What Species of Parrot is Right For YOU?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ส.ค. 2020
- One of the top questions I get asked is "What type of parrot should I get?" so in this video I want to address why it's practically impossible to pick out a bird based on species type alone - it's about SO MUCH MORE.
I demo the personality and response differences between 4 amazon parrots in this video.
LEAVE A COMMENT: Do you agree or disagree with the statement "Owning an Amazon parrot is the equivalent to owning a dog without wings."
It's dangerous territory anytime people start comparing cats and dogs to pet birds. Dogs and cats are predatory animals. Parrots are prey animals (and not domesticated) so there's no comparison!
Helpful links/resources:
👉 Amazon Parrots: birdtricksstore.com/blogs/bir...
👉 Amazon Diet to avoid obesity: birdtricksstore.com/blogs/bir...
👉 Ronie's Rescue: roniesloveofbirds.com/
👉 Parrot Pins Supporting Rescue Birds: hyperfinch.com/collections/hy...
HELPFUL TIMESTAMPS:
😱 Scared body language: 4:36, 5:13, 11:24
😏 Confident body language: 5:13
😤 Aggressive body language: 6:31
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217 CEDAR STREET #401
SANDPOINT, ID 83864
MY BIRDS (Oldest to Youngest) 🐦❤
BONDI 💗 Galah | hatched 2005
CRESSI 💗 Congo African Grey | hatched 2007
BANDIT 💙 Galah | hatched 2008-2019 💔
JINX 💙 Blue Throat Macaw | hatched 2008
COMET 💙 Yellow-Dominant Camelot Macaw | hatched 2008
TUSA 💙 Blue-Green Dominant Camelot Macaw | hatched 2008
ROCKO 💙 Toco Toucan | hatched 2011
LILY & PHOEBE & DETKA 💗 Sun Conures | hatched 2011
BLUEBERRY 💗 Budgie | hatched June 2019
😍 ABOUT US 😍
BirdTricks is a husband-wife team; Dave and Jamieleigh Womach specialize in parrot training and companionship.
#birdtricks #birdtraining #parrottraining
I remember a comment on one of ur vids and it said
“Owning a parrot is like having a toddler running around with scissors”
I cried laughing reading this
"let me see what you've got"
"A beak"
"NO!!!"
LOL!
And no empathy or mercy
Lmao YES!!!
I have a 26 year old Blue Front Amazon. I received him as a gift when he was a baby. He is nothing like a dog. He is bossy, and funny and extremely social. If there is no drama in the house he will do his best to create drama. If there is drama he will join right in. He keeps us laughing and he is definitely a member of the family.
It's so true that each bird has their own personality and quirks even within the same species. 😀
Love of Pets I know, i have 2 cockatiels and one is super sweet and clingy, so pretty typical (ofc he gets into trouble still since getting into trouble is what birds do best lol) but my other is extremely sassy. He doesn’t really bite, but he nips all the time. One minute he wants to be pet and the second you start petting him he nips at you. Nothing wrong with it since it’s just how he is. My point is that they’re both male cockatiels but they couldn’t be any more different
I don't think they evolved so much, seeing as they live so long and that as well. Remarkable critters.
I know someone who wants to get a parrot but hates on my terriers because they're a lot of work. I'm like you sweet summer child you have no idea. If you think a Jack Russell terrier is a lot of work & potential destruction to own please don't get a parrot.
I agree and I feel like my budgie ain’t nearly as destructive as some birds can be XD
wwaxwork lol....sold dozens of litters, even had 5 personal indoor at a time (3now....sisters from separate same parent births) but.... it’s in genetics, mine were fairly mellow.
i know someone who wants an african grey however doesnt want to hold my budgie
Bare with me pls, it's gonna be a long post, it'll worth the read, I promise :D I spent a couple of years 'educating' myself when it comes to choosing and owning a parrot. After gathering all the useful and somewhat not so useful info, I decided to get a Patagonian Conure. I phoned a couple of breeders, got to interact with some of the birds and I was ready to make my move when... While I was still negotiating a price with the breeder, someone stepped in, offered a sum that was more appropriate for the breeder and I wasn't able to get the bird I wanted. I started to search again, but there were no more Patagonians available in my area. I stumbled upon an Indian Ringneck breeder who had two blue chicks available, acted on impulse and got my bird. The bird was 3 months old, hand-fed, very friendly, super gentle, we bonded, perfect. For some stupid or selfish reason, I don't know, I was still thinking about Patagonian Conures and wasn't noticing what I already had. I guess I was idolizing them. After a month of having my IRN, I was cleaning his cage and I didn't notice the window of my living room being open. He did, and he flew outside. I went nuts, I completely lost it! I got out of the house as quickly as I could and saw him land on my neighbor's tree. He was screaming but didn't seem scared, still, what do I know, I'm not that much of a bird expert. Out of despair, I called him, and when he heard my voice and noticed me, he screamed again, flew back and landed on my shoulder. I just stood there in shock not knowing what just happen. It took me some time to collect myself and take him back inside. He was totally cool, like nothing happened, he didn't seem scared or anxious. Couple of days went by and I decided to take a risk and take him outside again. He stayed with me the entire time we were outside. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but I think he new I 'didn't approve of him' coz he wasn't the bird i originally wanted. My family and friends say he was able to sense I wasn't 'happy' with him, so he wanted to show me what I'm missing out. Such kind of behavior is just not logical, especially for an untrained and a very young bird, but it happened and I'm so grateful it did, because I was 'disappointed' with him, because he wasn't the bird I wanted... It took me some time to realize that he WAS the bird I needed and I am the human he needed! It's been almost two years since we got Bumi. We enjoy morning and afternoon free flights around the neighborhood almost every day if the weather conditions are suitable, but he prefers to chill in our back yard doing parrot stuff, teasing our dogs and cuddling with the kids :D Why was I writing this? Well, I do believe it's not just us who choose the birds, they choose too, they have a saying too. You might dream of having an African Gray or a Galah, but what if a Bourke's or a Love Bird is what the universe intended for you? We were very lucky with Bumi. I think every potential bird owner should spend time visiting different breeders with different birds or sanctuaries, interact with all of them and see how it all plays out. There's a perfect bird for everyone out there who is willing and ready to make a commitment, be patient and take some time to find your bird. Sorry for the long post, but I felt like sharing our story ;)
This is beautiful, thankyou for sharing : ) Really puts everything in perspective. Reminds me to be grateful
Hah, I'm the opposite of you, I wanted a quaker parrot, then saw a ton of videos of people saying quakers can be very territorial and then I felt like maybe that's a bad ide, but my aunt got quakers and I played with them and fell in love with them, so now I'm bingewatching all BirdTricks videos with my quaker on my leg.
He's yellow and the name is Pikachu. I'm convinced I'll find his name just as great when I'm 60.
@Zadie Whiteheadthey are but he learned to say his name by now, so he's sometimes in his cage yelling "PIKACHUPIKACHUPIKACHU" Like a psychopath. I love the chattering. I hope my loved ones do to, and I hope we all still do when I'm 50 because he's making me a pirate for life.
@Zadie Whitehead He loves me more than any human could, but he needs a lot of attention, when I'm good with having him on my shoulders after 2 hours, he's still excited for cuddles. I got him a girlfriend 2 months ago, so I can say he at the age of 8 months either because he is handraised or because he's still a child, is very affectionate and thinks all the people around him are basically his servants.
The other girl I got seemed very neglected, she flew into the wall when I got her out of the cage because she didn't even know how to fly and change direction, and I quickly realised she doesn't hate me as a person, she's scared of hands. She loves hanging out on my shoulder, she will take a bath in my wet hair and snuggle up to my face and give me kisses, but then panic when I move too fast with my hands.
