Amazon

Amazon

Description:
Amazons are predominantly green with yellow, red and blue on their wings. They have different coloured heads and tips to their wings depending on the species. Red lord, yellow headed, double yellow headed, orange winged and blue fronted are just a few of the species of Amazon parrots common in the pet trade. They range from 10 inches to 20 inches depending on species.

 

Amazons can live 50 years or even longer with the right care and nutrition, so please be sure you are ready for a long life commitment before buying an Amazon.

 

There is no way to sex an Amazon by looking at them; you will need to have blood DNA or feather DNA test done, it is best to ask your avian vet for more information about this.

 

As Pets:
Amazons make great pets but they are should not be the first choice for novice parrot keepers. With lots of research to ensure the Amazon is the right bird for you, they make great very affectionate and loyal companions. They are very intelligent and need a lot of time and commitment from their owners to keep them happy.

 

Noise level between 1 to 10:
I think we have to give an Amazon an 8, they are very loud but not as loud as a cockatoo or a macaw. Amazons like to scream even when happy, playing or with their “loved ones” so if you are thinking of buying/rescuing an Amazon please think if you could cope with the noise for the next 50 years.

 

Behaviour:
Amazons are extremely intelligent and playful birds that love being the centre of attention. They need lots of affection and time with their owners, and they are curious, athletic and seem to enjoy entertaining their owners with clownish antics. For this reason you must insure you get the biggest possible cage you can fit in your house and that’s in your budget. However they are also considered somewhat moody and can become fairly aggressive if not trained and handled properly from a younger age. Amazons are known to be possessive over one person in the house and can be VERY protective towards them. Amazons will protect their loved one by biting them to move them away from the danger of the predator. This could be your husband or wife, child or even another bird in the house. Amazons love the chew! So plenty of toys to keep their beaks away from your furniture is a good investment!

 

Breeding season:
Amazons begin to mate at the beginning of the warm season, generally in April or May, with the laying and brooding in the early summer. An Amazon female will lay between 2 to 4 white eggs and she will brood for 26 to 28 days.

 

Prone illnesses:
Amazons are prone to aspergillosis, bacterial infections, Upper Respiratory Infections, Pox-virus, Infections, Vitamin A Deficiency, Obesity , Fatty Liver Syndrome, Cloacal Papillomas, Seizures  and Cancer.

 

Amazons are especially susceptible to: Polyoma,  Feather Plucking / Mutilation, Papilloma.

Types of Amazons:
The Amazon species most commonly kept as pets include the following:

  • Blue-fronted Amazon
  • Double Yellow-head Amazon
  • Lilac-crowned Amazon
  • Mealy Amazon
  • Mexican Redhead or Green-cheeked Amazons
  • Orange-winged Amazon
  • Panama Amazon
  • Red-lord Amazon
  • White-fronted Amazon
  • Yellow-crowned or Yellow-fronted Amazon
  • Yellow-napped Amazon

 

Diet:
Amazons need a balanced diet top avoid obesity, it’s a great idea to talk this over with your vet during checkups.  A good low sunflower seed mix diet is fine but this must be accompanied by fresh fruit and veg daily. Fruit and veg should not be a treat but the norm!  A good multi vitamin is also a must for complimenting their diet to ensure they are getting all they need.

 

Please if you have any-more questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact us.

Learn more about the various types of parrots