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Scientific Name: Amazona farinosa

Flock Members: 10-100 members

Size: 15 to 16 inches

Weight: 1 to 2 pounds

Hypoallergenic: No

Lifespan: 30 to 50 years

Behavior

The Mealy Amazon parrot belongs to the subfamily of very friendly and intelligent parrots. These birds are further companion animals that bond easily to people if domesticated and are very involved. Mealy Amazons are social animals that prefer propping and playing most of the time and require toys for that. Also, they can be extremely noisy, imitating sounds and words they often encounter, so choose professional pet house sitting services when you are away. They require a lot of mental work and socialization to guarantee they do not become vicious due to lack of occupation and start squeaking or plucking their feathers.

These parrots can be a bit ‘tense’ and ‘snippy,’ more so during hormonal change or breeding season, even during Overnight Pet Sitting. But when well-trained and tamed from childhood, they are good pets that can be fondled easily. On top of that, they are fairly obedient and you can easily train them using positive reinforcement.

The Mealy Amazons remain in large groups, fly at close quarters, and continually groom themselves. In Central and South America’s rainforest, they feed on fruits, nuts, berries, and seeds in the treetop. Its action and attention requirements necessitate owners to spend considerable time supervising activities with Mealy Amazon parrots. A Mealy that is raised correctly and treated correctly will grow up to be friendly and make an excellent friend for life.

History

The Mealy Amazon is a mid-sized parrot that naturally inhabits areas of north-eastern South America, ranging from the eastern part of Venezuela through the Guianas, north-eastern Brazil, and north-eastern Colombia. They are scientifically known as Amazona farinosa. Their name, Mealy Amazons, derives from the powder-like dull gray feathers on the head and body, while the wings and tail are partly green and blue.

These parrots have been domesticated animals of long-standing. Indeed native South Americans were known to have tamed parrots to act as pet birds. Mealy Amazons are not certain to have been shipped out to Europe sometime in the 1700s or 1800s as the trade in exotic birds took its course internationally. Today, they are widespread in the pet trade and are of a medium cost relative to other Amazon parrots. It lies in the fact that they can talk, and they like to, however they are noisy and need much attention and chews. Mealy Amazons, on average, have a life expectancy of 30 to 50 years or more, but if kept as a pet. Wild Mealy Amazons are not a concern for conservationists, but habitat loss affects some areas' populations. Their flexibility has allowed feral populations to start in areas such as Florida and Hawaii.

Breeding

The Mealy Amazon is one of the most sought-after pet parrots due to the friendly and playful nature of the species. In captivity, the Mealy Amazons breed once a year during the rainy season between November and March. They breed in trees, nest in cavities, and lay 3-4 eggs. It takes the female about 26 days of incubation where her partner feeds her.

And when you decide to breed Mealy Amazons in captivity, you must plan this process wisely and avail trusty Pet House Sitting Services when you are not around. The breeding pair, especially the male, should be about 3-4 years of age, and the female should be bred while healthy. Their listed requirements include having sufficient space with a lined nesting box made of aspen shavings, which should be put at a higher level within the aviary. The nest site of the box should be at least 30 cm deep. It acts as a fertility pillar through a balanced diet: fruits, veggies, sprouts, and high-quality seed mix.

The female lays, on average, 2-4 eggs which it starts to incubate after laying the second or the third egg. The incubation period is 26 to 28 days. The chicks are born underdeveloped, but they are capable of having feathers. The chicks must be fed and tended by both parents and kept on natural foods for approximately 10- 12 weeks, at which they are ready for adult feed. It means vigilant observations must be made for aggressive behaviors between mates and chicks, especially during Overnight Pet Sitting. Chicks rejected by the mother must be hand-raised on their own.

Looks and Health

The Mealy Amazon are largely green birds with a hint of scalloping on the flight feathers. Primarily, the color of the forehead and crown is red, and the cheeks, ear coverts, and sides of the neck are pale blue. Male: The chin, throat, and upper breast are orange, while the lower breast and belly are yellow and green in shades. The wings are bright red, blue, green, and yellow. The tail is green with red in the bottom part. The beak is black, the eyes are yellow to orange, legs are gray. The Mealy Amazon is so similar to the Yellow-crowned Amazon other than it has a red crown, whereas the Yellow-crowned has yellow. In general, the feathering of the Mealy Amazon is brightly colored and has red, blue, green, yellow, and orange patches on a green background.

As flock birds, they get lonely if you don’t mix them with other friendly parrots. Biannual checkups in vet offices help detect possible problems earlier when they are not complicated. The Mealy Amazon parrot is an intelligent bird - thus they tend to play and exercise both physically and mentally not to develop boredom-related vices such as feather plucking. When provided with a good home, companionship, proper diet, regular health checks, and veterinary care, it's possible to have healthy Mealy Amazons that can live well over 60 years. Sick conditions may include respiratory diseases, overweight, psittacine beak, and feather disease near some birds.

Food and Nutrition

Mealy Amazon parrots are mid-size parrots found in areas of South America. The diet of captive birds is predominantly seed and nut, supplemented with fruits and berries; they also occasionally feed on insects. Favorite foods include nuts and seeds from palms or fruit such as mango, papaya, and bananas. Mealy Amazon parrots are to be fed meals full of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats for them to be active. Their food should have some nutrients: calcium, vitamins A and E, and amino acids. When in captivity, they should be given high-quality seeds and pellets with many fruits and vegetables - make sure your overnight pet house-sitting service Fairfax, also knows this. It is also a place for them to chew on branches and twigs so they can feed and stay healthy, and their beak condition is good. A balanced diet of protein and vegetables can help make Mealy Amazons grow healthy and strong.

Conclusion

The Mealy Amazon parrot is an attractive, loving bird and can be an excellent pet if placed in the right home. These clever birds can be good company if socialized, trained, and given special attention. However, potential owners should fully realize that it is their responsibility to devote much time, buy a large cage, and lots of toys and proper feeding for one of these parrots. If the owner takes good care of them, the Mealy Amazon is a good companion for everyday life. For more information or to avail of our overnight pet house sitting service Fairfax, visit PawNanny.com!