Step up training is gettimg better but she still tries to get down as quickly as possible so my advice is if you get a quaker, pay vefy close attention to what exactly triggers her and work with her. They're animals that live in flocks and they have a real attitude as you need in a flock to get things your way, so if you're going to be her flock, she'll love you and be loyal to you and all these good things will be there. But you have to put yourself into the head of a parrot to work with them. The shopowner discouraged me from buying her because she's not well behaved. Now she klicks her beak and quakes her head because she knows she gezs treats with that trick, but more importantly she knows I will spend time with her because it turns out she likes me. We're a family of three now
@Zadie Whitehead they know how to give you rough bites but they also do playful bites.
If you get two, I'd recommend to do what I did, to get one first and then when that one is bonded to you, you get a second one. But this is my advice, ai just had parrots for a few months so maybe I'm still making mistakes right now that I'm unaware of and would disagree with in a few weeks from now, so maybe don't just ask me, I'm glad to answer what I would do but I'm just someone with these parrots and maybe this just works out for me. There are other people with more experience
My budgies always startle when I use a normal clicker, they're just too loud. Instead I use a ballpoint pen, which makes a much softer clicking sound! It works perfectly.
Great idea... Thanks for sharing!
that's adorable
What a clever workaround! Thanks for sharing. Someone's going to find that very useful. 🐤
That is actually pure genious! Good thinking.
That’s brilliant!
I am more and more convinced that birds are not meant to be pets but they sure need to be rescued.
I came to the same conclusion, and it breaks my heart.
i believe that as well, i have a hamster and they really shouldn’t be pets, and don’t make good pets. they aren’t cuddly, they are moody, they get spooked easily, and just overall i just don’t recommend them to anyone unless i think they would be a good owner. however, they are still in captivity and need to be cared for.
Catherine Fraser I think that the only animals that are truly good pets are the ones that have been domesticated by humans in order to be docile and loving over time.
Agree 💯
@@sylvie_on i think its not that they are bad pets, people just cant cater to their needs
Fun anecdote: I work at a bird store and someone once called asking for a “featherless bird.” 🙄
They do exist, bird without feathers ... But have PBFD. Not something you want :(
I think they probably wanted a bird to help heal
LittleInfants they definitely were asking for one like how you would want a hairless cat
i mean... sphinx cats are a thing, maybe they wanted something like that... buuuuuut....
I think they meant highly stressed and plucked?!?!🤦♀️
“. . . Like a dog without wings”? That doesn’t make sense. Dogs never have wings. Shouldn’t they really be saying “. . . Like a dog WITH wings”?
that is exactly what i thought
But idiots will believe this n it’s sad
ye, people just believe everything they read on the internet. It is really sad that people do, but they do.
I love Wolves I just got done arguing with someone who believes they are a vet but couldn’t tell me what they specialized in lol.
XD
I volunteer at a bird rescue and don’t think ive ever seen 2 amazons come in with the same personality.
I initially went searching for an Indian ring neck bc of their look and their capabilities. After having a couple very negative and aggressive experiences with ring necks the store owner showed me a rosiefrons conure and I initially wasnt very interested until it showed interest in me as I walked by. I held the two babies they had there and one absolutely chose me! We just meshed so well together and she is now like the love of my life. Her name is Roxanne and she is responding to training so well and shows me so much affection! I couldn't agree with this video more!!!
This is how you do it! A bird will decide if they like you or not, and even if they're friendly that doesnt mean they will form a deep trusting bond with you.
This is NOT how you do it. It’s a terrible idea to walk into a pet store and just let a bird “choose” you by quickly interacting with you. You must do tons of research on the species needs before getting the bird. It would be stupid to buy toys and food for a sun conure and then get a lorikeet instead.
Incanus Olórin Well obviously you shouldn’t just buy it on a whim on the first meeting, I meant in general you shouldn’t buy a bird just because you like how it looks or you like someone else’s pet and want one like it.
I had previously worked with multiple different conure species and smaller parrots. I worked at pet stores for years myself before I even thought of getting a bird. I was not just buying her on a whim. I was prepared and before making the final purchase and decision I did indeed do my research. I was not just going in there unprepared and not knowing anything about birds. I do agree this is not always the best method in the sense that you mean. I used to have parents come in to the pet store and just want any animal their kid liked without having any idea how to care for said animal! You should ALWAYS do your research before adopting or purchasing ANY animal!
Candace Thomas Agreed!
On a video you made before someone explained what it’s like owning a parrot.
*Owning a Parrot is like having a messy, clingy, bipolar toddler who doesn’t grow up for 50 years with bolt cutters attached to their face. Oh, and they can fly*
100% true
I 100% agree, I have 2 budgies, and if you just looked at their personality’s you would NEVER know that they are both the same species of bird!
People don’t realize how much work birds are, I’m so glad you make videos like this to educate folks. They need to know what they’re signing up for!!!
I have a double yellow headed Amazon and she definitely has he own personality. She loves to sing and can be very cuddly. I've found that I need to respect her moods. Sometimes she just doesn't want to step up and sometimes she does. She's 40 years old and I inherited her from a former boyfriend 30 years ago. She got so she'd lunge at him every time he came near her cage. Daisy prefers to be around women rather than men and she's very much a 1 person bird. Lately, since I've been working at home, she wants to be wherever I am. She loves to talk on the phone and participate in the conversation which can be interesting while I'm at work. She can get very animated about phone conversations. If it gets to be too much, I transfer her to another room and play a classical music cd for her which seems to relax her. She's a character and I love her!
cherish the time you have together. I just lost my 40 year old yellow naped amazon that I've had since birth. like losing my older brother
It's not rocket science, some birds are not compatible because of temperament,i wouldn't like to be bitten by some parrots, how do you stay calm in such a situation, captivity is not good for birds,it's not their natural habitat🐦
@@tyborg314 So sorry!
So weve had our Foster BFA for about 5 weeks.
He is intelligent and funny and very inquisitive.
No idea of his background, he was dumped in a box across the road from an Avian vet. But we left all that behind the day he came home. Fresh start, fresh history.
He is clearly afraid of hands and arms, so we work on different tricks which are hands off. He has mastered targeting and gently receiving treats.
He was clipped, but it has grown out. You can tell he has never purposely flown, so that's what we are working on now.
He wants to be affectionate, but I have a hard no shoulder policy, especially since we are months to years away from stepping up.
We go slow, and I'm willing to do what it takes to get him flying and fit!
Thank you for fostering! ♡
It's a special labor of love to put so much emotional energy into an animal you have no intention of keeping. All that work, purely for the benefit of the animal and its _future_ companion(s). I love it.
My experience with Amazons in the late 80's &90's, taught me to Never trust an Amazon, especially when their eyes are pinning. As you were saying each Amazon has its own personality within its group i.e.; Single or double yellow heads (which are the most aggressive in my humble opinion, and sadly the best talkers). Lilacs and Blue fronted seemed the least aggressive, but again each one is an individual. Jamie, I agree with you regarding Amazons in captivity is not a good fit, but here we are. Every morning I hear the Wild Cherry heads fly by, chattering away as they head towards the Presidio here in San Francisco, and when they head back towards the embarcadero at dusk. I really love watching them with their large personalities, (from a respectable distance of course). Good talk, and a very important reminder, Thank you.
At the shelter I work at, my favorite bird in a blue fronted Amazon. He is the sweetest thing ever and has been the only bird that I’ve really bonded with (we have about 150). He’s snuggly, gentle, and steps up with ease. But that of course is his personality and our compatibility! They are all so different because we have other Amazon parrots that behave totally differently. Layla is a green amazon who screams so loud all the time! Also, she’ll put her head down for some pets but then tries to bite! So yes they are all unique.
I rescued an 11 year old male Amazon about 5 years ago. He was prior with a bird hoarder and always in a cage. He was scared and aggressive. I used to sit by his cage and just talk with him. It took a lot of patience and learning his signals of what he is feeling but we communicate well now. He has not been in a cage (bedsides to travel!) in over 4 years now. Some days he is quite loving, others he just wants to be left alone. He does say good morning every morning but that is about the extent of his vocabulary. He whistles quite loudly when he wants something and can mumble/grumble a lot. Having him in my life is quite rewarding but he is nothing like what I was told I was adopting when I did. I have zero regrets but I am able and was happy to put the time and dedication in with him. If not, I believe he would still be that scared angry bird he had been years ago.
