put in an application and it has been one excuse after another why she can't adopt even though she has passed home inspection and holds a certificate in avian care. One is better off finding a bird through a private party because there are no strings involved after the adoption.
 
Merlee is right. I have been rescuing birds for 45 years. I have helped dozens of dozens of birds find a new home, with me or others. When I moved to Florida, I slowed down my rescue work, but, missed having a houseful of birds. I checked with several local rescues, and was told that I was not suitable for their birds! My home was wrong, I have too many already, and on & on. These rescues mean well, but, are unrealistic. I have taken in many birds from other sources, and continue my rescue work with a houseful of birds that found me through other ways. As for your age, as long as you have a plan to have the bird taken care of after you cannot any longer, go for it. I'm 60 years old, and have been trying to get another CAG. I'd like an older one, but, will take what I can find & afford. I have plans in the works for a friend (another rescuer) to take my birds when I cannot care for them. Also, if you are a dedicated & loving parront, when your bird moves on, it'll be a well socialized & behaved bird that anyone could love. And you'd have helped this creature along his way, not being just another rehomed bird.
 
As an unvoluntary adoptee, I have to say I am so happy to hear you are going to adopt. I found a small parrot (sun conure) outside, and he has been ALL sorts of awesome... No one was looking for him so he stayed and I am so happy for that.. You sound like you will have a great home to offer... and when it comes to older birds, contact the bird rescues and tell them what personality you are looking for.. My conure don't behave like an average conure, he is an easier bird despite that sun conures are known to be loud, demanding etc.. you may end up with an amazon you normally wouldn't consider cause of potential temperament issues :)
 
I hate to say this but, I found a loving (sometimes), needy(mostly), 7yr. old, kinda' plucky Goffin's 'too on CL. She's amazing and I'm so happy that we could give her what she needed, a loving and caring family. To me, I feel that she has been rescued.
And, no, you are not too old to give some love to an animal in need!
 
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There is a zon here in Northern CA on CL right now $500 with cage. My zon came off of CL for $150, now I did end up having to put about $750 into him between vet, proper cage and toys.
 
It's NEVER too old at any age to care for a bird, even a baby bird, As Long As your able to provide the proper care for them. That's the top main priority!!!! To me a lot of adoption centers are unrealistic! I adopt from people and I rescue. Don't over look on the older birds as some are wonderful birds that's looking for that one special owner to take them in. Of course babies are nice too, BUT depends on how they were raised in the first place. It doesn't always make them better just because they're babies. Good Luck finding your bird to be!
 
I see where the people who say "Get a baby, it doesn't matter if you are old as long as you give it love and good care" come from but I don't really agree with it. As an older person, I can tell you that for us, caring for large birds can be real hard sometimes. There is a lot of work, a lot of planning, a lot of money, a lot of time that you have to put into it. You wait until your kids are out of the house so you can start having a bit of time for yourself but, if you have a parrot, you end up not going anywhere for fear he is not going to be well take care of, that he will suffer, that he will start plucking/screaming, etc. It might be captivity for the parrot but it's slavery for you! And then you have to worry all the time what will happen to your beloved companion when you can no longer care for it -and nobody should have to go through this worry as they get old...

As to rescues not wanting to place a bird in a household where there are many... yes, it is aggravating and sometimes unfair but there are so many collectors and hoarders out there that I don't blame them for been extra careful. And these people can fool the smartest people out there, too. There was this lady who used to be very active in birdsites years ago, she said she rescued, that she took excellent care of her birds (she posted pictures of these beautiful birds) and she certainly gave good advice so people even sent her their 'problem' birds... then she died and a rescue her husband contacted went to pick up the birds and found the beautiful birds in a front room and a horror story in a back room. You can't trust people and birds are particularly attractive to hoarders and collectors so good rescues are VERY careful and usually distrust people who have a large number of them. And this is not only because they might think you are collecting or hoarding, it's also because each caged bird needs, at least, three to four hours of one-on-one and there are only so many hours in the day. Again, this sometimes works against the bird in question but it's not done out of malice, it's done out of concern for the bird.

Thankfully for some of us and unfortunately for the birds, there is always Craig's List where you will find lots of unwanted birds every single day of the week.

Please adopt an older one, there are soooo many great birds that need a good home and I promise you won't regret it because seen that bird bloom with health and happiness after it bonds with you will give you a huge feeling of accomplishment mixed with a love so big that will overflow your heart - a feeling that I often compare to giving birth because nothing else comes close.
 
Absolutely! I'm actually leaning towards finding an older bird, and have already begun my search locally. There's a sanctuary here in San Diego that I'm going to look into next week. And SoCalWendy, I'm going to look into the Clairemont shop as well.

If anyone who lives here in San Diego or So. Cal comes across a special Zon in need of a great home, please PM me!
 

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