Macaw breeding/ raising chicks

[Parker]

I got a "proven" pair of military macaws from a bird expo in central florida about a month ago. A bird supply store near me suggested I buy a breeding box and install it and see if they lay a stress clutch. I have ordered the nesting box, and my question is, if all goes well with them, how would I go about feeding extremely young macaws? I have asked the bird supply store, and they gave me advice on how to handfeed a month old macaw, not a day old. Since I am inexperienced in handfeeding, should I do my best to hand feed them, or see if I can find an experienced breeder who would feed them for me and raise them untill they are weaned? (Is that something people do?) Or even let the parents raise them?

 

[SilverSage]

I can’t even begin to formulate a response to this after the day I had; please read the following thread and be sure you answer each of the questions

http://www.parrotforums.com/breeding-raising-parrots/54987-before-i-start-breed.html


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[SailBoat]

STOP!

Do Not Provide a Nest Box for your MAC's!

You have a ton of information you need to learn, equipment that you need to purchase and a strong relationship with a Certified Avian Vet, that you need to develop. Most Individuals work with an 'Excellent' Breeder for several years prior to starting on their own.

SilverSage's advise on reading and addressing the questions in that Post is critical! BE brutally honest with yourself!

 

[Parker]

Alright Ill hold off on the nesting box for now, dont worry haha. I do know an avian vet, and I am not wanting to sell the babies, just keep them and train them to be pets. I assume the "proven pair" was sold because the male has irreversible scissor beak. I have hand fed two gouldian finches before, which I still have today and I can even take them out of their cage. I had to use a pipette wrapped in a warm towel to keep the formula warm. Id like to hand feed them so they bond to me at a young age, as my male macaw, "Sarge", does not like it when his mate steps onto my arm.

 

[texsize]

breading a bird that has a genetic problem is NOT a good idea.
I am no expert but I think scissor beak is or at least can be due to bad gene's.
breading birds that have genetic defects just gives you a high probability of more and even worse defects.
Please don't breed these birds.

 

[Parker]

Thanks for the help.

 

[LordTriggs]

yes best not to breed unless you are fully trained up and if you are prepared to. I would always be wary of keeping the young as pets because then suddenly there are more mouths to feed and handle.

What you will find talking to a lot of store owners and old school style breeders is that they think breeding is the cure for every single issue a bird can have so whenever suggested breeding I would smile politely and ignore what they say