Possibly Getting a Macaw

[Loganscott]

Greetings!

My name is Logan and I have been a long time lurker here. I have had parrots for years, currently my flock consists of a Timneh, Red Lored Amazon and a feisty Blue Quaker.

Sadly last year I lost my Congo Grey to some sort of liver cancer. I had her 22 years or so and she was at least 15-20 when I in inherited her, so i had been through a lot of ups and downs.

I want a large bird, and want to experience something new. I have been researching cockatoos off an on for years. I talk my self into it, then out of it. Met some breeders, then went to a parrot rescue and the sheer number of cockatoos was staggering. I came close to adoption but all the birds hated me, accept one who sadly past away after a couple of visits.

Then last May i was in my favorite bird store and the owner had a big friendly HY macaw that was playing with me like a puppy. My wife just hit me with a question that shook me "Why not a Macaw?".

I had never considered a Macaw. One thing I loved about my Grey was that you could really handle her and interact with her, as opposed to say my Amazon who will step up let you scratch her head but really would rather sing, talk and watch. I think that started me down the cockatoo path.

Since then i have read every thing I can on Macaws, I have narrowed it down to a couple breeds. I have the time, resources, experience training my birds, a good exotic vet, and a solid secession plan. What still gives me pause is that beak.

I just reread the sticky by birdman666 and it makes me feel better. It seems pretty similar to my experience with my own birds. I am really good at reading my guys body language and really I dont remember getting bit. I am sure over the last 20+ years I have. I cant help looking at those beaks and think that if they got me i'd remember.

Am I being a chicken? In your guys experience are they pretty good at communicating their intent? People keep assuring me that if I can handle A Congo and Amazons that Macaws would be no problem. Of course those are folks trying to sell or adopt me a bird lol.

I am so close, just trying to convince myself im not going to lose a finger in the get to know you phase. Im down to three Greenwing, Blue and Gold or perhaps a Red Fronted Macaw if that helps.

I just realized that was meant to be a short message has turned into a novel so if you made it this far thank you!

You guys have been there done that, is a Macaw that big of a jump from what Im used to or do I just need to get over that beak?!

 

[psychocircus91]

A macaw has potential to do some significant damage with a bite. BUT they rarely do.

I have received much worse bites from cockatoos (and even greys and amazons) than macaws. I have volunteered at the rescue, and I own cockatoos and a macaw.

IME macaw body language is usually pretty easy to read and an impending bite can usually be detected.

 

[itzjbean]

Hello and welcome!!

I, too, adore the macaw species as a whole, but I am also VERY intimidated by those beaks. I have personally only seen one or two in my life and was too scared to reach out, in fear of that big beak and just admired them from afar. But I think it just takes getting used to. I'm used to smaller birds, conures at the biggest, but someday do really wish to venture into the larger species, like the macaws, maybe even a Hy someday! But it definitely will take time to get around that huge beak, I totally agree.

If you're getting a baby, consider going through a reputable breeder and getting one that's weaned. Get in contact with a breeder you like and see if they have babies that you can come and visit and see grow up.

 

[chris-md]

*species, not breed

Hello and welcome! Sorry to hear about your CAG

They are right, if you can do well with a CAG then a Macaw is no problem. The beak size difference, however.

Everyone’s different. I go through stuf with my male ekkie that makes me think a big ole macaw would be a piece of cake. Then I think about “well what if this big GW decides to go berserk? Can I manage that situation? I can manage my ekkie flawlessly and without fear. Not sure I can say th same about a big Macaw going off the deep end with a beak five times bigger than what I’m used to.

Except a red fronted. I’d love to have a red fronted. I hear nothing but amazing things about them, and the beak size is only a small step up from an ekkie beak.

 

[SailBoat]

Even with a solid secession plan in place, a larger, healthy MAC could outlive your next inline!

With that in mind, consider an older MAC in which you and your family allow that MAC to choose your family. At a Rescue that your family provides some volunteer time, you will get that magic Face to Beak time. After all, you're not the only one that needs to deal with the Beak, right?

What you and your family is experiencing is a 'Lack of MAC' time.

 

[Loganscott]

Thank You for all your responses, it helped. I went and visited some Greenwing babies today I cant remember how old they were, they were huge buts still had that very young look to them. Anyway it went well, they were surprisingly gentle, much more so than my Timneh when I got her. They were taken but I can see that having a hand raised one would give one the chance to get them off on the right foot.

Also talked to a lady looking to re-home a 'Catalina" which I'll have to check my notes on that one, I think its a hybrid. She tells me that she is " a bit iffy with men" but I figure I would take the drive this weekend and meet her.

