Amazon 6 weeks

[cbjerg]

Hi
I've just got a Panama Amazon. He's six weeks old, and I am hand feeding him 3 times a day. My question is: How should I keep him? The seller advised me to keep him in a wooden box, with a lid on for a couple of weeks in between feedings. He does however seem to want to come out and have a look around. I would hate to keep him in the dark box, if he does not like it.

[Wolf]

Can you post pictures of the bird? Parrots are hatched in a hole where it is relatively dark so this doesn't bother me too much as it is easier on eyes that may not be fully developed but you should have a thermometer in the box as well because you also want to keep the temperature warm enough without being too hot for it. The temperature is best controlled with a heating pad with a thermostat built into it covered by a towel with a layer of paper on top of that for ease of cleaning.
Pajarita would be the best one to answer you question about this bird, I have only limited knowledge about this and no hands on experience in this area.

[Pajarita]

There is no 'may' about it. Parrots eyes are not completely developed when they hatch and they need darkness for it so the breeder is right (and you should never shine a bright light on the bird when you feed it, you need to do it with low, indirect light). Like Wolf said, the important thing is ventilation and temperature. I hope you have experience hand-feeding because that's the youngest I've ever heard of a baby zon been sold (and quite irresponsible on the breeder's part, I might add) and caring for it is not something that one should 'learn as you go' ...

[liz]

If he wants out dim the lights and let him come out to play. It is not normal for him to be an only in the box.

I had a baby cockatiel that I named Columbus. He was from the only surviving egg and did not like being alone in the nest. Just as soon as he could get his wobbly legs under him he came out.

He was too young but he did it anyway.

[cbjerg]

This is a picture him from wednesday just before he was fed.


I am surprised, and a bit sad to hear that is is way too early to take him home. The breeder assured me that this was normal from 4-5 weeks old. He weighs 390 grams this morning, and is being fed about 45 cc's 3 times a day.

[Wolf]

Actually if the bird is not fully weaned then it is too young to be sold. But this is not always how things are done, especially if you live in another part of the world than here in the USA. Where do you live?
I don't have the experience to help you with a bird this young, but it looks like it is doing well to me. Cute little bird!

[Pajarita]

Breeders are merchants whose 'product' is birds and, like all merchants, they want to sell you their product so they don't always tell you the truth. Breeders are not bird lovers - people who love birds don't exploit them.

Just make sure you are feeding right and that you weigh the bird every morning at the same time to make sure it's gaining the weight it should and to determine how much you should be feeding him (I assume you know this but, just in case, it's supposed to be 10% of his weight).