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The genus Amazona are among the most sought
after species of birds in the world of Aviculture. Amazon parrots are
found in Mexico, Central and South America, with a few of the smaller
species found on the islands of the West Indies. There are 27 species
and 24 sub-species in the family. The sub-species are differentiated by
region, color, and /or size. Sometimes the variations are very slight
and hard to see. It is always best to pair up like sub-species when possible. Housing: We are fortunate to live in a climate where
our birds can be kept out of doors with no heat or cooling needs. Amazons
should be given as much room as possible for housing and breeding. Amazons
kept in undersized cages are prone to obesity due to their lack of movement
and over feeding by most keepers. A cage which measures 3' wide by 3' tall
and 5' to 6' long is suitable for Amazons. The more aggressive the species
(yellow shoulder) are given 8' long cages to enable one of the pair to
escape toe others combative advances. It is sometimes necessary to clip
the aggressors wings to give the other bird a chance to get away. We use
2x4s cut in 3' lengths for perches. Perches are placed on opposite ends
of the cage and held in place by sheet metal hangers. The hangers make
replacement easy as Amazons are rapid chewers of all wood materials, especially
during breeding seasons. All cages are 3' off the ground for ease in maintaining
a clean environment. Feed and water stations are placed on the end of
the cage with easy access from the service aisle. A 4" by 4"
hole is cut into the top of a wire feeding station making it necessary
for the bird to reach down into the bowl in order to eat. This assists
in keeping picky eaters from throwing everything out of the bowl looking
for its most wanted treat. Stainless steel bowls are used for both food
and water. The food bowls are cleaned and replaced every other day. The
water bowls are cleaned daily and disinfected weekly. Vanadine is mixed
into the water for added Vitamin A and to kill any bacteria that may be
in the water. Both metal L-shaped and grandfather clock style (12"x12"x24"
deep) nest boxes are used with similar results. The nest box should be
placed high on one end of the cage with a perch in close proximity. Either
end will work as long as nest box placement allows easy access to the
inspection door without disturbing breeding pairs. A solid partition is
placed between cages to keep sparring between cages to a minimum. Feeding: We use a variety of foods that remains
constant through the year with few changes. The only modifications involve
the type of fruit or vegetables served and the addition of sunflower to
our diets. Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive, so we feed what
ever varieties are inexpensive and plentiful. Generally this includes
apples, bananas, oranges, corn, papaya, pomegranate, and what ever else
the pocket book allows. A typical diet will consist of a boiled
rice and bean mix, commercial pellets, apples, papaya, large hookbill
seed mix, topped with a vitamin and mineral powder. This is mixed in 5
gallon buckets, with 1 cup of food given every other day to breeding pairs.
This system has worked for several years, but care should be given to
the needs of some individual pairs which may need daily feedings. Sunflower
and sprouted seed mixes are added one month prior to breeding season to
stimulate breeding responses. In our aviaries this occurs in February.
We also administer an injection of vitamins and conduct health inspections
of all adults at this time. Adults with any identifiable health problems
are medicated, if needed. During breeding season all nest boxes are
checked daily. The birds become accustomed to this routine. All eggs are
pulled and artificially incubated. This increases our production by eliminating
cracked or broken eggs, nest abandonment, and loss time between clutches
due to hen incubating. We often get 3 clutches from some pairs. There
has been no signs of over production problems in our breeding colonies,
but we do supply calcium daily in our vitamin complex. Our fertility rate
is good. We attribute this to the males not being overweight when breeding
season arrives. A common problem is the cock or the hen being out of condition
when its mate is in season. This will cause clear eggs and lost clutches
or seasons for most pairs of Amazons. There are also infertility problems
with an incompatible pair. They will often inhabit the same cage with
no fighting, but no copulating or breeding responses are noticeable. These
pairs should be split up and a more suitable mate should be provided.
Signs of "bonded" pairs include preening, nest box dwelling,
copulating, and defensive surges to the feed stations. The defensive surges
and fighting between the pair, when feeding, are the best signal that
breeding season is arriving. Incubating, Brooding, and Handrearing:
Artificial incubation can be easy with
the proper equipment and monitoring of that equipment. We use Grumbach
and Octagon 20 Incubators in our breeding facility. The Grumbach is our
primary incubator, while we use the Octagon 20 for hatching and incubating
round eggs. (Senegal, Meyers) Complete disinfection is done on all equipment,
including any filter changes prior to breeding season. Hermful bacteria
can cause problems to eggs as well as to babies. We incubate Amazon eggs
at 98.3 degrees with a relative humidity of 45 to 50%. This has given
us consistant results, with eggs hatching on schedule. The length of incubation
is dependent on species, which ranges between 25 and 28 days. The Aquabrood is our brooder of choice.
They are easy to clean, affordable, maintain a constant temperature, and
the transparent plastic allows us to easily and quickly monitor babies.
It is best not to mix clutches within the same brooder. Multiple brooders
can be a valuable tool to keep bacteria transmission to a minimum between
babies. It is always best to separate your babies as much as possible. We use both Pretty Bird and Kaytee Exact
handfeeding formulas with good results. The Pretty Bird 8% fast formula
does appear to result in faster gains, but this appears to be the only
difference. By week 6 all babies are equal and no significant differences
are visible. A typical feeding schedule is from 7
am to 11 pm.
These are general guidelines, changed when
necessary.Weaning will occur anytime after 10 weeks. Weaning foods are
introduced daily to encourage the baby to eat on its own. Amazons as pets: Amazons are amongst the most sought after
parrots for pets. Many species are excellent talkers, (Ochrocephala family)
with others making loving and docile companions. We never seem to raise
enough babies to fill the demand. We currently are raising: Double yellow head (Oratrix and Magna) Yellow Nape Yellow crown Orange wing Yellow cheek (Autumnalis and Salvins) Liliacine Lilac crown Green cheek Tucuman Blue front White front (Albifrons and Nana) Yellow shoulder (Barbadensis and Rothschildi) |