Can't Decide: Blue and Gold or Greenwing Macaw?

[mtdoramike]

I hate to bring this up, but as of late, any time I see someone post that they are wanting a macaw, I feel compelled to do so. My mobile bird groomer recently had the tip of her finger bit clean off by a scarlet macaw while filing her beak. It took 11 stitches to reattach her finger and they aren't sure whether it will take or not.

It is just a little food for thought. With a baby, it will grow with you and hopefully bond quicker and easier with you than an older bird. The problems that I see with older birds is that folks get them and then become intimidated by that large beak once the honeymoon is over with, and wind up leaving the bird alone and then eventually rehoming them.

Macaws young or old will try you ever now and then by lunging at you as if wanting to rip your arm off and beat you with it. That is what macaws do. You have to be able to handle this and no how to deal with it. This is where most wouldbe macaw owners make their mistake and let their bird intimidate them.

 

[Doss]

But, whatever you get make sure its a baby. what ever you choose from you will love,when you get it when its a baby its even better, i have a scarlet macaw n love him. but i help out at a place that sells baby bird. n i love both green wings and blue and gold. green wings to get much bigger then blue and gold. it really depends on how much your hands on with your bird how often is your bird around other people. my scarlet is around people every weekend in will set up to pretty much any one

 

[Alisana]

Welcome to the forum,
Comparing B&G Macaws to GW Macaws are like comparing apples to oranges. They are two different spieces and depending on the Macaw you end up with is truely up to you.
B&G Macaws are known to be very sweet as young Macaws and can mature into sweet macaws, some can be nippy, specially during mating seasons. This is also true for many Macaws. I know many B&G Macaws and most are pretty sweet but have their moments.

GW Macaws on the other hand and more independant as young Macaws but form amazing bonds with their owner and in most cases are a one person bird. Once the GW decides who they are going to bond with, the deal is done.
They do call the GW Macaw the gentle giants due to their amazing personalities. HY and GW Macaws are very close when it comes to being gentle with the one they love.
I would advise you as a first time Macaw owner to go for the GW over the B&G.

You advised that you have a dog and cat, please keep these animals away from eachother, dogs and cats and birds are a bad combination. If the dog or cat bite or scratch the Macaw, this can be fatal for the Macaw, the spit of a cat can kill very easy and in most cases will.

I hope that whatever you decide here, the decion you make is the right choice for you and your family. Do your research and gather as much info as possible before your purchase. Best of luck Joe

Thanks Joe.

I just got back from playing with an 18 month old Greenwing. He's so gorgeous. This is him here: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5wMQDm2Z64]Elmo_26Mar12_Clanger.wmv - YouTube[/ame]

We will be having cat and dog/s - and although we won't "encourage" play time together, we want them to get along so that way if they are with each other, they're familiar with each other and less likely for accidents to happen.

I've heard about the bacteria that cat's carry, so I'm aware of it. I just want them to get along civilly. (Does anyone know if there is an injection against that bacteria? Might be a vet question)

But thanks regardless - we are doing as much research as we can and interacting with them before getting one to make sure we are making the right decision.

 

[Alisana]

I hate to bring this up, but as of late, any time I see someone post that they are wanting a macaw, I feel compelled to do so. My mobile bird groomer recently had the tip of her finger bit clean off by a scarlet macaw while filing her beak. It took 11 stitches to reattach her finger and they aren't sure whether it will take or not.

It is just a little food for thought. With a baby, it will grow with you and hopefully bond quicker and easier with you than an older bird. The problems that I see with older birds is that folks get them and then become intimidated by that large beak once the honeymoon is over with, and wind up leaving the bird alone and then eventually rehoming them.

Macaws young or old will try you ever now and then by lunging at you as if wanting to rip your arm off and beat you with it. That is what macaws do. You have to be able to handle this and no how to deal with it. This is where most wouldbe macaw owners make their mistake and let their bird intimidate them.

Yeah - I understand there is a very big risk with a beak that big. It was one of the reasons why we've decided to get a hand-raised baby rather than adopt one. (That, and there aren't many adopted macaws in Australia - plus we would have no idea of the mental/physical history and state of a macaw that's been on the adoption merry-go-round =\ ) I do feel bad that we can't adopt, but being honest with ourselves, we don't have the experience to handle a bird that may have mental issues.

We plan to do plenty of positive reinforcement training and being around other owners we hope to learn as much as we can.

But, whatever you get make sure its a baby. what ever you choose from you will love,when you get it when its a baby its even better, i have a scarlet macaw n love him. but i help out at a place that sells baby bird. n i love both green wings and blue and gold. green wings to get much bigger then blue and gold. it really depends on how much your hands on with your bird how often is your bird around other people. my scarlet is around people every weekend in will set up to pretty much any one

We hope that by social-ising our bird regularly, that it will be friendly with everyone. Regardless of which breed we get!



So - just curious, what have people got "against" blue and golds? The Greenwings are getting more votes and I can understand why (gentle giant), but are Blue and Golds really that bad?

