Pet Macaws
Macaws can be loving, intelligent feathered beings but they require a lot of care, time and attention. With proper care they can become lifelong companions that more often than not out-live thier human counterpart. Before adding a macaw to your family there are few things you should know.
Consider this before buying a Macaw: Macaws can live up to 100 years of age. Should something happen to it's care taker, is there someone else willing and responsible enough to take care of the macaw? They should be part of someone's will just in case. Like all parrots, Macaws are extremely intelligent and require a lot of attention. When adding a macaw to your family, be prepared to spend a great deal of time with it. You will find yourself doing your chores with the macaw on your shoulder or the macaw will be on a T-stand watching your every move. If you work full-time, be prepared to spend time with your bird in the morning before work, and more time in the evenings. Should a Macaw fall ill, it will need veterinary care. It will also need an annual checkup performed by a vet. Is there an avian certified vet in your area? Sometimes Macaws will bond with only one member of the family. With the other members, the macaw may tolerate them, or become aggressive towards them because they will view the family member as a threat to the relationship between the him and his "flock mate" (a.k.a. person it is bonded to). Macaws have very large hookbills that they use to crack open their food. Sometimes they may mistake your finger for a piece of food or they will even bite out of warning - can you remain calm and not speak harshly or hurt your bird in return? The number one mistake that all bird owners make is yelling at or hitting a macaw when it bites or acts up. Not only is it abuse but it will only provoke the macaw to act more aggressively. Your best strategy is to just turn away from the bird, or return the bird to its cage to have a 5 minute time-out with no interaction. The macaw will quickly learn that, that this aggressive behavior results in an unwanted reaction and it will stop.
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Macaws are loud birds! Do you live in an apartment complex with thin walls? Perhaps a macaw is not for you if you do.
Make sure your family understands the importance of how to act around a macaw and treat a macaw. Also make sure that everyone in the family is comfortable with having a macaw around. It will only be hard on the bird if there are family members who treat it badly.
Do not buy a macaw and treat it as a decoration. The cage is their home, but just like humans we like to get out of our houses and get involved in other activities. Buying a macaw is a huge responsibility and a commitment - a life long commitment. If you feel that you will tire of the macaw after a while, perhaps it is not the right pet for you.
Macaws are highly sensitive to fumes. Teflon fumes from cooking ware, heaters, etc. will kill the macaw easily. Also things like air freshners and household cleaners such as Febreeze have been known to kill macaws. This is not a rarity, so be careful in what you use around your macaw. Research before using a product.
Things you need before buying the Macaw:
You will need to buy a cage for a macaw. Your best bet is to buy the largest one you can find. You will need a large cage to accommodate your Macaw and their food, water and toys. He will need a cage wider than its wing span. Expect to buy a cage as large as 4 feet by 5 feet and to pay as much as $800.
Macaws need a balanced diet. Buy food that is fortified in vitamins and minerals. Most macaw owners suggest that a pellet diet is the best food to buy. They can have seeds, pasta, fruit, cooked chicken and thigh bones as a daily treat. Macaws eat twice their body weight in food so be prepared to fill their food dish several times a day. It is a good idea to change their water supply twice a day as well.
Macaws need toys to keep them stimulated. Toys can be expensive. There are also things you should look for when buying toys for macaws: Do not buy rope toys with loops - they can get caught in them and hang themselves. Do not buy toys containing sharp or pointed objects that could stick them, ie: wire ends, pins, etc. Do not buy toys that have small pieces. If you find it necessary to buy these toys, be sure to discard any small pieces such as buttons, bell clappers, etc. Beeware of sharp projections in their cages and play areas ie: fasteners, nails, wires, (in the case of galvenized wire, some sharp projections will protrude from the wire when it is dipped and removed too quickly. The galvenizing material will drip and leave sharp points - these will cut their feet when they grab the wire), inexpensive chainlink and welded wire mesh.
Buying a Macaw
It is a good idea to buy a macaw that has been hand-raised by humans. This will help the macaw adjust to humans better and the training period is minimal or non-existent. Should you buy a macaw that was not hand-raised, be prepared to take the time and emotional stress of training it. This could take months, years, or it could never happen at all.
The cost depends on a Macaw and the breeder. Be sure to visit the aviary before purchasing the macaw. Notice the living conditions and the overall condition of ALL the birds. Are sick birds in the same area as healthy ones? Does the living conditions of the birds seem dirty? Does their food and water look fresh? How does the breeder care for the birds? If something about the place makes you uncomfortable, then there is probably something wrong and you should move on to the next breeder.
NEVER BUY A BABY THAT HAS NOT BEEN FULLY WEENED!!! This will result in burned crops and premature deaths if the owner is not proficient in how to take care of a baby bird. A fully weened baby may cost a little more than an unweened one, but the cost is minimal to the outcome.
Before taking your bird home make sure that the macaw has been seen by a vet and that the following has been performed: A complete examination which will include a complete blood count test, a culture of the crop/throat and vent area, and a Psitticosis screen. It will take a couple of days to receive the results of the test which should be accompanied by a signed certificate by the vet.