You nailed it about the connection! I was not looking for a Amazon.
One day in a pet shop I gave this bird a treat and it ran up my arm nested on my shoulder.
He picked me !!! The shop owner was amazed, saying that the blue-front was shy and did not like people.
I went back a number of times over the next two weeks, and received the same affection each time.
To this day "Duke" my blue-front amazons favorite place to be is on my shoulder.
clever shop owner..
@@singingsunflower9000 I considered the possibility that the shop owner was just feeding me a line of bull. But Duke really does not like other people. It took my mother many years before the bird would even come anywhere close to her. I have one other friend Bobby that the bird seems to like other than that when people come around the bird runs for cover. So I'd have to say the shop owner was being honest with me.
@@joedunbarjr it seems to be common that birds are very avoiding of men or women in general, sometimes depending on length of hair. but im wondering how common it is for people who visits pet shops to give the animals treats? its absolutely not allowed for customers to feed the animals anything in the store i work in.
@@singingsunflower9000 when I was considering buying Duke I did give him toys. Wooden props supplied by the shop owner for him to destroy. But that was it, no food. And like I said my bird's greatest joy even to this day is sitting on my shoulder. If he had it his way that's where he'd live.
@@joedunbarjr thats nice, good thing you found each other.
It’s true from my experience that amazons are moody but they are nothing like dogs. And “can’t stay still”?!! No I have owned 3 amazons and they were all calm. My caique on the other hand only needs 5 minutes to relax before she is full energy😂
5 minutes? Huh that must be a really low energy caique, mine is just, never tired.
Caique =energizer birb. Wind it up and let it go.
I have a BFA who is 3 years old. We got him when he was a baby at 6 months old. He is NOT like a dog or cat without wings. Absolutely not!. He is highly intelligent, a comedian, and his attitude can go from you rubbing his head and him fluffing up to instant crazy in 2.2 seconds. And with a beak like that this could be very painful if you don't know a parrot's body language "Prior to" handling him or scratching his head or interacting with him. He loves to interact with us(my husband and I only, we have a 14 year old son and 10 year old daughter) but we have had birds for a long time and know what to look for to avoid a nasty bite. Parrots speak in the way the move, their eyes pinning, their tails fanned out so many signs to let you know if they are saying yes I want some attention or no leave me alone. Parrots are fine with you not handling them as long as you're nearby they feel connected to you. You can talk to them and interact from a distance to scope out how they are communicating about what they might want or need. We have a dog and he lives outside because of our 10 birds. Dogs are very loyal and generally will never bite you. They are easy to read. Parrots take time to have and experience with in order to really learn the body language of a parrot or any other bird. As I said before they communicate. They are a lot of work. More so then a dog or especially a cat. They are like children with feathers. They require patience, time, learning what their body language is, and really interacting well with proper diet and care and cleaning of their cages and toys. They are more expensive to have than a dog or a cat also. Because you need to give them toys to entertain them and keep their minds engaged. You also need to put in a lot of time to train them to do things to keep them safe as well as the fun stuff. If they are not wing clipped, then safety training is essential to keep them from flying into walls, and windows. Birds are an investment of time, care, good food, and love. Dogs and cats are no where near what a bird requires much less an amazon. We love our BFA as much as we love our kids. We call him our feathered juvenile delinquent. We mean that lovingly of course. He gives us great joy and when we have to go somewhere that he can't come, we miss him all day. So our love for our beautiful boy is intense. He is the best birthday present I ever got for myself. We don't let the kids really mess him much because his moods can be so erratic we don't want him to hurt our children or them to hurt him trying to get him off if her were to bite them. Our children have cockatiels and a lovebird to hold and interact with more. We feel confident enough they can handle this. Our BFA on the other hand is mommy and daddy's bird on purpose. Even though we have had birds for 18 years out of the 28 years we have been together, sometimes even we have things to learn as a larger parrot owner. Amazons are not for the inexperienced bird owners. Beginner birds are smaller with smaller beaks. Also you need to know that an Amazon lives a long time so if you get one you need to make sure you are a younger adult so your feathered friend will not have to be re-homed. I find that re-homing a bird to be one of the saddest things they have go through in this life. So there is a huge life expectancy to consider when getting an Amazon or any other larger parrot such as a macaw. I know this is long, but I wanted to explain in as much detail as I could about bird/parrot ownership to those who are new at this bird ownership thing. I hope this helps to explain Jamieleigh to those watching this video from an actual Blue Fronted Amazon parrot owner for 2 1/2 years now.
They for sure have way more complex behavior and communicate in so many ways it takes awhile to learn it all its like learning sighn language for birds
@@ReeferNoob23 it is and it is a joy to learn. Birds view you as their flockmates so you have to treat them with respect.
I didn’t know we had to write an essay
You have a very special bird. Your bird is a huge exception and I think people look at those cases and think that they too will be an exception and get this wonderful perfect bird. Yes, talk about the good things. But people really need the reality of the struggles they will face. I know Jamie said at one point, and I totally agree, that no one should really own a bird. They’re not domesticated enough as of now. As much as I would love to get a caique I would never because I know I wouldn’t dedicate the right amount of time to training and raising. that’s not fair to the bird. It’s sad because people don’t think about what is best for the bird before buying.
My BFA is older than me at 39 years, shes been my best friend since I was born. You really have to plan for the long term with amazons, and make sure you can afford it. (Bird specialists cost more than regular vets but they're neccesary and worth it. To put it in perspective though, recently we had to go 2 towns over for a $1400 emergency visit. We don't usually pay nearly that much, but birds need regular vet checkups whereas dogs and cats just need yearly shots barring medical conditons.)
I love your advice about looking for a specific connection with a bird and not a certain colour 🤗
Hell no, my Lilac Crowned is not a dog with wings. She’s like a toddler. Sweet and curious as anything, but a lot of work and she’s constantly getting into trouble. She targets and takes tiny treats out of your fingers as gently as possible and then sometimes gets spooked and freaks out over strawberries. She’s loud, she destroys things in seconds and I love her to bits.
I didn’t go out for an Amazon, or a talking parrot. I wanted a parrot in the 300 gram range, tried a Derbyan, turns out I am allergic to Old World bird, then met Tatl and I knew even though the breeder said she was more of a challenge than her calmer brother, that she was my match. I adore my Tati and can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.
I have a 13 year old Yellow Nape Amazon since he was a baby and he is nothing like a dog. He is the cutest green clown who continually cracks me up with his antics and talking/singing abilities but he can turn at the drop of a hat. He will warn you before attacking so we know when to leave him alone and he can also be fearful at times. I love this bird with all my heart and would never give him up for anything, however, I DO NOT recommend them as pets. I carry tremendous guilt owning him as he should be living free in the wild and not bred for captivity. 💕🦜💕
my mom's best friend moved out of country briefly leaving her 22 year old BFA in our care. She had him since he was 6 months old, and when he was going through bird puberty, bit her real good on the thumb. She didn't handle him after that. Then she had foster kids who would poke him with sticks. I knew Teddy for about 5 years growing up before he came to us. I adored this bird, having zero experience I was determined to get him to trust me and not live on top of his cage forever. HE TRICKED ME. So, I went to put my arm out, since fingers were a huge turn off for him, he ever so gently put his foot on my arm like he was going to step up.... No pinning, not ruffled, tail feathers calm. SO CALM. Just lunged and grabbed a chunk of my arm. I just stood there and took it. I was in shock. Hurt so bad. But know what, It was a test apparently. Teddy stepped up after that. I went over my mom's other friends house, who rescued a lot of birds, she immediately grabbed my arm and just said. "broke". I replied, "what?" she said, "broke" again. Then explained that if it were my finger, he would of broken it. That he trusted her no problem, but he probably somehow realized my age and lack of confidence and that is why he wanted to "test" me
I have been babysitting a young (2 y. old) bluefronted for a few (6) months now and I am amazed and in awe of the ridiculous amount of energy this bird has (have had mature african greys for most of my life and am fostering an adult B&G macaw). This amazon does not seem to have an "off"buton ;) always hanging upside down, attacking toys, trying to get into trouble when outside the cage almost non-stop, curious to the point of being fearless most of the time. But also has THE most adorable poofed up headfeathers (when demanding scritches) of any bird I ever met. The "whoa I am not sure about this"-growl is actually cute (at least when she finally understood that following this up with a biting down and drawing blood was not needed at all!).
