A few questions :?

[ShoniNikki]

Hey Guys
I just wanted to ask a few questions on here to see what others think...
My husband and I have been thinking about adopting a baby macaw and have come across a few concerns...
1) We want to be able to hand feed at least for a few weeks to build a closer bond..
2) I have read about people buying fertile eggs off line incubating them and hatching them out and raising them up... and I think this would be so amazing to do but I have also read that alot of the time these are scams?!!
We would really love some insight from other macaw owners and breeders out there so we can do this right
Thank you for your time today

 

[sssaucey]

I'm no expert on this, but I would say raising a chick from day one should only be done by experienced people and only if it was an emergency. I wouldn't trust someone trying to sell eggs.

do you have experience hand feeding chicks?

 

[ShoniNikki]

I do not have experience however my grandmother and a few of my friends have been handfeeding for years and years so I have all the support and help I need... My grandmother is also experienced in avian vet/ care

 

[sssaucey]

It's good to hear that you have experienced people that would help you if you decided to get an unweaned chick, but in my opinion I would wait for the chick to be fully weaned because hand feeding your bird does not necessarily mean it's going to bond to you more strongly.

I'm sure more experienced people will come a long to help good luck

 

[ShoniNikki]

Thank you for your thoughts much appreciated... Have a nice day

 

[MaraWentz]

I think hand feeding would be a great idea. I cant gauruntee it will create bind but some say it does. Everyone has to start some where and you seem to have plenty of guidnace and support. I however wouldnt hatch the egg. That prob. Requires much more monitoring and specail equipment but it is your decision. Good luck! Oh btw instead of hatching an eggyou can oick the egg out yourself. Some breeders allow that its very specail x)

 

[Conuregirl]

hi, there! i heard most of the eggs are scams on craigslist. i have heard of people buying eggs, but they are from reputable breeders to bird specialty stores.

it's really hard handfeeding unless you have the time, i mean like at home for timed feeding every few hours. you need weigh the baby to make sure they are gaining. check their crop to see if there is a foul smell. check the temp on the food and make sure the food is fresh. it is complicated and i wouldn't recommend it. the bond will not strengthen with handfeedings. it's not really fair to the baby to be raised by an unexperienced person.

 

[MacawGuy]

i wouldnt do the egg. i would get a baby n hadfed myself. i would go with that ideal. not buy an egg n go from there.

 

[GWGordy]

We got our bird at 10days old!! But I don't have a life and have handfeed before!!! I wouldn't of changed it for the world! But Feeding every 2-3 hours 6-8 times a day becomes alot!! I don't work!! Your life will become around your baby for over 17wks! Mine is at 10wks today and the longest I can leave is 6 hours! But that isn't something I do often! I wouldn't do a Egg.. I'd even be so scared.. I wish you good luck.. If you truly want a baby get one about 12-14wks!! More independent, but you still get to handfeed!! What kind of baby do you want?

 

[Alisana]

I would recommend going for a weaned baby.

The theory that having to 'hand feed' creates a stronger bond has been found to be false in many cases. While yes, the bird will be more comfortable with you, you can still build a bond of trust and love with a weaned chick. (Have a chat with some of the members here who have bought a weaned baby) I won't argue that hand-feeding it yourself DOESN'T create a bond, it definitely helps secure the bond, but I just don't think that should be viewed as the reason for hand-rearing yourself.

As for the egg issue - as others have stated, it's way too risky. Most cases they are scams, but even if they are genuine, there are far, far too many risks with incubating the egg, and you may not be guaranteed that the egg hatches successfully, but if it even hatches at all. =\ Your other issue is legality - proving that your egg/bird wasn't taken from the wild.

Some posts that may be of interest for you:

http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/21183-best-hand-rearing-methods-parrots.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/21840-my-journey-my-parent-raised-b-g-macaw.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/congo-t...bout-taking-cag-home-before-fully-weaned.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/19049-hazards-buying-unweaned-baby.html

 

[WharfRat]

do not go with the "Egg" route at all IMO. we have weaned out all but one of ours but were given "hands on" training on this by our breeder. As for the bonding, don't really think it matters at that age (although it can't hurt either). I had my wife hand feed our 2nd GW and she still prefers me over her, I was told by the breeder to completely leave the Zon's alone and boy did she nail that one, the Zon's worship the wife. The birds will choose their "master" in their own way in the long run.

 

[ShoniNikki]

I really want a greenwing or a scarlet I think!!! But I also like the harlequins and catalinas!!! I have been really thinking and I think taking everyones advice is best for now!! I am a stay at home mom so I am home all day long and I am sure I could do it with the egg situation but I am still new to the bird world and all so maybe later on would be a better bet!! I appreciate all advices/ opinions!!!
If you guys were to recommend a macaw for a first timer which would it be!!!

 

[Molcan2]

A GW, they are my personal favorites. Im also not a fan of mixing birds, i absolutly hate that people do this, but that is also just my opinion.

 

[MaraWentz]

Theyre beautiful as hybrids very beautiul but I would go with a pure just because many macaws are so endangered that mixing the breeds doesnt help at all to sustain them. At the rate were going with all this hybridism getting so popular there wont be any pure breds left in capativity let alone the wild. Then again a hybrid bird is just as good of a bird as a pure and they neednlove and homes too.

 

[henpecked]

I think it's very" do able". Forget the egg (chances for your success about zero, if it hatched, it's a scam). macaws wean for extended periods of time and handfeed for up to a year is rather common. I can recommend a very good book ( the bible) on handfeeding, "Parrots,,handfeeding and nursery management" by Howard Voren and Rick Jordan, used on amazon.com. Of course going to your breeders place and handfeeding your baby would be the best course of action. IMO There's nothing like raising a life long companion from a baby. handfeeding ? yes it helps with the bonding. Necessary for a great pet ? NO.

 

[GWGordy]

Greenwing, I think it's better with a family lifestyle!! I also love the harlequins they are super sweet too.. thats our next bird!

 

[WharfRat]

Green Wings are awesome parrots. Do you have any experience handling large birds? They can be a little intimidating to the inexperienced because of their size (and beaks). One of our GW's can get "moody" with my wife at times (as in time to go back in the cage)

 

[azdesertrhino]

We got our B&G, Mac, at about 10 weeks and completed the weaning process ourselves.

My wife did not like the way her "baby" was being supervised at the place of purchase. Any person coming in the place could handle the birds unsupervised. Some of the folks handling the birds did not have a clue what they were doing.

The personnel at the facility gave us 2 training sessions on feeding Mac and then we did it a couple of times ourselves before taking him home.

We did not experience any problems but there can be very serious situations arise during the process that we were not aware of at the time.

I'm not sure it had any affect on the bonding process one way or the other!

It is excellent you have experienced folks to fall back on for assistance!

As many have stated already, starting with an egg may not be the best route to go.

Best of luck with your decision and your new FID!!

 

[ShoniNikki]

Green Wings are awesome parrots. Do you have any experience handling large birds? They can be a little intimidating to the inexperienced because of their size (and beaks). One of our GW's can get "moody" with my wife at times (as in time to go back in the cage)

I can honestly say I havent fully handled a macaw.. I have held my aunts cockatoo a few times but Im still very inexperienced... however I am never going to be unafraid until I plunge in!! I am a very patient and loving pet owner and I believe we all have to make our start somewhere!!!
I Really think I will be going with the greenwing to start with I appreciate alll of EVERYONES advice and tips!!
Thank you all!!!!

 

[ShoniNikki]

Also can anyone Recommend a reputable breeder for the green wings?!!