adopting a red lored amazon tomorrow

[TGarcia]

I've always wanted an amazon and had intention on adopting out one that was raised in a family home.....however.....I have come across a Red-Lored Amazon that totally captured my heart. I am meeting with the own tomorrow and plan on bring this fellow home with me.

He obviously has had a difficult life. His right eye is totally blind and sunk in a little. He is missing a few toenails as well. His feathers are in perfect condition....and I can see potential that he could POSSIBLY be a good bird.

I felt so sorry for him when I saw him today. When I asked the person in the store about the bird, he said I would need to talk to the owner and he would not be in until tomorrow. But that the bird was for sale and that the owner would probably take VERY LITTLE for him since he was (as the clerk stated)......messed all up. I have no idea what he may be asking for him....but feel like it won't be much and It's NOT the price of the bird that I'm worried about.....I just guess I see potential and in a weird sorta way like the bird KNEW I was right for him. Those of you that own parrots can relate to that I think.

I stayed there for a while and talked to the bird and he responded back to me in whistles, and coming so close to the cage bars listening to me and actually let me touch him. even though he was scared. I wanted right then and there to take him home. His water bowl was FILTHY beyond even thinking of him drinking it!!!! And he was fed nothing but seed

As I was at the register....this bird kept whistling the same whistle over and over louder and louder until I came back to the cage before I left. It broke my heart to leave him.....and I told him first thing in the morning I was coming to take him home!!!! And I intend on doing just that!!!!!

SO......I think in a way.... I this bird was MEANT to be mine. I'm a little nervous as I know NOTHING about this bird....and I'm sure he has not had alot of attention from the owner of the store. I say this cause of the conditions of the cage and water. I plan on bringing this bird home with me tomorrow and will probably need ALOT of advice on how to handle certain behavior issues I may encounter. I have 1 other parrot in my home....but he was raised as a baby and is now 5 years old. So this may or may not be a challenge..... But first thing will be a vet check for that eye. It didn't look bad, it's obviously an old injury......but I want to make sure and have it checked out.

I've been a member of this site for some time now and always got good advice....so I figured you guys would help me out in the parrot dept. as much as you have helped me with chickens I raise. I will keep you all posted...I'm just counting down til tomorrow and excited to get this little guy out of those conditions and into a nice loving home and CLEAN cage.

 

[Nambroth]

How wonderful of you!!

Most of my parrots are special needs, and all are rescues. Often I find that the 'messed up' parrots are sometimes the ones that are most loving and rewarding!! It will take a lot of time and patience but you can do it!
At the risk of over-anthropomorphizing, animals sometimes do seem to recognize when they are being 'rescued' and when they realize they can trust you, you can end up with the best companion.

I see you are going to see a vet, when you are there I encourage you to ask for the vet to do a fecal swab and a blood panel, especially since it sounds like he has a few health issues and with a bad diet and filthy water there could be things lurking under the surface. It's much easier (and far less expensive) to treat a deficiency or low-grade infection before it goes critical! With seed-only diet he could easily be deficient on a few things and a vet could also help catch early stages of things like fatty liver disease, etc. The filthy water is also a good place for him to pick up a low grade infection.

I know you have another bird, but just in case... Here is a good read to get you started with diet, if you need help: http://rationalparrot.com/diet.html
EDIT: Oop! I just read on the other thread that you know all about good diets, I apologize!

The pages about behavior on that site are very worthwhile, too.

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[jason_mazzy]

I have rescued several parrots, and worked special needs. You have to remember with good care he will live 40-60 more years. They are a life long commitment. They can be stubborn, and aggressive at times. But also loving in a way no other animal can be. A "messed up bird", will probably take several moths to years of good therapy and patience to turn around. Love love love, and being firm will be the key. Reward with treats, and time outs when miss behaved. Never let them on your shoulder, never use your hand to pick them up, never reach into their cage (especially important with amazons). Use a sturdy stick like a dowel to teach the step up and step down. This will save you countless bites, and also allow you to gague his annoyance or aggressiveness. If you reach your hand into the cage expect a bite. It is his "nest" and he will defend it. BUt if you let him out on his own he should step up. You can also use the dowel to step up in the cage. just never your hand. If you have any questions or behavior related news let me know. i am here to help.

 

[AquaEyes]

Amazons are awesome!!! Ok, I'm biased....

Congrats on finding a new bird buddy. You mentioned that you already have a bird at home. If I was in your situation, I'd find out if I could bring the bird to the vet for a physical BEFORE bringing him home, just in case he has an infection of some sort that could be passed on to your other bird. If you tell the pet store you're buying him either way, they'd probably let you keep him there until test results come back. Otherwise (and if he ends up having something), you'll have to set up a quarantine in your home.

I bought my Sammy (in my avatar pic) from a pet store, where he had been returned by his former owners. He was 7 at the time, very overweight, and had just "parrot seed" and water in his dish. I brought him for a physical and found out he was also calcium deficient and had a low-grade infection going on. It took about a month or six weeks of antibiotics, a radical change in diet, and respectful attention on my part, but he turned into a beautiful, totally-bonded-to-me adult male amazon. He's 20 now.

