Mealy Amazon

Here is where the Mealy really earns its keep. Despite being the largest of the commonly kept Amazons, it is noticeably quieter than many of the smaller species. The dawn and dusk contact calls are present — every Amazon has them, and you should never buy one expecting silence — but the volume and frequency are more manageable than what you would experience with a Yellow-nape or a Blue-front of similar age.

As a talker, the Mealy is a solid mid-tier performer. He will not match the operatic clarity of a Yellow-naped Amazon, but the voice he develops is pleasant, clear and often surprisingly conversational. Many of the birds I have raised pick up household phrases readily and use them in appropriate contexts — greeting people on the stairs, announcing the kettle, commenting on the dog. The voice has a lower, more resonant quality than the smaller Amazons, which most owners find easier to live with.

Whistling, singing along to music and mimicking household sounds are all common pastimes. Provide enrichment, conversation and routine, and the Mealy will reward you with a varied vocal repertoire that stops well short of being a nuisance. For apartment-dwellers and those with close neighbours, the Mealy is one of the few large Amazons I would even consider recommending — though I would still strongly advise a detached home wherever possible.

A high-quality formulated pellet should make up roughly 60–70 per cent of the daily diet. I feed and recommend Harrison's, TOPs or Roudybush — these are the three brands I have used consistently in my aviary, and the difference in feather quality and long-term health between pellet-fed birds and seed-fed birds is dramatic. Mealys, being large, have correspondingly large appetites, and a steady pellet base is the simplest way to prevent the nutritional deficiencies that plague this species.

The remaining 30–40 per cent should be fresh produce — and proportional to the body size, which means generous portions. Dark leafy greens, broccoli, carrot, sweet potato, peppers, squash, mango, papaya, pomegranate and berries are all excellent. Vitamin A is the single most important nutrient to keep on top of with Amazons; orange and dark green vegetables should appear daily. Avoid avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, onion and stone fruit pits, all of which are toxic.

Mealys are serious chewers. Mine work through pine, balsa, palm and cardboard at an impressive rate, and that destructive drive needs to be channelled. Foraging toys, whole-food presentations (corn on the cob, pomegranates split open, walnuts in shell) and rotating wooden enrichment are not optional extras — they are how you keep a large Amazon mentally well. Limit fatty seeds and nuts to small training treats; this is a species that obesity finds easily.

The Mealy is a generally hardy bird, but its size, longevity and powder-down all introduce health considerations that responsible owners should understand. Annual avian vet examinations with bloodwork are essential, and I will not place a chick with a buyer who does not have an avian vet identified in advance.

• Aspergillosis — a fungal respiratory disease to which all powder-down producing parrots are susceptible; clean, well-ventilated housing is the first defence.
• Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci) — a bacterial infection that can be carried subclinically; testing is straightforward and worthwhile.
• Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) — a viral disease affecting feathers and beak; reputable breeders test their flock.
• Vitamin A deficiency — common in seed-fed Amazons and a precursor to a long list of secondary problems; resolved by proper diet.
• Obesity — a large bird with a large capacity for overeating; portion control and active foraging matter enormously.

Establish care with a board-certified avian vet from the day your Mealy comes home, schedule an annual wellness exam, and do not wait if something seems off — Amazons hide illness extremely well. Guidelines and a vet finder are available through the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

The Mealy is, simply put, a big bird, and the cage must reflect that. The minimum I recommend is 36 x 30 x 48 inches, and frankly bigger is better. Bar spacing should be 1 to 1.5 inches, and the construction should be powder-coated steel or stainless — a determined Amazon beak makes short work of cheap cages. The cage is the bird's bedroom, not his living quarters; do not let any salesperson tell you otherwise.

Out-of-cage time is non-negotiable. Four hours daily is the floor for a Mealy, and most of the well-adjusted birds I have placed get considerably more. A robust play stand, a shower perch, and a safe room where the bird can flap, climb and forage all extend his world beyond the bars. Position the cage in a busy family area, away from the kitchen (non-stick fumes are lethal), out of direct draughts and away from full sun.

Sleep matters more than most owners realise. Mealys do best with a consistent 10–12 hour dark, quiet sleep period — a separate sleep cage in a quiet room is something I encourage for every large Amazon owner. Combine that with daily bathing opportunities, rotating enrichment, and a predictable routine, and you will have a calm, contented bird who lives up to the gentle reputation of his species.