Im in no rush, I'd like to find the right one sometime this year if possible but It will need to be the right bird.

Thanks again, Im feeling really good about starting this adventure. I am glad to finally join this wonderful community.

 

[Sunnybirb]

I think the thing that helped me when I first met Sunny was just expecting to get bit. I've only ever handled small parrots, and so my understanding of mac body language was basically non existent. The nice thing about them though, is once you get to know them, they make it very clear (most of the time), when they're not happy with something. Sunny has a very particular way that she perches where she sits almost lower on the perch and she holds her head differently. I know at that time that she's not in the mood for games and she will absolutely get me.

It's been almost two months I think and I haven't been truly bitten since the second week I had her. Now she knows me and likes me, so she just nips, and at her worst, bruises. When I first met her, she got me so bad I had blood gushing down my hand and my finger was swollen for a few days (I even have a lovely scar now). Looking back, I can see she told me no, but I just didn't understand. Same thing the second time. She said "I don't want to", I ignored it, and I got bit, and again it was a pretty severe bite that involved cleaning blood off the carpet. But you know what? You gotta learn somehow! When they want to hurt you, they can. I think that's why it's so important not to force them to do things, like with any parrot (but for the sake of your fingers with a mac), especially right when you're getting to know them.

Sunny is a bit of a special case. I'm not sure if she was abused or what happened, but if you got close to her she would take a chunk out of you if she didn't want you there. But if I can get a bird like that to let me handle her and stop scarring my fingers, I think anything is possible. Truthfully, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, it's just a matter of being involved, dedicating time. I'm sure you know about all of this having plenty of parrot experience already, so I really do think you will do far better than I did and that most likely you will be able to avoid getting bit simply by observing the bird and learning its ways.

As others have suggested, try spending some time at a rescue or even a bird store (many of them rescue too!), and that will cure you of the big beak phobia! I got bit and my first reaction in my head was "ow, that hurts, but who cares! Look at that magnificent creature that bit me!"

 

[riddick07]

Thank You for all your responses, it helped. I went and visited some Greenwing babies today I cant remember how old they were, they were huge buts still had that very young look to them. Anyway it went well, they were surprisingly gentle, much more so than my Timneh when I got her. They were taken but I can see that having a hand raised one would give one the chance to get them off on the right foot.

Also talked to a lady looking to re-home a 'Catalina" which I'll have to check my notes on that one, I think its a hybrid. She tells me that she is " a bit iffy with men" but I figure I would take the drive this weekend and meet her.

Im in no rush, I'd like to find the right one sometime this year if possible but It will need to be the right bird.

Thanks again, Im feeling really good about starting this adventure. I am glad to finally join this wonderful community.

You would think a hand raised one would get you off on the right foot but most people can’t handle a maturing macaw very well and screw them up. Shelters can attest to that haha. Sometimes the bird that the baby grows into just isn’t a right fit in that particular home. I’ll always recommend meeting the older shelter/rescue macaws and seeing which one just wants to follow you out the door. It’s how I got Titan my blue and gold and how my mother got hers. I love my rescues and they are more bonded to me than my hand raised ones because they actually picked me first. I actually have 2 Cockatiels that were incubated, hatched, and hand feed by me and they like me but it’s not the same kind of bond. The only exception is probably Monkey my little green cheek female but that was a rough ride for a few years with her

Amazon bites are the worst I’ve ever gotten. I’ve been bitten down to the bone on my one finger by a macaw and had another crack/crush my pinky nail....still the amazons are the worst. Cockatoos are probably the next in line. The amazons just have the slicing and crushing power and a desire to make it hurt by hanging on and grinding in.

With macaws confidence is usually the key. Most of them sense the hesitation and take advantage. Most macaws I work with like stepping up backwards and are easily distracted. I use one hand for distraction while asking to step up backwards. If they are really bad I just put a towel on my arm.

Catalina’s are a blue and gold x scarlet hybrid.

Also, I love green wings! They used to be my dream bird until I saw the blue yellow naped Amazon. We have one green wing at the shelter that I love named Zeus. He is a big guy and a cuddly guy but he loves picking on the weak links at the shelter. Sometimes he just loves being a brat to retest the boundaries.

 

[chris-md]

Can I tell ya I was thinking the same thing about maturing macaws? Had a small post started here about starting with a baby being more than OP is imaging. backed off at the last minute and deleted it. I’m glad you said something.

I’ve not experienced it but even I can attest a pubertal large macaw is enough to break someone unprepared. Babies are wonderful but they grow into terrible teenagers.