Feel free to PM me anytime if you have any specific questions.



~Chris

 

[KYChickenlady]

Hmm I am sorry but I have to disagree with Jason. I never use a stick with my birds, I always use my hand and say step up as soon as I open the door. Never let them on your shoulder as those beaks can be very dangerous. Love, patience, kindness, these are my guidewords. Treats go a long way, clean food and water are a must! Have a Cocatoo that spent the first 14 yrs in his life in a cage, now we are teaching him that it is ok to be outside and he loves it. Did not say anything but HI when I got him but is now becomeing quite vocal.
Have a blue crowned conure who went through abuse after her owner died, no toenails but is now just a lover. Took a while but was worth the time and effort. Have a timmons grey who has leg problems, is still a baby so we are teaching him coping and using lots of pt to help strenghten that leg.
Love all my babies, my next goal is to get a huge cage and fill it with finches. LOL I just love the little flitts.

 

[AquaEyes]

Quote:
I'll admit the "never use your hands" part is a bit extreme, but training an adult male amazon to step up onto a perch is very important for those hormonal "crazy times" if the bird is over-excited. When a male amazon is in this mode, it's as though they "forget" who they are, where they are, and who their owners are. You can tell by looking at them if they're in this mode -- lots of displaying, eyes pinning, tail fanned, etc. That would be a good time to use a perch instead of your hand.

 

[Nambroth]

I agree, Chris. It's a very useful skill to have a bird trained to 'step up' onto an item other than a hand. Nothing wrong with training 'step up' onto a hand, and in truth this is what most people use from day to day, but having a standby (such as a perch) is very useful for parrots that have "problems" with hormones, cage-aggression, etc from time to time. There have been times where I've had to have a parrot step up (used to live down south and had lots of tornado warnings!!) and if Polly is not feeling it, it could be bad news.

 

[TGarcia]

Thanks so much for all the wonderful advice. So far things have been a little touch and go. But for the most part I think we are making good progress. All checked out good with the vet which was good to hear...and honestly a bit surprising due to his living circumstances. He is however totally blind in his right eye. And the loss of his toenails were obviously due to being bitten off by another parrot. Which I don't even want to imagine why, or how that happened...I think another parrot had something to do with the eye too. Vet said it looked like it had been pecked by a large parrot, and was an old wound. Previous owner which was HORRIBLE didn't offer much info to me about him....but was sure happy to take my $300. Which I thought was a steal to get him, and get him out of that hell he was living in.

Trying to break the seed habit and he just hates the idea of pellets. So I've been slowly putting less seed in his mix of food daily to try and get him off of it. And using occasional seed as a treat when he comes to me and lets me pet him for a minute or two. It's just gonna take time and I'm fine with that....no telling what all this bird lived through.

I agree with never letting your bird on your shoulder. Even my 5 year old parrot that is calm and sweet isn't allowed to. Parrots get startled sometimes and can react by biting and I have no desire to lose a chunk of my face or an ear. lol I have never used the stick approach when it comes to picking up my birds though. I can see how it would benefit in possibly training them to do this since I have been bitten a few times already.....which is to be expected since Pepe is still adjusting.

For the most part I am very happy I got Pepe out of that horrible situation. And I think he is grateful as well. I know within a few months he will be a totally different bird and hopefully feel more comfortable in his new home. He mumbles alot to himself and to me, and will whistle to me throughout the day. So all this is a good start...and I'm patient. lol

I want to post pics but every time I pull out my cell phone or camera he kinda freaks out.....so as soon as I can I will try and get some pics up. thanks again for the advice!!!!

 

[Richie]

I didn't notice the date you posted this. I think it is wonderful that you are rescuing this parrot. The conditions you describe, especially the missing toes, make it sound like it might possibly be an older bird that was brought in before the law went through that prohibited the importation of wild parrots. Of course that might not be, but it sounds like it. Red loreds are beautiful birds and can be great pets once they get used to you. Some are very noisy and others are not. I don't have too much respect for too many pet shops, especially those with "filthy water dishes" like you are describing. Most pet shops see animals as nothing more than commodities and the only thing that is important is money. You have another parrot and that means you have a good idea of what you are taking on. Also, you mention a vet (an avian vet, I hope) and that is a very good thing to make sure the parrot is healthy and anything wrong can be, hopefully, dealt with. Contact me if you need help; I am the president of the Catskill Exotic Bird Club. At this point we disdain breeding and selling parrots. There are so many, like yours, for adoption that need homes. Good luck to you; you are doing a good thing.

 

[Richie]

Sorry, just noticed that this was a few years old. I hope everything has worked out for you and your parrot (and your chickens) Incidentally, we are having the president of the SPPA, Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities, as our guest speaker at our next bird club meeting on August 14th, in Monticello. If there are any readers who live near there, you are welcome to come. Contact me at [email protected] for more information.