Macaw for Teen

[lily70543]

My teen would really like a Macaw, she is extremely responsible and gets good grades. We have plenty of space in our backyard for a cage
(currently living on 12 acres of land), someone to look after the bird while we're away, financially it is not to much of a problem either.

As I mentioned above she is very responsible and has plenty of time to look after it.
One of the main reasons why she wants one is because the bird is a larger breed and it is quite intelligent.


Should I buy one?

If not any other breeds that would be suitable?

 

[Doublete]

I think you need to look at it in terms of...

What bird would YOU like. As your teen will be going to college soon and won't be capable of caring for her bird for a good chunk of years so you will be a temporary, if not permanent caretaker. If you get a young bird you could have 50+ years with your bird.

Macaws require a lot of attention and can be intimidating especially if someone hasn't handled birds before... They're big and have big beaks. And if they are allowed to scare you, they will.
All birds are a time and training commitment.
Have you and your daughter visited a rescue? It would be helpful for both of you to handle several different birds and see which appeals the most.

 

[1500]

Its not a good idea. What happens when she goes off to college?
Well this happens
Bird Cage

A Macaw does not make a good first bird. They require far more work, and more attention then many other birds. A parrot does not make for a good first bird in general, after all most of them have very long life spans, macaws are 50+ years.

So you want to have the cage outside? What about winter? Bad weather? Macaws require a lot of interaction and being left alone is not good for them.

Go for a budgie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgerigar), they are cheep, small, can learn to talk (they are actually very good talkers), shorter life spans (5-8 years), and are great birds. Because of the size it can stay in her room, and they can really bond.

Quaker (monk) parrots are also amazing birds (larger than a budgie). They are also considered to be one of the better talkers in the parrot world. But require more space and interaction.
Quaker (Monk) Parrot aka Grey-breasted Parakeet | Beauty Of Birds

 

[SilverSage]

Macaws are not "live in the back yard" types of birds. We rescue Macaws from that kind of situation. Rescue. They are very unique, but in some ways they are like human children. They need to be part of the family, with you good portions of the day, lots of snuggles, lots of discipline (NOT the kind dogs get). And they need you for 50-90 years... Macaws are NOT suitable pets for kids, no matter how responsible they are. They might be great pets for the next 5 years, but they dont need you for 5 years, they need you for 50+. In your living room, not in your yard. If you want birds in the yard look into an aviary. Put some budgies or cockatiels or even something more flashy like IRNs if you must, but dont put a lone bird out there to suffer.

I know you love your daughter and think she is responsible, but to be QUITE frank, if she has asked for a macaw at that age and wants to keep it outside... well she is showing she has not researched AT ALL or is ignoring the research, and that is NOT responsible at all; quite the opposite in fact.

Im not trying to be harsh, but I wish you knew the number of birds I have fostered because a parent thought a parrot was a great pet for their kid and trusted the kid to do the learning. Almost never works out, almost always ends in heartbreak for the bird, and issues for the humans.

 

[Kiwibird]

Do you feel your daughter would be responsible enough to care for a baby? If not, she is not ready for a large parrot either. Would you stick a toddler in a cage in the back yard? No? Then it's also not a suitable place to house a large parrot. These birds have the mental capacity of a 3-5 year old CHILD and require a dedicated owner for the next 60+ years the bird will live. They are not anything like other pets because they posses higher intelligence.

The are EXTREMELY loud and it is 100% natural for them to vocalize (usually in the morning at first light and night before bed). They can and do occasionally bite, which usually breaks skin and can do serious damage. They are messy, like a tornado hit the bird area within 10 minutes of cleaning it messy. They need to be cleaned daily. The must see a specialized avian vet when they get sick or injured and just for their annual checkup. Specialist vets that work on exotic birds are NOT cheap and you often need to travel to see. They require fresh fruit and veg every day, year round. They also appreciate when you cook special bird recipes for them. They do NOT live on seeds or pellets, they live on fresh foods. They require expensive wood toys to chew up to keep them entertained. By expensive, I mean $30-$50 toy that will last a week (maybe less) and must be replaced because they've destroyed it. They'll need several in the cage at a time, and this expense never goes away. If you don't train them, they will also destroy your house- doors, panelling, trim, decor, furniture ect... Those big beaks? Designed to crack nuts and hollow out trees for nesting. They require hours a day of undivided attention. When they hit puberty in 6-8 years, they become like a teenager attitude/hormone wise with the mental capacity of a toddler. Will your daughter want to deal with THAT when she is in college and starting her adult life? They also belong indoors, in the middle of the living room, in the middle of the action. They are highly social beings who adopt their human family as their "flock". In nature, when they pick a mate, that is a 50+ year relationship. In captivity, they bond to a human and it is extremely damaging for them when that human looses interest, no longer has time for them and gets rid of them x-amount of years down the line.

