Need lots of answers, I'm getting a yellow headed parrot soon?

Question

I'm getting a yellow headed parrot in a few days, it comes with a cage and food and everything, it's 14 years old and not tame. How do I tame it? How long will it live? How do I tell if it's healthy without taking it to a vet? It's a female (so the previous owners say), how much will it cost to get her DNA tested to make sure she's a she? Will she need a mate, or will she be happy without one?Please tell me everything I may need to know, and anything else you may want to share, such as personal experience or anything. Thanks in advance!

Look, I know I need to do research before getting any kind of pet, but I don't have the luxury of doing that with this bird. At least I'm on here trying to get info, aren't I? I'm trying to give this bird a second chance before it's given to someone who may not do any research at all or to some bird shelter where it may end up for the rest of its life. Please, don't criticize for 'putting the cart before the horse' or anything. I'm doing what I can for this bird.
To Pampered Parrots-The reason I don;t want to take it to the vet is that it will be pretty hard fitting a parrot cage in a car, don't you think? (BTW, it won't be a problem with getting the bird to my house-they're bringing it.)

Answer 1

No offense, but you sound completely unprepared for a parrot, especially an amazon. They are not easy animals to care for, they require a lot of time and patience, and MONEY. Did the current owner tell you WHY they are getting rid of the bird? Probably because it isn't "tame." And if you get this bird, I'm willing to bet that before long you'll be passing it on for the same reason. A parrot, on average, will live in nine different homes during its life, because people don't realize what they're getting themselves into with these birds, they all just think of them as fun little critters that perch on your shoulder and say cute things. This bird is also sexually mature, which presents a whole other set of issues that aren't meant for a beginner. The smart thing to do would be to save your money and buy a cockatiel, then do some research on parrots and parrot behavior. Doing those things will help you find out if you can really handle something more advanced, such as an amazon. Please consider it carefully, because if the bird doesn't like people right now, it's unhappy, and you will be unhappy with it, so you're not improving its life any.

I don't think anyone is criticizing you, you came on here for help, and that's what everyone is trying to do. It's good that you want to help this bird, but trying to rescue it from a bad situation is the worst reason to get it--or any animal for that matter, especially when you have no experience. The right thing to do would be to recommend a good avian rescue, which you can find by doing a search online. You really need to think--how are you going to improve this bird's life if you don't know anything about it? How could you possibly make its situation any better? But no one can stop you if this is what you want to do. If you go through with this I would highly recommend consulting with an avian behavior specialist (many will help you for free). A good vet could probably recommend one, and as for taking it to the vet, I transport all birds in my care to the vet in pet taxis, not their cages. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 2

You've put the cart before the horse. How do you know you want this bird, when you know nothing about what's going to be involved once you get it?

Taming a 14-year old Amazon is not an easy thing, even for experienced parrot-handlers. Depending on it's background and temperament, it may never be tame enough to be a "pet."

Why don't you want to take it to the vet? Parrots need, at least, yearly examinations, just like dogs. With parrots, we are at a disadvantage, since they will not show you they're sick. It's a survival instinct, since predators look for sick or injured animals to attack. If it's a money issue, you may want to reconsider getting a parrot, because they are costly. Avian vets usually cost more than small animal (dog and cat) vets. They need regular grooming, about every six to ten weeks, particularly if you're going to try to tame it. And you will need to feed it fresh fruits and vegetables.

Are you sure you're ready for this commitment? This bird, if it really is 14 years old, can live another 20+ years. If the bird doesn't tame down the way you expect, are you willing to commit to the regular cleaning, feeding, grooming, medical, etc?

EDIT:
Please believe me that I'm not criticizing you. I fully understand that you want to do what's best for the bird, and so do the people answering your question. You asked for personal experience, so I'm giving it. My best advise is that you need to learn how to handle parrots, before taking this one. You say yourself that you couldn't even get it to a vet. What if you had an emergency?

My experience tells me that you're not a suitable home. This bird would be better off if it did go to a rescue. At a good rescue, it will be checked by an avian vet, and rehabilitated so that it can go into a loving home like yours. If the bird cannot be rehabilitated, it will go into permanent sanctuary, living out it's life where it can be given the care it needs.

Unfortunately, we can't save every animal that needs saving. There are rescues out there that have more birds that are ready for new homes, but there aren't enough homes. Here are websites for two excellent rescues:

http://www.phoenixlanding.org

http://www.thegabrielfoundation.org

Answer 3

Hi "K",
Hey, it's okay! You are trying to do the right thing and that's great! You working on trying to begin looking for the sources to get the information. You'll be fine if you do the work.
We're here to help, okay? It's just that we get questions from people who do not have a Bird's best interest in mind and it's very difficult to sort it all out. "Pampered Parrots", Alidawn, and Animal_E all gave you some Great information.
Listen to them. Don't take it personally because this isn't about you right now, it's about the Amazon you are thinking of getting and they are really thinking about the bird, but you are going to have to be receptive to them in order to figure all of this out.
Don't worry about the DNA sexing right now...it's not important. Don't even think about getting another bird right now, you have enough on your plate.
You can email me and I'll help you. It's going to be a lot of work on your part, beccause this learning you are going to have to go through doesn't happen over night. You will be reading until your eyes bleed!
You can learn and you will if you put your heart into it.
I will help you and I'm sure as you put your questions in, the community will help you. Your job is to do your own research and learn a lot very quickly.
This is going to be very hard on you and your entire household and lifestyle. It will change everything, believe me.
But it's really a lot and you have to decide if you want to do this before you commit, because it's almost like having a child...you can't put it back.
Think about it and if you are willing to do it, that's fine. I have no problem with it.
I'll help you. We'll all help you. But you have to commit to learning an entirely different way of functioning.
Because forever; for as long as that bird is with you, your life will always revolve around that bird.
For right now, begin researching "Amazon Parrots".
Everything...nutrition, care, housing, absolutely everything about parrots. That's your life right now. Search engines are going to be your best friend.
Here's an idea about getting the bird to the Vet and not having to be coincerned about making the transfer out of his cage:
Buy a small portable cage or carrying unit.
See if you can make an appointment at the Vet at the same time you are to receive the bird. Have the bird brought to the Vet instead of yor house. Have the staff take the bird out of the big cage and transfer to the small carrying cage.
Have him examined. When this is done, the people with the big cage can then follow you home with the cage, help you set it up and you can transfer the Parrot to his big cage.
It's a thought, but this just might be the way to do it.

But please think about what you are doing and if it is something that you think you can handle. It will profoundly change your life.

Please let me know how I can help.
Good Luck.

Answer 4

Talk to the previous owner and make sure you really want this bird that can live another 70 years. Once you determine that you want it, take it to a vet and do research on your own. Don't get a mate now. It will keep you from bonding with it. Learn how to live with one parrot before you get another one.

Answer 5

These birds are quite intelligent so are easy to tame and train. They will quickly begin to mimic sounds and become a very good talker. Being very social, they enjoy companionship and become fast friends with their owner. They are a very robust bird and do well in either a cage or an aviary. The parrot is the most rapid of all the parrots at becoming accustomed to it's new environment. Generally though, you should give a new arrival a few days to get use to you, your voice and it's cage before trying to handle it. A handfed baby will not need much taming and can often be handled right away, as it is use to human attention.

To be able to handle and train your parrot depends first on trust, so go slowly and be consistent. Amazons are most receptive to training in the evening and each session is best if limited to under 20 minutes with about an hour rest in between. Your first goal is to get the parrot to accept a treat from you, which will lead to it allowing you to gently scratch its head. Then you can begin to work on getting your parrot to step up on your hand. Depending on the tameness of the bird, these two steps can be instantaneous as in a handfed baby or take several weeks or longer for an untamed bird.

For an extensive parrot training system that potentially turns your bird into a fun, loving companion as well as learning lots of cool trickls.

Remember that taming and training a bird takes patience, never 'punish' you parrot! This only serves to destroy the trust you've spent so much time building.; Once your Amazon parrot has gotten over its shyness, then you can work on speech training. Repetition and frequency are the keys here. Almost every Amazon parrot can learn at least a few words, although unlike the African Grey, the Amazon's mimicry sounds rather 'parrot-like'.



They love to climb and play. Provide lots of toys. Also needs room to stretch its wings although climbing seems to be its favorite activity.

These birds are hardy and healthy if provided with a good environment and a good diet. Amazons can be noisy first thing in the morning, and just before the sun sets. This is easy to control, they can often be quieted by just covering their cage for a short period of time.

The personal hygiene of your Amazon includes a weekly shower to help keep it's plumage in good shape. This can be accomplished with either a hand held shower sprayer or a hose with a fine spray head and lukewarm water. The wings should be kept trim if you want to discourage flight and to prevent the loss of your pet through an open window or door. The beak needs to be trimmed if it becomes overgrown or deformed. There are many mineral blocks, lava blocks, and other beak grooming items available at your pet store to help your bird keep its beak in shape. A variety of concrete type perches are also available to help the keep nails trim, but they should be trimmed if they become overgrown.


Do not feed avocado as it may be toxic to birds!

As with all parrots, signs of illness to be aware of are ruffled plumage, resting often with their head turned back, having no appetite, sneezing, discharge from the nostrils, cloudy eyes, and any change in the feces. Some of the common illnesses your Amazon could contract are internal parasites, intestinal influenza, coccidiosis, respiratory ailments, feather picking, and parrot fever also known as psittacosis. An ailing parrot should be taken to a avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatm

She will probly live from 60 to even 80 years.

if this is the bird you are one about the best way to find out is take your bird to the vets and let them take a feather, they will then send the feather away for a dna test to see whether in fact your bird is male or female.


NOW LISTEN TO THIS AND YOU SHOULD HAVE A VERY HEALTHY BIRD.

Answer 6

i think of amazons are great talkers and there so friendly! I had an amazon, its so affectionate and it likes to play! i think of they're the ideal talking amazons! And thats a great cage, greater useful than mine lols. i think of it is going to be soooooo happy with you. and that i think of it is going to be out longer till it makes a decision to stay interior the cage. and that i beleive the boys talk plenty greater useful and it greater cuddly yet men are form of loud now and lower back, and that they are plenty greater playful. nicely thats my thought. i think of you could build a playstand yet i prefer you purchase one basically incase if its secure or no longer. Have a great time inclusive of your amazon!

Answer 7

Ask a vet~