[Sharon]

I've been chatting with an owner of a five year old Yellow Nape Amazon. Owners are seperating and rehoming Freddie....asking $3500. He seems well socialized, and no aggression...although I read that hormonal behavior could occur at the 5year mark. Owner seems interested in my home as a good place for Freddie, and has asked what I would be prepared to pay for him. I have no idea...although I think a socialized baby from breeder would be about $1200??? Any ideas on a fair price...for Freddie and his cage? Judging from photo, the cage seems appropiately sized, and suitable for this bird. I realize that it often depends on the area, but I'm looking for an approximate Canadian price.

If anyone has any experience on how bad the bite is...I'd like to hear about it.

 

[Jenny]

Well, the bite at the worst would break the skin a bit and bruise up well, but it's not bone-breaking if he gets your fingers or anything, it will just hurt a lot! My recommendations with him would be to offer your arm, not hand, to step on and have your hand closed in a fist (thumb closed in) so, if you do get bit, it's the fleshy part of your arm and you'll just bruise up a bit, rather than have a really painful cut on your hand/fingers. :thumbsup:

Scary part aside :lol: is the cage, food, toys, everything included? Do you know the dimensions on a cage? A good cage, new, for that size bird would run anywhere from $400-$800 depending on size and materials... A yellow nape baby down here runs around $1,200-1,400 so even at a new baby and max price for just cage and bird you're looking at $2,200.... throw in some toys and food, and that's another maybe $200 max, so $2,500 (american if that makes a difference) would be the most I could see reasonable for a young Amazon. A 5 year old, generally, means you would cut the price in half, traditionally so... I think it's a little steep, unless the bird is really well socialized, has a really nice cage, and lots of goodies. Can you go meet the bird before making a decision? Amazons tend to be one person birds and not very hands-on, all the ones I've worked with are standoffish with strangers, and even when they like you it's "scratch my head when I want it, don't touch my back, and we're friends" lol! Don't mistake that for not caring, because they do want to be with you and talked to all the time :lovehearts:

 

[Sharon]

Thanks Jenny...The cage is 3ft square with a height of 4ft. There's a stand also, bring it to a height of about 6ft. Apparently he likes to sit on laps and sleep there. He interacts with the whole family, talks and sings. I would definitely have to meet him, before making a decision of this magnitude. I seem to be craving a bigger bird...The personality of this guy seems well suited to me. I love to talk to my birds, and get responses...but I don't necessarily want a bird on my shoulder all the time. I'll let you know if owners are open to price drop...
Jenny, I've been researching the Eclectus....with your experience, which would you choose...:shrug:

 

[Jenny]

Well, I posted more about the Amazons and my findings with them on the Linnie Forum... It's hard to say, both are rather mellow birds. The biggest difference is going to be the talking ability, honestly. Amazons are very outgoing and vocal, where Ekkies tend to be a little quieter and more reserved - they'll learn to talk, but they're like linnies, pretty quiet most of the time. If you get an Ekkie, I recommend a male as the females can be tricky and I don't recommend them as first time big birds - they have attitude, are demanding, and can be nippy whereas the males are out to please (remember, they have to keep the demanding nippy females happy in the wild! )

They're about the same size, so housing and food needs are similar - Amazons have a tendency to get fat so watch that on them, and Ekkies have a more specific diet we don't quite understand in the States it seems, they all get overgrown beaks! One customer was able to fix that dietary problem by feeding almonds instead of peanuts and gave no peanuts at all and went from a 3/4 inch beak trim a month to a normal trim every 3-4 months, and she got that poor bird tested for EVERYTHING under the sun, spent thousands trying to find the problem and it ended up just being diet - we don't have as many Ekkies as common pets here in the states as other countries, so we're learning more about them every year.

Now I'm rambling on again! :rofl: Really, what is it you want in a bigger bird, Sharon? Think up a list of what you like and what you don't like, and how important certain things are. Is your #1 want in a big bird their talking ability, or cuddling? Do you want somewhere inbetween? Look at your household - do you have a big family? Is it just you and hubby? Can you do a one-person centered bird, or do you need a more 'flock' friendly bird? Think about your other birds too - a bird that might be flock aggressive would not work with your other little birds. Think on that, make a list of what you want and don't, then look into what species, generally, fits the bill :thumbsup: That's what I always told my customers and they were generally really satisfied once they found the species that fit what they wanted - it helped nip the impulsive decisions in the bud.

 

[Sharon]

I'd like talking ability, but wouldn't chhose a bird on that criteria alone. I'd like a nice personality, combined with talking and singing, but don't want aggressiveness on a large scale. I don't mind it being a one person bird, as Ken doesn't really share my interests in this area, but I wouldn't want Ken to get attacked just for being here...I do need to factor in how well the big bird would get on with the little guys. I don't mind several play areas...but don't need any of the little guys getting attacked if they choose to fly off that area. If the Amazon is on an outside the cage perch, all day, does that mean Levi, Abbey, Sadie and Kirby can't be out on a play stand?