 

[Bluesuburbanskies]

My Double Yellow Headed Amazon has bit me way worse than my Macaws have ever done. He was a very angry, misunderstood bird when I rescued him and I actually had to learn to "take it" being bitten to get him to stop. Once he figured he wasn't getting his way by biting, he started letting me know what his needs were in more appropriate ways. Rough times. I went for years not being able to feel with one finger after a really bad bite. Luckily the nerves have grown back.

:red: With Macaws it's very very different. You just dont do what they dont want to do. You go much slower with them when interacting. Use a T-stick to have them 'step up" when they dont know you, or bite, etc. Even so, after 20 years of living with them, in the space of one year I was bit once, by each of my Macaws. Both times were my fault for going too fast trying to put them away at the end of the day while wearing a towel on my head. Both times I was bit, I had a bit of swelling and small break in my skin, but that was it. Those big banana beaks glomp on your hand more than gouge it, and that really made all the difference to me. Also, it was more like a flat clamp on my hand than a true bite that a grumpy rescue Amazon hell-bent on getting back at the world for all the horrible things it has endured will give you.

My point is, do not hesitate to get yourself a beautiful, bouncy, friendly Macaw. I have always felt they are the most playful and happy of all the parrots and well worth the extra time and effort you put into it. From your description, you are an experienced bird owner and trainer, and already know how to read their body-language queues. You are gonna do very well with a Macaw

 

[Loganscott]

Good point about the maturing parrot. My Amazon was a monster!! Her beak doesnt seem that big to me but the amount of force that she can generate is crazy. I think the only thing that saved me and her was the fact I had her from when she was pretty little. I knew her well and saw the changes coming on and adjusted.

She is the bird i never pushed on anything. Dont want to do something...ok I'll try again in a couple minutes. I used to get mad because I felt like she was bullying me a bit but as time moved on we have a pretty solid communication and she doesn't make me late for stuff anymore. That first year of hormones though, was a learning experience. I remember telling my vet she was like living with a pair of flying psychotic scissors.

After all these years with Greys and Amazons the worst bite was probably from my little 112g Quaker aptly names Cujo. He was on my shoulder being sweet and eventually moved up to my head, he is an in discriminate serial pooper so i was trying to get him off, i would get my hand under him and he'd jump off. I thought he was playing, so we did this a few times on like the 4th or 5th go around he nailed me hard right on the webbing between my fingers and just bared down and held it.

Now no more birds on heads. He ruined it for everyone lol!

 

[Cas27]

Greetings!

My name is Logan and I have been a long time lurker here. I have had parrots for years, currently my flock consists of a Timneh, Red Lored Amazon and a feisty Blue Quaker.

Sadly last year I lost my Congo Grey to some sort of liver cancer. I had her 22 years or so and she was at least 15-20 when I in inherited her, so i had been through a lot of ups and downs.

I want a large bird, and want to experience something new. I have been researching cockatoos off an on for years. I talk my self into it, then out of it. Met some breeders, then went to a parrot rescue and the sheer number of cockatoos was staggering. I came close to adoption but all the birds hated me, accept one who sadly past away after a couple of visits.

Then last May i was in my favorite bird store and the owner had a big friendly HY macaw that was playing with me like a puppy. My wife just hit me with a question that shook me "Why not a Macaw?".

I had never considered a Macaw. One thing I loved about my Grey was that you could really handle her and interact with her, as opposed to say my Amazon who will step up let you scratch her head but really would rather sing, talk and watch. I think that started me down the cockatoo path.

Since then i have read every thing I can on Macaws, I have narrowed it down to a couple breeds. I have the time, resources, experience training my birds, a good exotic vet, and a solid secession plan. What still gives me pause is that beak.

I just reread the sticky by birdman666 and it makes me feel better. It seems pretty similar to my experience with my own birds. I am really good at reading my guys body language and really I dont remember getting bit. I am sure over the last 20+ years I have. I cant help looking at those beaks and think that if they got me i'd remember.

Am I being a chicken? In your guys experience are they pretty good at communicating their intent? People keep assuring me that if I can handle A Congo and Amazons that Macaws would be no problem. Of course those are folks trying to sell or adopt me a bird lol.

I am so close, just trying to convince myself im not going to lose a finger in the get to know you phase. Im down to three Greenwing, Blue and Gold or perhaps a Red Fronted Macaw if that helps.

I just realized that was meant to be a short message has turned into a novel so if you made it this far thank you!

You guys have been there done that, is a Macaw that big of a jump from what Im used to or do I just need to get over that beak?!

