Amazons, by nature, are highly curious and adventurous. Their diet should be varied and include lots of fresh fruits and veggies (well washed), as well as treats such as nuts in the shell, seeds, or pasta in addition to a well formulated pelleted diet. If you are using a seed mix diet, try converting your bird, slowly, to a pelleted diet. Seed mix diets, especially those with sunflower seeds, are fatty, which is very bad for Amazons, who are prone to obesity.

Amazons drop 75% of their food.. and may do it quite deliberately especially with things they really like. This is because, in the wild, they drop foods, like fruit containing seeds, in order to help repopulate the rain forests. We should never forget that these are wild creatures, who we are fortunate enough to share our lives with. They can not and will not be trained to do otherwise.

Amazons are Opportunistic Omnivores. This means they will eat whatever is around, be it fruit, seeds, nuts, vegetable matter or insects. They do need protein, so giving your Amazon small amounts of cooked meat can be a great idea. Bones to chew on are fine, just as long as they are not a size they can choke on. Makani will not eat meat. Whenever I offer she looks at me in horror. Apparently she's a vegetarian. ;)

Moving from person to person can be sooo traumatic for bird. Since Amazons can live to up 85 years in the wild, usually about 65 in a healthy, captive environment, it is most likely that many Amazons will have more than one owner in their lifetime. It is very important to keep this in mind when adopting and Amazon (or any Parrot). They thrive on stability. To take any bird in, and then neglect it and pass it on to someone else is both selfish and unkind.

If you are considering adopting an Amazon (or any Parrot), consider this. They are just like a perpetual 2 year old. They are as loud as a 2 year old, as moody as a 2 year old, as messy as a 2 year old, and need as much love, nurturing, teaching, and entertainment as a 2 year old. And that 2 year old is going to live with you for the next 65 years... Are You Ready?

When I first saw Makani, I could tell there was something wrong. She had not been hand trained and if she had, the abuse she received in between really wrecked her. I had to remove her from the situation she was in, before her situation was made worse. She was terrified of hands and of men; men with hands were even worse. ;) So, we had to start of very slowly, to get her to like hands and eventually step up. Getting your bird to "step-up" if they don't will be quite the challenge, but it's a real must. Things you can do to help them feel more comfortable with touching and stepping-up can include, whispering (they should try to get closer as no doubt they'll be curious what you have to say), talking in a silly or soothing voice (baby talk works great!), singing (lullabies and kiddie songs are the best) and playing music. Once you get them interested in being near you, because they realizes you're an all right sort to hang out with, try moving very slowly and gently wiggling your finger at them. If they puff up, they may very will want to be touched.

For the most part, Amazons do not like to have their backs touched, Blue Fronts especially. During the spring and summer, be mindful of a mature birds hormonal behavior. Makani gets very lovey and clingy during this time, but is also more apt to snap and bite unexpectedly. Try sticking to scratching the top and sides of the head, and be mindful of all of those prickly pinfeathers during their molt (2 times per year). New feathers can be quite itchy and sensitive.

DNA, acquired from a drop of blood, or a feather, is the only way to determine the sex of an Amazon. This can be done by your vet for a fee as low as $25.

During Amazon mating season, Makani gets rather feisty and wants my hand to mate with her when I go to scratch her head. She'll want me to touch her back (for a change) and will flutter her wings and make little cooing, squealing noises if I touch her. I let her just go at it with a toy; she has one toy that she loves to "play" with. It's perfectly natural for parrots to self pleasure like this, though not something most parrot owners will admit to. ;) Don't dump your human hang-ups on your bird. It's only natural!

The cage I have for Makani is over 3 feet tall, 3 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. This gives her room to flap about, have food and water dishes, as well as many of her favorite toys & cuddlies. A nice big cage makes for a very happy Amazon as they are notorious climbers! If you have a doubt, find the cage you think is the right size and buy a bigger one!

Most Amazons love water! If your bird is not accustomed to bathing regularly, you might start them off a few times a week (in a warm, dry room, without drafts) with a clean misting bottle full of warm water. Makani takes a bath every day in the summer and will pitch a total fit every Sunday if she doesn't get her Sunday bath!

Attempting "Bath Time" will not hurt. Initially, try to take your cues from your bird. If you see them get into the water dish to splash around, you know it's bath time. ;) Kani let's me know every Sunday, and sometimes more often, by taking mouthfuls of water and throwing them all over herself and the floor. If I don't catch on she drenches the floor until I get the spray bottle.

Put the spray bottle on a gentle mist, and catch them while they are in their water dish. If they like it, you'll know. If they are not interested, they may sit and sulk. If that's the case, get them as wet as you can, tell them they are good and act like it's a really happy, fun thing to do, and eventually they'll be flapping their wings and having a wonderful time!

You can also give them a large, shallow dish of warm water, but watch them with it. Make sure that it will not tip over on them. This works best in the winter when I don't want to get the floor all wet by spraying her. But she doesn't have as much fun, as it is harder for her to get that deep down clean. ;)

Showering with your Amazon can work if you are careful. Only use lukewarm water, as what's hot or cold to us, may by scalding or frigid to them. Also make sure to remove all obstacles or chemicals from the shower and avoid sharp streams of water directly in their eyes, ears or nose. (This goes for spray bottles as well).