Blue throated macaws?

[chika]

If what I have read online is true, I have found my dream bird...

They're good apartment birds because they don't scream, but are good talkers.
They're suitable for people new-ish to birds.
They're docile and friendly.

The ONLY downside I have found is their price

 

[IcyWolf]

Why is that all of the rare/expensive birds seem to have these unbelievable personalities? Am I the only one that is finding it too good to be true? Golden conures, hyacinths and now blue throated macaws... maybe it has something to do with the fact that when you spend 2k+ dollars on a bird, you make sure to do everything just right?

 

[noblemacaw]

Blue throats do scream...but are not known for their talking ability.

They are not suitable for first time parrot people

Although they can be friendly they are not docile. I have never been able to use docile and macaw in the same sentence.

Where did you get this information? Wendy Craig where I am getting my RFM from also breeds the BTM. Her website describes the BTM as:

[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]"Blue –throated Macaws, aka Caninde Macaws, originate in Bolivia. They average between 600 and 800 grams making them smaller than your Blue & Gold and even Military Macaws but larger than the Red-fronted Macaw. They are endangered and some estimates put them at fewer than 150 remaining in the wild.

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]This is an elegant bird! The colors are just gorgeous with the blue being more of a dark turquoise or aquamarine in color. Often the backs of these birds have shades of green, which is beautiful when viewed in the sunlight. The beak is longer and narrower than that of the Blue & Gold and when excited their entire facial patch, which sports blue feather bars turns a bright red.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1] The Blue-throat can make a wonderful companion for the right person. But beware they are not for everyone! The Blue-throat loves lots of attention and although not as demanding as your Cockatoos they can easily be spoiled because they love to snuggle with their favorite people. I have yet to have a Blue-throat that did not enjoy lying on it’s back or receiving lots of hugs and skritches.

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Although not known for their talking ability they are extremely intelligent. This is a puzzle loving bird with lots of mechanical aptitude. One owner has told stories of his bird opening a combination lock! And although I have not seen this myself, knowing them as I do it is not hard to believe. My breeder pairs can take almost anything apart! Due to their intelligence they can also be very manipulative. They are voracious chewers that need plenty of wooden toys to splinter and reduce to sawdust.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Although smaller than many of the “Large” macaws they still require a very large cage. They love to play and seem to be much more careful of those tail feathers even as juveniles, than the Blue & Gold and Greenwings are. Their cage needs to accommodate a body with up to a 40-inch wingspan and a body length of almost 30 inches.[/SIZE][/FONT]"

I hope this helps you out with information from a breeder that breeds the BTM.

Noblemacaw

 

[kobe629]

Why is that all of the rare/expensive birds seem to have these unbelievable personalities? Am I the only one that is finding it too good to be true? Golden conures, hyacinths and now blue throated macaws... maybe it has something to do with the fact that when you spend 2k+ dollars on a bird, you make sure to do everything just right?

Haha seems like that..I have a golden conure and he or she is so sweet and affectionate plus my golden isn't noisy unlike my alexandrine who talks up a storm but man when he squawks he can make your ears ring NO JOKE!

I also thought about the blue throat but I just love the size of the golden and the blue throats that I seen were mean and every single golden conure I have met has been really affectionate and sweet. I have also heard RFM are just like the goldens in personality..I am so tempted to buy one next.

 

[Ash]

Haha seems like that..I have a golden conure and he or she is so sweet and affectionate plus my golden isn't noisy unlike my alexandrine who talks up a storm but man when he squawks he can make your ears ring NO JOKE!

That's just like my little guy. He talks up a storm, but his squawks are so LOUD. But he's generally very quite + very chatty. His toy's usually keep him occupied. He talks to his toys all the time. It's so cute. xD He says Hello to it.

I don't think we can get that type of macaw where I live. Even if you could it would be like 10k(seen macaws for around that price. ). I know we can't get golden conure's, I wish we could as they are so beautiful.