 

[skthurley]

I personally wouldn't allow it. A gentle spirited conure maybe, but not an amazon. I'd be worried about someone losing a head.

mind you, Robin on her blog has budgies in and near her Amazon. Perhaps it depends on the individual bird?

 

[Sharon]

Maybe so...The owner said he gets along well with everyone, including kids and the dog. I'm going to think a LOT about this...

 

[Jenny]

Well, I have Goober out at the same time as my little birds, but she's out of their 'flight' range since all my little birds are clipped and my living room is big enough. And I am ALWAYS supervising it, just in case. She's not overly aggressive with them, she's scared when they go to fly by and that's why she goes to bite the chicken!

I would almost lean towards an Ekkie because they're much more mellow... or a baby Amazon that can grow up in your home and learn the rules - because this Amazon already has a set pattern of behavior and rules, and they might not fit your house... If he's that sweet with everyone, it sounds like he might fit in well, other than the little birds - you'd have to really watch that until you're comfortable with it. Are your little birds full flighted? You might have to rotate around your schedule - little birds out for an hour or two, then the Amazon.

 

[Sharon]

Everybody can fly except for Levi. I did clip the Budgies a few months ago, and flight feathers are grown in to the point where Sadie can fly well. Abbey is just getting there. Kirby, although clipped, flies well. I may clip again before summer...I'm not sure. Freddie appears from the photos to be flighted...Ummm....I can't imagine clipping his wings would be a simple endeavour! :yikes:

 

[Jenny]

:rofl: no, I would get help, or have someone do it! If Freddie can fly, I wouldn't have him out with the little birds - heck, that makes it even trickier for you too! He may go '...eh, I don't wanna talk to you right now *fly away*"

 

[Cannuck]

I personally wouldn't allow it. A gentle spirited conure maybe, but not an amazon. I'd be worried about someone losing a head.

mind you, Robin on her blog has budgies in and near her Amazon. Perhaps it depends on the individual bird?

The "Diva" was raised around smaller birds so sees them as her flock so that makes a big dif. That being said however we have 2 amazons who were not raised around smaller birds. Both are wild caught, Maggie is far from tame, though we have a very good bond and Sam was handfed after import so is very tame and social. Certain rules need to be in place and I never leave the little ones unsupervised in the same room as the zons. For the most part the zons keep to themselves and show little interest in the little birds. At the same time the little birds keep to their play areas. IF they were to approach amazon territory the would likely lose a toe!

As far as personality both enjoy interacting with the family, Maggie is more my bird and will allow me to scratch his head and hold him. Always on his terms though.

Sam will step up for everyone, accept head scratches and even allow our 2 year old to hold him.

So it really depends on the bird and how they were raised and socialized. As a rule amazons are one person birds but they do tolerate other family members much better than some of the other species out there.

 

[stacey101]

Everybody can fly except for Levi. I did clip the Budgies a few months ago, and flight feathers are grown in to the point where Sadie can fly well. Abbey is just getting there. Kirby, although clipped, flies well. I may clip again before summer...I'm not sure. Freddie appears from the photos to be flighted...Ummm....I can't imagine clipping his wings would be a simple endeavour! :yikes:

haha Sharon
id help , ive done a macaw and a gray before
cant wait to see your desision

 

[Ella]

Personally, I'd chose an amazon.

I love ekkies, but from my experience they have a bit of a short temper, and not quite as cuddly. But I've never actually owned one, so i wouldn't really know.

I love amazons. They are so cute. I love the way they can learn to sing and talk, but I also like the fact that they seem to be more affectionate.

Again, I haven't owned either, but that would be my decision.

 

[The Brute Squad]

May I add that if this bird decides to really bite you or hubby hard it will not be pretty and you could lose flesh. We had a Senegal, male 5 yr. old and he chose to hate us both after 6 weeks of loving it at our home. I have a deep scar and he went back where he came from. Also the couple are breaking up. It has probably been stressful at home already coupled with separation, more like abandonment as the bird sees it. I would think about it alot. And if he hates you and bonds with hubby then what? We have 5 rehomed birds and they can be awesome. What happened with our Senegal is the flip side of the situation. I hope it all works out for you. I would like to hear how it goes!

 

[Sharon]

I should have updated before this...sorry. I chose to pass on Freddie. I did a lot of research, and decided that Freddie may possbly be too much bird for me! I didn't want to take the risk that he would be too aggressive, and too noisy for my home...and depite him needing a good home, mine may not have been the right one.