When they aren't cared for properly, they begin pulling out their feathers and chewing holes in their flesh, screaming and biting. Being the largest of all parrots, macaw bites and screams are INCREDIBLY loud and painful. When their favored human they have bonded to leaves for college, they begin to self harm and act out. Ask yourself does this *really* sound like a good idea to you? I think your daughter needs to wait until she is an adult capable of making a LIFELONG commitment to a difficult to care for animal.

 

[sonja]

Find a parrot rescue that she, or both of you, can volunteer at! She would get exposure to a lot of different birds, to learn and enjoy, and she would be better informed if she decides to get a parrot in the future - after she settles into a stable life in her own home.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome, I hope you really follow the advice you asked for!

 

[chris-md]

Fantastic advise you've received. Pay special attention to the bit about college. My parents had to take care of my smaller bird (a conure) for two years when I went away to college and hated every second of it because they aren't bird people. If you yourself aren't content taking care of a bird, never mind your daughter, then I'd end this right now.

 

[Ann333]

Hello welcome to the forum! I'm sorry you're not getting the advice that I'm sure your daughter was hoping for. I agree with everyone else, unless YOU want the macaw the please don't get it. Maybe a smaller bird that naturally lives a shorter life would be more appropriate for her. This would not cause such a problem when she moves away to college. Although even a budgie will bond strongly with your daughter, and won't appreciate being without her when she goes to college and starts a family, a budgie is also a lot shorter lived and easier to move with if she needs to find an apartment for college. This will also give your daughter the opportunity to find out for herself if living with a bird is something she actually wants WITHOUT the loteral lifetime commitment. She will alsao gain experience. Please consider your options carefully and make the best decision for everyone, including the macaw.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask! We are here to help. We all love birds and really want what's best for them and their owners.

 

[Surfincr]

i'll add my experience to this which will support what everyone is telling you. ever since i knew what a macaw was (probably younger than 10) i wanted one. My aunt rescued parrots and told me when i was ready/allowed she'd give me one. My parents said no way/ not happening, many years later i am glad they did. As they would have wound up with taking care of the bird for quite a few years. in high school i wasnt home much between sports, events and spending time with friends. i was home a couple hours a day but not enough for a parrot. when i went off to college even with commuting the first year between studying, classes, trying to make friends i definitely was not around enough, then living on campus i definitely was not allowed to have any pets. even when living off campus i probably could have had one but instead had fish. well while my roommate had friends over one of them bumped the heater and killed my $300 fish. with that example keep in mind some things can be outside of our control and would you really want to risk your parrot?

 

[SilverSage]

All good points but before you run out and get her a smaller bird, even budgies live 8-12 years and cockatiel can live 20-30! And unless you provide a whole flock, it is not ok to leave them in the yard, they belong in the living room.

 

[rowdy]

She sound exactly like me. Hi, I'm Sydney and I'm 14. A few days ago I got my first Macaw, a b&g named Rowdy, he's 24 years old. BUT before I got him I did TONS of research (I have half a 1 subject college ruled notebook filled with all different info). I know youve probably heard this but macaws can live for a hundred years. I know it doesnt sound like a problem now but, as macaws can become one-person birds, what about when she gets married, or has kids. What if she invites her boss over for dinner? How is the macaw gonna react to the new people, especially the young children? They can be grabby you know. I have an 11-year old brother and I told him he's not allowed to go into my room with my bird unless I go in with him. Also, macaws are highly intelligent and are escape artists. I had bird-proofed my room a week before I got my macaw (wrapping cords in electrical tape,making a space big enough for the cage, checking for anything small the bird could swallow, and making sure all jewelry is put somewhere safe where the bird cannot reach it). If I were you guys I wouldnt keep the bird outside unless you guys spend most of your time out there as Macaws need to be in a high traffic room. You need to know how hig maintenence macaws are, their dietary needs, you need to find a good qualified avian vet, make sure everyone in your family and neighbors (who probably wont be a problem if you live on 12 acres) are okay with the loud screams native to macaws. For the first 3 days I had my macaw anytime I left the room he'd scream fo me to come back. She also need to understand that macaws take sometime to get used to people. She may not be able to handle him for a week or 2 after he arrives at his new home. She would need to make sure that her bird always has shreddable toys unless you want your macaw to tear up stuff when you let him out. Forraging toys are also necessary unless you want a bored(and possible naked after a few years) bird. Like you said with their high intelligence they neeed constant mental stimulation and with out it many will begin to feather pluck. okay so sorry this is so long just PM me if you want to know anything else. If you guys think you can handle everything everyone is saying then I think a macaw would be okay as they make great companion parrots but a macaw is not for a first time bird owner and should not be bought just because someone wants a latge and intelligent bird. Follow this link and see what your result is as it may help guide you to the perfect parrot for your conditions. Happy days and good luck on all your birdie adventures What is the best pet bird for you? Quiz

 

[Birdman666]

I have a different take on this.

