what parrot should i get? (i really want a macaw)

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

My pleasure! It is definitely a good idea to get a bird who fits your lifestyle. As other's have mentioned, having a parrot is nothing like having a dog or cat. Most parrots live much longer, and are a lot more demanding. When my daughter got married my husband left the reception to go home to do the nightly chop and turn off all their lights after they finished eating. We did skip their time out of their cages that night. They are more than worth the extra work, but it is something to think about.

This article seems to explain puberty pretty well:

B&G Macaw and hormones

All of our birds are either rescues or rehomes so only 3 were young enough to go through puberty with us. I talked about Ekko, our eclectus, the other 2 were a conure and a Blue-headed Pionus. My conure really didn't show any change that I can remember, and my Pionus is full of attitude when he's hormonal. Well, more attitude than usual haha.

A good place for you to research is in our macaws forum, especially posts by a member named Birdman666. Here is a link to a sticky there by him, and you can find other posts of his by going to his profile and clicking on 'Messages'.

Big Beak O Phobes Guide to Understanding Macaw Beaks...

Do you live in a house or apartment? The answer to that may help you decide on a species because macaws can be really loud. I have a friend who has a rescue and you can hear her Green Wing macaws from a couple of blocks away.

thank you i will read up on birdman666,
i do live in a fairly large house so can tolerate noise but hope the neighbours can!

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

thank you i will read up on birdman666,
i do live in a fairly large house so can tolerate noise but hope the neighbours can!

Years ago, Quentin Tarantino famously sued his (also famous) neighbor over his loud macaws.

“Quentin Tarantino is suing his Oscar-winning screenwriter neighbour over his noisy macaws, claiming the "blood curdling, pterodactyl-like screams" are stopping him from working on his latest film.”

Fortunately, I do not have a squawky macaw, but I always feared he might become one. Dodged that bullet! I lived in condos and apartments for years and no one even knew I had a macaw.

In one corporate apartment, the window of an office in the building next door looked directly into my living room. It wasn’t until I was home sick one day that I realized a man who worked in that office spent many an hour flirting with my macaw in his cage in our window. Get back to work!

In another apartment on a mezzanine level, I learned that my bird was a celebrity among the front desk workers who would take snack breaks in front of my living room window because they enjoyed visiting with my macaw through the glass. The secret lives of parrots (before the days of security cameras) while you are at work!

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

Years ago, Quentin Tarantino famously sued his (also famous) neighbor over his loud macaws.

“Quentin Tarantino is suing his Oscar-winning screenwriter neighbour over his noisy macaws, claiming the "blood curdling, pterodactyl-like screams" are stopping him from working on his latest film.”

Fortunately, I do not have a squawky macaw, but I always feared he might become one. Dodged that bullet! I lived in condos and apartments for years and no one even knew I had a macaw.

In one corporate apartment, the window of an office in the building next door looked directly into my living room. It wasn’t until I was home sick one day that I realized a man who worked in that office spent many an hour flirting with my macaw in his cage in our window. Get back to work!

In another apartment on a mezzanine level, I learned that my bird was a celebrity among the front desk workers who would take snack breaks in front of my living room window because they enjoyed visiting with my macaw through the glass. The secret lives of parrots (before the days of security cameras) while you are at work!

thank you for this insight! i really have a love for blue and gold macaws and i know they are loud but i have a fear of getting a screamer.
how did you get your macaw so calm?

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

thank you for this insight! i really have a love for blue and gold macaws and i know they are loud but i have a fear of getting a screamer.
how did you get

He has always been a very affectionate, quiet and gentle bird. I live in a calm, quiet house, so I think that has a lot to do with the bird keeping quiet. Birds tend to match the noise level of their environment. I am also just plain lucky to have a good egg!

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

He has always been a very affectionate, quiet and gentle bird. I live in a calm, quiet house, so I think that has a lot to do with the bird keeping quiet. Birds tend to match the noise level of their environment. I am also just plain lucky to have a good egg!

thank you for replying, he sounds amazing!
would you say theres a personality difference between male and female B&G macaws? and if so what is it like?

 

[gutterfalcon]

Hello! i am new to the forums, for years now ive been looking to purchase a parrot ever since i took in some rescue parakeets (along with other species) in 2021, But have been stumped on which species/subspecies to purchase. Originally i was thinking of a blue and gold macaw, monk parakeet/Quaker parrot or most likely a blue fronted amazon. Although, in the recent months ive come to realise that the BFA may not suit my lifestyle/needs and since i read through the forums for advice often i thought i might ask myself since i haven't found any threads that match my questions. To start, i am willing to spend quite a bit to ensure my parrot lives the life he/she deserves, i am looking for a intelligent bird i can train freeflight along with a variety of tricks/commands. I would really like a bird that can mimic speech but don't need it, i have a preference for a large/larger parrot ( i just really love the size) My bird needs to like affection, i would really like a deep bond with my bird that wants to cuddle and go on walks outdoors (i really want to be my birds one and only) but it would have to be comfortable being in its cage for 4 hours while i work but will be out the rest. If you have any advice on nutrition or care or have a species you think would suit me better feel free to let me know ( and if you think a Blue and gold macaw/ Quaker would suit me)

Do you live in a House or Apartment ? Years ago I wanted a Blue & Gold , they told me " Do you live in an Apartment " ? I Did , They told me " You'll be evicted " They scream ! I got an Eclectus instead , I weaned He's Great a Baby , But He wants Attention NOW ! Squawking Load . I now have a Rescue Grey Timneh , Abused , Old , Plucked , But He's coming along Really Good .

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

thank you for replying, he sounds amazing!
would you say theres a personality difference between male and female B&G macaws? and if so what is it like?

I have no idea. I always suspected my bird was a male, but didn’t bother to get a DNA test until I had owned him 35 years. I told the vet to make sure I was sitting down when she told me the results in case he was a she.

I have a friend who discovered her “male” macaw was a female when she laid an egg in her 30s. Shocker!!!!

I would prefer a male due to potential egg laying issues with a female.

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

Do you live in a House or Apartment ? Years ago I wanted a Blue & Gold , they told me " Do you live in an Apartment " ? I Did , They told me " You'll be evicted " They scream ! I got an Eclectus instead , I weaned He's Great a Baby , But He wants Attention NOW ! Squawking Load . I now have a Rescue Grey Timneh , Abused , Old , Plucked , But He's coming along Really Good .

i live in a house! but close neighbours...

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

I have no idea. I always suspected my bird was a male, but didn’t bother to get a DNA test until I had owned him 35 years. I told the vet to make sure I was sitting down when she told me the results in case he was a she.

I have a friend who discovered her “male” macaw was a female when she laid an egg in her 30s. Shocker!!!!

I would prefer a male due to potential egg laying issues with a female.

ive heard some people say males can be aggresive/territorial
would you say thats true?

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

ive heard some people say males can be aggresive/territorial
would you say thats true?

Not at all in my case. I have also never experienced the hormonal surge that so many here post about. I could not tell you when hormonal season is as my macaw’s behavior is consistent day to day and year to year. As numerous posters have told you many times, each bird has a distinct personality. Brace for the worst and hope for the best.