The people that kept telling me "amazons do not bluf, they will strike" did never meet this one (or do not pay enough attention to their birds). Yes, the bodylanguage differs from other parrots (they all do!) but it is not really hard to learn. (And she always "blufs"/ warns in advance before even going near a person, so every single bite is on me for not paying attention to her mood or pushing it.)
I have had 2 Amazons (total experience with them is about 35 years) with very difficult personalities, probably due to a combination of different subspecies of parrot, and how they were raised before I took them in.
5 main poinrs
First , both my parrots had the intelligence,and emotional levels of 3 to 4 year olds who never grow up. The first one was quiet and didn't explore much. She was tame with other people but kept mostly to herself. The Amazon I have now is very social and loves to talk on the phone. She will give a cheery "hello", "how are you" What ya doing" and a few other phrases.
2. Amazons need attention and affection as well as as many head rubs as you can give them., in this way they are kinda like a dog that you don't have to take for walks. If your Not at home a lot then Don't get an Amazon. They need their person to be around. Leaving the radio on for hours a day doesn't work. They crave companionship and would be happy living on your shoulder. They are very affectionate and can bond quickly even when re-homed
3 Parrots seem to really like music. mine Loves to whistle and sing. She has a set "Jam Time" with us on Zoom while my partner plays guitar. If we miss the time, she lets us know by starting to sing and staring at our music room.
4. Amazons are good communicators and learn quickly. For example mine learned or should I say SHE TAUGHT ME that if she rings her bell and walks to the back of her cage it means t she wants us to cover her up for bed. The Parrot I have now, lived on a farm near a police station. She now makes incredible animal noises as well as making a siren sound, more important is that she is social around other animals and not afraid of a bunny and a fairly large dog that she met one day.
LASTLY. Birds can be expensive. They need good quality cages, food, mineral stones,vet checks etc.
i dont spend money on bird toys anymore, my bird likes her bell, mineral stones, willow branches and the cardboard boxes the toys came in (all tape and plastic removed of course) Re:vet checks, make sure your are near an avain vet.
I have had other birds for me and my at-home lifestyle and couldn.t imagine NOT having an Amazon in my life.
We must share, on the internett, all this important info. Cos, gosh, so many ignorants out there, are getting all they want, from equally ignorant parents!🌍🦜🐦👀🧠💡🌟🙏 I love so much my "Love-At-First-Sight" ; Coco, who's lost lots of feathers, and yesterday, he started to dance, when I came to say hello to him in his cage! He danced, waved with his foot, said "hi", we both felt so HAPPY😍 So much joy, only because I came to talk with him💖🦜 I don't want any other bird. But they won't sell him. Thank you, for all you do for Birds&people!! I adore you, for what you're doing 😍🙏🦜😃💐🌻I am norwegian, but live in Spain, for the time being, and I don't know, if there are any bird-clubs, or such, here, in south Spain. They usually are far behind, here. I've done alot of volunteering for handicapriding, in Norway, but here, the south(Andalucia) there is nothing anymore, now. The rest of Spain, yes, but here, they are at the point, still, of believing,:that the first puppies a dog has, must be drowned in the river, so she will get much better puppies, the second time!!😭! Ofcourse Ive spoken up about it, but here, people don't care much. I wish you can come to Spain, one day, (when we're all vaccinated for that covidvirus) , and if you want a translater on your show in Spain, I can!! (I've lived here more than 25years, now...!!) So; HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY JamieLeigh, David and Capri,+ your birds! ❤️🌻🌻🦜🥥🥬🍑🍒🌽🥜🥜🥜🥜"Just peanuts!", as Krishna said, in The Mahabharatha🥜😎 👌👌👌💯😍🙏🐄
I completely agree with the statement, I have a blue fronted amazon
My best friend "Baby" (almost 50 year old Lilac Crown Amazon) has been with me since she was just a couple months old .
She is very sweet loving playful and supportive through my lifes ups and downs.
She is normally quiet and well mannered and extremely healthy and beautiful.
Her basic diet since getting her has been LaFabers pellets and i also give her fresh fruits and veggies along with a little of just about anything im eating.
She has lived with up to 3 cats and even 2 huge green iguanas and has outlived all of them and theres a good chance she will outlive me as well.
I cant imagine life without her.
She is nothing like a dog imho as my family raised champion boxers when i was young.
An Amazon is a lifelong committment and a wonderful companion closer to a human friendship than a dog in my opinion.
I have double yellow head Amazon. He is 2 years old. I got him at 6 months old.
He was very cage aggressive. But I got him step up on perch and took him to play stand. After few weeks pass then he was less aggressive. Then got two perches and eventually switched to using my arms and then finally hands.
One weird thing about him is he wont step up to your right hand. When he is on perch. But he always steps up to my left hand. He has also learned hie to step down .He gives short kisses. I still working on teaching him to allow me to pet top of his head.
I have not used the clicker. I just tell him good boy as reward.
He also gets chop during the day and pellets later in the day and night time.
I could write a book on Amazons. I used to work with Avian Veterinarian and seen a lot.
I've rewatched your old videos on recommending and giving big warnings abt getting one. And suffice to say, I am one of the people who will help the community by just not getting one! I will try for bird sanctuaries if I find one in my country tho. Lots of love team Birdtricks!
We appreciate people who realize a bird isn’t right for them in that moment or at all. Thank you😂
Good choice, mate! I decided to do that too. After doing some research I‘ve come to the conclusion that parrots don’t belong in captivity at all, even with people that can offer them the best life possible, like the Birdtricks couple. I think a captivity environment will never be well suited to wild animals. People should just stick to dogs, cats and farm animals as pets.
When I went to the pet shop (no breeders or shelters in my area) I originally wanted to get a guinea pig. There were none. And then I saw an opaline red-rump who was hiding on the floor of her cage in a corner. She looked really sad and didn’t want people to see her. I later found out that her partner got sold to a family, but she remained in the cage alone. I ended up getting her instead and named her Julie. Two days later, Julie was already singing and letting me pet her. Almost a month later, we got her a younger red-rump that we named Dean. Took her a weak to get used to him but now they’re friends. Since I didn’t know anything about red-rumps prior to getting one, I did a lot of research since I got Julie. I could’ve waited 2 weeks to get my guinea pigs, but I ended up with parakeets instead. Lol I’m just happy they’re happy. I would like to get another bird at some point, but we’ll see about that.
I have an Amazon (not entirely by choice, but here he is). I love him to pieces, but do not recommend anyone ever to have an Amazon or bird in general. It truly is like having a toddler, they need so much of your time and energy (and deserve it, as it’s our choice to keep them in our homes).
I've got a 3 month green Quaker Parrot, and trust me, he's big trouble lmao. Since his wings were clipped when we bought him from the breeder, he likes walking around A LOT, if I don't watch him for a few minutes, he'll climb down his cage and walk around, it's usually safe for him apart from the stairs and he'll usually walked down, but I catch him before he falls or anything since his balance is terrible too. He's a handful, but he's a big cuddle bug too! He's definitely made me more active and i love him ♥
My quaker is fully flighted and she *still* walks everywhere unless I’m training flight with her😂
I love what you said about connecting with the bird who needs what you have. I’m not a bird owner, but I absolutely love them and have thought for a long time about getting a bird....only to not feel the right connection with one in particular. So Ive stuck with dogs, cats, rats, etc instead. I mean, I’ve rescued wild birds before and taken care of them until we could get them to the wild bird rescue, but that’s not even close! I figure that if or when a bird comes into my life for more than 48 hours it will be because of the connection we formed somehow. ❤️🙏 It’s nice to have that affirmed as a valid way of choosing a bird. Thank you!