If your teen is responsible, and will care for the bird properly, I don't see a problem with that part... BUT

I do agree that the college situation is problematic. Who is going to take care of the bird then? And will the bird continue to get it's attention needs met, or will it turn into a liability at that point?!

MACAWS DON'T TAKE KINDLY TO BEING CAGED ALL THE TIME. THEY NEED TO BE OUT, WITH THEIR PEOPLE, AND HANDLED... They are on par with a human toddler in terms of attention needs, i.e. the high end of the spectrum. If she can give him that, then great. If not, then it isn't a good fit.

I have known teenagers who have owned macaws, and done well with them... we have one on this board that I can think of off the top of my head, or have we all forgotten about Fargo already?! So I wouldn't automatically dismiss the possibility.

Most large macaws get rehomed between 5 to 7 times in their lifetime due to human issues. The negative comments you are getting reflect this harsh truth. We've seen too much of this stuff. The novelty of parrot ownership often wears off, and then the bird is left miserable, and not knowing what happened...

AN APPROPRIATE OUTDOOR FLIGHT would work. Just sticking the cage outside? Your neighbors might not love you, if that bird starts attention screaming! Or gets "night frights."

 

[41Gryphon]

I don't like that people immediately jump to tell someone that because the kid is a teenager she won't be able to handle a macaw, and should look into a budgie instead. Perhaps she really can handle a macaw, after she's done her research (macaws definitely don't belong outside all year long, 24/7. They want to be with their flock: you).

I also really hate the whole "not a good first-time bird" notion. If someone really wants an Amazon, are they supposed to take in some poor cockatiel to "gain experience", not because they want a cockatiel? What happens to that cockatiel once they've "gained enough experience for an Amazon"?


I think everyone else has already pointed out the downsides of a macaw. While there are special instances, I also agree that a macaw isn't a right choice, unless you intend the bird to be a family pet. I'm in my teen years as well, but I could just NOT imagine having to look after a bird such as a macaw on my own. I have a GCC and 2 canaries. I made the choice to rehome my Amazon and my larger conures because of my school (I should have foreseen the workload but I did not). I am the only current caretaker of these birds, and having to do it alone was just too much for me.

A macaw should be something that your family wants, not just your daughter. That's the only way the situation will work, or else you'll be stuck with a very upset bird on your hands in a couple years. In my case, I have my slightly younger siblings, whom I've passed on my love for birds to. They'll be the primary caretakers of my birds when I'm gone.

 

[Birdman666]

I don't like that people immediately jump to tell someone that because the kid is a teenager she won't be able to handle a macaw, and should look into a budgie instead. Perhaps she really can handle a macaw, after she's done her research (macaws definitely don't belong outside all year long, 24/7. They want to be with their flock: you).

I also really hate the whole "not a good first-time bird" notion. If someone really wants an Amazon, are they supposed to take in some poor cockatiel to "gain experience", not because they want a cockatiel? What happens to that cockatiel once they've "gained enough experience for an Amazon"?

Amen to the "starter bird" concept. It's idiotic.

And frankly, macaws can be easier to handle than amazons at times... so there's that.

The biggest thing with macaws is that they are so attention oriented that if they don't get those needs met, they will generally have "issues." (Screaming being one of them.)

And if that bird is outside?! The entire neighborhood will know the bird is unhappy! (Expect a visit from someone wearing blue, explaining the local noise ordinances.) Seriously...

 

[Jordan]

I don't know where your daughter is planning to go to college, but as perviously brought up its tough! I have two macaws, a blue throat and a green wing and it is very hard to find a place to live for a college kid. Most roommates will NOT put up with it not to mention neighbors lol. I moved out with my roommate because he couldn't take it.

That being said, I agree with Birdman666. You are the only one that knows your teen good enough to make the decision on if she can take care of a macaw. BTW I am 19 in college with 2 macaws so it is possible! But..... It takes a very special teen to take that kind of responsibility. It is HARD!