Well, my DYH doesnt seem to be the normal zon.
He is 19, never showed signs of aggression, and has never turned hormonal.
I have had him since he was 2. He had bitten me 3 times in all the years.
(and left scars from each)
however, You will be able to tell if he displays when you visit, what type of personality he has. If he is easily excitable, you might want to think twice, or contact Joanie for advice**LOL**

Well, I went to visit Chico today. It was a very interesting visit, and left me cautiously optimistic. Chico looks a bit overweight, and is on a WalMart parrot mix seed diet. You know the one, mostly sunflower seed? She also gives him Walnuts and Pistachios, crackers, chicken, steak, etc. On the plus side, he does like Mandarin Oranges and grapes. Looks like the diet will need some work!

I feel that he reacted quite well to me. He never "freaked out", and allowed me to stand right by his cage without getting overly excited. He did flare his tail and pin a fair amount, but according to his owner, he does that whenever he interacts (he was behaving identically with her). She was quite impressed, and said that if it were her fiance or her son, as soon as they walk into the bird room he goes nuts, flying at the cage and screaming.

I didn't attempt to handle him (I don't think she does much either), but spent quite a while talking to him and moving around his cage, just an inch or so away. As I would move, he would follow me along. According to her, he usually retreats to the far corner when someone new comes in, except if it's a man, he usually freaks out. At first I kept my hands in my pockets, but then started to move my hands around, scratching my face, gesturing, etc. just to see how he'd react. He never flinched or panicked.

His cage sucks. It's one of those old fashioned cages, painted gray, that starts right at the floor, know what I mean? Has a tray but no grate and she uses corn cob bedding. The cage wasn't terribly dirty, but wasn't up to my standards of cleanliness, and has paint missing in a lot of spots. She says he's 15 to 20 years old, and I'm sure he's had this cage all his life.

According to her, Chico's had three owners counting her. His original owner was a Spanish speaking man from Florida. At some point he became ill and could no longer take care of him. (I have an idea he may have been a migrant worker. We have quite a few that come in during the late summer/early fall to harvest Broccoli.) Then there was the family that kept him in the basement with all their other pets and never paid any attention to him at all. And now she's had him for 2 years.

She's getting rid of Chico because she's trying to downsize since she's going back to work and won't have as much time for the birds. She wants to keep her B&G and concentrate her time on him. She's had the B&G for much longer. Basically she took the Zon in to get him out of a bad situation.

I didn't find him to be terribly loud. She has a Nanday that shrieked the whole time I was there, and my ears are still ringing! He doesn't talk much, says "hey" a lot, and according to her has one whistle. She says when she first got him he spoke a lot of Spanish, but she doesn't know any Spanish and I guess he got tired of trying after a while. Oh yeah, this is cute: He has a pet finch that basically lives in his cage with him! Little sucker flies in and out as he wishes, perches right next to the Zon, and the Zon just loves him! She didn't say whether or not the finch comes with him!

Out of the 25 or so calls she's gotten about him, she is interviewing two people, myself and one woman. All the others had no bird experience at all. We left it that I was certainly interested but not entirely decided, and she has promised to show him to this other woman at any rate.

Ok, based on this update, what say ye?

honestly? go for it... since he's reacted quite well to you, i think you have a very good shot in giving that little guy a good home for the rest of his life - you know what you're doing, have experience and passion, and i believe that's exactly what is needed in this situation.... (and maybe a new cage )

glad to hear the visit went that well... do you speak spanish?

I think you should go for it too, Nate. I still think you would have your work cut out for you, but based on the way he reacted to you (or rather, didn't react), I think its definitely possible that you could eventually have a great relationship with this guy.

How cute that he has a finch "pet"!

Sounds like your getting a zon nate!!! I think you could help him have a happy life Your a nice guy!!! Cant wait to see pics!!!

so when you calling her to tell her you'll take him????

Sounds like you've made quite the impression on a little somebirdy. Good luck!!!!

i also agree with the others...i think you would be a great father to a zon...

my DYH really reacts to men - he will climb ALL over his cage with tail completely flaired and eyes pinning like crazy. especially when a man gets too close to his cage!!! seeing that chico didn't do this to you, sounds like it may be okay. lots of work still, of course, but not like a mad pitt bull to begin with, ya know? i guess its all a matter of whether you will have time to dedicate to this guy.

thats a cute story about the finch. the finch HAS to come with him, right? you just have to watch out for the little bugger. lol

Nate, you're the only one who can say whether this is a good decision or not for you. I won't voice an opinion about that, because I don't know you or Chico.

If he does have aggressive tendencies, getting him off the seed mixture may help out a bit. I noticed that the aggressive male DYH I had (before he fell in love with a friend and moved there) was more aggressive when given seeds than when he ate other things.

How cute is it that he's friends with a finch. It would be fun if the finch were to go to Chico's new home with him.

I'd love to see a picture or two of Chico.

Dive in and have some fun . zons rule but just get ready for a few bites that way you wont be surprised if it happens LOL

Go for it Nate, you would do excellent with the bird!