 

[Alisana]

I just started watching some videos of "Jason and Rachel" together. It's cute watching them together.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5vBEYNZG7w]The Jason and Rachel Show - May 2012 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[JJones1719]

How cute is Elmo and that toy. This is truely a GW in their elements. That's so funny and love when they get mad at the toy they are playinh with and then as if a light bulb went off and they become very sweet and tell the toy hello. That's great. Thanks for sharing. Joe

 

[Alisana]

How cute is Elmo and that toy. This is truely a GW in their elements. That's so funny and love when they get mad at the toy they are playinh with and then as if a light bulb went off and they become very sweet and tell the toy hello. That's great. Thanks for sharing. Joe

We hope to have a similar outdoor area set up for our guys as well.

At about 0:57 you can see the edge of the enclosure.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYtXxRAmfw4]Guard Bird! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Alisana]

I've semi- made a decision now...

I've decide I'm going to try and get a LARGE female B&G (preferably around the 1200-1300g mark) so that she's on par with the weight/size of a greenwing; otherwise if I can't get a female (breeder is down to one pair of B&Gs so can't guarantee a hen for me), I'm going to go for a Greenwing.

I'm still up for mind-changing decisions, but reasoning is as follows:
1. The extra $5-7k spent on a Greenwing can be spent on building a larger/better outdoor flight aviary (B&Gs are 5k, whereas Greenwings are 12k) and getting more and more toys
2. B&Gs are smaller, and if we decide to stick with the plan of TWO macaws, I don't want to be a position where a baby B&G is intimidated by an adult Greenwing (we plan to get them a year apart)
3. All votes offline were B&G with the exception of one person, *laughs*
4. Theory is by getting a larger B&G, we can avoid the 'size intimidation' - but I'm not too fussed. I'd rather personality anyway, so plan to fly down and meet the birds.
5. Weaning periods work better for us. Greenwings wean in Jan, B&G wean in April. While theoretically I CAN get a Greenwing in Jan, I'd rather not. We'd only have just finished moving, plus I may be gone for two weeks in Jan on conference. >_<
6. Re: Above point - April I have a break off lecturing that I can use getting the baby used to me/home

I still really LOVE the colouration of the Greenwings; but as birds with individual personalities, I can't really pick.

Feedback either side is welcome - buuut; who knows. I may change my mind again XD Depends if there is a double-triple clutch?

 

[melissasparrots]

I would go with the species that tends to like you better overall. I really like blue and golds, but they tend not to like me back so much. I've met several green wings that seemed to like me though. If I was in the market for a macaw, I'd probably go for a baby of either species(female preferably) or an adult rehome that I hit it off with regardless of species. Babies usually get along with everyone and generally will bond well. Adolescents that have been sitting around a petstore long enough to develop some independence and their own personality can be a little harder to get along with and you end up having to fall back on which bird likes you more, rather than which color or species you like best in theory.

 

[Alisana]

I would go with the species that tends to like you better overall. I really like blue and golds, but they tend not to like me back so much. I've met several green wings that seemed to like me though. If I was in the market for a macaw, I'd probably go for a baby of either species(female preferably) or an adult rehome that I hit it off with regardless of species. Babies usually get along with everyone and generally will bond well. Adolescents that have been sitting around a petstore long enough to develop some independence and their own personality can be a little harder to get along with and you end up having to fall back on which bird likes you more, rather than which color or species you like best in theory.

Yeah. We're trying to avoid the petstores like the plague >_>

/start rant

When I first started looking we tried pet stores, but there is just so much that is... OFF. Incorrect handling, management of nipping, etc. Granted the petstore we went to was probably one of the best in town for birds (I've seen some very sad stores), they still asl an exuberant amount for a macaw and the staff aren't very good on details. All macaws being Class 1 in Australia require paperwork to prove they're of legal stock. Exotic bird record-keeping scheme - Wildlife trade and conservation in Australia I may have mentioned already on this post, but when I asked what sort of paperwork you get the staff member just stared blankly at me and was like "A receipt".



No Vet Check Certificate
No DNA Sex Certificate
No Movement Transaction Record

Same thing when asked if you needed a permit. "No, we've sold plenty without issue." Turns out that our local council requires that owners have a permit for birds larger than a galah! >< And if you don't have one, and a neighbour complains, well... you broke council law, there's a fine and the possible seizure of your bird. It annoys me that they're so uninformed.

Sorry for the rant - pet stores are just annoying... They bump up the price of a B&G from $5k to $8k and can't even do things right...

/end rant

*deep breath*

In response to your comment, we plan to get a newly weaned baby. I'm going to flight train him/her and I want to start young to get it used to free flight. I looked into adoption of older macaws, but they don't really exist in Australia. Most are sold and I'm not sure if I'd be prepared mentally for a full grown macaw with behavioural issues, so we decided to avoid it by going for a youngster.

I'd much rather a bird that adores/loves/gets along with me than colour, so I am quite happy if personality wins out in this case.

