Animal Stories - People Talking About Amazon Parrots



Select Pet Atlas	Select A Family	Species / Breed

Latest Animal Stories on Amazon Parrots (351)

crystal miller - 2010-01-25
I got a male and he will bite you when trying to get him out of the cage. After you get him out he's fine. We got him a week ago. The people we got him from says he talks, but we have tried to get him to talk and he won't. We ask them why he doesn't talk to us they say he has to get to know his new home. He is a 1-year old. I sat with him and talked and talked, can't get him to say anything, what can I do.

Click For Replies (6)

Iain - 2010-03-12
Patience, patience, patience. He's extremely young and rightfully nervous. Try not to take him out of the cage but instead open it and let him climb out. Otherwise do exactly what you are doing, sit with him and talk. Offer him tidbits/treats (in moderation) from your hands and slowly he'll get used to you. As he settles and becomes more comfy he will respond (usually with words or sounds you've been making to him). Don't force / push the pace otherwise it'll backfire. Some people find playing music (while he watches) will start responses (also dancing) or in warm weather use a fine water sprayer to moisten his feathers. All these things and others - done slowly, whilst talking, over time (not hours or days but weeks and months) will enhance his confidence and bring him out of his shell. Enjoy your bird even if he doesn't talk and he'll enjoy you. All the very best with him (I brought mine up this way he's now 10 and runs the house, dogs, cats and us :))
Cyndi - 2010-05-12
Crystal, the only thing you can do with a bird to "make him talk" is to let him be. Not all birds talk, although they are capable. If that is the only thing you are looking for in a bird, then please get a toy bird. Please take some time to do research on the internet. Answers from blogs are not the only source. Just read. And read. Having a new bird is like having a new 13-year old in the house - they will get used to you and will probably surprise you. Good luck!
Anonymous - 2010-05-24
We just got a beautiful 4yr old YC amazon.She is super sweet and super shy. She would "growl" at me trying to get her out of the cage.I put a glove on and she jumped right on my hand.I was actually kinda shocked. We are working her away from the glove. Now I have it just in my hand. Just my persnal opinion sounds like your little man is a bit territorial(Sp?) about his cage. My Olivia wants to be on her cage all the time. I believe the previous owners let her sit all day and that was it. We like our sweeties to be a part of the family. Ours was also suppose to talk but have mot heard a word.I am hopingit is jst because she is new and nervious...but if she never udders a word thats okay to.
Steve - 2010-06-11
He will bite you as you are entering "his Domain". what you need to do is to open the door to his cage and let him come out by himself, as he is already 12 months old, do you know how he was handled before you took him? Many pet shops are very "rough" with the birds and he will be finger shy. You need a lot of patience.. I mean a lot we are talking about 6-8 weeks of daily attention to create a bond and build the trust relationship. Once he trusts you it all becomes easier. As to talking, Amazons usually get noisy around sunrise and sunset, so be there and join in, mimic the noises he makes and sooner than later he will surprise you. Again it all takes patience... that is the key...enjoy your bird.
Don Creamer - 2011-02-08
Hi my name is don I have a blue fronted amazon we got him a week ago and we could not get him to talk but one day the phone rang and he said hello clear as day just give him time do you feed him fruit they love grapes.
Judie - 2011-12-23
Hi Crystal,

My amazon is 4 yrs. old and a total delite to my family. He sings a total of about 14 different songs and will talk your ear off. When strangers come to the house or I have a gathering around Thanksgiving or Christmas he may manage a hello, but that's it. You would think he couldn't talk at all. I have walked just outside on the patio or in another room where he could hear me while speaking to a stranger and he would talk and sing, but the minute he saw the stranger in the same room he would stop speaking. I think your amazon just needs to get use to you and your family. Make sure he is in the family room where all the action is, and he will eventually learn your voices and phrases and start communicating. Be sure at night you cover him up and allow him quiet and sleep time and area though, because he will be crabby and not have the sleep he needs if you don't allow this. My amazon, G.W., tells me at night when he is ready to go to bed by saying 'time to go night night'. He is really a hoot!!

Linda Beninato - 2011-02-03
I would like to know if the female amazon egg needs to be fertilized? No this is not a joke.

Click For Replies (2)

Paul - 2011-02-15
Yes, of course it does. Fertilization is internal. So if your parrot lays an egg and has no mate the egg is sterile. Just throw it out.
Judie - 2011-12-23
Hi Linda,

Yes, you need a male amazon to fertilize the egg if you want the egg to hatch into a chick.

