Red-Bellied Macaw

[SpotsandSally]

Abigal, unfortunately not. Red bellies are so rare within captivity that there really isn't a market for them. I was shocked that someone would sell a pair for $300 per bird... and other places have sold the birds for cheaper than that!

The simple act of placing them in a new home could mean the death of a bird. People often say that of all the species kept within captivity, cockatoos should not be pets. Yes, they bite, they scream, they pluck and mutilate, they have aggression problems, etc.... but you want to talk of a species that *REALLY* doesn't belong within captivity? It's the red bellied macaw! There is no diet for them, so anyone who has one has to just "wing it" and try to get as close as possible to the kind of nutrients that they'd get from the wild. Unlike lorikeets, eclectus and toucans, there is nothing out there that says "this is the best diet to feed them within captivity, so stick to it". They are such skittish birds that moving them to another home could result in the birds not eating, and they would die. They can be kept as pets or breeders, but likewise, they can be difficult species to keep alive.



One owner bought a pair from a pet store. He gave them a nest box so they had a place to hide. Surprisingly, the pair had a clutch! Well, I think two, but the first wasn't viable? (might be off) Anyway, they ended up having three chicks. One died, which left two. These two chicks were not thriving (eating well, but not gaining weight), so by the recommendation of others, this person was told to sacrifice one chick to figure out why they weren't thriving. Necropsy of the chick didn't return a single thing wrong... it took a while, but the sole remaining chick did finally start to gain weight and now he is an adult at 22 years old.


Another ex-owner had a pair when she was younger, but due to life, she sold them to an "all knowing" breeder. This breeder figured he knew it all because he's kept and bred species far longer than the owner has. The owner told the breeder how to care for them and he didn't want to listen. Sure enough, after the breeder got the birds, he ended up losing one because he didn't do as was recommended.

Man tries to confine everything.
Man shouldn't.
Some things just need to be left to the wild, or people who can literally get sack after sack of palm fruit.

 

[yann]

yes they are very very nervous birds and so far they have yet to even perch!both clinging on to the cage bars
monicamc: thanks for helping me post the pics properly. i hope they survive here! so far i've kept their cages covered and tried not to disturb them. but they still havent ate

spotsandsally: most birds in pet stores are kept in similar conditions-sunflower seeds, no toys or interaction. makes me want to bring em all home! but my mom would probably flip if i did that hmm actually i may be able to get some palm fruit here! but they were probably born in captivity and wouldnt recognise it as food??what do you think??:O

 

[SpotsandSally]

If you offered them palm fruit, I'm sure they'd at least try it. I think you need a palm tree ^^ lol.
How big are their cages? If theres room/you have a cardboard box, you take a simple cardboard box, and close 2/3 or 1/2 of it, the it'd be similar to a burrow. Or like I said before tie a sheet around it. Sorry, never heard an answer. Just they'd probably dive into it, and feel safe.
I wish you best of luck, and hope it doesn't turn into a hand-feeding situation

 

[MonicaMc]

Where do you live???


Do you have access to larger cages??? Can you find any safe trees not around roads that haven't been sprayed with pesticides and try putting some branches inside the cage? Putting safe branches full of leaves inside the cage or surrounding the cages with safe plants can help them to settle in if they feel as if they have a way to hide from everything around them.

Bird; Birds: Safe, Toxic Trees, Woods. Safe Tree Wood. Parrots. Parrot cages.

 

[yann]

spotsandsally: i could get palm fruit from malaysia as they have quite a lot of plantations. but that would neer a lot of effort. the cage is rather small as it was free from the pet store. will be getting them a bigger cage when i find one at a reasonable price. yes i should try the idea of having a box inside

monicamc: i live in singapore!! larger cages are difficult to find here and are all ridiculously expensive. i dont think the trees here are very clean. i dont use tree branches from outside for my other parrots. too unsafe in my opinion. i will work at creating somewhere that they feel safe!thanks for the advice

 

[MonicaMc]

Being all the way over in Singapore, I really don't know what you do or don't have available to you!!!


Mmmm.... in that case... what about somehow making a curtained off area for the birds?



And thanks for the additional info! I wish you the best of luck!

 

[yann]

i've noticed that one of em is sorta calmer than the other and started eating even when i'm watching. however the other is another story, still clinging on to the cage bars and not eating. i was thinking of putting them together so that the other will perhaps be calmer?does it work that way?what do you guys think??

 

[MonicaMc]

The cages are far too small to keep one bird, let alone two....


It may be ok putting the cages next to each other, but I would not recommend housing them together unless you can get a much larger cage for both - and they get along.

 

[yann]

hey~ i thot i'd give ya'all an update on the two felluhs i have.

they have of course moved to a bigger cage. i'm feeding them a mix of: sunflower seeds, almonds, cashew & zupreem natural pellets as a base. i top up everyday with fresh veggies and fruits.
they still won't go anywhere near chop>< but they accept mung bean sprouts, corn and some apples if i offer in isolation.
they are less skittish now but still scared of people.
any advice on their diet?or how to tame them?