 

[JJones1719]

I know a few blue throat Macaws who are very sweet, pretty quiet, and very out going and friendly. It's true that all birds do have a bout of screams now and again, for the most part, they do not screeam non stop or scream just for the sake of screaming. No bird should. If you have a bird who screams non stop, see a Vet, something is wrong. You only get what you pay for when it comes to any bird. The Macaws are costly due to their great personalities and bonds they form with their owners. Hy, Blue Throat, Green Wings and blue and golds are the top of the chain when it comes to large Macaws. If you are interested in Macaws, don't worry about the price, worry that the person you are getting the Macaw from knows what they are doing. If weaned properly, Macaws make wonderful pets. Thanks Joe

 

[MikeyTN]

They're wonderful until they get hormonal!!! LoL....I'm dealing with one right now and he gets left alone quite a bit now cause he's just super aggressive this time around....Only one dog don't get attacked right now which is Rocco, his favorite....

 

[MikeyTN]

And yes they can scream, forgot to add that....I used to talk to a guy in my reef club that breeds them and I can hear them over the phone screaming....

 

[JJones1719]

Yikes Mike, The Vet I take my boys to advised me that there is a shot they can give to calm down the hormones. There is side effects. Nothing life threatening. knock on wood I have not had to go this route yet. I know my Vet advised me that there are now working on a shot with no side effects. Crossing my fingers they come up with this ASAP. My Vet is called Fallston Vet located here in MD. Best of luck. Joe

 

[kobe629]

Haha seems like that..I have a golden conure and he or she is so sweet and affectionate plus my golden isn't noisy unlike my alexandrine who talks up a storm but man when he squawks he can make your ears ring NO JOKE!

That's just like my little guy. He talks up a storm, but his squawks are so LOUD. But he's generally very quite + very chatty. His toy's usually keep him occupied. He talks to his toys all the time. It's so cute. xD He says Hello to it.

I don't think we can get that type of macaw where I live. Even if you could it would be like 10k(seen macaws for around that price. ). I know we can't get golden conure's, I wish we could as they are so beautiful.

Yeah he can go for 30 mins straight saying come here, what to play, hello medori..I need to youtube it. Also the squawks just in case anyone wants to get a alex they know what it's like..

 

[Ash]

Haha seems like that..I have a golden conure and he or she is so sweet and affectionate plus my golden isn't noisy unlike my alexandrine who talks up a storm but man when he squawks he can make your ears ring NO JOKE!

That's just like my little guy. He talks up a storm, but his squawks are so LOUD. But he's generally very quite + very chatty. His toy's usually keep him occupied. He talks to his toys all the time. It's so cute. xD He says Hello to it.

I don't think we can get that type of macaw where I live. Even if you could it would be like 10k(seen macaws for around that price. ). I know we can't get golden conure's, I wish we could as they are so beautiful.

Yeah he can go for 30 mins straight saying come here, what to play, hello medori..I need to youtube it. Also the squawks just in case anyone wants to get a alex they know what it's like..

You should upload it to youtube. I would put mine up, but My Alex goes silent when I get the camera. He doesn't really squawk anymore, which is a good thing. : P.

 

[kobe629]

That's just like my little guy. He talks up a storm, but his squawks are so LOUD. But he's generally very quite + very chatty. His toy's usually keep him occupied. He talks to his toys all the time. It's so cute. xD He says Hello to it.

I don't think we can get that type of macaw where I live. Even if you could it would be like 10k(seen macaws for around that price. ). I know we can't get golden conure's, I wish we could as they are so beautiful.

Yeah he can go for 30 mins straight saying come here, what to play, hello medori..I need to youtube it. Also the squawks just in case anyone wants to get a alex they know what it's like..

You should upload it to youtube. I would put mine up, but My Alex goes silent when I get the camera. He doesn't really squawk anymore, which is a good thing. : P.

Ok I'll post it on the parakeet forum I don't want to hijack this macaw post.

 

[chadwick]

i have a blue throat macaw...she's great...but I would never say she was an apartment bird...she can get quite loud at times....and go on for 5 mins or so....but she is docile and loving and can talk!