Sanskrit Blue connections DO HAPPEN. My cockatiel was one. He was a baby in a pet store and just kept following my spouse on the other side of the glass and being playful. He wanted to come home with us. There’s no other way to say it. Seriously the best pet I’ve ever had. So you can get lucky.
Matthew Falls That’s beautiful! Thank you for sharing! ❤️🙏
You'll know if/when a bond is there. The bird will, too, probably before you do. :)
I did rescue her, and I went to see her 2-3 times a week for 3-4 weeks. She did choose me and we have the best relationship, it's been 7 years
I recently got my first bird (in about 15 years) - a young green cheek conure. She was hand raised and very well socialized. This made everything so much easier for me with training. I spent a lot of time talking with green cheek owners before getting her, and she's been a great fit. I wanted a social bird that was a "clown" and might talk. That's exactly what I got. She's my little buddy
I totally agree with you! I went and hung out with a few birds at a local zoo and was very surprised when one of the umbrella cockatoos ( of all birds ) bonded to me. I have never felt that bond before with a bird but we just seemed to click immediately. She kept leaning super close to the cage so I could scratch her ( paying super close attention to body language so I wouldn't get bitten ). When I went to walk away with my family she scream " wait!!! Come back!" At me. 🥰
I adopted a 9 year old male Blue-Fronted Amazon. He is TERRIFIED of hands so I’ve had to watch how I move around him so that he knows I’m safe and my hands are not going to hurt him. He is only aggressive if hands get too close when he doesn’t want it. I feel in my heart that he’s been hurt by hands before and it’s so sad. But after having him for about two months now we’ve gotten to where he will eat from my hands but still does not like or accept touches. He’s such a sweet boy and maybe one day he will be comfortable with stepping up or scritches. 💜
I don’t own an amazon. I’d like one some day but I don’t have the time for another bird right now. But I can say that I’ve interacted and trained with multiple species of parrots and *none of them are anything like dogs*
That’s part of why I like them.
(No offense to dogs they’re lovely creatures just not for me😂)
I've had a captive-bred White-Fronted Amazon for 17 years. He's mostly a one-person bird (will go to other females for treats), is incessantly hormonal, and is a poor talker. When hormonal, he's like a robot; driven for one task and one only, and unfortunately that task is to try and kill my Husband.
On the positive, when he's not hormonal, he is extremely personable. He is a great mix of both velcro and solitary. Happy to be on his own and happy to be with his people. He loves interaction, is a fast learner, is mischievous (messing with and feeding the dog are his favourite games), and is great at sound effects despite being a poor talker. And he's never opposed to any head scratches you want to give him. Is he like a dog? Absolutely not.
People say that male Amazons are unpredictable. Mine isn't. His intent is very clear through his body language prior to any violence, and I haven't had a serious bite from him in probably 15 years now that I know all of his signals (and tricks). Honestly though, my Cockatiel is more vicious than the WFA... those bites hurt much worse.
After having watched many of your videos, I am constantly impressed by the quality of your voice and how articulate you are. And you are such a good teacher. Thank you for all you do.
3:38 I have one right now that was literally a stray. It kept flying in the lobby of our apartment building. We live in Florida, so it’s not odd to see random tropical birds. I don’t think categorizing species of animals by personalities works that way for most animals. They ALL have different personalities even in the same species. But birds are EVEN more individual. They are also smart and stubborn.
I have had several birds in my life. This one was obviously a pet though. So we volunteered to foster/forever home it. No owner has come forward, so she’s pretty much our baby now. Mayday is her own Quaker parrot. She’s stubborn. She’s LOUD. She’s mean. She’s cage aggressive. She’s also completely sweet, cuddly, cute, fun, active, playful and beautiful. But ALL those moods come as a package.
You get what you get with a bird. YOU are really the one that has to make changes for it. Yes, their behavior can be changed... but ultimately it’s you changing your routine to change the bird’s reactions to things. Training. Time. Care. Cleaning. It all is hard work... but worth it.
She is who she is. I have to fully accept that from day one and not just be another person who gets fed up with her squeaking and abandon her. I signed up. I owe her that. Her other owners broke the contract and let her fend for herself in the wild most likely. I’m pretty sure they cut her leg band off. You can see she had one from ring wear when we got her. So in the end, NO bird is a 100% safe option of perfect fit by judging them from a personality list. Some birds are literally “duds.” They literally have been lemons from the start (as far as what we define as a good pet). That does not mean they should be abandoned like an old car though. That lemon has feelings. Very REAL feelings. It’s not a toaster oven. And you need to know going in that you BETTER BE committed to taking care of a lemon from the start. Be willing to work with them to try to change behaviors. Be willing to love them for their faults as well as the joys they will bring you. Be willing to be their rock. And training can also fail. Some birds are just stubborn. It’s just how it is. You’re still responsible for that baby even if you tried everything and behaviors don’t change. If you’re persistent and consistent, a lot of times the training will take and they learn how to be better with your direction. They aren’t all lost causes. They’ve usually have just been given up on by people who thing they ARE toaster ovens and don’t like the way this one toasts. So you have to know these things going in.
You’re making a commitment to a living, feeling, intelligent, and beautiful being. You can try to narrow it down be typical species personality traits, but that little fluff ball might decide to flip that script on its head and defy every one of those traits because they’re individuals. You have to be dedicated to whatever that individual turns out being. And it’s nearly impossible to know how that individual will behave when you sign up.
What an awful way to treat any animal. If you realise you made a mistake and aren't right for the bird, or your life circumstances change and for whatever reason you can't look after it any more, at least turn it over to a rescue. Don't just let it go. I remember when I was a child I had a book about the characteristics, care needs and general pros and cons of different species of pets and how to choose one that's right for you. There was a quote in it that has stayed with me for the decades since then
"Whatever sort of pet you choose, I hope you're happy with it. Make sure it's happy with you"
Love this.
PonderingStudent EXACTLY! At least they could’ve taken it to a shelter. She just kept coming back in the lobby after the apartment managers tried to set her free again and again. I told them she most likely was a pet set free and that I’d take her and give her a good home. I love her. She’s the funniest lil gal. She DEFINITELY has the grumps sometimes. I need to train her more, but she’s also very fun and sweet. I don’t see how someone could just throw her away. She’s safe and loved with me now.
Moody, yes. Beyond that, that quote is ridiculous! I have a 25 year old Blue Fronted Amazon of unknown origin. Was told she was 6 months old, and after 25 years, we're still learning and growing. But, on a bad day... she's like a ticked off 2 year old with a viscious beak. I tell everyone if you want a parrot, consider yourself the parent of a TODDLER who can fly!
As always, another great video. I would love to have a bird. But, I’m older now and I’m pretty sure I couldn’t give the bird what he/she needs. The reason why I love watching your videos is because you and Dave are truly magicians. What you do with your flock is just a joy for me to watch. Also, you and Dave have an amazing chemistry and your positive energy and love for your birds is why I believe you are so successful. Have a wonderful day! Hi Capri..❤️. Nana Janet🦉🦆🧸🦅🦇🐣
I have a physical disability so I really rely on trust with the birds. I've had two lilac crowned Amazons at different times. Neither one of them ever tried to bite me. They were the sweetest birds I have ever interacted with… I totally agree they cannot generalize entire species based on one or two experiences. My point is that a rumor that is answer on the individual but that I have positive experiences. Interestingly enough now I have a little Hahns macaw Who is absolutely amazing but nips constantly. He still quite Young and getting better all the time. Both of my Amazons were rescues. Birds are individuals just as people are individuals. Thank you BT for all that you do for the birds and the humans who love them.
