Cage free Macaw

[ShellyBorg]

So I am hoping to get a B&G Macaw here in a couple months. He is 25 and has NEVER been in a cage. He has a huge stand and the owners say he only comes off once a year when scared. He does not destroy toys and is a "good boy". I am willing to try this but it just sounds scary. On one hand I want him safe, one the other i dont want him to start plucking or screaming if put in a cage. Also I put all my birds in sleep cages. The owner says he just turns his back and sleeps...I have teens. I think my house will be a bit louder. So do I start with a sleep cage? Just put a smaller stand in my bedroom with the sleep cages? Ugg I can see I will be driving my self nuts in the next two months!

 

[BirdBrains2233]

The re-homing of the bird is going to be stressful as it is, so the habits of the bird could change drastically. What sounds odd is you said; "The owner says he only comes off once a year when scared", what is happening that the bird is timed to be scared once a year? It also sounds like the bird is not handled much, since he "only comes off the stand once a year". What also sounds odd to me is the fact that he is not destroying toys. They giving him / her a bowling ball to play with? Parrots destroy things, thats what they do. Personally I think you need to get some more info, and some up close time to see what is actually going on. Either way, GL with your decision and keep us posted.

 

[BillsBirds]

Years ago most Macaws were kept on ring stands, and not in cages. The huge cages we have today were not available, and most people wouldn't have such a big cage in their house. Even Amazons and Greys were kept in smaller cages than they are today. You might wind up cleaning up more without the cage. But, as said, re-homing comes with changes, and a new environment may include new living conditions, like a cage. So, the bird may accept it easier than you think. I, too, am more concerned with "coming off once a year", and "scared". Was this bird handled? Is he friendly?

 

[ShellyBorg]

I just got pictures of this bird. He is well loved and has a huge perch. I even got a shot of him on his back getting tickled in bed. It looks like he gets lots of interaction. I am worried about the lack of toys. I cant wait to give him soft wood chewables and let him buzz saw!

 

[Greenwing]

I have a friend who's father has had a amazon for over 30 yrs.. And it plays, sleeps and eats on a old wrought iron stand.... It has a good vocabulary is well adapted, friendly and in full feather...

As for sleeping in a busy area..They get use to it... My birds might hear me or my wife walk into the room...they turn take a quick look and go right back to snoozing.. Even if I put on the tv in there room they still sleep fine..

 

[ShellyBorg]

If it was just walk through or TV I would not worry. I worry about the teen run bys giggling and yelling.

 

[MikeyTN]

I think they might of meant that he stays on the stand pretty good and only jumps off when they get frightened in which my macaw have done the same thing. He have only jumped off his stand and fly towards me 4 times since I've had him. Not saying that they don't give him attention and such. I have once thought about leaving Willie on a play stand at all times but with my other animals I just don't trust it. He have let himself out of his cage before but he stays on top of his cage and doesn't go anywhere or destroy the house what so ever. What I worried about is what if the dogs got loose where he is, so my partner and I decided to keep Willie in cage when we're not home. Maybe down the road when we don't have big dogs anymore then we can try play stand only for Willie. I'm just surprised that their macaw don't chew up toys as mine goes through his pretty good. I missed the bird fair this year as I was busy and he needs one pretty bad. I think I'm gonna have to make some for him as he's got tons of chains hanging around....

 

[Jtbirds]

I'd suggest never to go cage free.. We have our security of our homes and thanks what a cage becmes(when they arnt left in it all the time and it is used as a place for rest and eating and play)... So they need a secure place as ell and taking a cage away can truly just be a bad move IMO... I let my birds out a lot but they still want back in there cages when it comes to sleeping it is just there safe spot and where they adjust and simmer down and I believe this one could have that happen as well. It sounds like a cage should be in this guys future as he does get frightened and fly down so it could be a potential issue if it already isn't at there current home.

Just my two cents give him a cage and we all know you will spend hours with him or her and he will be out so no need not to have a secure sleeping area.

 

[Grinder]

I agree 100% with JT. Cages are meant to keep our parrots safe. ANYTHING can happen when they roam free. If the cage isn't a "prison" and they are allowed out to be active and free, then they are willing to go back in to eat, rest and sleep. None of my birds give me a hard to when it's time to go back into their cage because they know they will be back out soon enough.

