Amazon Q&A

Hello, I am Zachary, a Double Yellow Head Amazon Parrot. We Amazon type parrots have a lot of needs and requirements that must be fulfilled, for us to blossom as good companions. We are normally not suitable for first time bird owners because of the level of care and attention we need. Many birds end up going from home to home when their moms and dads don't know enough to handle them. Remember to find out as much about us as you can, so that more Amazons will have a happy and loving home like I do. We are wonderful companions but we can only be that way when all our needs are met.

The facts about Amazon Parrots - Know before you share you life with one:

1. Amazons are medium to large birds. Zachary is about 15 inches long.

2. They need a large cage, minimum size should be at least a Cockatoo size cage - 36" by 24" by 68" or larger. There is a picture of Zachary's main cage in the Parrot's Living Quarters page.

3. They must have several playpens and hangout areas around your home. They need to be involved in the family activities.

4. Amazons love to eat, and must be given lots of different types of food - pellets, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, grains and other nutritious foods. Seed mixes / pellets alone doesn't qualify as healthy parrot food. You can see what Zachary eats daily in his Food page.

5. Amazons can be very loud when they want to be. They either scream out loud to get your attention, or sometimes they just scream for the joy of listening to their own voices. With proper training, they should limit this to just a few short moments a day. But without the right training, this can get out of hand. Click here to hear Zachary scream. This is not a mad scream. This is normal Amazon vocalization that happens about twice a day, although just a few minutes each time.

6. Amazons are one of the best talking parrot species. However, there are some Amazons that don't talk much - and you must accept your parrot for who it is. Most of them do, and a lot of their speaking ability depends on their upbringing, environment, and their health. A happy, healthy, and contented parrot that grows in a cheerful environment will be a good talker, from as early as a few months of age. You can hear Zachary talk in his voice page.

7. Birds poop - this may sound silly, but many people are surprised when they first get a bigger bird and see the volume they produce. Amazon poop is rather large compared to a lovebird & other smaller birds that you may have. Even if you plan to potty train them - there will be times when your birds will make mistakes on your carpet, furniture and clothes.

8. Some birds shed feather dust - particularly Cockatoos and African Greys. Amazons don't have much powder on their feathers, but you will still find small down feathers around their cages and playpens from preening and grooming themselves. This can be allergic to some people.

9. Amazons can be temperamental, and because of that, they need loving but firm discipline and guidance everyday of their lives.

10. Amazons need daily sunshine - whether it's from playing in an outdoor cage (make sure that they also have a shaded area), or from an indoor full spectrum light. An example of this light can be seen in Zachary's Shower page, and his outdoor cage can be seen in the Parrot's Living Quarters page.

11. They need a lot of toys - hanging toys for the cage and playpens, hand held toys, acrylic toys, wood toys, hard plastic colorful toys, interactive or education toys, and these should be rotated regularly to keep them interested and mentally challenged. Some of Zachary's toys can be seen at his Toys page.

12. Amazons need daily exercise, to vent their high energy, otherwise it can be directed towards screaming unnecessarily and/or biting. When you play with them, let them swing on ropes (keep them low and near your lap), sing with them, play throw and catch with them etc. Find ways to use that energy. Make sure that they have swings, ropes, and bells to ring, in their cages and playpens. Regular baths will also help use some of that energy.

13. Amazons need consistency - in their daily routine, in your attitude towards them, with the words you use to tell him what you want, and your love and trust - no matter what.

14. They also need small unexpected changes in their training or routine, to avoid being nervous around new people, places and objects.

15. Outdoor trips taken with you under care will expand their world in what they see, hear and say. Zachary loves car rides and trips. You can see some pictures in his Outdoor Excursion page.

16. All pet parrots blossom well in a happy and stable household. However, Amazons and others pet birds need a smoke free environment to live a healthy life. Smoke hurts them more than it does humans, and if you must smoke, make sure that there are at least two rooms with two closed doors between your bird and cigarette smoke; or smoke outdoors. Although everyone's opinion is different, my opinion is that if you can't give up smoking at home, then don't get a pet bird. It is senseless to put in the hard work in creating a great companion only for its health suffer due to something beyond its control; not to mention cruel. Behavioral problems in parrots are a result of several things, but not feeling good physically is the primary reason for them.

*** BIRDS AND SMOKE CANNOT LIVE TOGETHER ***

A bird cannot tell you that it's suffering, nor will it show signs of illness until it's too late. By that point the bird had been sufferring for a while. Please don't put them through that.

