What kind of commitment is involved in purchasing a macaw?

Question

I have loved macaws since I was a little girl. I'm 20 now, and getting ready to get married and move to Boston. I would eventually like to buy a macaw, but I was wondering exactly what I'll need for taking care of the bird. How big would the cage be, will I need to wait until I live in a house vs. an apartment, what do I feed it, does it need exercise, etc.

Answer 1

Consider it a lifelong commitment. Please don't get a macaw if you live in an apartment - the results wouldn't be good for you or the bird.

Answer 2

I have a Blue and Gold Macaw. You are looking at a life long commetment. My bird is as old as my youngest daughter (8 years is the estimant). We are "her" third home and she as been with us for the last three.

I will tell you that there are a lot of issues that you could have. If you get a baby make sure that it is hand raised. This means that it was taken from its parents either as an egg or shortly after. This helps the baby bird bond with humans instead of other birds. Something else to think about is that there are just as many "homeless" birds as there are dogs and cats. In the north these birds either die from neglect or if there owners just let them go they starve. In the south you can see flocks of them that have just been turned loose. I decided that I would not breed my bird for just this reason. It is my feeling that rescue is the only way to go.

if you are still intrested in a bird I would get the biggest cage I can afford. You can almost spend as much on the cage as you do the bird (and I would for the birds happyness).

I live in an apartment. I am one of the lucky few that found an apartment that will let me have my bird. Macaws are distructive by nature. In the wild that is how they find and open their food. I am also lucky that my bird is content to eat and shred only the things on or neat her cage. That means that all I have to do is keep things that she can't have away from her cage. The down side is that unless I am really good about changing out her toys, she gets really bored. and then getts really LOUD. A house is the best bet for most bird owners.

I am a firm beleiver in exercise for all captive animals. Birds are no exception. They need to flap their wings (whether they fly or not), and hang and climb and play. They are just like haveing a 2year old for the next 80 years.

There are lots of comercial diets out there for birds. I recommend just reading your lables and decideing what you would eat if you wanted to stay healthy. Just remember NO CHOCHOLATE, NO AVACATO, NO PEACH PITS, very little milk products (most birds don't digest them well). other than that you can give your bird just about anything that you eat including meat, pasta (without butter if you can help it) vegetables, just about anything. My bird will come over to the table and steal a whole chicken quarter if you don't give her some in her treat bowl (that is the bowl at the top of her cage that is up there for that very reason).

If you and your soon to be husband are both in agreement then get a bird, it is something that is very rewarding, and no matter what you read here it is a personal desision.

Answer 3

You need to live in a house with no close neighbors- when they want to be, they can be very very loud.

It is a lifelong commitment- they live over 75 yrs, I have heard of many outliving their owners.

Cage size: as big as you can afford. The very minimum would be roughly 4 feet by 2ft and 6 feet high. A larger cage would be preferred.

They need to get out a lot- not necessarily for exercise, but for enrichment and socialization.

I highly suggest getting a smaller parrot first to see if you can handle them ok, and establish good relationships.
A macaw is not a good starter bird- they can bite through a human finger if they wanted to. If you are the least bit afraid of them, they will get aggressive.
Plus, reputable breeders/petstores/adoption agencies will not sell a macaw to someone without any previous large bird experience.

Answer 4

Caring for a Macaw is a life long commitment. Make sure your future husband likes them! They can live 100+ years!

They do best in a house as they can be loud. They need the largest cage you can afford.

All birds need several hours of out of cage time every day to be happiest. This means interaction with it's people, toys, and even training if you want to teach them tricks.

A diet of 80% pellets, 15% fresh and cooked human foods, and 5% seeds and treats is pretty standard for parrots. You want to make sure that you also remove all teflon coated products from your home. When heated, it emits a fume that is toxic to birds. Stainless steel cookware is best.

You want to make sure that you have an avian vet that will see macaws. A regular vet doesn't always have the expierence treating birds.

You will also spend a lot of money on toys. Macaws are notorious for taking a $50.00 toy and turning it into toothpics in a day.

The best way to learn everything you need to know about caring for macaws would be to contact some local breeders and visit their facilities. This means seeing all the birds they have. If the cages are dirty, cramped, or don't have toys you should not purchase from them.

