Thinking about a macaw

[autum_howard]

Hello out there, we have been thinking about adding a macaw to our family, we currently have an amazon, she's great, i love her, and i would never part with her. We have been looking into getting a macaw for a while and i have been doing research, but it just doesn't compare to advice from people with first hand experience. I have looked into B&G's and Greenwings. We are not dead set on buying a baby, and we do have two children ages 4 and 6, we don't have a problem with them and Sweet Pea(our amazon) but we have pretty strict rules about them being around her and do not leave them together unsupervised. I would appreciate any advice, including questions i should ask before buying. Please feel free to grill me with any questions or concerns

 

[Birdman666]

Macaws are attention oriented, and are, in my opinion, the most toddler like of the bunch... and you raise them the same way you would a human toddler with nurturing guidance and boundary setting.

Bite pressure training is the first order of business.

They are pair bond birds, and they do tend to overbond. But then so do DYH's, and if you can raise a DYH to not overbond, you can raise a big mac. DYH's are harder in my opinion.

You don't just have to socialize him around people, you have to socialize him around you zon, who might not be thrilled to suddenly have a bird that is triple his size in the house. (Or he could care less.) DYH's sometimes become territorial with another bird in the house. He needs to know he is not being displaced, or he might fly into a jealous rage. Same with the macaw. That little bird is getting MY attention... I'll fix that!

Usually they do fine. I have two macs and two zons (and a CAG) loose in my house at the moment. I haven't had any incidents.

My greenwing seems to love young kids, by the way.

 

[autum_howard]

Thank you, i have heard all around good things about greenwings, my zon loves kids as well, from a distance at least lol, she seems to love kid voices and their excitement level

 

[Birdman666]

My neighbor actually had a male DYH that was most bonded to their little boy... It was one of those amazon crush things.

Now the adults in the household, especially during breeding season would have problems with the bird, but he would actively seek out the little boy... He was 7 years old, I believe.

He was a quirky bird.

And my greenwing is about the mushiest lap bird you will ever find... but really, with macaws it's a socialization thing, and a Don't show fear, and don't let them become bully birds thing...

Monster macaws are created. They are mushballs at heart.

 

[Abigal7]

I only have a mini macaw (though part of me would like a large macaw). Like all macaws he has a black tongue. He can say some words and will seek me out. I would describe him as toddler like. He is nice and cuddly. If I would compare him to the birds I had as a child such as a sweet cockatiel that love to make whistles and pretty tweets or a clownish, playful, cuddly green cheek conure I would say he is a different kind of bird. I always thought conures were smart but I think Captain Jack maybe smarter then a conure. I love the look of large macaws and I do like the sweet personality of a macaw. I know macaws can talk some (probably not as well as a zon) and they cam be trained to do a lot of tricks. Some large macaws are known to like to scare people when they know their beak is intimidating. A macaw in many aspects is a nightmare for people that suffer from fear of birds. I do not think Captain Jack's beak is big (after all he is a mini macaw). I noticed some people treed carefully with Captain Jack and someone I know (who is afraid of birds) goes on about his beak all the time. Hate to see their reaction to a large macaw. Feel free to update and post pictures when you get a macaw. The only macaw species I know that would be about the same size as a zon are Severe and Illigers macaws.

 

[autum_howard]

lol, my DYH is almost 5, she is awesome but not a lap bird by any means, we have had her for almost five months, and there have been improvements in our relationship, but she doesn't seem to be particularly bonded to any of us just yet and NO ONE can pet her, i guess that is part of the reason we are looking into getting a macaw, not because she is not good enough or anything, i know that every bird has its own personality, and i'm sure my DYH will never be a lap bird, and when i say looking into getting a macaw i don't mean tomorrow lol, it will definitely not be for at least another five months or so, i want to make sure that sweet pea is well adjusted. We own our own business, so i am fortunate enough to have lots of time to spend with her, she is at work with me all week, and comes home on the weekends. I will absolutely not part with her, i would just like to have another bird that we can interact with more, and 2 birds is our limit, i guess i'm just trying to put my feelers out so i have plenty of time to do research. I know that sweet pea came from a home with multiple birds and was owned by a man, he got sick and no longer had the means to care for all of them....geez when i reread my comments it is so obvious that i feel guilty, i for sure don't want sweet pea to think i am trying to replace her, that is not it at all.

 

[BirdyMomma]

I also have a Mini Macaw, but she is a Yellow Collared Macaw. She is approximately the same size as my Amazon (he is a smaller breed). She is SUPER cuddly, and wants loads of attention. My Amazon doesn't like her, and all she wants to do is be close to him.
Loki, (Macaw) is only 10 1/2 weeks old, but very smart. She even understands when it's "quiet" time.
I am a relatively new bird owner, so I cannot really offer advice, just what I have experienced.

