Cuban Amazons

[cubazon]

Hello there everybody this is my first post here after lurkin for the last few weeks, trying to get some info about the Cuban Amazon.

A local breeder has some really sweet little weaned babies that are so pretty and such nice birds.

I have experience only with cockateils tho, my family has always had them, and my mom bred them and we all hand raised them.
Of course this is over the last 36 yrs...
I havent personally kept my own cockatiels in my own house since Ive been on my own since 18... alas, i digress...

So i got it in my head that i want a parrot, this is after helping nurse my buddys yellow-nape amazon back to health over the last year... the bird is ~30 yrs old and was feather-plucking because of my buddies sudden unstable living conditions over the last year and a half or so...

Both my buddy and the parrot are back on their feet, so to speak, and man i gotta tell you, i really miss having the bird here, I seem to have had a knack for parrot-keeping, or maybe it was just THAT bird, i dunno, but little Pablo and I were best buddies while I had him and he did so well with me, and my buddy claimed he was a 1-person bird....

So I recently found a local breeder/shop and after visiting all day on a sunday, I really like their baby Cubans, it wasnt my first or favorite choice, but the birds and I really got along, so that is more important to me than what it looks like or how well it talks.... honestly i was interested in Indian Ringnecks as my bird-of-choice.

Anyways, there is not a lot of information specifically about Cuban Amazons, and only a few vids on youtube...
I was just wondering if anybody has any actual first-hand experience with these amazons.... or are they pretty much just like any other Amazon species?

The sparse info that IS out there leads me to believe that this would in fact be a good birdy match for me.
Not that Im in any rush at all, but if Im gonna get a bird with a 50yr+ lifespan, now is the time to start thinking about it


Btw, I myself have been a keeper/breeder of rare and exotic reptiles and amphibians and arachnids and saltwater fish for the last 20 yrs, so i know thats not bird experience, but I do know the time and dedication that exotic friends require, and that is exactly what I have to give.

[Pajarita]

Sorry, I can't help - never had a Cuban zon under my care. But, if you are so good at rehabilitating, why don't you adopt one? There are so many parrots out there in need of a good home...

[cubazon]

I would love to ADOPT a bird, however the people that want to get rid of their birds want top dollar for them...

Find me a real actual person that genuinely cares for their "unwanted" bird and wants nothing more than to see it go into a great home, and Ill be all over it...

I know birds can get expensive, and I know people spend alot of money on them, but the ads I see on places like craigslist usually read as follows: cant keep my bird because it bites me and is loud and is plucking its feathers out, small rehoming fee of $_00.50(that blank digit usually contains a "5,6,7,8,9"...)

Those are pet flippers, not people looking for good homes for a pet they heartbreakingly can not keep...

So my thoughts are that if Im going to be paying a "retail" price, why should I not get a young trainable bird with no bad habits...

[Nir]

well i had a few bad experiences back then when i was looking to adopt. the ads i found, i asked how much it would be and they replied "he is not for sle, he is up for adoption that has a fee." and blah blah... i wanted to know how much the adoption fee was obviously but they always seemed very intelligent to not be able to figure that out. i didnt want to go there and find out that the price is too high for me to want to afford and i was never told about the actual prices. call it whatever you want but at least tell me the damn fee. anyway end rant.

having said that you should still look into going to some rescues. i am sure some places are great and conduct their business well. I truthfully just wanted a baby just so i can experience all parts of his/her life. i admire people who do get rescues however since they are awesome birds as well. i was very close to getting a rescue myself but it fell through. also not all rescues are biters or has any problems.

[Pajarita]

I have gotten several parrots off Craig's list for free. Sometimes they ask for a 'rehoming fee' but once they see you know how to care for them, they are willing to give them to you for free. You have to try... and there are always lots of birds in rescues.

[cubazon]

Hopefully some good news, I found a bird on CL that might be just right for me.

A green Indian Ringneck, ad states its not tame and the people cant handle it.
They want only 200 for it and a nice big cage.

I emailed them so we will see what comes of it.

The IRN is really my bird of choice so everybody cross your fingers for me ))

[cubazon]

even better news, i put a "bird wanted" ad on my local CL and a lady that runs a local bird rescue contacted me and she is going to help me find a bird that suits my needs/wants, and i might join the rescue effort as a fosterer!!

Im so glad she emailed me because this sounds like its right up my ally!

Im hoping this works out, because not only will i get the kind of bird I would really like, I also get the opportunity to gain experience working with various bird species, and rehabilitating buirds and caring for unwanted/problem birds.

Im really excited now
Good things come to those who wait!!

[spiral71]

thats grat news fostering sounds like grat way to gain experiece of diffent spiecies i hava an indian ringneck that i love who can be intense but she is great fun.

you could look on indianringneck.com for species information if you like. just an idea the cuban zon sounds interesting though.