How long do Amazons live?
Amazons may live a human lifespan and enjoy excellent health to a ripe old age with adequate care and nourishment, as well as decent genetics. My friend’s Blue-fronted Amazon Old Baldy died on April 15, 2002, at the age of 102.
102 years old is an uncommon age for any parrot, just as it is for people.
How can I tell the sex of my Amazon?
With two exceptions, all Amazon species are monomorphic (no visible variations between sexes). The male Spectacled Amazon (A. albifrons) has red patterns on the little upper wing coverts and the border of the carpus, whereas the female is normally green with a minor bit of red. The female Yellow-Lored Amazon (A. xantholora) lacks the male’s white on the crown and red markings. It also has a more drab appearance than the male.
All other Amazon species may be sexed accurately using two widely known methods:
A non-invasive DNA sample may be obtained by taking a few drops of blood from a trimmed toenail or plucking a few feathers. Although the DNA analysis process is very reliable, mistakes may arise due to human error in sample collection. For further information, contact your veterinarian.
Many breeders use surgical sexing to identify not only the sex of their Amazons, but also the condition of the bird’s internal reproductive organs. This minimally invasive method includes creating a tiny anesthetic incision in the bird’s belly and seeing the reproductive organs using an endoscope.
Is it ok to pull eggs from my Blue-Front pairs for artificial incubation to try to get them to double or triple clutch? If so, when should the eggs be pulled?
Leaving the newborns with their parents during the first several weeks provides them with a better start and calmer babies. The parents worried about them 24 hours a day. One issue you may not be aware of is that there is now a surplus of certain species on the market in many regions of the United States, and you may not be able to sell the extra offspring. Some species’ prices have declined significantly in recent years. Five years ago, blue-fronted newborns sold for about $1200.00. You can now get them for a lot less than that. The supply has outstripped the demand. When it comes to breeding birds, there are several factors to consider. If you must pluck eggs, it is advisable to do so after 14 to 16 days of natural incubation to guarantee the highest hatchability. Have you ever done anything like this before? Feeding one chick every two hours or so is incredibly time-consuming and difficult. You must have all of the required equipment for effective chick incubation and brooding.
Encouragement of double clutching in birds is acceptable for rare and endangered species. It has the ability to greatly expand the domestic population in a few short years. Wherever feasible, the babies should be reserved for future breeding and parent-reared or fostered by another dependable couple for at least the first 3 – 4 weeks of their lives.
(This question applies to all bigger parrots, not just Amazons.)
Since physical characteristics of all species of flora and fauna appear to have a rational evolutionary/survival explanation — for example, the various bird beak configurations are related to the food each species has adapted to eat — what is the adaptive value of the large parrots’ extraordinary long life? My Amazon, for example (a Blue-Fronted), is expected to live for roughly 70 years. Given that parrots are effective breeders as a species (unlike pandas), how can we explain such a long life – particularly given that parrots, like other birds, have a very high metabolic rate, and the general rule seems to be that high metabolic rate = relatively short life.
I’m not sure how parrot longevity compares to that of other huge birds like eagles, hawks, vultures, and ravens. From the standpoint of avian metabolism, this may be the first subject to investigate.
Having said that, I believe that the significance of learning in the lives of parrots contributes to their lifespan. They learn from older parrots how to locate a diverse variety of meals throughout the appropriate seasons.
Furthermore, Schindler’s research on Amazon vocalizations shows that Amazons form distinct cultural groupings. The presence of elder parrots in the group may offer a store of knowledge required for survival at times of uncommon danger or shortage. Older birds may be aware of distant food sources that younger birds have never visited. Amazon survival may be much more complicated than we realize.
Also, according to what I’ve read, Amazon breeding in the wild is difficult since they rely on the presence of suitable tree holes. Because the number of holes limits breeding, the reproduction may be sluggish.
How long can the Amazons reproduce? Do Amazons, like humans, survive beyond their reproductive age in the wild? If they do, it would lend credence to the theory that the elder Amazons act as knowledge stores that aid in collective survival.
I have a double yellow-headed amazon given to me by someone else. I think he was abused and does not want to be touched but will follow me around (on the floor). A lot of the time he sits in his cage and seems to be unhappy. I was wondering if I got him a female, would he be more content? All I can find is an orange-wing female. Do these species breed with each other? If not, would he still be content with the company?
You did not specify how long you had your new bird. He could take some time to adjust to his new surroundings. He may not have been taught any etiquette either. If he follows you around, he is attempting to be with you. You are not required to find him a companion. He would consider any female Amazon to be a mate. Our magnificent amazons, particularly the twin yellow-heads, thrive on human company. Keep in mind that these birds may live for up to a hundred years. Is he surrounded by toys and other stimuli? Birds that have been mistreated or neglected may become “dumb” due to a lack of stimulation. My amazons like watching television, particularly cartoons. They also like music and conversing. I believe the common theme here is that it will take time to bring him around. Has he received a thorough vet examination to ensure his health? You may coax him out of his shell by giving him food treats. My boys like most varieties of human food, particularly chicken and pasta. Your bird is well worth the effort, and with a little patient on your side, he should become an excellent pet.
Amazon behavior and training is a difficult problem that we cannot address in depth in this FAQ session due to space constraints.
I purchased a nude Amazon because his parents plucked him. He is now 8 months old, and his feathers are growing back and looking normal. The issue is that he has multiple ingrown feather cysts, and I need to know whether the plucking caused the ingrown feathers or if this is a rare occurrence. I was not warned that there may be complications from his parents’ feather plucking, and I have subsequently paid $150.00 to remove the cysts. I believe that the group that is selling plucked kids for half the price of fully feathered newborns has not considered the long-term repercussions of the plucking. I would have bought a fully feathered parrot if I had known I would have difficulties with ingrown feathers. I adore him and consider him to be a member of the family; I would appreciate any information or references you can supply to assist me. I also want to attempt to reduce the number of procedures he needs to have. I’d want to attempt to get this organization to recognize the link if there is one, and either cease selling the plucked newborns or inform its consumers about the expenses associated with regular removals.
Baby Amazons being plucked by their parents is a very unusual occurrence, and there is no definite explanation for why it occurred with the baby you bought. In fact, none of the experienced breeders we spoke with had seen it in their Amazon flocks. Feather cysts in Amazons are also uncommon. Cockatiels and Love Birds, on the other hand, are notorious for snatching chicks from their nests. It is caused by a strong urge to reproduce again, and the babies in the nest become a hindrance to the breeding couple.
The following quotations are from Harrison and Harrison’s book Clinical Avian Medicine and Surgery:
“In the author’s experience, cysts emerging from main or secondary wing feathers (the most common locations) seem to be related to past damage to the feather follicle.” Plucking by the parent birds might result in such suffering. “Feather cysts in particular canary birds may be linked to a hereditary component.”
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