Hi bud,
I’m going too tell you I adopted an 8 year old male B&G 6 months ago it took him a couple months too get used too the house with my flock kids dogs he is awesome a tad loud but only certain times during the day. As far as biting he’s a bluffer he will growl grab my fingers then let them go he will put a little pressure when he wants too stop. He is the best talker of all my flock Wright now my one year old Congo is catching him and my yin Amazon is a good talker and bites way harder than any bird I have. If you can’t see the signs of a macaw getting ready too bite your blind not come off mean the way I said that.

 

[Loganscott]

That’s great, all I need is a warning.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Macaws pin their eyes, like Grey’s and Amazons?

 

[riddick07]

Macaw body language is usually obvious. Some of them are decent actors and do their best to trick you. Some are watchers that wait until your attention is off for that split second. Or some change so fast you have no reaction time. For example, when I got nailed on the pinky it’s because on adopter walked up on me when I was playing with a scarlet macaw. I didn’t see the adopter in time to move my hand and got a displacement bite from the macaw. The other time I got bit by a macaw I was in a rush to finish the grooming for an expo so I could just go home and my finger slipped and he was able to get me.

We have some insanely sneaky macaws at the shelter but usually once you get the general body language down you can avoid getting bitten. Eye pining doesn’t always tell you what you need to know. There’s a certain stillness and readiness in the body language. Some are so obvious that you know they are gunning for you. We have some that tense the wings or even display them, lean forward, and ruffle feathers with a gaping beak. I rarely look at the eyes to tell me how a macaw is going to react. Usually body posture gives it away. The eyes are only one part of a whole picture that you have to learn to read.

A lot of people back off with a macaw that is obviously saying I don’t want to step up. A lot of the time people are going in head on when asking for a step up. Use one hand to distract them if they act like they are going to bite, while using the other to come from the side/behind for a step up. Most macaws seem to think it’s more of a target or threat from the front. Keep your arm steady and bent at the elbow with the elbow close to your side after the step up. There’s nothing like giving a strange macaw a straight shot to your face by lifting your arm too high. Keep your arm steady don’t be flimsy and yank back every two seconds when asking for a step up or pointing your arm towards the ground after the step up like the worst branch ever. These are things we notice new macaw people doing. It’s unconscious most of the time and just the nerves coming in to play. The natural instinct is to keep the big beak away from your body and protect the face but following that instinct actually increases the chance of a bite to the face or arms. Always use a towel on the arm if you are super nervous or it’s obviously going to bite. It gives you some protections from the beak.

I would get you a video of examples but I hate getting my picture taken okay no wait here’s this one. Slightly confusing body language for you. Since he is both playing and warning the other people off a bit. If I remember right he took a swipe at her before letting her scratch his head. He is a huge bluffer. He acts tuff but if you stand up to him he caves pretty fast. The bouncing and eye pining while going towards my body is him playing. But the slight feather ruffling and the readiness while keeping on eye on the other people is the warning. The mouth opened is both him playing and a readiness. At different parts of the video he is giving different signs. Never mistake a macaw playing with you as one that is completely comfortable and not willing to bite lol. By the way this is my Titan at the shelter before I adopted him. The leaning he is doing towards me with the eye pining and head tilt is the opening play of the kissing game I do with him.

[ame="https://youtu.be/sepQ25PUyJw"]Titan(2) - YouTube[/ame]

This one too...she is scratching him but the body language gives it away as him not being overly happy with it. A little tense and watchful. Then he jerks a few times looking for a possible opening. And when she stops you see him turn towards her and open the feathers and ruffle a bit before he starts bouncing/playing a little. His body language isn’t that overt in these videos but it’s there.

[ame="https://youtu.be/I8nmbgPYmx8"]Titan(1) - YouTube[/ame]

Really the only way to learn is to do haha. It’s also so much easier to teach in person with the birds right there

 

[Loganscott]

Thank you so much that was awesome!!

Its funny I caught the "tension" in the second video right away. The first video it was coming across as 'excitement' to me, i didn't really see it. I probably would have gone slow but I might have got bit there. lol

After watching it a couple more times I started picking up what you were describing. Its all there if your paying attention I guess.

Thanks so much for the reply!

 

[Sarge]

Oh man beautiful bird. I with Jack would be that passive. He’s a big bluffer but you can tell he’s been “forced” to do things as opposed to “asked”. He’s seventeen so I have many good years ahead and many opportunities to undo and build trust.
One day. One day.