 

[noblemacaw]

Hi Chad,

Can you tell us more about her personality? I am very curious about the BTM. I live in a town home which would not be a good fit for me but I always wondered how they are different from the blue and gold. I don't think I am making a mistake with getting a RFM and noise factor there but I also understand they can be quite noisy as babies but grow out of it.

Thanks for your input on BTM's. They fascinate me.

Noblemacaw

 

[mtdoramike]

I have never heard quiet bird and Macaws in the same statement. Macaws have one of the loudest squawks of the bird world next to the Cockatoo. I don't see a Macaw being suitable for an apartment or a first time bird owner. All Macaws can be termpermental and try to intimidate every so often in order to dominate. You have to show them whose boss when this happens or you will lose your bird. The bird rescue centers are full of Macaws because people bought into the hype that they were suitable for an apartment and they docile birds.

I'm sure there are instances from members that can vouche for them being quiet birds to a degree and even docile to a degree, but these are usually older birds that have been well trained.

 

[MikeyTN]

I have to agree with mtdoramike there!!! As my macaw matures fully at 10 years old this year, his attitude changed during hormonal season! He become very dangerous even to me whom he love the most, now he loves one of the dogs over anyone even me! He caught me off guard and I was bit pretty good with my skin ripped open like a banana peel. And I just had him on my arm just 30min before that while cleaning his cage. I was not paying attention as he was ripping papers through the bottom grill. Which is a nesting behavior. And that was when he attacked me. My partner was shocked to see what Willie did to my hand. Willie bit me real good the first year I got him while I was holding him because I scared him, he does NOT like going outside. I took him outside. And he's never bit me like that since through the 8 years we've had him. I wasn't paying attention cause I was doing my usual to stick my hand in the cage to get him. He's very nippy now too because of his hormones. Once he's away from his cage he was better but still nips, but once he's on my arms, I can handle him better to control his nips. IF he does too much nipping, he goes on the playstand alone! Or as long as the dogs were around, he doesn't nip cause he's more into trying to feed the dogs....lol....

 

[noblemacaw]

I also agree with the above posts. Even though I have Mini macaws they still act like the big guys. My Illiger's macaw Diego only liked me even though I took the steps to socialize him like I do all my baby parrots. Diego preferred me above everyone else and I even had to make sure he towed the line. He constantly tested me and would try to push my buttons but I learned how to compensate for this by teaching him to perform something before he got what he wanted.

The mini macaw mind is always busy, they are very social, love to play hard, challange you with their behaviors and this is what I love about the macaw. I cannot wait to get my RFM but this will be the biggest macaw I get. The weight of the large macaws are too much for me to hold and too loud for a town home.

Noblemacaw

 

[JJones1719]

I live in a condo and own a green wing macaw who is so quiet, you would not even know he was here. On the other hand I also have a Male Eclectus who is not really loud and never had a neighbor complaint but he louder then my GW. Thanks Joe

 

[noblemacaw]

My eclectus Joaquin (RIP) was yelling "LET ME OUT......LET ME OUT...OUT OUT OUT.....HELP ME.....HELP ME!" When I would not let him out of his cage as I was busy doing laundry at the time. I told him he had to wait but he did not like that answer and said the above. It was a nice day and I had the windows wide open so a neighbor called the cops and I had to answer for Joaquin's yells. Apparently my neighbor who had just moved in and did not know me thought I was abusing a child. Needless to say Joaquin got me into a bit of trouble. Once the police understood everyone got a big laugh out of it. Joaquin's voice CARRIED across the yard to the town home catty corner from me not even connected to me. LOL

Noblemacaw

 

[MikeyTN]

I do have to agree with the Eclectus part! JoJo chatters and carry on more then Willie does. Willie can be pretty quiet, but when he screams, you better cover those ears....The one that never shuts up is my Black Lory, he goes on and on and on and on......He's a never ending energizer bunny!!!!