Would I Do the Unthinkable?

[PrettyInInk87]

I just ran across a craigslist ad. for a BEAUTIFUL Amazon for 500 dollars... There is no way I'd be able to afford him or have room right now BUT I could sell my reptile and tarantula collection and have both the space and money. I love my reptiles but ever since I got my Apple I remembered how great it is to have a pet that bonds and needs your affection. Not really looking for advice just wanted to share. No one else would understand...

He has blue on his head, red above his "nose", and has some yelliws and oranges.

 

[Remy]

That's why I got a bird instead of a tortoise. :-D

 

[PrettyInInk87]

I have 2 panther chameleons, 5 geckos, 3 snakes, and 30 tarantulas. Oh and 3 bins full of breeding Dubia Roaches.

 

[PrettyInInk87]

But I really have my heart set on an African Grey as my next Parrot and most likely my last.

Here he is, hope the link works. I love him!
Amazon Parrot

 

[henpecked]

he appears to be a Red Lored Amazon

 

[Mayden]

He is a pretty boy - but if you have your heart set on a Grey, I just say wait, otherwise you'll get the amazon, not be 100% happy, and get a grey aswell!

 

[henpecked]

When rehoming an amazon i think it's very important that you both "hit it off".Does he come to you,act friendly ,step up ?There are lots of birds that need a good home,shop around til you find one that really likes you,the right bird of any species will be a better pet than just a CAG that you got because it was a species that you wanted. The right amazon will make a better pet than anything you could imagine,however I'm a bit bias.

 

[mtdoramike]

I agree with henpecked here. But I also am a HUGE Amazon lover as well. I started out wanting an amazon parrot, but wound up with Tiki a second hand Senegal which I adore. Then about 5 weeks ago, I was asked to adopt a 3 year old male Eclectus after his previous owner had passed away and his wife couldn't take care of him anymore. He had started plucking due to the stress. But since I have had him, his feathers are coming back, looking great and he has started taking baths on his own again.

So my point is, sometimes the bird picks us rather than us picking the bird. I had never even considered an eclectus before this because there aren't that many in my area. I have only seen two eclectus parrots in person and the second one is the one I adopted. He's a great, smart and loving bird that melted my heart as well.

 

[brianlinkles]

I agree with henpecked! I have wanted a CAG for so long. However when I met Kiwi in the rescue I just knew I couldn't leave her there. I have to be honest once getting her home she was difficult, moody (I have many scars to prove it) I listened (alot to henpecked) and was patient with her. In the back of my head I kept saying this isn't THE bird. She is sweet, I was glad I got her but I didn't feel a true bond with her. I kept thinking that I was feeling confident about birds now and I could get my CAG that I have always wanted. Well..... Kiwi is like a different bird. She and I are such great buddies, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences so far I have ever undertaken. She is excited to see me, she comes readily out of her cage on my hand (this took alot of patience, and I am proud of both of us!) She exhibits all the happy parrot behavior. I still want a CAG and I am getting one but it is because I want to add another bird to our family. Kiwi has opened up a whole new world to me. I have lots of time and the vet and I feel that kiwi would benefit from seeing a playful bird. Maybe help her find her playful bird inside of her! I am sorry for the long post but what I am trying to say is that you may just find that this bird would love to have a loving forever home and will reward you with an amazing relationship! Maybe not the cag and maybe someday you will get that cag however if you meet this bird and it feels "right" then I say go for it. If an amazon loves you there is nothing like it. They wear their heart on their sleeve so to speak. They have easy to read body language, they are the life of the party!

 

[KBEquine]

First, that is a gorgeous amazon!

Second, I agree with henpecked. It is the personality, not the species, that matters.

We have an amazon because my husband wanted either an amazon, a grey or an eclectus. My only requirement - the bird had to tolerate me. But I was secretly hoping for a grey or an eclectus because I had always wanted one of either of them. He also thought about a macaw until he decided he wasn't prepared for a bird quite that big.

Of all the birds we met, the first that "clicked" with both of us was a cool amazon who cracks us up with his antics & who wants ME to "Come here!" and "Pet the birdie!" But who enjoys a good wrestling match with my husband.

And we now have a grey (supposed to be 'my' grey) who is also a family bird - but who I strongly suspect will always love my husband best. He has been here 2 days & is settling in & we are all looking forward to living with a bird who says things like, "I taste like chicken!" (His former owner was a chef with a quirky sense of humor, before he passed away).

Having said that - Little Bird Blue, the yellow-faced blue parakeet, has a personality as big as any of them, if a tinier (squeekier) vocabulary.

And for a cuddler, you can't beat the Pionus (except when he is cranky).

(And only ONE of our 7 is a species I was dying to have. All the others are personalities I want to live with.)

Third, I think if your heart is truly set on a grey, you may want to prepare for one by making room & money for it, because a grey who matches you will show up some day.

(Although if I were looking, I'd be hard-pressed to pass up at least a meeting with that particular amazon because I may have started as an 'eclectus or grey' person, but I discovered along the way that I was really an amazon person, all along!)

 

[melinda]

I was dead set on a grey as well. Even passed up on what i am sure was 8 great birds, because they wasn't a grey. Until i got a email about a little amazon. I went to meet her just to see how a amazon is. I never realy met one. I spent two hours with her and fell head over hills in love. Needless to say she is now in her for ever home and took the space for the grey. Maybe in a couple of years i might throw a couch out to make more room but i am so happy with her that i will be just fine with out the grey. She is the life of the party you could say. She has never meet anyone one she won't "hop up" for and the more people that is around her the more she does. I am a amazon person now and wouldn't think twice about turning down a grey for a sweet amazon again.

