Misty we have a lot of amazon owners. Check in later and maybe some of them will have replied.

Annie

Hi Misty, I have a DYH Amazon - she's between 18 and 19 years old.  She was about 6 to 8 months old when we got her.   I also have a blue front Amazon, who is a year younger.  I absolutely love those 2 birds.  They are funny, vocal (translated: noisy a bit of the time), and talk some.  I think they would have learned to talk better had we not gotten them within a year of each other.  They adore each other (they are both female) and only say things like "Hello", "Hi pretty bird", "Whatcha' doing",  "Good bird" "Call the cat", and they mimic barnyard animals, and "sing" to any opera CD's.  I also have 2 greys, and they are better talkers.  And they like me more than the guys.  So - that part of it is a crapshoot.  I've tried to win over the 'zons, but they just love the men.   But that's just MY birds......

 

When we got the DYH - Sunny - all 4 of my kids were at home, and Sunny fit in just fine from day one, but of course, she was still very young.  Over the first year she showed her preference for the men in my family . . . my husband and my 3 sons.  She lets them pet her, and even rub their noses in her chest feathers, and they kiss her beak.  If I did that, she's probably nip me.  I feed her, clean her cage, and am there with her much more than the guys, but it's them she loves.  If it's not hormone season, she sometimes lets me just sorta give her chest a quick pet with my index finer.  But she and the blue front have never bit me hard.  They'll go for my finger once in a while, but never enough to break skin or even bruise.  BUT, that's just my 'zons.  I'm sure a DYH COULD bite hard, so beware at first if you get one.

 

Their noisy periods are early in the morning and early evening ~ about 1/2 hour to an hour.  They love all toys, whereas my greys are scared of a lot of toys.  They eat pellets and a seed mixture equally . . . favoring the pellets.  They eat practically anything food-wise.  They are entertaining.   They have cages joined by a playground.  I might have a pic I can copy to this post, I'll check and see.  I am among the minority that don't cage my birds at night.  All 4 of them have special perches they like to sleep on, and I have never ever had a problems with anything at night after I turn out the lights and pull the door about 3/4 way shut.  We have a night time ritual where they know to head for the sleeping perches.  Amazons have a smell that a few people don't like.  I think my 'zons smell like honey and flowers. 

 

I don't have anything bad to say about them, other than they can be noisy at times, which doesn't bother us at all.  I don't even care if they favor the males....they are fun and beautiful and entertaining, and I am glad I have them. 

 

 

Nan, I'm jealous!        

 

Misty they can be very hard to handle as they grow older but nothing one can't get around when hormones kick in as they certainly give lots of warning as to their moods.

The DYH is one of the "hot three" and being a larger amazon, takes getting used to if they decide to chomp down on fingers...

Keep reading many of the interesting sites that deal with the larger Zon's and did you mention the age? I'm not sure if chick or older bird?.. And the relationship you plan to have with this bird as they can be independant which I happen to like since I have the velcro birds also...

I have had 4 amazons, three were double yellow heads. After they reached maturity I could never handle them. I gave one to my cousin and she can handle her just fine. She uses a stick when Tootsie is cranky. I traded the males to other friends who were used to DYHs and were not as fearful of the bites as I was.

One thing that I think all amazon (and other larger birds) owners should do is train the bird as a youngster to step onto a stick. You can still pick them up by hand when they are not in a bad mood, but when they are cranky the stick will save you many very bloody bites.

My grey became very cranky after I had eye surgery and even crankier when I had a heart attack. I used to play and dance with him. Now I can't pick him up at all. I use a stick to transfer him from place to place. He was about 10 years old when I started using the stick so it took a long time before he realized I was not trying to hurt him. Now he's fine about it and will step onto it immediately.

Think carefully before getting one of the hot three, DYH, blue headed and yellow nape. You could get a love, but you could also get a very cranky one. No way to tell til they get older.

I had a lilac crowned amazon, beautiful, sweet. She died of an injury a few years ago at about age 7.  She had never bitten me in all those years. A very calm natured bird.

Many people can accept the bites from a large amazon. I can't. I bleed too long and have trouble healing so I have to stay with the easier to handle calmer birds.

Best wishes. Let us know what you decide.

Annie

 

I thank you all for your responses....

 

I am still unsure what to do. I really do want a velcro bird that enjoys being out of its cage with me. I do have 12 year olds that can be rowdy so I need a bird that won't completely be stressed with noise or strangers in the house. So I am looking for a "baby" that I can completly spoil as my boys will no longer let love on them. I want a bird with a HIGH likelhood of talking well. My first choice is the CAG second the DYH but I also want the bird to be able to be happy and healthy.... I have found a great breeder in my area for both types of bird....

 

Does anyone who has both types maybe have more info for me???

 

Misty

I have had two greys and one blue front amazon.  As every said you don't know what you will get as they mature.  My blue front was mean as heck but there were two factors.  When I got her I didn't know anything about birds and found out later she may have been a breeder.  That was years ago and at that time you didn't find many handfed babies.  Second I wasn't aware of the ways to win her heart (or at least try)  There was no internet then (20yrs ago) for any help.  Unfortunately after a surgery on her I had to put her to sleep.

 

Now with the greys they were both handfed ( I did one) and they both had totally different personalities.  Both could be handled but my last one is more of a velcro bird.  I loved all three of them but there is no guarantee of personality.  My first one grew up in the middle of me having kids (she was 16 when she died) and this one is being raised with just me and hubby but he is the more crazy one.  So I guess that isn't even guaranteed. You will read about some having shy birds also.  Some that talk alot and some that don't talk. 

 

So I would say the biggest thing is to know in your heart that what ever one you chose or they chose you that you know whatever personality you end up with you will be able to love him unconditionally.  And you learn everything you can so you have a good start.  By the way the velcro grey I have who talks alot and is playful is also a handful and a feather chewer. Nothing like the other grey.

 

If you know in your heart you can deal with whatever is thrown at you (knowing they are nothing like any other pet you have ever have) which ever one you choose will be right.

 

Indy