 

[autum_howard]

awww poor Loki, maybe he will learn to like her a little more over time I have read about a few of the mini macaws, maybe i will check into them a little more, i'm not scared of the beak, not that i want to get bit lol, i am sure Sweet Pea will be jealous at first, she gets a little upset if a lot of people are talking around her and not acknowledging her, i will just have to make sure she doesn't feel left out

 

[autum_howard]

Abigal7 how is captain jack around other people, how old is he?

 

[tab_xo]

Definitely like having a toddler, dont touch that, stop touching that, dont eat that, take that out of your mouth!!!! hahahaha

I have a blue and gold macaw, he is the sweetest, friendliest, cuddliest and smartest bird i could ever imagine!!

He is VERY independent, he honestly never screams, which i find strange, but i guess thats ok, instead he just says 'hello' over and over in the evenings

I did ALOT of training with him straight from the word go, trick training really helps bonding and keeps their brain active!

Also alot of foraging opportunities and play gyms would be needed, and toys, lots and lots of toys!


Dont show fear and you will be ok, they are very big on bluffing! Fargo has never even shown any signs of aggression towards me, because he knows that i am not scared of that little beak!



I take Fargo out socialising on his harness every now and then, he LOVES new people, no kidding, he will let anyone touch him, and steps up for anyone as well..

He actually shows of for them, and sits there and talks to them.. Needless to say, when i go to town, it is never a quick trip! haha

One strange thing is though, he likes any person, except toddlers... NO idea why, i guess cause he has never seen them before..

But in town, he lets people pat him, but as soon as a little kid comes up, he pins his eyes, fluffs his feathers, and does his war cry scream!!!!

BUT he LOVES babies..

So not really entirely sure what is going on in his little mind! haha


Anyways, so that is basically my blue and gold in a nut shell.. He loves scritches, sleeps on my lap, LOVES lying upside down in my arm, and very very clever!

 

[autum_howard]

Fargo is beautiful, it sounds like you two have an awesome friendship

 

[autum_howard]

how old is fargo?

 

[tab_xo]

He is 21 months! Will be 2 in January, will be interesting to see how his terrible twos will go I dont think he will be that bad haha

 

[BirdyMomma]

I love Fargo! I liked his Facebook page! He is so awesome!!!

 

[Chesphoto]

we do have two children ages 4 and 6, we don't have a problem with them and Sweet Pea(our amazon) but we have pretty strict rules about them being around her and do not leave them together unsupervised.

You seem to understand the responsibilities of owning another parrot and seem to have your family priorities in order. Just think about one thing, parrots need a lot of attention and time and so do 4 and 6 year olds. If you think your schedule has enough time for both, then go for it. I'm sure there is a macaw out there that can use a home like yours.

 

[Abigal7]

Abigal7 how is captain jack around other people, how old is he?

Captain Jack is around six months old. He is good around people and will step up and let them pet him. However he will not talk in front of people he doesn't now. Some people try to get him to say something but he will not. However, when he is home or in the car with me he starts talking.

 

[Abigal7]

Fargo, is the celebrity on this forum and is a good example that a Macaw can be train to do tricks. He has his own facebook page even (which I liked). If I eve did get a large macaw I would probably lean towards a blue and gold macaw.

 

[Birdman666]

He is 21 months! Will be 2 in January, will be interesting to see how his terrible twos will go I dont think he will be that bad haha

Terrible twos with a macaw are a myth, I think. That's like the 5 year old thing with a large too. This is where you pay for not socializing them properly, or structuring their day. Most of the terrible two problems stem from people and the way they raise them. That's the point where the bird is certain he is the one in charge (because he is!)... good luck convincing him otherwise!!!

The tough age for a macaw, in my opinion, is the 7-12 year old age, where they first become hormonal, and can be moody (and materbate-ey) during breeding season, especially where it accompanied by a hard molt. After about 12 they get used to it and completely mellow out and become mushball selves again.

 

[Birdman666]

DYH Amazons are the hottest of the hot 3, and a lot of them simply don't want to be handled much during breeding season (which lasts 6 months out of the year with these guys.) The time to work with Sweet pea is when breeding season is over.

And my neighbor had a Catalina Macaw as well as a DYH. They coexisted just fine.

 

[autum_howard]

Thanks guys, the majority of the time i spend with sweet pea is during the day at work, and she is around new people all the time, we even have a few customers who she will step up for, everyone loves her, i also kinda feel like with her being here i get to share the small amount of knowledge that i have and i have probably talked a few people out of running to the nearest pet store and buying a bird. On the weekends she doesn't get as much out of the cage time but she is not ignored by any means, my kids will sit by her cage and talk to her for a whole hour without losing interest, they squeal and laugh about her talking and she squeals and laughs right back with them. Any new bird we get will have a similar life, the out of cage time at home is mostly because of my children, i only let sweet pea out if i'm sitting right there, even if i just have to run to the restroom i put her back in her cage, which honestly she doesn't really seem to mind although she is not a cuddly touchy feely bird....i am also thinking that i would rather adopt an older bird any thoughts on that?