 

[PrettyInInk87]

I love all your stories and honestly, I want this guy SO badly. However, I dont think now is the right time to get another Parrot especially a larger one. I could go with my heart but it's best to go with what my brain is telling me. I'm a stay at home mother and work part time on weekends (sort of) so I have more than enough time to tend to 2 parrots and my son but again, it's the money and space issue. The biggest problem would be that I live in an apartment. Noise wise I'm not sure. My bf gets really annoyed with Apple when he is in a screaming mood, I can't imagine an Amazon. I have seen only one personally but not heard.

The reason I got Apple was because my son is starting school soon and I didn't want to be home totally alone. I was lucky enough to get him for free along with ALL of his belongings including his beautiful cage, if that's not a sign that it was "meant to be" I don't know what is, lol! If this Amazon is meant to be it'll happen.

Side note, I found a place here where I can put a African Grey on layaway. They have both adults and babies but I prefer an adult.

 

[kerry]

How much time have you spent with Amazons & with Grays in person?
They have VERY DIFFFERENT personalities.
I would find a situation (like maybe a rescue or someone/friend/breeder who has 1 of each) where you can spend 1 on 1 time with a Gray & an Amazon at different times & compare their personalities. You may find that you much prefer 1 over the other & you may be surprised at which it is!!
I had a Yellow Naped Amazon & an African Gray for over 10 years along with 2 other large parrots & 1 extra large parrot. I had the Amazon from 1 year of age & the Congo Gray from about 2 months of age. I greatly prefer the YN Amazon. My Gray was a great mimic of sounds, but VERY shy & very quiet. She was terrified of any men that came near to her, my ex-hubby & my father, she really didn't like being handled that much & she really didn't have much of a personality. In comparison, my YN Amazon was very comical, very amusing, he loved to show off, he loved to be handled by me, would let me turn him onto his back or hang by his feet upside down, he liked to sit with me & snuggle under my hair if I was sitting reading or watching TV. He spoke excellently & sounded just like me & when company would come over he would go through everything that he could say & show off totally. I now have 2 Yellow Napes & they are wonderful pets. I am thinking of getting a 3rd Amazon now.

 

[Conurekidd]

What kind of snakes do you have?? I have 4 boas and a python.
2 Colombian red tails 1 true red tail and rainbow boa
As well a Burmese python

 

[PrettyInInk87]

What kind of snakes do you have?? I have 4 boas and a python.
2 Colombian red tails 1 true red tail and rainbow boa
As well a Burmese python

I have a Snow Corn Snake, Colombian Boa, and a Spider Ball. I love snakes but I cannot do a Burmese, lol! I want a Rainbow SO badly.

 

[PrettyInInk87]

Your right Kerry, o would hate to have a shy bird and would like one that loves to be around everyone. Apple hates anyone who isn't me.

 

[KBEquine]

Your right Kerry, o would hate to have a shy bird and would like one that loves to be around everyone. Apple hates anyone who isn't me.

I have only lived with a Grey for a very brief time, and while I am completely smitten, I am not yet in a position to judge their personality & the one thing I know is it is the individual, not the species, you need to love.

Having said that, I meet more aloof greys than outgoing ones, so you will definitely have to shop around if your heart is set on a grey who loves to be around everyone.

Don't sell amazons short like I did, until I got to know a few. I had almost ruled out amazons as companions, on the reputation of the 'hot three' - until I met a YN hen who is an ambassador for the species & a comical BF boy & later, a BF hen. I would have brought the YN hen home in a heartbeat, if her owner had been willing to part with her. The BFs were not going anywhere, either - their owners knew what good companions they had.

PaulE, the amazon who DID come home with us, is a complete character who enjoys people - especially women - loves a good conversation, a good tussle, and a good scritch. He plays HARD & makes us laugh.

His second day with us, my 86 year old mother came to visit & was sitting in the living room when she heard, "Hello!" We looked around & PaulE wasn't on his playtop. He was standing at my mother's feet, greeting the new person in his home.

If I had room for another parrot, I'd hope to find another PaulE.

 

[Molcan2]

Hmmmm... have you met the bird yet? I think I would go see him in person, esp if you have such a strong draw to him from the picture (which he is gorgeous by the way, absolutely beautiful). Sometimes things cross our paths for a reason, I'm a firm believer that when something 'feels' right then go for it. I had my heart set on either a CAG or a Green wing and curiously ended up with a Moluccan? :52: I was by no means even ready for a bird, I work part to full time (depends on what I want to pick up), I live in a subdivision ( was hoping to get a bird after moving to the country so that I could have a fancy aviary), and I'm in my second year of an RN program (which is very demanding). Somehow it was meant to be that Rome would come into my life and even though on paper it doesn't seem like it should work, the reality is that she fits perfectly.

Go see what his personality is like, Rome knows NO stranger - she will go to anyone that comes over (one of the reasons why my BF has tolerated life with a M2). Maybe if this particular bird is more friendly then your BF would be more excepting of... well the less desirable traits that non parrot people don't like.

Also you mentioned that you are willing to downsize your other pets to make room for him. Just considering this as an option means something (hello did you hear yourself?). I'm sure you've seen pics of hundreds of birds and for what ever reason this one is making you to want to make changes.

Just a thought, and my opinion sorry the post was so long!

 

[PrettyInInk87]

My bf said no.

 

[mtdoramike]

My bf said no.

Welllllllll, you could kick him out and get the bird hahahahahaha. Just a thought.