Tinga - 2011-12-11
My brother has just bought me an OW after I mentioned wanting a parrot. He was bought from a bird breeder and we were given a certificate saying his hatching date as 15th July 2011. I have him home and I love him to pieces, but I'm unsure on how to tame him! I'm worried that he hasn't eaten since he arrived which was 48 hours ago. He also 'twitches' and panics, flapping away when ever I put my hand any where near him. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice as I've never had a bird/parrot as a pet before. Thanks

Click For Replies (2)

Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2011-12-11
Well, first, give him some time to acclimate to his new environment. If he only arrived 48 hours ago I am sure he is still getting used to his surroundings and to the new people. I would talk to him daily when feeding him and in another couple days start approaching him again. Try offering him food and approach him with your hand very slowly. If he was hand-fed as a baby he will probably warm up to you pretty fast. Here is a guideline on taming an Amazon parrot for a little more information: Amazon Parrot Care, Handling and Training
David Buss - 2011-12-22
I have an OW hatched July 12 2011. Figi was hand raised by a very good breeder who we knew. I was able to see and play with Figi from about 2 weeks old. You should contact the breeder and find out what they fed him and go with that. You can later introduce other approved foods. Don't worry once he gets use to you, or his new suroundings you can use food treats and a calm voice and he should come around. Figi loves to have his/her head/cheeks/chin scratched. The best thing you can do is talk to him and move slowly till he lets you handle him at will. You are in for a lot of fun and a friend for life.

krystal - 2011-12-11
i guess our biggest problem is my gramas bird peppi spent his whole life just about with chico grampas bird and a cockatoo he can be kind of a bully at times and i think its made peppi a very shy bird but if u seperate them they both get depressed. i dont know what to do chico never really hurts peppi he just pushes him around and sometimes off the cage but i dont think its good for him. do you think a cage with a removable panel to seperate them at least at night would be helpful? and do you know of any way i can encourage playful friendly behaviour?

Click For Replies (1)

Charlie Roche - 2011-12-15
If they have spent years like this - I would just let them spend more years like this. The macaw and the conure in my home get into pushing contest quite frequently. Is it play or fights, I am not sure but separat they will always go to the others cage. They find any which way to break into the others cage. They will sleep side by side. I try and think of two 3 year olds messing around - it helps. I'd just let them be and at night they probably don't even move around.

salman - 2011-12-04
We keep the amazon parrot mealy and he is attract soo soon in 1 week. He is so friendly and gentleman. I am soo happy with Yago he speak soo early in 1 week he said 1 apple. It is a very good parrot. Yago we love him soo much he also love our soo much

Click For Replies (1)

Charlie Roche - 2011-12-05
So glad you enjoy. Mealy's make excellent talkers and they love opera.

nick - 2011-06-02
As an expierence Nape owner (over 20 years), please think carefully before purchasing this parrot. Things to consider:

1) These are not good family pets. For those with a baby Nape or toddler Napes (2-3 years old or less), you may disagree, but wait till the sexually maturity of the bird begins. I probably did not get a bite that drew blood till he was about 4 years old (and have received, I am sure hundreds since, my hands are scarred) The Napes behavior will change and can be very aggressive even to the primary caretaker, depending on the birds hormonal changes. They would fit best into households with preferably no children or older children. A young child could be seriously hurt or scarred from an adult Nape.

2) Yellow Napes are endangered in their natural habitats. If you purchase a Nape, it should be from a reputable domestic breeder. There are many parrots that have been given up by their owners (consignment birds). Consider adopting one.

3) As much as I love my parrot, if I had to make the choice to do get him again, I would not. These birds are not really domesticated (only a few generations removed from the wild) and I am sure they would be happier in the wild. I am the only one in my family that my Nape tolerates. My wife and children are very freightened by him. Especially my 6 year old daughter who is terrified that my Nape will get her. It is not an ideal living situation for the Nape or my family. But I am trying to give him the best life I can, he has only bonded to me.

4) Please do not look at this bird for it's beauty and want to collect it. Chances are you will be sorry.

Click For Replies (3)

Charlie Roche - 2011-06-03
I am not positive but pretty sure that most amazons become or turn into one person birds. However, I am also positive that many of the amazons may prefer one person but they will get along with other memebers of the family. The Napes and Double Yellow Heads can be quite jealous of anything they feel getting too close to their mate. The yellow shoulder, yellow face and even the little Panama may have a preference but are usually friends to all in the family. Not strangers though. I am sorry you are having this problem. Any thoughts on your part to finding Nape a mate and allowing him/her to breed? You can enjoy your fella with his mate and then you can enjoy the baby. Breeding is not terribly easy and can be quite frustrating but in some respects very rewarding.
reese - 2011-06-05
I agree totally. I own one, have had him for 28 years. I think he is awesome but is a one man bird. He is totally a mans bird. He is aggressive and can nip me once in a while but not crazy like the above mans bird. He loves to play rough and loves attention only from me. I would not reccomend this bird to anyone
Kathy - 2011-12-01
You are quite right. Why should any bird be in a cage? I have three parrots that have been given up by their original owners. No one wants a mature bird they are just not goods pets. I take care of the birds because no one else wants them and they can not be returned to the wild. I love them for the creatures they are not for the entertainment value.

