I didn't get a cage cover do I need one
Yes. A large blanket for a queen or kind bed would work, or if you want to spend the money, then a custom-cover for the cage would be even better. A parrot needs a cover to establish it is "bedtime" since there is likely to still be noise and lights on in the house after the bird goes to bed.
and the perches are the plain ones so I should just get rid of those and buy some new ones like 4 or 5 diff types should be good right
Yes. You should have it set up so the bird can move easily around the cage, while still having various types of surfaces and different heights to be at. The wood dowels that come with the cage can be cut up and implemented in chewing toys for the bird. In fact, be prepared to buy lots of wood for your bird to chew up. I believe one member buys wood in the form of 2x4s that she saws up, and regularly enough the people at the hardware store know her by name. Macaws LOVE chewing and have big beak, therefore go through LOTS of wood.
where I wanted to put the macaw at cause me and my kids spend most to the time there I could just set the cage and stuff on the other side of the room and just keep a good eye on him or should I give him his own room but then he wouldn't be around us as much which would be better for the macaw cause I thought he should go in a room where people are the most for some reason and thanks for the input some of my ?
You are 100% correct that the bird needs to be in the center of the action. He should also not spend much, if any time in his cage except to sleep. With such a large bird, it may be nice if you have a spare room to bird-proof it and set up some java trees in there so when you go out the bird can be "free" safely in a big room where it can fly and move around instead of in it's cage. My parents used to have a room like that for their birds, and even had a special door installed that had a window so the birds could see out into the living room while in their aviary room. However, it should spend most of it's time with the family whenever someone is home. Another member mentioned getting a bigger cage. It is true that for a bird who is frequently locked up that it deserves the largest cage, or even an entire aviary room. But one should not really be getting a bird so large, intelligent and social as a macaw if they cannot provide it the kind of home where it can be out and supervised most of the time. Being caged for a few hours a couple times a week is no big deal so long as the bird has toys and foraging to occupy it. Being locked up all day is never a good thing, and difficult to acclimate a bird to.
I do have a empty bed room that about 15x15 I could put him in but want to put him where ill be most of the time I don't work I stay at home with my kids and take care of my mom for 2 more years for my dad he cant afford a nurse full time so I do it till he retires and for put my life on hold for 2 more years I get the house which aint bad cause its a 2400 sq foot with 5 bed room and 3 1/2 baths but I only have the money I saved from selling my house to help my dad and mom for the next 2 years cause I cant work till he retires my mom had both her legs cut off so I been getting hobbys to keep me busy the fish tank was the first year got it done now the only other pet I always wanted was a b&g macaw
Last but certainly not least, these parrots live as long as you do (65+ years). They can adapt to changes, but not as easily as domesticated animals like dogs and cats, or animals that do not need human interaction like reptiles and fish. You should be fairly confident you will be able and dedicated to provide a home environment conducive to the long term care of this highly intelligent, highly social bird (i.e. the rest of your life). They aren't a "hobby pet", they are a lifetime commitment and very much like bringing home a curious toddler with a large beak, and even larger voice who will never ever ever be out of that "terrible 2 stage" behaviorally speaking. If you plan to go back to work in 2 years, what will you do to keep your macaw occupied all day?? Do you plan to work from home? If not, what is your action plan starting from day one to teach and encourage independent play so the macaw will not be overly distressed and begin plucking its feather, screaming inappropriately and/or biting when you do return to work? Will it be fair to the bird to get it used to people being around all the time and suddenly you're gone from 8am-6pm 5 days a week? Obviously, many people work out ways to overcome these issues and have happy ,well-adjusted birds that are closely bonded with them. But "work" is the key word there, and a lot of hard work at that!
Edit: male or female makes no different. They can both be good or bad temperament, it just depends on the individual. Though, a lot does change when they hit sexual maturity around 7-10 (i think?) for macaws. Hormones can change a sweet bird to a more aggressive one, and special measures are needed to help the bird and the family reestablish a trusting bond. And no bird is inherently a vicious or nasty bird. They are wild animals who exhibit wild behaviors which do include occasional biting and nipping. The birds who are just the most vicious things you've ever met are the ones who stay in their cage all day, alone, no toys, no mental stimulation, no connection with their human "flock" and have potentially been abused for being a frustrated bird (people yell at their birds for being loud, they squirt them with water, they beat on the cages ext...). Our amazon was like that when we got him, vicious. He wasn't born that way, people made him that way, and it took a lot of time, patience, bandaids and love for him to overcome that. The key is to make it so your bird is happy, healthy and thrives in your home and it won't ever become a mean bird.
