Considering adopting a Severe Macaw

[tbg299]

Hello,

I recently saw a beautiful adult female Severe Macaw up for adoption at a local bird rescue that caught my attention.

Here is her page: Petfinder Adoptable | Parrot | Macaw | Jackson, NJ | Sadie

I've never seen a miniature macaw species in person and I don't know much about them. The only thing I have heard about them is that they have a big macaw personality in a little body. Can anyone who has owned one give me some more information about their personality and behavior? Thanks.

 

[Terry57]

Sadie looks like a sweetheart. I don't have any experience with mini macaws, but I am sure that someone else who does will chime in Welcome to the forum!

 

[KeroRocks]

I have a mini macaw and he's the nippiest bird I have. I have done everything to train it out of him but he continues to chew on my fingers. Hard.

I've read that some of the smaller macaws are just this way. Hopefully someone else will come by that has a non nippy small macaw

 

[Birdman666]

I have hesitated in chiming in on this one because I am very biased...

My LEAST favorite macaw to work with is a severe. Primarily because of overbonding issues. They have a distinct proclivity for turning into one person birds...

NOW if you socialize them properly, that might not be the case, and I have been proved wrong by a couple of really, really good ones, that no one in their right mind would part with...

BUT most folks tend to have one person issues with these little guys, and they do tend to have a temper.

The scar on my thumb is from working with an unhappy severe with a beak like a scalpel. (Like I said, I am biased.) On the plus side, I now know what my thumb bone looks like...

My old joke about Severe macaws. How did the Severe macaw get its name?

Nurse: Doctor, how bad was the wound from that bird bite?
Doctor: It was SEVERE!

AND YET I DO KNOW A COUPLE THAT WERE JUST THE SWEETEST THINGS EVER.

The smaller macaws do tend to have a larger attitude than the bigger macaws.

The big ones don't have to "prove" to you they are large and in charge, and can take care of themselves.

The smaller ones generally try to "establish this fact" with those intent on handling them.

Call it "short bird syndrome."

If you get one, extra socialization is the order of the day.

 

[BruceV]

Hmmm...that explains my disposition. I'm only 5' 7".

 

[Birdman666]

Hmmm...that explains my disposition. I'm only 5' 7".

Taller than Napoleon... so there is that.