Jill - 2011-03-11
I adopted a blue fronted amazon. We believe it to be a female around 20-25 years of age. She has not spoken a word since we brought her home 3 months ago. If we reach into her cage she growls and snaps. She will come out of her cage on her own and sit on the top, but if you go over there and try to put your hand out she will move away or snap at you if she is crabby. We feed her from our hand each day, misc treats. She takes food from your hands very gently. We were expecting more of a family bird. Any suggestions on how to begin holding her?

Click For Replies (8)

Mary - 2011-03-22
I am having the same problem with my bird, he was my mothers so he knows us, but she has passed; so now he is mine. I went to the pet store and read that if you try to pet him/her when her feathers are flat against the body, it is best to leave alone, try petting when she is fluffed; like when she is preening, go SLOW. This worked for me. I still can't handle mine except on his terms and he knows me.:D good luck.
Cari Sakell - 2011-04-17
Hi Jill, I just adopted an 8 year old Blue Front and when I first met him, I could not even pick him up without biting. Not only being neglected, before, was a pet with two young boys whom absolutely did him wrong, very scared of a stick. The way I communicated in the beginning, was, talking and chanting "His" language". He was very standoffish and took me a lot of patience for his trust. Long story short, He is my absolute, beautiful baby, very, very protective of me. I think, if you try to speak his language first, You will have a bestest friend for life. He protects me with his life, just takes patience. Speak his language first, never, ever regret that. Mine was older, neglected, and abused, before I had even acquired him. Don't give up, they are the most wonderful friends you could ever, ever have.
Charlie Roche - 2011-06-03
A blue front can make and normally will make an excellent family pet. The Blue Front has an Independent nature at times (as many Amazons do) but they learn to love and trust their humans. Sounds like this one is pretty scared. She is also what I call cage bound. She knows she is safe in the cage and she is afraid to come out except on her own and only when she feels she can get back in fast. Continue to feed her from your hand. Cheerios, pieces of walnut, shelled sunflower - anything she can eat pretty fast. Then try and put a bowl full of this kind of treat in front of its cage but away from the cage. Put it on a table next to the cage. Put it on anything where the bird has to come out of its cage and over to the bowl - 6 inches then 12 inhes then 18 inches etc. Then hold the treat in your hand 6 inches, 12 inches 18 inches from the cage. Somehow you are going to have to get this little gal out and off it's cage and on to a wooden perch - neutral territory.
It is going to take awhile so be patient and go slow. Somehow you just want to get him from the cage to the perch. Treats on the perch, toys on the perch. If you make a fist - real tight with the back of your hand facing the back of the bird there really isn't lose skin for the bird to bite. Start getting him used to the back of your hand. Feed him with your fingers and now he is getting used to hand and fingers. You talk, whistle, sing and listen and watch. If he is fluffed, he is probably relaxed. If his feathers are down and head low and forward he is probably ticked. If his pupils are going in and out - he will bite. Watch and listen to her and learn the body language. You are almost ready. The bird is used to your hand, used to your fingers, you are used to the bird so now you are going to say "UP" with a treat in your left hand and your finger out. That is position one. It takes time. Good luck and go slow. If you are nervous - so is the bird so just go slow.
mark - 2011-06-03
I just rescued my first blue fronted amazon and she wasnt treated well I was told she was 8 years old and the first 7 years of her life was spent in the 19x19 inch cage she came with. I got to doing some research and I'm starting to think she is more like 26 years old. I still don't know for sure if she is a boy or girl YET. Anyway she was very scared and biting and screeching alot when I first brought her home. All I can say is BE PATIENT. Earn their trust. My bird is coming along great and I'm thinking about adopting another.
Anonymous - 2011-06-07
Thank You Cheryl. We are giving her treats. Now it is just trying to get her away from her cage. I notice each day when I walk up to her, her pupils are going in and out. Do these birds do that a lot or is she irritated that I am talking to her?
Charlie Roche - 2011-06-08
The eyes going in and out (pupils getting larger and smaller) and almost looks like the eyes are getting brighter is them on alert. They are wondering what to do. They are thinking should I flee, am I safe, should I attack etc. Who is this coming toward me? Soon you will be able to go up to the cage and her eyes will stay the same and her attitude will be more relaxed. She will learn not to fear. Just takes time. You can also try feeding her outside the cage - I know you are feeding her with your hand outside the cage but you could actually put her food bowl outside the cage and just put it back in the cage in the evening. Might get her out more.
lindalynnharrison - 2011-06-12
I had a bird he had a 25 word v. when he tried to bite i would squ irt him in his face an say no. after a little bit he quit. Water bottle it works
Gene - 2011-11-21
The bird is not socialized. She thinks she is in charge, and she 'owns' the place. Any area she can roam freely she will decide is her territory, and will defend it, especially since she thinks you are subordinate to her. You reinforce her perception that she is in charge whenever you: 1) let her come out of the cage on her own, i.e. rather than stepping up onto a stick and being brought out; 2) feeding her when she has done nothing to 'earn' it. Start a program of training 2x per day. Rather than have food available to her all the time, feed her 2x/day--after the training sessions. Train her first to step up on a stick. Reserve her favorite treats for her to earn during training.