Yes!!! I totally agree. I have one amazona and she doesn't stop one minute. She broke the bottom from the WC and a lot of things from my house 😂
"Look for that magic, that connection." This is so true. I was drawn to my baby boy (maximilian pionus) even though I hadn't had a bird larger than a budgie. I'm so glad I followed my gut on getting him. But, my late roommate had an even bigger connection with her bird, a rescue umbrella cockatoo. She and I were at a bird fair and were trying to stand out of the way. A woman walked by with a cockatoo on her shoulder, but when she passed my roommate, the bird immediately jumped onto my roommate and didn't want to leave her. We ended up working out a deal so that we could adopt the cockatoo (a hen named Aurora). Now that my roommate has passed, I can definitely tell that I'm not her favorite. She loves me, sure, but I'm not the one she chose. Thankfully, she's warming up to my roommate's niece who treats her the exact same way my roommate did, and I'm giving Aurora to her because of that. Aurora responds so much better to her than she does to me, and I'd rather have Aurora be happy than keep her here with me.
i’m very sorry for the death of your roommate. i’m sure she’s very pleased with you taking care of her bird, wherever she is.
@@sylvie_on thank you, she was a wonderful woman who was lost way too soon. Her bond with Aurora was amazing to see. 💔
I love your videos and have learnt so much. Thank you for amazing content. 💞
A friend of mine had an Amazon for a long time. She told me quite seriously that it is a law in every state that one has to clip Amazons because they ONLY fly to attack. I managed not to to die laughing.
I just woke up but clicked as fast as I can 😂
Same
Me too
Me too
Same lol 😂 even though I already have birds 😁
Once again, it is such a joy watching you with your beautiful bird and how your daughter does such a fantastic job too!
Love this video Jamie! The few amazons I have known have been incredibly bonded to their person but not so much with anyone else. I agree find the bird that needs you!!💜💜💜
Target training is amazing! I'm so glad I listened to you and Dave on starting with target training. It is super underrated! It's my bird's favorite type of training. He gets so excited when he sees the stick sometimes I have to stop for a few minutes until he calms down. I also agree with the clicker speeding up the training process.
Your part about having a connection with the animal is so true. I have an 8 year old peach-faced lovebird and he and I get along so well. He trusts me completely after our many years together.
He's also a cranky toddler with scissors and wings, and a rather ear-splitting peep.
My second Amazon is a huge male yellow nape. He is a rescue who was abused, and incredibly fearful of people, especially men. It took at least a year, but he learned to trust me and other people. He is now the sweetest most affectionate birdie, and I is so animated. He loves to show off, sing, talk and loves tricks. He has been my best buddy for 25 years, and honestly, my life would not be as full without him! They are definitely not easy though, and require a lot of patience!
Yay! New upload I love your videos Jamie
My amazon is adopted, he’s 17 yo. He seeks me out to bite me. And he tries to fly at me but luckily his wing feathers haven’t fully grown in yet. I’ll give my amazon a treat, he looks me in the eye and throws it. I could go on and on
My parents got me an Amazon when I was 11 and she doesn't talk much. She is easily the funniest sweetest most affectionate little gal ever. Normally she doesn't like strangers, but when I'm away on a trip she bonds very quickly and warms up to them.
I would consider her a dog with wings. She is very needy and hyper during the day and needs surveillance or she will poop everywhere and chew everything up. In the evening she just wants cuddles and to preen herself on you.
Personality wise, hilarious and extremely sassy.
Because I have had such a great experience I always recommend them.
We spent several months deciding on the species of bird. At first, moluccan cockatoos were a fave, then umbrellas. While I loved green wing macaws, the size was not a good fit. Then, turns out I'm allergic to cockatoo dust. We moved on to Amazon and fell on love with very young Tres Marie. After attending parrot school to learn care, Shannon joined the house. He was just about 8 months. He came home after he spent the day after a home visit screaming my name. He's 35 now. Still well and happy. There are a lot of hilarious Shannon stories. He has about 500 words,phrases, and song lyrics.
I love when you go to Ronnie’s! That’s the perfect place for you to show us new skills with birds that don’t know them. Thank you, Jamie. You are very loved ❤️ and appreciated
I've only had one perfect parrot for the past decade.
My wonderful blue fronted amazon parrot!
I can't imagine having any other bird.
He's my first, and only.
However, I believe he is an unusual bird.
He is suuuper mellow, I really hit parrot jackpot when I rehomed him out of his breeding situation.
🤸🎶🐦💞😁
My yellow nape Amazon has been with me for 26 years, and I consider her a very good and sweet amazon . She is moody, territorial, playful, fearful, affectionate, funny, quiet, loud, and hormonal. ALL of those things and much more. AND I Love Her Dearly! But I would never recommend an Amazon as a “pet” based on my 26 years of experience with her. I read her body language constantly, and work with her current mood, or face the consequences that I would deserve. Parrots are still wild, even captive bred ones, not domesticated. People need to really understand that if they want a bird.
I know Amazons ranging from outgoing and talkative, to aggressive and fearful. They’re certainly not for everyone, and I’ve found them to be an acquired taste. If only I were closer I would love to work with that double yellow.
I have a 2 yo blue fronted amazon, Sam, and he's the best ever. Cuddly, playful, he speaks and sings and whistles and calls my name when I'm in another room. But to achieve all the goals I worked for 2 years and still do. He has 6 or 7 different personalities so I work with the one who's showing at the moment 😄 Sometimes he's also in the autistic spectrum, so he can be on a tree (with elastic leash) and just ignore me for 1 hour like I never existed. The next day he's a totally different parrot, responding to all my calls very quickly. At home he wants to play and wrestle my hand 24/7, outdoor he got the "professional" mode on. Stays on my shoulder, poop on demand and he's very cooperative. We go bike together with people annoying all the time at the point that Sam started saying: look, there's a parrot!! 😅 Some days he's very active and other days he just calm and relaxed. I can understand how hard it is to get their trust when they don't know you at all. But it worth it.
My GCC chose me. I didn't intend on getting her until the breeder brought her out to me. It was love and connection at first sight ❤
Thanks for the advice
I own a yellow crested amazon and he is very loving and talkative. And i have learnt a lot from your videos so thank you
This is a beautiful, thoughtful, compassionate video, and it certainly fits with my experience, as far as picking the right individual. I never wanted a parrot. My sole experience prior to my little GCC was a lost cockatiel who was brought to the migratory bird rescue where I volunteered (and yeah, they are migratory... but this was in Denver.) He was having none of us, and I found the Canada goslings a lot cuter. But my husband met our little girl at a petstore, killing time before a chiropractic appointment, and that was it. We have two females now, about 12 years later, and our relationship (with the birds) deepened and expanded so much when I found this channel. I had no idea how desperate she was for better communication. I keep mentioning only one of them, because the other, while perfectly sweet and cute, seems to look on us more as pets than flock members! But the older one has totally blossomed with the addition of focused training and diet. Thank you for everything.
Helpful video ! Love it xx
Great video topic! Perfect advice for anyone who wants a new parrot. 💖🦜
I adopted the first bird houlihan who would not at all work with you. She has been in our home for almost 3 weeks. She was definitely not into target training at first but we have now got her to do it and its amazing. She definitely can be fearful but is very social and loves to be with people. I know we have a lot of work to do but she is definitely coming out of her shell. We weren't even looking for a Amazon and she chose me. Thanks for all you do.
Totally agree with you in everything you mentioned about Amazons. Specially the part that Amazon picks you in stead of you pick them. I had the experience with a friend of mine and one of my yellow fronted amazon. Simply he fall in love with her and at the time I was up set because she never gave him a treat or talked to him nicely, just she ignore him; but, he just fall in love alone. So he picked her as a love at the first sight.
