Yellow Collared Macaw

[txwaterlily]

Hi,
I am looking into getting a YCM ...I have had other birds before ..conures and cockatiels. This will be my first bigger bird.I am looking for info. I have read plenty on the internet but looking for people that own them and your input as to what they are really like.It will be me and my hubby raising him or her. We will both be spending a lot of time with him or her. Probably more me though. My biggest question is will this bird bond with both of us or with just one. is it better to get a male or female if I have that choice?I love birds always have but this is not a decision I will make quickly. I want to know as much as I can before I make a choice. Is there another bird I should consider. I am wanting something not too large but that also has the ability to speak.But also something that both of us can enjoy.I am aware how loud they are and that they need lots and lots of attenetion. Its just me and hubby now so that won't be a problem.Is there anything special I need to know? everything you can tell me or other possible birds I might want to consider. Thank you for all your help. I am thinking it will about 2 months before I purchase anything. I want to be 100% sure of what I am gong to get.

 

[txwaterlily]

Ok so apparently this is not the place to get help...35 people read this and not so much as one of you could give any help at all.

 

[Seagulls]

I had a rescue YCM named Ziggy. About 13 years old, had been passed around a lot and even abused. He bonded just fine to me, my mom, and my step dad. He liked me best, but still liked other people too.

He could be nippy, even aggressive. But he was such an animated little guy, never had a dull moment. I'd honestly say he was one of the quieter birds I've had. Yeah, he vocalized a lot but I didn't find his usual conversational calls to be that Macaw-y if that makes sense.

But every bird is an individual. Personally, I highly recommend the YCA, I think they are a joy. I wouldn't expect too much in way of talking. YCA have a particular voice to them, like most macaws. Kinda sound like they just sucked in a bunch of helium. Cute but, not very good at copying people. Mine didn't really say words, but he loved loved LOVED to jabber any time anyone spoke. He thought he was conversating too!

Ziggy was very territorial around his cage, though. Always had him step up on a cloth. Once I got him out of view of his cage and the bowl he was in love with, he was fine.

I would say if you want to avoid over-bonding to one person... make sure both you and your husband give equal amounts of attention. Otherwise, the bird will have a definite favorite.

If you are at all able, try to get in touch with local rescues! The old myth that you can bond better with a baby is just not true. (I kind of prefer birds that are past their super-moody adolescence.) Rescues can sometimes be hard to deal with, but the effort is worth it. Many birds in rescues are perfectly well-adjusted. Don't let yourself be scared off of pluckers, either. Some birds just pluck like some people chew their fingernails. Doesn't necessarily mean they are "bad".

Hope this helps.

 

[MonicaMc]

Sorry, but just because a thread has had 35 views does not mean that 35 people have viewed the thread. The forum is set up with "spiders" that patrol the forum for information that will be pulled up in searches. Google, MSN, Yahoo.... these bots could put a view on a thread.

It's hard to say if the bird will bond with just one person or with both... but I have heard that it is best to buy a bird from a breeders place where the birds are raised by two people of opposite sexes. Even if a bird ends up bonding more closely to one person than the other, it is possible to train a bird to enjoy interaction by several people.

I don't believe it matters if you get a male or female.


Each bird is an individual so I can't really recommend one species over another. I can say that cockatoos do tend to enjoy interaction by a lot of people, but they can be very destructive, loud and dusty! Not everyone is a cockatoo owner! The mini macaws, greys, eclectus, amazons... all have the potential to be great companions! And all parrots can talk!


I'm sorry though, I do not have personal experience with yellow collared macaws, but I'd love to interact with some one day! I've taken a special interest in some of the mini macaw species, and the yellow collared is one of them!

 

[Abigal7]

Sadly I do not have personal experience with a Yellow Collard macaw. I do have a Hahns macaw (which I love). All I can say is if I ever decided to get a second macaw and my life was positioned to allow it I would consider a Yellow Collard macaw or Illigers macaw. Like you I had the experience of cockatiels and conures. Birds are individuals and any parrot has the potential to talk. Even some non hook billed species of birds have that potential (such as starlings, crows, ravens, mynah bird, etc). If you get a baby bird and both of you interact with the bird it probably will accept both of you. If you can find a bird that someone socialized and loved that could probably work out. However, if someone is spending time with the bird everyday, etc they most likely want to keep the bird (unless unfortunate event in their life make them have to consider finding the bird another home). If you keep the cage door open when you are home and spend time with the bird everyday I am sure you would do fine. The green cheek conure I had as a child became a one person bird but that is because my family did not care to get to know the bird.

 

[txwaterlily]

I am trying to make the best possible choice. I am not the person that thinks any animal is a throw away. I believe if you made the choice to adopt buy or acquire an animal then you have to also be prepared for the bad as well as the good. You wouldn't give away your child because he/she acted up well same applies to all of my animals.I do believe the YCM is the best choice for us. I have read everything I can watched videos on you tube and read every care type article I can as well as behavior and health issues that may arise.I have talked to several breeders who will have available birds and am looking into rescues that may have some available. I am not opposed to a rescue actually prefer that. I think getting a rescue bird because I do have a lot of time available to earn trust and show a rescue bird that not all humans are bad or abusive.

 

[Seagulls]

Not all rescue birds are abused or even neglected. Some are given up because their original owner died, or could no longer take care of the bird.

Some rescue birds do take a lot of time to warm up to you, but that just comes with their high level of intelligence. The only problem with rescues is that some can be far too severe. Denying you for even the smallest thing. Some rescues don't seem to want to adopt their birds out. But the effort can still be made.

 

[txwaterlily]

I didn't mean that to sound like I thought all rescues were either neglected or abused.What I meant is that I have the time to spend with a bird that may require more time to gain its trust...and I am aware its not all about trying to handle them but just letting them see and hear you for a while before even trying to handle said bird. I am not a novice with birds.I am aware that one day said bird may act like he loves me and the next not want anything to do with me. I just want to make a good choice for both the bird and myself.Even getting a bird from a breeder does not give you 100% guarantee it will talk or want to be handled by you. All of them have different personalities especially when change is involved.My goal is to of course have a bird that enjoys being with me and enjoys being handled. I would love to have the "perfect" bird...if there is such a thing...LOL I love birds and miss having one. I want one that is a good fit for me as well as the bird.

 

[Abigal7]

Here is a thread that you can read http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/29064-does-anyone-own-yellow-collard-macaw.html