 

[Cheekie]

What did you decide? You still have time though. I have read on the internet (you know pure truth stuff =-) that B&G's personality differs much less between boys and girls than other macaws and the B&G's are more apt to be a more than a one person companion. Just keep 'em away from the pet bedding =-) esp if they are young ;-)

p.s. our next bird will be a Sun Conure sometime around Christmas '12 and New Years... I can't wait!

 

[Alisana]

Leaning towards a large female B&G (about 1300g) otherwise a male greenwing. I'm thinking of booking some flights and visiting the breeders so I can meet the birds as well, to ensure that they'll like me. So may depend on that too.

 

[WharfRat]

Now wait just a minute there!!! :11: Have you bothered looking at your own poll results?!?!?!

Look deep into my eyes......you're getting sleepy now..... YOU WANT A GREEN WING!!!! GREEN WINGS ARE THE GREATEST!!! When I snap my fingers, you will wake up & choose a GREEN WING!!


nevermind, I forgot I was dealing with an Aussie, ain't no reasoning with you people :09: LMAO

good luck on whatever you choose (GREEN WING)

 

[Alisana]

Now wait just a minute there!!! :11: Have you bothered looking at your own poll results?!?!?!

Look deep into my eyes......you're getting sleepy now..... YOU WANT A GREEN WING!!!! GREEN WINGS ARE THE GREATEST!!! When I snap my fingers, you will wake up & choose a GREEN WING!!


nevermind, I forgot I was dealing with an Aussie, ain't no reasoning with you people :09: LMAO

good luck on whatever you choose (GREEN WING)
[...]

I have my reasons!! :54: *laughs*

I've semi- made a decision now...

I've decide I'm going to try and get a LARGE female B&G (preferably around the 1200-1300g mark) so that she's on par with the weight/size of a greenwing; otherwise if I can't get a female (breeder is down to one pair of B&Gs so can't guarantee a hen for me), I'm going to go for a Greenwing.

I'm still up for mind-changing decisions, but reasoning is as follows:
1. The extra $5-7k spent on a Greenwing can be spent on building a larger/better outdoor flight aviary (B&Gs are 5k, whereas Greenwings are 12k) and getting more and more toys
2. B&Gs are smaller, and if we decide to stick with the plan of TWO macaws, I don't want to be a position where a baby B&G is intimidated by an adult Greenwing (we plan to get them a year apart)
3. All votes offline were B&G with the exception of one person, *laughs*
4. Theory is by getting a larger B&G, we can avoid the 'size intimidation' - but I'm not too fussed. I'd rather personality anyway, so plan to fly down and meet the birds.
5. Weaning periods work better for us. Greenwings wean in Jan, B&G wean in April. While theoretically I CAN get a Greenwing in Jan, I'd rather not. We'd only have just finished moving, plus I may be gone for two weeks in Jan on conference. >_<
6. Re: Above point - April I have a break off lecturing that I can use getting the baby used to me/home

I still really LOVE the colouration of the Greenwings; but as birds with individual personalities, I can't really pick.

Feedback either side is welcome - buuut; who knows. I may change my mind again XD Depends if there is a double-triple clutch?

I would really like a Greenwing, but cost and timing are two big factors; plus if I do end up getting my two macaws (B&G and Greenwing) the theory was that the B&G Adult wouldn't be intimidated by a Greenwing baby.

I would LOVE to get both at once, but I think training wise for a new macaw owner would be suicide in my case, lol. Particularly if they're both babies. At least if I get them a year apart, training can work better.

But like I said - I'm open to mind-changing decisions.

 

[MacawGuy]

What do you think about scarlets

 

[Alisana]

What do you think about scarlets

At $15 to $18k... mm... no. =P I'm pushing my luck as far as it is for shortlisting the Greenwing (at $12k) considering my partner is the one buying it for me. *laughs*

The only reason why I was able to convince him on the Greenwing I think was colouration and he got to meet a very likeable/playful greenwing

 

[MacawGuy]

ok i c. i was asking. well good luck

 

[Cheekie]

Now wait just a minute there!!! :11: Have you bothered looking at your own poll results?!?!?!

Look deep into my eyes......you're getting sleepy now..... YOU WANT A GREEN WING!!!! GREEN WINGS ARE THE GREATEST!!! When I snap my fingers, you will wake up & choose a GREEN WING!!


nevermind, I forgot I was dealing with an Aussie, ain't no reasoning with you people :09: LMAO

good luck on whatever you choose (GREEN WING)

Too Funny!

 

[WharfRat]

I would LOVE to get both at once, but I think training wise for a new macaw owner would be suicide in my case, lol. Particularly if they're both babies. At least if I get them a year apart, training can work better.

I think we got our GW's about 1-2 months apart, I sort of agree on the training thing, BUT, the biggest difference in our 2 is definitely personality/attitude. Considering the difference, I don't think "time frame" would've changed a thing training wise.

 

[Alisana]

ok i c. i was asking. well good luck

No prob Macaw's are rather expensive here in Australia; I've seen them twice in Australia, but due to limited gene pools they are always costly

:red: Nice birds though.