joyce - 2011-11-10
I got my blue fronted amazon 3 weeks ago when I first went near her she attacked me I had to go to the hospital for a tetanus as she bit hard on my lip so as it didn't put me off her I stop all people coming to visit after a week she has come on to my hand let me tickle her neck played with me. However my daughter stayed over for a night and the next morning today she started to go for me and tried to bite me is she jealous? I feel this is a step back for us help.

Click For Replies (2)

Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2011-11-11
How old is your Blue-Fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva)? Is she an older bird that came to you from another home where she was possibly abused? It definitely sounds like she is jealous when you interact with other people, that sounds like it is the reason for her aggressiveness. Blue-fronted Amazons often pick a 'favorite' person, however if they are socialized frequently with many people (and from a young age) they can be friendly with many people. If she is an older bird, it may take a lot of time, patience, and socialization with other people to turn her around.
joyce - 2011-11-13
She is 3 years old she has bonded to my daughter who only visits once a week I'm with her all day and night I feed her clean her but she doesn't like me help I don't want to part with her but feel I have no choice she just won't bond with me HELP ...joyce

Hillary - 2011-10-25
Hi, I have a yellow nape named Paco. We thought she was a boy for 15 years, until he laid an egg! ha ha. Her name is still Paco though. She is now 42 years old. I've had her the whole time. She was 1 when I got her. She is an absolute joy. She's gotten friendlier with time. She's extremely affectionate. I've been reading about some parrots here that have gotten mean as they age. I have a friend with a yellow nape that's really mean to certain people. It's a male. I wonder if the male birds tend to be meaner?

Click For Replies (1)

Charlie Roche - 2011-10-26
I don't think it is a male/female thing. I believe that parrrots go through life stages like humans do. They are babies and love the cuddle and pet. They are a typical two year old and into absolutely everything and sometimes get a little difficult. They are 3 year old and there is a peace once again. Then there is puberty and a teenager and they can get difficult once more and quite independent and want to show their human that they are boss. Then they become adults and settle in. They have their human trained and except for some jealousy at times are quite wonderful to live with. Much depends on the parrots stage of life and how it's human interacts with them and how socialized they are.

Sonia Rodriguez - 2011-10-15
I got my R-L-A since he was born i hand feed him, well i was the only one ever can touch him ever he is a lil bit of a talker , dont talk to much can only say few words. and all that is all good,i cant live with out my bird, on the last year i or we became homeless and ofcourse what he was used to now he had to get adapt to my friend well come to find out she is my best friend, more now is she is the only real friend i have. well sometime i go 2 ,3,4 days to go babysit or to do a side job, so i comeback his happy am happy,now my tito has creat a good relation with my friend darla and he let her scratch his head he goes on her sholder he flert with her we thing he got a lil crutch on her. but on the last week he attact ME if she in my room talking to me he chanch his voice and get her attention and if she goes and flert with tito, and i go near hin he will attact me , am not mad because she love my bird and he love her.make sad because i feel that he is mad at me for being homeless, he was to comfort at our place i feel so quilty, that my bird end hatting me, he is all i have

About Animal-World

Animal-World offers animal pictures, videos, and animal information on all different types of pets and animals. Included are animals that are commonly kept as pets, exotic pets and wild animals. Check us out for information, education, and fun. We strive to aid in responsible pet ownership and an understanding of the importance of preserving and honoring our world and its inhabitants. Animal-World members and contributors are from all over the world. You too are invited to be an active participant in this community. Post your own personal pet stories, contribute pictures of your pets, and join the forums for pet and animal discussions.

Visit Animal-World

Animal Stories - People Talking About Amazon Parrots

About Animal-World