Macaw

[barredrocks755]

HI I might get a blue and gold macaw or a hyacinth macaw and I would like to learn some more about them. Can you just post some info here if you know important info about them.
Thanks

 

[Puffycheeks]

HI I might get a blue and gold macaw or a hyacinth macaw and I would like to learn some more about them. Can you just post some info here if you know important info about them.
Thanks

Congratulations!!! Just some friendly advice here from an experienced bird person!!! If you have never had a large bird before then you may want to consider the blue and gold. I would suggest going to local pet stores and handling as many types of birds as possible before making a permanent decision. Most birds do NOT do well when they are rehomed very many times as it is very stressful on them. All birds can be a real challenge, but, Hyacinths are really a bird of a different color!!! LOL so the speak, and require MASSIVE and exceptionally extra strong living quarters and toys, and perches and also
have slightly different diet requirements. As a breeding pair they will need macadamia nuts in their diet daily to be their best. Even as pets these awesome birds need the special oils in the nut for their best health. So being able to keep a steady supply of these expensive nuts on hand may be a challenge all in itself. PLEASE do as much research as possible before you adopt either type of bird , but really make sure you are up to the task and special challenges of the Hyacinths. A bird is a very special addition to the family and will most likely outlive you with proper care. Be prepared to have it included in your will so someone can continue to love and care properly for it for ever after. GOOD LUCK and please let us all know how everything turns out!!!

 

[Magic Birdie]

Wow! A macaw is a lot of work. You'll have to do some research that's more than I can type in a week. Go read some books on bird care, or websites like www.birdchannel.com

Macaws aren't a great first bird, if one's going to be your first, as they're really expensive, loud, demanding, and messy. They learn tricks easily, and may talk, but don't expect too much as far as talking. B & Gs are around 1 or 2 thousand dollars and a hyacinth may go for 10 thousand, and a lot of money for the cage, toys, perches, and food. They need a lot of healthy fruits and veggies. They can eat anything you can but chocolate and avocado, but it's not a good idea to give them unhealthy stuff.

Again, do your research with books, they're the best resource in my opinion.

 

[Grumpy Goats]

I have to agree with both Puffycheeks and Magic Birdie about the level of research you need to do. While my Catalina macaw is the first bird I ever owned (and still do own), I worked at the pet store where she was for over a year, getting to know her and learning how to handle her before she became mine. Maybe find a bird rescue and ask if you can work/volunteer there a few times? That would really help you can get a great idea of what you're getting into if you purchase a macaw. It would also help you learn their behaviors and how to deal with them.

Macaws are much like having a 4 year old in your house, permanently. They will not "outgrow" screaming, so think twice if you live in an apartment or duplex. Don't kid yourself that you can train them to be quiet. It won't happen. They like to chew on things, which means you need to replenish their toys, A LOT! Their psychology is a lot different from a cat or a dog. Like a 4 year old, they won't be content sitting in their cage all day with little to no entertainment.

With all the warning said, I've lived with my macaw for 11 years and it's been a blast! I wish the same for you and your macaw if you get one.

 

[Chickie-chan]

Sorry, I don't know a lot about macaws but I do have parakeets and I wish I could get one! I think they are so beautiful. Congratulations!!!

 

[crankster76]

macaws are a lifetime commitment. they are very much like little children.[ball and chain]. they require attention day in and day out. I have 2 of them .a b/g and a scarlet. I hand fed the scarlet from day3 about 16 yrs ago. she is a trip. these birds are loud ,messy and require a vari of different foods. mine eat whatever i do along with the seed and nuts daily. there exspensive to get and to care for and like I said earlier they live 80 to 100 yrs so its alifetime commetment.

 

[Nambroth]

One nugget of advice I have is to start a savings account just for your bird. I am not talking about for the cost of buying the bird-- I am talking about the cost of properly keeping it! Macaws are expensive to keep. They go through toys like crazy (be prepared to start making your own unless you want to shell out $100-200 a month for an active chewer..). Vet visits are expensive. And feeding can be very expensive-- macaws require a special diet and most need nuts with the right types of fats. Hyacinths MUST have certain types of nut, including quite a lot of macadamia nut, in order to stay healthy. This is very expensive to do! Have you priced macadamias recently? Owch.

Make sure you do lots of research and are ready to commit to a bird that is smart as a young child, can cause you serious injury if you don't understand one another, and can bellow loud enough to be heard a mile away... for the next 60-80 years. They never grow up and move out, either!

 

[josebeth1]

All of the comments thus far are so very true!! I have a scarlet and a harlequin, both have been with me for their entire lives and are now 18 years old. I spend far too much time now feeling guilty that I don't have enough time for them and it shows in their behavior. When we got them, we lived in Mexico and never thought we'd be back in the states and in this lifestyle with them later. We just re-arranged the whole house last weekend to try to get them more "in the thick of things" as far as the activity in the house goes--one thing for sure is that you want to have a set up for them that is not only large enough, but also not separated from the rest of their "flock", ie; you and the human family! Plus, if you've got little ones/dogs/cats, etc you also have to find a way to protect fingers and noses around the cage. Both of my birds take total delight in getting the dogs riled up and crazy--which includes getting all 5 dogs howling at once which I think is the birds' favorite activity in the world!

My harlequin's a total wack job--the world's best argument as to why we shouldn't mess with mother nature! I know a few other harlequins and they all seem to have issues. I won't re-home her, however, as she and the scarlet would most certainly not do well if separated. Also, she's so difficult I'd be afraid someone might get so angry with her that they'd hurt her. So, speaking of commitment, here's an example of having taken the responsibility for this bird this is what we live with. I'm sure the chances are that she may very well outlive my husband and I and while my birds are in my will it's still not going to be an ideal solution when the time comes. It may seem crazy but these are considerations that one needs to think about ahead of a purchase.

Also, everyone's comments on the expense involved are also right on. You can't walk into a good avian vet's office around here without coming out at least a couple hundred dollars poorer and when one of my birds contracted the dreaded aspergillosis that became thousands of dollars between the meds and the dr. visits. We also feed one of the top of the line organic feeds which is now up to $6.30/pound which translates to about $1.50/day with us picking up and recycling all the pieces that end up un-eaten on the floor. Obviously it would be far more than that if we didn't get on hands/knees and do that tedious job a couple times a day!

I have read in many places the analogy that I think Grumpy Goats hints at: Macaws and Grays have the intelligence level of a 5-yr old child but the emotional make-up of a 3-yr old for decades!!!!

Anyway, those are just some rambling thoughts on the subject; with all that said however, I couldn't imagine my life without the girls!