Camelot macaws

[itzjbean]

A breeder I follow on FB is in the process of weaning baby Camelot macaws, and I am dying at how stunning their coloration is. A Camelot Macaw is a hybrid, I know hybridization may be a controversial topic for some, but I really love macaw hybrids, especially the Camelot, all controversy aside they are beautiful, and are all very unique.

The female here is a muted yellow dominant Camelot, her brother is red dominant and looks more like a Scarlet but I'm a sucker for the yellow.

But seriously, her colors.... :smile015::smile015::24_shocke:24_shocke

I would SO buy her, but just not in the right place now to get a macaw yet. We still rent, and both work full-time, and of course she isn't cheap ($2900) though she's not the most expensive Camelot I've seen. I saw one recently (very high yellow, just beautiful) for $6000....

Does anyone have any experience with these macaws? What are they like compared to other species?

As far as I've read from others, with so much Scarlet in them as they mature they tend to be hostile with unpredictable temperaments, and aren't the type of bird to want cuddling. This is a little disheartening. I'm terrified of getting a weaned baby someday, putting my heart and soul into training and bonding, and have it end up being aggressive and becoming more of an ornament to be adorned. Someone please share and tell me it is possible to have a sweet Camelot or is this just some fantasy I'm imagining!

 

[chris-md]

Aggressive isn't right. They communicate with their beak more than others, may get pinchy to get your attention. As long as you do what you need to do - training, actually HANDLE the bird - you will be fine and have a mush macaw in no time. Especially as a baby they will be all cuddles. Scarlets earn their fiery red head moniker but it's not quite what you are imagining, I don't think.

Attitude will change a bit as they enter puberty. It will settle down eventually after a year or so.

 

[Kiwibird]

I don't really know anything about their temperament or anything. Those are some seriously beautiful babies though and what looks like a very meticulous and caring breeder raising them. They'll both make someone a wonderful companion someday, I bet! Personally speaking, that one that looks more scarlet is my favorite. Macaws are certainly a gorgeous bunch. I've just been bit one too many times by medium-large parrots and have 0 desire to find out how it feels to get a good chomp from one of those beaks to ever consider getting one myself.

 

[plumsmum2005]

They sure are beautiful, make you melt don't they? Hope they get good homes and have happy healthy lives, it is what they deserve.

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

If you really wanted to get a camelot in the future, I would not be overly concerned with ending up with an aggressive ornament. Two reasons. First, I have a couple house guests I'm hand feeding now, a pair of baby Catalina macaws. Not quite a camelot, but they would theoretically be the parents to your theoretical bird. The one is cuddle bug all the way. He would sit and snuggle all day if you let him. The younger one, not so much. She isn't as much of a cuddle bug, but that doesn't mean she is nippy or aggressive. She is just inquisitive and playful. She doesn't want to sit and snuggle when there is something over there she could be getting into. So just because they are not a complete mush mac right away, does not mean they are not loveable, it just may mean they have better things to do than cuddle. Like get into stuff.

Also, I think Scarlet's in general have an underserved reputation. Yes, they tend to be more beaky than other macs, but I do not think they are aggressive or mean. I also don't think they are as well suited to captivity, honestly. They just don't seem to handle it emotionally very well. However, beaky is not aggressive. I think even some adult scarlets would surprise you. I fostered an adult scarlet macaw for a while that was locked in a small cage for almost 10 years, never was taken out by her owners because she was "mean", and was plucked almost bald except her flights, tail, and head. She was plucked so severely she will never regrow her feathers, there is too much follicle damage. The first time I got her out of her cage, she wanted nothing more than to sit with me and have her head scratched. I had a hard time getting her to go back into the cage because she was so afraid she would be stuck in there for who knows how many more years. She just wanted human contact and attention so badly, she didn't even care who it was that was going to give it to her at that point. This is all from a bird that was neglected because she was "mean".

So overall, I guess my long winded answer for a very simple point is simply don't let the scarlet's reputation scare you if that is a bird you truly want. There are plenty of reasons to be cautious of getting a mac if you've never had one related to just having a giant toddler in general, but that is true of any mac species. If you think a mac is a good fit for you, I wouldn't let the scarlet's reputation alone stop you from getting the bird you really want. The only monster you could end up with will be the one you create.