17. A clean and happy bird home requires an organized routine and regular cleanups. If you've raised a baby, know that this is similar. You'll be picking up toys, wiping up poop accidents, picking up pieces of flinged food - several times a day. Their cages and playpens require a thorough disinfecting and cleanup once every couple of weeks, at the least.

18. Amazons love and need frequent showers or baths. Pictures of Zach showering can be seen on this page.

19. Amazons need 10-12 hours of dark, uninterrupted sleep every night, at around the same time, in conjuction with your daily routine. See Zachary's bedtime routine on this page.

20. Your Amazon needs a lot of your love and attention - both direct and indirect, everyday. They need to be around their humans at least 5-6 hours a day minimum, not counting going to bed at around 8-9pm, and waking up at around 8-9am. You can't be gone all day and then be with them from 7pm to midnight. Birds that don't get at least 10 -12 hours of dark, uninterrupted sleep, will suffer sleep deprivation and develop other kinds of behavioral problems. Your Amazon also needs direct quality time with you at least a 3 hours a day. Human contact time is very important in creating a confident and trusting pet bird.

21. Amazons, or any parrot you decide to bring into your life, will need your unconditional love - to feel safe, secure, loved and to respond well to you.

The cost to have one is not just the bird and the cage. There are continual expenses in owning an Amazon parrot and in making it a happy and contented bird. Having just enough to get the bird and its cage is a sure sign that this is not the right bird for you. Please consider the above facts and the possible costs below, before running out and buying an Amazon parrot. They will be around for many years, and probably even outlive you. The quality of their life is so important, and they deserve the best if they are to live with you and to be the wonderful companions that they are. There's nothing more sad than a bird being sold and passed from home to home. Most of these incidents are mistakes of the bird owner, and not the bird. Good knowledge before buying one will avoid these incidents. Amazons are sensitive, loving, intelligent creatures. Please treat them as such. They do have feelings, and compassion.

1. A Handfed Baby Amazon parrot from a reputable breeder can cost anywhere from $900 to $1200.

2. A new and well built Cockatoo size cage will cost about $500 or more. An Amazon's main cage should never be smaller than this.

4. Toys and cage accessories can add up to hundreds of dollars. These do not include spare toys, perches, and feeding bowls, that need to be changed often. There is always a continuing cost for buying new toys and accessories - for wear and tear reasons, as well as just wanting to get something new all the time for your bird.

5. Playpens can cost anywhere from $50 for a tabletop playpen, to about $200 for a nice tree top or floor type playpen. Amazons need these, besides their main cage.

7. Food costs - there is no limit here. Whatever it takes to give your Amazon the most balanced and nutritious food they need and want. And they do waste food. That's normal, and as long as they eat some of everything, they are getting the nutrition they need. Think of them as children.

8. Vacation cost - When you are away on vacation, you need to plan for a petsitter to come and live in your home and take care of your bird(s); or board them at the right facility that can care for them properly. Ideally, having someone live in and keep to their daily routine will provide the least amount of stress for them. There is no set price for a caring, loving and responsible petsitter. And you can't put a price on the peace of mind you so need when you are away from home and the pets that you love.

9. Other costs could include extra playcages, and other accessories that you would like to get for your Amazon. The rule I go by is - Will it benefit Zachary's well being and growth? If the answer is Yes... he will pretty much get that something new.

10. Overall and besides the above, you will need to have lots of time, patience, and love, and your Amazon will repay you with an abundance of love and kindness. For the rest of your life. This works in the opposite way too - and it is painfully sad when a neglected Amazon turns aggressive, depressed and loses its home. And the fault in this lies in the humans, not the bird. Just like babies when they were born - parrots are innocent hatchlings when brought into this world. It is their surroundings and upbringing that determine their outlook on life and disposition. Please make sure that you are able to give these wonderful birds all the love, care, and attention they need before you decide to bring one home.

There are many beautiful parrot books out there. Some you buy for the beautiful pictures, some for the content, or both. The above books, in our opinion, have the best information in understanding pet bird behavior and their care.

Other good sources of bird care include joining and participating in your local bird club, attending parrot behavioral workshops and seminars, and investing in a few sessions with reputable Avian Behavior Consultants.

For a more detailed discussion on Amazon parrots' diet, behavioral issues, training and nutrition: