Caring for Your New Pet Caring for Amazon Parrots • Highly intelligent and curious, Amazon parrots can • Sexual maturity: 4 to 6 years of age acquire a large vocabulary and are considered by • Males and females look alike in most cases. many people to be the most trainable of all parrots. A simple blood test can determine the sex of • Without the proper attention, social interaction, and your bird. toys, Amazon parrots can develop behavioral • Average life span: 40 to 50 years of age problems. • Maximum recorded life span: 80+ years of age • Parrots should be kept in their cage or a “bird safe” • Origins: Central and South America; room when they are not being supervised. Caribbean islands Amazon parrots are highly intelligent, very outgoing, Behavior and renowned talkers. They adapt well to captivity, Highly intelligent and curious, Amazon parrots can adjusting easily to their cage or aviary (enclosure). acquire a large vocabulary and are considered by However, Amazon parrots require a great deal of many people to be the most trainable of all parrots. mental stimulation. Without the proper attention, Tamed Amazon parrots readily adapt to new sur- social interaction, and toys, Amazon parrots can roundings and activities; therefore, new owners can develop behavioral problems. People who are willing immediately expose their parrots to other pets and to devote a considerable amount of time to their daily activities in the household. Amazon parrots like parrot will have a delightful companion pet for to explore their surroundings and need environmental many decades. enrichment, interesting toys, and foraging exercises to reduce the chance of behavioral problems. Without Biological Facts enough attention and environmental stimulation, • More than 30 Amazona parrot species have Amazon parrots can be very noisy and destructive. been described. Popular species include: – Blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) – Orange-winged Amazon parrot (Amazona amazonica) – Double yellow-headed Amazon parrot (Amazona oratrix) – Yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona auropalliata) Diet – Red-lored Amazon parrot (Amazona In the wild, Amazon parrots feed on a variety of autumnalis) seeds, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In captivity, – White-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona seed-based diets are not recommended because they albifrons) permit pet birds to select an imbalanced diet. • Young Amazon parrots have gray-brown irises Formulated diets (pellets or crumbles) should make (colored parts of the eyes), which change to red, up about 75% of the diet because they provide more red-orange, or chestnut-brown within 2 or 3 complete, balanced nutrition. Dark leafy greens, years. After the irises change color, it is very vegetables, and fruits can account for 20% to 25% difficult to determine an Amazon parrot’s age. of the diet. Treats should be limited to only 5% of • Weight: 350 to 600 grams the diet. Clean, fresh water should be provided daily. FOR YOUR PET Caring for Your New Pet Environment with experience in avian medicine if you have • Enclosures should be as large as possible; at a any questions or concerns about your bird’s minimum, your bird should be able to fully health. extend his or her wings and flap without • Annual fecal examinations for parasites, yeast, touching the sides of the enclosure. and bacteria are necessary. • The enclosure should be clean, secure, safe, and • Your veterinarian may recommend vaccination constructed of durable, nontoxic materials. for Polyomavirus. • Perches of various widths, heights, and textures • Routine blood testing is important. should be provided. A concrete perch should be • The wings and nails should be trimmed as available to help maintain the toenails. needed. • To prevent contamination of food or water, perches should not be placed directly over food Common Medical Disorders or water dishes. • Obesity • Access to natural light is preferred. • Atherosclerosis (disease of the arteries) • The enclosure should not be kept in drafty areas. • Respiratory infections • Parrots should be kept in their enclosure or a • Discolored feathers (due to malnutrition or “bird safe” room when they are not being liver disease) supervised. • Foot necrosis (cell death) • Birds with unrestricted access to the home are • Chlamydiosis (infectious disease resulting from at risk for accidents such as toxin ingestion, nasal, sinus, or intestinal infection) electrocution, attacks by other pets, and drowning. • Fatty liver disease • Papillomatosis (multiple warts) Preventive Care • Chronic sinus infection • Physical examinations should be performed • Egg binding (inability to pass an egg, causing every 6 to 12 months. Consult a veterinarian pain and straining) FOR YOUR PET © 2011 Vetstreet Inc. Created and peer-reviewed by Vetlearn. Brought to you by Vetstreet. Vetlearn grants permission to individual veterinary clinics to print and distribute this handout for the purposes of client education. Posting on an external website without written permission from Vetlearn is a violation of copyright laws..