Hello All,

I just bought a 10 year old Mexican Red Headed Amazon. When I went to pick him up I ask the old owners what food he was on and they showed me a bag of wild bird seed! So, when I got him home I sent hubby to pet-co for a pellet mix. He is eating a little of it, but likes the "treats" that I got better. I have only given him a small amount each day. So this morning I give him a fresh meal mix I got from the vet..and she wont touch it...Should I just leave the fresh food in the cage for a bit? Thanks in advance.....xoxox Gabbie

Well congratulations on your new addition. As far as the fresh food you don't want to leave it more then 2 hrs because of bacteria. I imagine all birds are the same......meaning you just have to keep offering it to them and pretty soon they will eat it. Just my opinion

Thanks So Much! I was thinking the same thing...He is in a new home with new stuff and probably just needs some time to adjust to things. He is such a cutie..he hasn't let me hold him yet, but me husband has. He will lung at me..I was a bit afraid when he done it at first...now I just hold my had without jerking it back....lol...

Congrats on the new addition! Amazons are VERY opinionated and bossy and will take advantage of you if you allow them to. Keep in mind that you are probably going to take a few bites at first, but dont let him bully you. If he sees that he can intimidate you by lunging/biting then he most definitely will!

Anyhow, my amazon is a real good eater..she will pretty much try most anything once or twice. Her favorite are scrambled eggs and bananas (not necessarily together). As Sandi said, just keep offering them to him and also try eating them in front of him. If he sees that you are eating the fruit he will recognize it as edible quicker.

Good luck!

Hello,
I have experienced the "bully" in him...lol..he is still lunging at me and have not let me hold him just yet. My husband has...I am always talking to him and putting my hands in his cage and now he seems to not mind it anymore. He still is not playing with his toys yet...but we have only had him for 4 days now so i assume he is still adjusting to everything. I do have one question...he clucks at me with eyes pinning..then puts his head close to the bars so i can pet him...just wondering if that is a hormonal thing...he is about 10 yrs old...thanks Gabbie

bumping up with her last question.....Anybody??

If he's flaring his tail and his eyes are pinning it can mean several things...Is his head upright or lowered? Is his wings tight against his body or held out away from his body slightly? Are his neck feathers raised or tight against his body?

If his neck feathers are raised and his wings are against his body, chances are he's flirting with you...If not he's really warning you to stay away.

When ever they are flared and their eyes are pinned especially if they start to hiss, that's another warning that they are pissed and if their wings are out away from their body its more of a bluff, if their wings are tight up against their body flaired tail pinned eyes and Head drops...prepare for a bite...

Sometimes my Amazon will flair and do kind of a cluck and that means he's excited, but his neck feathers are usually raised. I'm pretty sure that most amazons have similar body language...But I've learned that when Caesar flairs his tail and Pins his eyes...I'm going to lose some hide and probably some blood.

But just keep after him and when you reach to ask him to step up...have the back of your hand towards him with you fist in kind of a soft fist and your thumb tucked under...Tighter skin = less hide to get a hold of.

And the thing I've noticed about a lot of Amazons, they are really more of the one sexed person type bird...in other words they like men better than women or vice versa...Very seldom have I seen an Amazon that will allow just anyone to hold them at least for very long, And some of them become a very 1 person bird period... But don't give up...Find a treat he likes...and make sure that only YOU give him that treat...Your hubby can give him something else...but you find a favorite favorite and only give it to him when he's been good etc.

Good luck with your new friend.

how is the little Amazon doing now? Just kind of wondering.....

He is doing Great! I'm learning when I can touch him and when not to. I think he is a bit hormonal right now. So he is off to see the Vet on Fri. to get a check up. He has starting to eat health foods now and I'm making sure he gets his 12 hrs to sleep. He sang to me today and let me pet his head out of the cage..