 

[riddick07]

Oh man beautiful bird. I with Jack would be that passive. He’s a big bluffer but you can tell he’s been “forced” to do things as opposed to “asked”. He’s seventeen so I have many good years ahead and many opportunities to undo and build trust.
One day. One day.

Titan was being more easy going here because I was holding him. He tends to be more tolerant of head scratches from people when he is on my arm. On the stand he is more of a wings up and out, taking swipes, mouth open and ruffling the feathers. Titan is 17 too if I remember correctly. But Titan picked me and I didn’t have to work that hard on earning trust honestly.

This is Data got really quick video before moving cages around. She is a shelter bird and this is the rescue. Why it’s so loud. She has more of the obvious signs of a macaw that doesn’t particularly like me or want to play nicely. Data hates my guts actually haha. I don’t think I need to explain the body language in this one:54: I didn’t have anyone to hold the camera so I didn’t ask her to step up unfortunately. Maybe I’ll see about playing with Max later. He isn’t as bad as Data but he still usually takes a swipe at me instead of just stepping up.
[ame="https://youtu.be/Nxo5YhNrHig"]Data - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Cas27]

That’s great, all I need is a warning.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Macaws pin their eyes, like Grey’s and Amazons?

Hi Logan no my B&G does not pin his eyes except when talking if he is scared of something but if his eyes pin why your holding him put him back on the cage he’s too excited.

 

[Cas27]

Greetings!

My name is Logan and I have been a long time lurker here. I have had parrots for years, currently my flock consists of a Timneh, Red Lored Amazon and a feisty Blue Quaker.

Sadly last year I lost my Congo Grey to some sort of liver cancer. I had her 22 years or so and she was at least 15-20 when I in inherited her, so i had been through a lot of ups and downs.

I want a large bird, and want to experience something new. I have been researching cockatoos off an on for years. I talk my self into it, then out of it. Met some breeders, then went to a parrot rescue and the sheer number of cockatoos was staggering. I came close to adoption but all the birds hated me, accept one who sadly past away after a couple of visits.

Then last May i was in my favorite bird store and the owner had a big friendly HY macaw that was playing with me like a puppy. My wife just hit me with a question that shook me "Why not a Macaw?".

I had never considered a Macaw. One thing I loved about my Grey was that you could really handle her and interact with her, as opposed to say my Amazon who will step up let you scratch her head but really would rather sing, talk and watch. I think that started me down the cockatoo path.

Since then i have read every thing I can on Macaws, I have narrowed it down to a couple breeds. I have the time, resources, experience training my birds, a good exotic vet, and a solid secession plan. What still gives me pause is that beak.

I just reread the sticky by birdman666 and it makes me feel better. It seems pretty similar to my experience with my own birds. I am really good at reading my guys body language and really I dont remember getting bit. I am sure over the last 20+ years I have. I cant help looking at those beaks and think that if they got me i'd remember.

Am I being a chicken? In your guys experience are they pretty good at communicating their intent? People keep assuring me that if I can handle A Congo and Amazons that Macaws would be no problem. Of course those are folks trying to sell or adopt me a bird lol.

I am so close, just trying to convince myself im not going to lose a finger in the get to know you phase. Im down to three Greenwing, Blue and Gold or perhaps a Red Fronted Macaw if that helps.

I just realized that was meant to be a short message has turned into a novel so if you made it this far thank you!

You guys have been there done that, is a Macaw that big of a jump from what Im used to or do I just need to get over that beak?!

Hi bud,
I’m going too tell you I adopted an 8 year old male B&G 6 months ago it took him a couple months too get used too the house with my flock kids dogs he is awesome a tad loud but only certain times during the day. As far as biting he’s a bluffer he will growl grab my fingers then let them go he will put a little pressure when he wants too stop. He is the best talker of all my flock Wright now my one year old Congo is catching him and my yin Amazon is a good talker and bites way harder than any bird I have. If you can’t see the signs of a macaw getting ready too bite your blind not come off mean the way I said that.

Hey Logan,
I think you should try too find a B&G past puberty and see how it works out I bet you will be happy after you bond with him or her.

 

[Cas27]

Can I tell ya I was thinking the same thing about maturing macaws? Had a small post started here about starting with a baby being more than OP is imaging. backed off at the last minute and deleted it. I’m glad you said something.

I’ve not experienced it but even I can attest a pubertal large macaw is enough to break someone unprepared. Babies are wonderful but they grow into terrible teenagers.

You really don’t like taking chances do you ? I would like too apologize for the tough talk I gave on the Amazon thread I meant no I’ll will. But I can see by your post above you don’t take chances nor know macaws.