Also keep in mind that you will not be able to travel as easily. You will either have to take the bird with you, or find a pet sitter. I don't reccomend boarding your bird as birds are highly suseptable to airborn diseases and they transmit very easily from bird to bird. Some are able to be cured, others will kill your bird.

You can also subsribe to Bird Talk Magazine, they have great articles on bird care. This month's issue is about what to expect when expecting a new baby bird.

Answer 5

Macaws are life long committments. The require a lot of love and attention just like any other pet. You would need to have a pretty big sized cage and an area that you don't mind getting a little dirty cause most birds are messy. Also, make sure you don't mind a little squawking now and then.

My experience is that a bird chooses a spouse..either you or your husband or another bird and tends to get jealous of anyone who is not their chosen one.

You want to make sure you give their diet a variety of foods, seeds as well as fresh fruit. Make sure you have some toys for it to play with as well. My bird loved to play with a bell.

Good luck and enjoy.

Answer 6

Any bird you decide to purchase can be almost a life long committment. The average life expectency, for instance, of a parrot is anywhere from 30 to 70 years. You need to take that into consideration before making that decision. You are still young, but a lot of parrots actually have been known to outlive their owners.

Birds bond generally only with one person, it could be you, or your husband, depending upon who feeds the parrot, cleans the cage, talks to it, and spends the most amount of time with the parrot. Sometimes an older parrot can prefer a woman over a man, or vice versa. When you are considering the purchase of the parrot, you can ask the breeder if they know. You may want to try and purchase a Macaw as a baby, and then you and your husband can decide who should bond with it. Maybe you will be lucky and it will favor the both of you. If you both work with the parrot, it can happen.

Parrots can be VERY NOISY, depending upon the breed. Living in an apartment can pose a problem with neighbors. Macaws are very large parrots and require a very large cage on wheels, so you can move the cage around to clean, keep away from drafts in the winter, and so that they can have some room for exercise. It is also important to be comfortable in handling the Macaw so it gets out of it's cage on a daily basis to bond with you, and get to know you.

As far as food and diet, the vet and/or bird store will go over all that with you. They eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, and seed mix. And there are some foods you must avoid feeding them, such as chocolate, and greasy, fatty table scraps.

All birds require a lot of patience, love, and attention. If they don't get it, they will scream for it! Trust me I know!

I have an Orange Winged Amazon parrot, (who is sitting on his perch right next to me as I type). He is getting the attention he needs. They are very social creatures that enjoy being where the "action is!" I love my parrot, and I make a point of spending a lot of time with him. But, in the beginning, it was a lot of work to bond with him, because he came from an abusive environment. He's a rescued parrot. I named him "Lucky" for that reason.

I hope I have helped you. Good luck, and congratulations for your wedding, and your new home in Boston!

Answer 7

Macaws are an quite difficult breed of chook. A macaw isn't a chook for a first time chook proprietor both. the execs are: they could communicate, they are sweet, they cuddle, the record is going on. The cons: undesirable habit, loud, very needy, and messy... etc. that all sounds tremendous, yet did you know how the chook replaced into dealt with contained in the before yours? Macaws might want to correctly be loud and are noticeably intelligent birds. Birds do not lose previous habit really ordinary and an older macaw is actual no longer that straightforward to tame. i imagine the most suitable ingredient to do is carry out somewhat study on the species, and on the chook.

Answer 8

macaws are a very time consuming bird. they need a large cage, with alot of toys to keep from getting bored. they demand alot of attention. these are not a bird for people with a job that keeps them away for long periods. macaws are generaly a one person bird after the first year and will not do well with new owners when a bored owner decides they dont want the responsibility anymore.they can live for 35 years in captivity, take it from a macaw owner, think long and hard befor buying one. i love my bird but i have seen to many left behind when owners get bored and they are so heartbreaking to see.

Answer 9

There quite slow at moveing, so it'll probly be on a stand or a should all day. Exercise would probly be holding them. There are special kinds of Macaw mixes out there, but ones with nuts and fruits are best. If your thinking of getting a scarlet macaw, I've heard that they have a very mean termperment, so get a green-winged macaw, they just have green on there wings...

Answer 10

macaws are beautiful birds and need a lot of attention and love. If you own your home great but if you plan on renting better check with the landlord first as they can be very loud and make your neighbors pretty mad. They are very playful but can bite very hard even worse RIP your finger off.