Also agree with an Amazon is a dog without wings... I would go further and specific saying they are more like a mix between a greyhound, that needs run, play around, toys, full interaction mix with a bulldog. If you don't have time for him to all those things I mentioned, youu will suffer a lot, specially in breeding season. Of course, food also plays a fundamental part!
In addition and most important. Every amazon, even within the same species, is a unique individual being and we can not generalized all as clones.
I love watching the video of the dog trainer with her Amazon. Such a bond it’s incredible.
Amazon parrots just tend to be really active, they are very energetic and the ones I know are constantly talking, they love to communicate and use their voice. It’s a great bird to have if you are willing to give a lot of training time and commitment. I wouldn’t say that it’s an easy bird to have, they need attention and a lot of patience. However my experience with these beautiful birds has been great! Super nice and friendly . I have met a lot of them. Planning to buy one soon!
So I’m going to be bringing home a greenwing macaw. Now, first attempt didn’t work out because reasons that i won’t go into. Then we went looking all over the state for one. Even surrounding states. Finally we landed on an instate shop and was told we could come in and put a deposit on him. By the time we got there he was already sold. My mom discussed it with the owner who contacted the breeder and was going to bring in a completely newborn baby greenwing and wrote me up a bill of sales without taking any money because he wasn’t in store yet (also she had to take an Eclectus parrot along with it...) said “our next available greenwing is yours. No discussions.” I was very happy. and had to think this was the one that God meant for me to have. Then the very next day, I got an email from the owner saying “The man who bought the one you came to see changed his mind and wanted a refund. He is all yours if you want him.” And I confirmed it with her that “yes I very much want him.” He’s 8 weeks old today. When we went up to meet him, they checked his ID number. Some information on me, I was born on 6/6/93 (666 😒😒😒 yes I did have someone jokingly call me the antichrist when they found out) and the ID number had 666 in it.
I believe God brought us to Dexter and Dexter to us and I’m looking forward to spending a good life with a good bird.
Can I agree partially?^^
Edit:
So here is my experience with my blue fronted amazon.
He behaves somewhat similarly to a dog when I come home. Another similarity with dogs is that he will protect me. Don't even try to tickle me or something like this or you will get attacked.
Eventhough he is afraid of people he doesn't know, if you touch me you will have to pay with blood.
Once he knows you (and isn't scared to death anymore) it is pretty obvious if he likes or hates you. If he hates you you shouldn't come to close, but he will warn you multiple times. He will even attack into the air at your general direction before he will really try to attack you. If you don't notice it you have to be blind and deaf.
And he has a really strong personality. E.g. when he wants you to pet him he won't stop pushing his head against you until you pet him as long as he wants.
Here's a tip that might help you choosing a bird that is not aggressive towards you:
Get a bird that likes you, like for example when you go to a pet store or a bird store and a bird just wants you and become playful and excited everytime they see you in the pet store . Get that bird. Because they need you in their life
Edit: oh...and before you get a bird...make sure to do *TONS* of research before getting one or more. Because i have seen enough in the internet of people having a bird and hold them and grabs them like it was a rock. And feed them nothing but seeds. And wayyyy to small cages like even a travel cage is 10x bigger than that small cage that i saw someone got for their bird. The cage even is the size of a flower pot. Please please please do research first before getting a bird.
Exactly! I go and talk to an African grey at a store and hes so excited when he sees me. I asked the lady who works there if hes for sale but unfortunatly he isnt. Hes just a bird who stays there at the store...
These videos are very interesting and informative.
Letting the bird choose you! Absolutely ONLY way (aside from rescuing) to find a new feathered family member. Birds personalities are exactly like humans, Completely different! Even within the same clutch. Great vid!
How do you let a bird choose you? I’m wanting to add another love to our family, but am getting so many different answers. They say don’t buy from a pet shop, but I don’t know another place I could go for a bird to choose me? I just want to be responsible and make good decisions. I believe a conure chose me at a pet shop once, but not sure if his behavior is normal for social birds or if he really did like me a lot. How can you tell? He responded by as soon as he saw me, he ran to the edge of his enclosure and followed me as much as possible. He rolled on his back when I walked up to him and then sat up, pressed his foot against the glass and later did it again holding spring millet up to the glass as if he was trying to hand it to me through his enclosure. Haha!!
My experience has been that they are affectionate with some people, very very loud, very destructive and are frequently VERY aggressive during hormonal periods. Like, divebombing heads, tearing earlobes kind of aggressive.
That double yellow headed baby is so pretty. I wish so many good things for these birds. Am a BirdTricks watcher and fan for good. However, may never have the funds to "do" a bird right. Rascal, my cockatiel is a major fail on flight training and target training. However, we still try. You guys open up such a whole wonderful world for people about birds. Never think you are not changing the world because you really are doing it. So much appreciation to you, Maren, Gabriel, and Rascal Taskel cockatiel (He loves car rides in his cage or backpack and we do this a lot!)
I like your videos, keep going and keep doing what you’re doing 🙂😁
Loved this
My aunt has an amazon he is mean.. and she is not particularly good with him he is almost 30 now.. and I doubt that will change. I dont blame the bird however.. after watching your videos its all her.
You CAN get him to change! Try training him like Jamieleigh and Dave do. Spend lots of time chatting to him (sitting next to the cage whilst you do it). Just chat normally, like say about the weather or something. Ask questions (don’t expect answers) but this gives your voice more range with upward inflections. Ask him how he is, what would he like to eat, things like that. You might feel it’s daft, but I’ve gotten 3 very aggressive amazons (at 3 different times, all owned by different people) turned around just by chatting and spending a few hours at a time with them. Just chatting and maybe singing (most birds seem to like twinkle twinkle little star, and au Clair de la Luna nursery songs). It doesn’t matter if you can’t sing - I certainly can’t! But you can sing these in a soft and gentle voice) It DOES take a lot of time and commitment, but it’s always worked for me. To see the owners faces when they’re terrified when you put your hand in the cage for them to step up, then see them sitting on your shoulder without aggression or fear (aggression can be a form of fear) and the owner goes from terrified to wonderment, is totally worth it! As I said, it does take serious dedication and commitment, but if you’re willing to put in the work, with the training as well, you should have a super mellow birb. Best of luck, I hope you make your amazon happy, and yourself xx
@@asseyez-vous6492 This is my aunts amazon... who lives across the country
Michael Weiss If your aunt cannot spend the time, maybe someone else could? It also helps to show no fear, showing fear can make the bird worse. Someone different who is and has a calm and stable energy would help enormously, arrogance wouldn’t help btw! But confidence and calm goes a long way. I wish your aunts Amazon the very best life; the bird will not be happy being aggressive all the time; it’s super stressful and energy consuming. Taking that away from the bird will benefit it enormously and your aunt and family. All the very best ❤️
This is so true. I’m the only one in my household who is not afraid of my birds. I am also the least likely to get bitten. The few times that our aggressive one bit me, I did not back down. Now, when she amps out on someone else, I am the one that she will calmly step up for. They pick up on our vibes for sure.
I asked for the meanest bird at my local bird rescue, and out came a skin crushing red lored amazon. But luckily, he fell in love with me instantly and was purring on my hand that night. Took a couple of months for my husband to be able to hold him, and he still is an ankle biter of my two grown sons. Amazons tend to be one person birds, I think.
You have given me a lot of insight of what I want in another feathered friend. Or what the feathered friend wants out of me. You need to have that bond to make it work and from my experience, that bond is usually immediate. That can be frustrating and time consuming but it has worked for me so far.
My boyfriend's uncles recently rescued a red crowned Amazon and he's got a super chatty and active personality but I've been having a hard time telling if he's excited to see me or defensive lol... His behaviors are a mix of gentle, happy and aggressive. We are house sitting with the birds this week and I've been spending a little time every day trying to bond with him. He takes really well to snacks and singing.
Great video as always! I used to work with a couple of Yellow-naped Amazons and they were not the stereotypical personalities that people describe! They were fairly intelligent, but they were not affectionate in the slighted (to humans or each other!) and their talking ability was average at best. It would be nice if more of these bird information sites could post a disclaimer that each bird is different.