Keep your home and B&G safe with a nice big cage.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

It might be awhile to convert . But I would have a cage for him . Put the stand next to it. Put toys on the outside ,up top and inside .See if he takes an interest . It has to be better for him climbing around being active [dont you think? ] I think when you first get him that he would be able to adapt .Cause it will be totally different than his old life . He might surprise you

 

[ShellyBorg]

I have some time so I am looking for a cage now.The area for his cage in huge and as this will be my LAST adoption until I win the Powerball ! I am looking for for a used cage I can refurnish as Danny wiped out my parrot fund....What is the min size for a macaw? I want to go as large as I can , just in my looking around i have seen some "macaw" cages I would not use for my TAG!

 

[JerseyWendy]

I'd say the minimum sized cage is 3' X 4'. BUT, Ripley, my GW, is still in a smaller cage since I haven't saved enough yet to upgrade. The cage Ripley is in is 40" wide and 30" deep. He's doing ok in it, but I still can't wait to get the bigger one for him.

 

[BirdBrains2233]

Wendy!!! I want to come play with your GW, you seem to be once of the closer people to me who have one. lol. Also, If all goes well, I might be getting a free Macaw Cage thats in good shape but needs a few screws and bolts. If so, and if its in good a condition as described, Ill get the full measurements and you can come pick it up @ no charge, or I could drop it off just the same. Ill let ya know.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Wendy!!! I want to come play with your GW, you seem to be once of the closer people to me who have one. lol. Also, If all goes well, I might be getting a free Macaw Cage thats in good shape but needs a few screws and bolts. If so, and if its in good a condition as described, Ill get the full measurements and you can come pick it up @ no charge, or I could drop it off just the same. Ill let ya know.

You can come by ANY time you want! I mean it!!! You're only 1 hour from me! But you can't just play with Ripley, you have to play with Niko, too.

And thank you for the offer with the Mac cage! I'm saving for a Kings Cage Model #506. I'm "almost" there, but they currently don't have the color I'm after, only Coppertone and SS.

 

[MikeyTN]

I actually used to know quite a few that leaves their Macaws on play stands and never in cages. I understand it is to keep them safe. I agree with that too. But all the times my macaw have escaped he behaves on his cage and nothing destroyed in the house. This happens when we forget to padlock his cage. He can open the door really good....he's been with me for 10 years! I know what he do and don't do so one day I would go cageless for him.

 

[ShellyBorg]

What is the biggest cage opening I can get away with? Would 2"x4" be to big? I have a friend who powder coats and we are playing with the idea of a 8' tall x 3' deep x 5' long cage.

 

[BirdBrains2233]

Wendy!!! I want to come play with your GW, you seem to be once of the closer people to me who have one. lol. Also, If all goes well, I might be getting a free Macaw Cage thats in good shape but needs a few screws and bolts. If so, and if its in good a condition as described, Ill get the full measurements and you can come pick it up @ no charge, or I could drop it off just the same. Ill let ya know.

You can come by ANY time you want! I mean it!!! You're only 1 hour from me! But you can't just play with Ripley, you have to play with Niko, too.

And thank you for the offer with the Mac cage! I'm saving for a Kings Cage Model #506. I'm "almost" there, but they currently don't have the color I'm after, only Coppertone and SS.

Hey now, Ill take you up on that. My spousal equivalent wants to go to she said lol. I am in Jersey all the time, usually in Burlington goofing off at Bird Paradise They have a Harlequin there I might end up getting, Someone brought her back after 2 years because she got mean. It took me a month to get her out of her cage, and now 3 days later I can pretty much do what I want with her with no aggression shown towards me, but most other people still cant get near her I kinda feel special that she chose me, or she was just sick of fighting with me lol. Guess one of us had to give up eventually.

 

[MikeyTN]

What is the biggest cage opening I can get away with? Would 2"x4" be to big? I have a friend who powder coats and we are playing with the idea of a 8' tall x 3' deep x 5' long cage.

That's fine for a opening!!! If you can make it taller then 4' it would be even better. Easier to just walk inside to clean!!!!

 

[Abigal7]

Shelly, I am curious if you visited the bird in person. The reason I ask because I wanted to learn if the bird wss destructive, what kind of routine he has, or if he just likes staying on his brid stand. Thinking about it before they started making big cages most parrots probably stayed on perches (this is especialy true for the large birds). I do not doubt birds were on bird stands from the 80s all the way back to Victorian times.

 

[ShellyBorg]

From what I understand he is not destructive and he just hangs out. With the idea of a huge cage it give him so much more area to hang from, swing on and more toys put up. Also his owners have always had to get a house sitter when going anywhere, in case he did get scared and left the perch.

Less then 20 years ago these big guys where chained to stands. It was the norm.