Owning a macaw with smaller birds?

[bumblegum]

I own 2 very mellow jenday conures and am finally adding a macaw to my small flock - I have a deposit paid on a blue and gold macaw who will be ready to come home in August. He is, well, a boy, and I have named him Poncho. The breeder is FANTASTIC and has already trained him to come when he's called to his name. He has already started training to wear his harness. I'm SO excited as this has been a sort of life goal for me.

I have his huge cage ready and stuffed with toys and have made a custom travel cage long enough for his tail that straps into our backseat! Since we have to travel about 8 hours to pick him up. Everything is ready to go, but I'm looking for some final input on how to properly introduce and have him live happily with my 2 little guys.

Does anyone own a macaw with smaller birds? How do you manage? Does your macaw ever show aggression towards them? Do they get along? How did you introduce them? What types of birds are they?

I have never had to manage time between birds because I've never had a problem with birds not getting along, HOWEVER, I've never had such a big bird. The biggest bird I've had living happily with smaller birds is an eclectus, who I fostered for about 2 years.

 

[Aims]

Hi I can't answer your question but I was wondering the same thing. I have just put my name down for a Blue and Gold. I have an Eclectus and wondered how they would get on together?

 

[MacawGuy]

What we did was I had one on a arm and one on another got them but not wear they can touch in just talk to both of them. I put there cages side by side but not wear they can touch each other . So the cages are side by side so there getting to see each other everyday. Then I just keep working on getting them closer and closer, but don't push it. Then I finally got them both on the same perch, but on each end. Then went from there getting them closer. Then they just become used to being with each other they wouldn't fight. Become friends. Hope this helps

 

[KBEquine]

Hello:

I can only tell you my experience, because it always depends on the bird.

We have 2 budgies, 2 linnies, 1 gray, 2 amazons & 1 macaw. Here is how we handle "out of cage time."

The 2 budgies get to fly around the house for an hour or so in the morning. They gravitate back to their cage & we shut the door.

Then we get the 2 amazons + 1 grey + 1 macaw out of the bird room & into the main part of the house. Each seems to stay on his cage most of the day (with odd & sundry fly-abouts).

But we DO try to keep the big guys separate from the little guys.

Every once in a while, I have a brain-fart & forget to put the little guys away before getting the big guys out. And the budgies have been known to chase the Panama Amazon off a cage.

But the greenwing is mostly merely interested in the little guys.

But also - I know I've been lucky. Others have reported tragic results.

So my recommendation is keep them separate, watch them & figure it out - but always err on the side of caution.

 

[MacawGuy]

Let me know is this help

 

[Alisana]

This was something I've been wondering myself, and have spoken with multiple people about it now.

I am/was very keen/excited to mix birds, but I am leaning away - however with some small allowances.

What I have learnt:
1. No matter how careful you are, accidents CAN happen
-- One incident was a smaller bird got startled and wasn't paying attention to where it was going and flew into the beak of a macaw. The macaw bit down and crushed the bird's skull. Luckily, the smaller bird survived the surgery, however is now disabled.
-- Other incidents is some birds are cage protective - and will bite through the wirebars to take off toes from other birds on their cage.
-- Other stories I've read about have involved missing beaks, missing legs, broken wings.
If you decide to mix, be VERY careful and aware that accidents can happen - make sure you're in a position where if your bird needs to be rushed away for emergency surgery, that you are prepared mentally, and financially as well.

2. The birds may not like each other. Particularly if they are well established in the house/area, and may see the new comer as an 'intruder'
-- Example - friends of ours have an Amazon and a Greenwing; their greenwing wants to be very friendly with the Amazon, but the amazon does NOT want anything to do with the Greenwing and will lunge and swoop at him. At first the greenwing kept trying to be friends, but now he is starting to lunge back. In this case with the amazon, he had been well established in his 'flock' and home (6 years old), so was very upset that someone else came into his territory and is stealing the attention of (what I assume) is his 'mate'.
-- The above Greenwing however has lunged at smaller birds though with what the owners described as 'nasty' intentions, so the small birds and big birds are not allowed together.

3. While obvious, separate cages is a must

4. Have separate play areas - individual play stands and toys.
-- If they can't get along, then they'll have their own areas to chill in

5. Be VERY cautious if the wings are clipped.
-- Clipped birds can't fly away from an aggressor. Be conscious of this.

6. Introduce them in a NEUTRAL area. Make sure that it is a positive experience, before, during and after.
-- When you first introduce them, have it in an area that neither bird has territory over. This prevents territory aggression.
-- By having it as a completely positive experience before, during and after helps 'enforce' that the 'newcomer' isn't a bringer of anything 'negative' to the environment.

7. Start by having the cages opposite each other in the room, then slowly move them together. (They don't have to be kept side by side though) Always ensure that the wires of the cage don't touch though (See above for biting toes through wire/bars)
-- This allows them to get used to each others presence over time.
-- My example was with budgies - their introduction process took 4 months total before they could share a flight cage together. Even then, while they were able to exist with each other, they tolerated each other. They didn't exactly "seek out" each other's company.

8. Understand the concept of 'gentle'
-- Make sure that your bird does understand the command/suggestion of 'gentle', so that way if you think they are being rough during play, then you can ask them to be gentle

9. [Suggested by keepsmiling] Always practice at least a 30 day quarantine with new birds
-- There is a risk of disease/sickness spreading to birds
-- The bird may have a weakened immune system due to the stress of the move; so may be susceptible to any mild infections that your birds carry (think like how some people are cold carriers but not affected, whereas others are easily affected)
-- Allows bird to become adjusted before interacting with 'new housemates'

There are more strategies, but these are just some starting points.

Good luck and see how you go.

 

[keepsmiling]

Good post Alisana. Another forum I am on has a girl who lost two birds to a redfront, so it can happen in a blink of an eye. My Redfronted Macaw and Hawkheaded parrot are out all day together. They are not preening friends, but close enough that they can and do sit close. If one gets too close, the other flies away. Be very careful, good luck & congrats on your new bird. Always practice at least a 30 day quarantine with new birds.

 

[Alisana]

Good post Alisana. Another forum I am on has a girl who lost two birds to a redfront, so it can happen in a blink of an eye. My Redfronted Macaw and Hawkheaded parrot are out all day together. They are not preening friends, but close enough that they can and do sit close. If one gets too close, the other flies away. Be very careful, good luck & congrats on your new bird. Always practice at least a 30 day quarantine with new birds.

Ah yes. I forgot to mention quarantine!

 

[ann]

OK, that sounds amazing congratulations! you must be so excited ! you could reward them for good behavior towards each other, sorry i wasn't of much help but good luck!