Well spoken I totally understand and agree with you
Actually I fell in love with Storm the amazon, some 10 years ago. I loved his voice and colors, I thought he was the most beautiful bird. I also saw the challenges you guys had with him. Now I have two bf amazons myself. One is 9 years old, the other one is 6, Coni and Laika. I can't imagine life without them. They have completely different personalities. They don't like to be in close proximity to each other, but they literally complete each others sentences 😂. They chase each other sometimes. One is a good talker, the other one a good whistler. One had screaming issues in the past, the other one will attack my husband when he and I are both in the room. Coni is sitting on my shoulder as I write this, comfortably puffed up and preening. Sharing a life with amazons is truly a storm, but I wouldn't change anything. ❤️
I have a sun conure and their write up is generally a playfull cuddly energetic but mine is quite timid and seems to want alot of reassurance mind you its only 5 months old at this time and ive only had it a month so i cant wait to get into some of your knowledge to improve our bond and give it confidence within itself and us
My budgie buddie Pickles was the sweetest thing. I wanted his commute home to be as comfortable as possible. I played sounds on my Bluetooth in the car of other budgies playing. When I got him home, I opened the carrier and stepped back, while still playing parakeet sounds on my phone in my pocket. While discovering his new home, he flew (I didn’t want his wings clipped) to the top of my tv. I kept a distance, remaining at eye level and started playing music and dancing. Showing my hands and wiggling my fingers so he would see they may look like snakes, but they aren’t dangerous. About 2 hours later, I offered him food from my hand and he ate from it. By the end of the night, he was flying to land on my hand. The following day he was flying after me to perch on my shoulder and would call out to me if I left a room he was in. My little love Barney? Yeah. We’ve been working every day for 3 months and she just started consistently stepping on a perch when I ask her to please step up. They’re all different I’ve noticed ❤️
I never thought I would want a conure, but a black capped conure absolutely stole my heart. He was trying to hand me spring millet through his cage at the pet store I went to to purchase new toys for my budgies. No, I did not bring him home, but just wanted to point out how you can just mesh with a type of bird you never thought you would.
Just wanted to share that I got the budgie course with ffpf1, I have 2 budgies for about 3 months now that are just terrified. Well it's been one week since I bought the courses and today my blue budgie, Sally, stepped up onto my hand today, TWICE. In the cage still, but we are getting places! Thank you
I have a yellow napped amazon. He is very sociable and that is the biggest reason for me not to free flight him. He flies extremely well and he would just fly as far as he could to anyone he remotely saw, even is that person is scared to death of birds, and would land on him. He would also not return to me for hours if that person would "entertain" (tolerates its more the term) him for that period of time.
He also is very smart, stubborn and moody, all love and cuddles one hour and gruntles and not wanting anything with me the next. Pretty good with tricks and fast learner with new ones but I'm still not able to teach him to talk on command (he talks plenty, just not on command). He destroy's everything he can reach and he is very loud twice a day but just a couple screams each time (mornings and sunsets)!
But boy can I relate to that aggressive Amazon when it comes to training. That's what a training session used to look like whenever I tried with my Amazon. He got so overly excited.
I love love all Amazons. They are super emotional and very givingly social birds. You absolutely must be able to tune into them and their emotional needs to be able to survive them tho😍 If you can establish a clear line of communication with them the rewards are amazing. They will give you there all and become quite cuddly. This being said if you cannot read them, they will make you pay and pay dearly for your social faux pas.😊 With the Amazons I find they are most responsive to visual cues and use modeling behavior with them. I show them what I want from them and watch carefully to determine what they needed from me in return. They also seem to thrive on praise just as easily as a treat. This is probably a good thing as they are serious perch potatoes and prone to fatty tumors. We use sounds, soft slow hand movements and soft praise to move them forward as they are emotional and will tune in quickly to your own energy. If you sound or move in an angry or excited way they can and will escalate in an instant. A calm Amazon is a more predictable Amazon. But know that the minute you are not “listening” to them in the early stages of your relationship they can become a tough task master. I have found that once you earn their trust they will more than likely give you the benefit of the doubt for a social infraction. I would say observant calm gentle but confident natured people are in general a good match for the exuberant feisty but wonderfully social breed. All that being said we are all individuals and it takes lots of patience energy and the willingness to survive a few correction bites to establish a good relationship with any bird. They are not at all like dogs who for the most part love unconditionally and forgive easily.
I agree with you wholeheartedly! I have a Blue Fronted Amazon. He's 25, and I've had him for 21 years. I got him from a woman that had to move, had 3 birds, and had to re-home him. I went to see him at the vet where my daughter worked, and where he was boarded. He just picked me. My daughter told me that everyone at the vet's was afraid of him, but he talked and whistled to me. I took him home, and he's been one of my best friends. I've had him longer than any boyfriend or husband! He grew up with my kids, and he's loved every dog I've had. He feeds them out of his bowl.
He's generally in a good mood. He's not loud at all. He doesn't talk as much as he used to, but he has said some crazy stuff! He honks when he wants something, and he's really pushy. When he wants something, he wants it NOW! He will tell me what he wants. He wants water, or food. He wants to watch bird videos on TH-cam! He crouches down low, gets close to what he wants, and slightly flaps the tips of his wings. I call it his begging pose. I give him what he wants. He has me trained well! Most of the time he's easy to read. He occasionally will fake me out by acting sweet, and then nail me, but he probably is hormonal. I give him extra sleep time when he acts like that, and it works. He likes attention in the morning, and in the evening. In the afternoon, he can take it or leave it, and I can tell when he needs to be left alone. He usually takes a nap in the afternoon, and like a toddler, he gets cranky when he's tired. He loves a certain few of my grandkids, and they are the ones that are not afraid of him. They are fighting over who gets to keep him after I die!
He occasionally goes and stays with one of my daughters for a month or so. He likes to go visiting, and I let him decide whether he wants to stay there or if he wants to come home. He loves little kids, and he loves blondes!
In some strange way, I feel like it's more like a human relationship. Sometimes it's like we hate each other, but most of the time we get along great. I've even told him that I was not feeling well, I was going back to sleep, and i couldn't spend time with him. The next day, he asked me if I was OK! I give him space, and he gives me space, as long as his bowls are full!
I watch TV with him in the evening. He will sit on my lap and let me preen his pin feathers on his head. He likes certain shows, and then will demand "night night" and the cover over his cage when it's over. Sometimes he just wants the cover partially over his cage so he can finish a show and just fall asleep.
I know that I can't startle him walking by. I know he doesn't like two people on both sides of him, so I have to remind them of that. Yet, he will sit on the couch with me, my daughters and all of their kids. Since he knows us all, he just goes from one person to the next.
I'm pretty sure that he understands most of what I say. I think I am now fluent in Blue Front babble. He's a wonderful pal. A messy, moody shredding beak sometimes, but I've learned to give him things to shred. I have to watch him every second he's out of the cage, as he'll go straight for the things i love the most. Yet, I can put a harness on him and take him and the dog for a walk.
If the bird is afraid of you, just sit next to the cage for awhile and watch TV, knit, read, anything. After some time, days, weeks, they might come to you when you leave the cage open. A snack doesn't hurt at all.
Music always calms mine down, and he loves listening to it. It's the only thing that will keep him up past his bedtime. He sings a little, or whistles, but he loves to listen.
I would recommend an Amazon to anyone. It's a harder relationship than a dog. It's lots of work, and maybe some bites. I then look at what set him off, like moving to fast, or not asking him if he wants to step up. I ask him if I can pet him, and the head will go down to the bars or my arm, and I know it's ok. I notice that if I tell him what I want to do, he cooperates. He calls me by name. I love him dearly, and I know he loves me, too.
True dat yo! I went to the rescue specifically for an awesome gray, my new buddy bird is a Quaker. It was an instabond. The gray had a zero interest in me but did find a new home, so happy ending s all round