Thinking About Getting a Macaw

[Birdman666]

I can agree with agree thekarens on how BTMs can be demanding on their snuggle time!
While I've only been with Emit almost a week now, he's now started flying from his cage to me and will land either on my lap or forearm and demand I snuggle with him! At least until he's got his fix and will fly away to play or eat lol.

MY GREENWING AND MY RFM WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT! (Hint: That's sarcasm!) Macaws are attention oriented birds... ALL of them.

My big macs don't even stay in the tree! Tree time for everyone else is lap time for them. It would all be lap time, if I allowed it.

(And if I allowed it - GOD HELP ME IF I EVER SET THEM DOWN!)

HINT: That WAS NOT sarcasm! That is one of the ways screamers are created!

 

[Selph85]

With all macaws it comes down to socialization as far as cuddliness goes. A hand reared bird will be more so inclined to cuddle and be handled. A lot of it depends on the birds attitude on any given day. My B&G does scream, but it ranges in frequency from a single sound-off to 10 seconds to a few minutes. It ranges from loud squeals that make your eyes water to full on calls that come from seemingly nowhere and make your ears ring. I've actually jumped a few times because I wasn't expecting it.

All greenwings I've had experience with were more so inclined and outgoing than say a scarlet or military. That being said, all birds have their good and bad days. For example, their are days where I can roll my B&G over, wrassle, and flip him around. There are other days where he will pinch and nip just trying to get him to sit with me (not hard agrresive bites, just like bits to say "I really dont feel like it today").

I work full time and am gone from very early in the morning (6:15a) to later afternoon (4:15p). We haven't had any issues. As long as you can get the macaw on a schedule that isn't unfair to the bird or yourself, it'll work out. Days where you dont have to work, give them extra attention, and make that a routine. Evenings, give them time where you are focused on them. Get in the floor and play, or let them sit on the couch with you while you watch TV or a movie. Let them eat dinner with you. Make them as involved in your day to day routine as you would a child. Make a bed time and stick to it, they will get fussy otherwise. We have cage days were Blue doesn't come out of his cage at all. We also have days were he spends none of the day in the cage. He doesn't seem to be discouraged by his cage days, and quite enjoys that restful time.

Another peice of advice I can give you is, don't get a bird based on a generalization. A good talker, a cuddle-bug, quiet, easy-going, etc. While some species have a tendancy to follow those generalizations, they aren't guaranteed. B&G are known for being very easy going and less beaky, however my blue while easy going is very beaky. His preening comes across as pinches and he is prone to grab a finger and hold on. They aren't hard bites, but they don't feel great, and if you don't have experience or aren't expecting it, it can be off-putting.

I would find a breeder who has species you are interested in and spend time with them. That way, you can get a feel for each individual macaw. We picked Blue because he was very playful and full of energy and didn't seem to know a stranger. We knew he would have a tendancy to use his beak, but we were okay with that and work everyday to show him how to use his beak without hurting anyone. It was a complete bonus that he had an amazing vocabluary. Make sure you spend multiple sessions with them as well before taking them home. That way you can get a feel for their mood changes from day to day. Babies are great fun but require work to show them that beaks hurt and what is or isnt acceptable.

I know this was kind of long-winded, but i hope it was informative. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Good luck with whatever you pick, they are all great.

 

[Birdman666]

That was GREAT advice. Socialization and boundary setting are absolutely the keys to raising a well adjusted macaw. They don't get that sitting around in isolation in a cage. They get that by being out, being interacted with, and feeling loved... they return it.

lap birds are created or destroyed by their people...

And spend time with multiple birds and find the one you click with. Pick the bird that also picks you...

 

[Birdman666]

I was also wondering really how much do Greenwings make loud screams because I know they can and will but how much a day do they actually scream like that, and also how do you guys deal with the screams when your in the house ?

My greenwing almost never goes off. Maybe once a day. Maybe twice on a bad day, if she sees something outside that upsets her.

She's actually my quietest bird. And possibly my best behaved EVER of any of them, although that would be a tough call...

When she does go off, however, she easily drowns out the other four combined. Like not even a contest...

But she really just doesn't. And most of that is about NOT TRAINING THEM TO SCREAM!

Train them to scream, and they will.