Macaw Species:
Blue and Gold Macaw - The blue and gold macaw is probably the most popular of all macaw breeds. They range in price from $800 - $2000. They have a mostly blue body with a golden/yellow chest. They are fun loving birds and adapt well to families. They prove to be wonderful talkers as well.
Scarlett Macaw - Scarlett Macaws are very popular. They have a bright red body with red/blue/yellow markings on their wings. Although a scarlet macaw makes a great addition to any family, they can sometimes be very temperamental, territorial, and can be "one-person" birds. Their price range is around $1300 - $2500
Greenwing Macaw - Much like the Scarlet Macaw in coloring, the only difference is that the blue in the wing is replaced with green, thus their name. They are almost as large as a Hyacinth Macaw. They are extremely intelligent and inquisitive which can lead often times to mischief. They are friendly birds and adapt well to family situations. Their price range is in the $3,500 area because they are very new to being bred in captivity.
Hyacinth Macaw - These are the most rare and expensive of all macaws. They are the largest, up to 5 feet tall from head to tail. They are noted for their remarkable deep blue coloring with a bright yellow eye mask and cere. Depending on your location, Hyacinth Macaws are required to be in a breeding program when they become of age. There are only thought to be about 3000 hyacinths in the world. The cost of a hyacinth can range anywhere between $10,000 to as much (if not more) as $40,000. Hyacinths require a special diet very different from most macaws which consists of a high fat/carbohydrate low protein diet. They are considered the gentle giants of the Macaw family. Only the most dedicated and experienced parrot owner should look to buy a Hyacinth Macaw.
Military Macaw - These birds are noted for their Christmas coloring of red and green as well as their wonderful ability at speech. They are smaller than most macaws, some being only as tall as one and a half feet. Sweet natured, they make great family pets. The price range for these birds is around $4,000.
Harlequin Macaw - One of the more colorful of the Macaw family, the Harlequin Macaws are noted for their light blue/green/red/yellow coloring. Good-natured and friendly, they make wonderful companions.
Redfronted Macaw - These macaws are known to be the clowns of the macaw family. They are small in nature (two feet in length) with big personalities. Plan on being entertained for hours by the Redfront. They have pleasant voices and enjoy the company of others. The price range for these birds is around $3,500.
Hahns Macaw - Even smaller than the military macaw, the Hahns Macaws make great pets as they are gentle and loving but they can be loud. They are noted for their green body and red tipped wings. Prices usually range between $500 - $750.
Shamrock Macaw - Shamrock Macaws are a very colorful hybrid Macaw displaying a variation of blues, greens, reds, and yellows. In captivity they socialize and bond closely with one person but do well in a family situation also. They are a rather new hybrid and are not readily available, although they are becoming increasingly popular.
Severe Macaw - The Severe is a small Macaw. Sometime called the Chestnut-fronted Macaw. It is a little larger than the Hahn Macaw, but much smaller than the larger Macaws. The Severe is primarily green, and looks like a miniature Green Blue and Gold Macaw. This bird is more easily trained than the larger macaws, and is more often recommended as a house pet than the other macaws. Prices usually range between $750 - $1500.
Yellow Collar Macaw - The yellow collar is the second largest of the mini macaws. It has a yellow ring around its neck and a dark head. The yellow collar increases in brightness and width with age. Mature birds have bright wide bands. They have feather tracks on the bare facial skin below their eyes just as the large macaws do. This bird's body is green and the flights are blue. The upper portion of the tail feathers are blue and the bottom half are wine colored. The yellow collar is an extremely intelligent and trainable pet. They are playful and self-entertain. They tend to like a variety of people if well socialized when young and don't tend to be screamers. They, like some other macaws, have limited talking ability, but will pick up various words and phrases and will learn to use them appropriately. They love toys and especially love to play in the water. Yellow collars range in price from $700 to $1100 and can be found fairly readily.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION To Know:
Protect your bird from Psitticosis
Psittacosis is the same illness in parrots and parakeets that is called ornithosis in other species of birds and occurs rarely in lovebirds. The disease is caused by the parasite Chlamydia psittaci, which has its own unique growth cycle. It is mostly found in dirty breeding situations and can be brought in by imported birds. Be suspicious of "dirty-looking" birds. The birds may look healthy, but a careful examination by an avian vet may show that it is either a carrier or is infected with psittacosis.
Psittacosis has a variety of symptoms and can be difficult to diagnose mostly in its early stages. Usually it starts with a heavy cold. Moisture drips from the nostrils, the bird gasps for air, and the breathing sounds squeaky and hissy. The bird is fatigued, often puffs out its feathers, and has diarrhea. The final stages of the disease include symptoms of cramps and lameness. The picture below is of a bird infected with psittacosis.
Psittacosis can occur in a mild form, which can be completely cured. Unfortunately, be aware that birds can still be infectious for both birds and humans. At any rate, the disease can pose a hazard, which is why you should report any strange symptoms your bird displays to your avian vet. In humans, the disease starts with a cold and can lead to a lung infection. The disease can be treated with antibiotics, so long as you see your doctor in a timely manner. Make sure you tell your doctor you have a bird so they may properly diagnose you.
You can prevent psittacosis by doing small things. Make sure your bird sees an avian vet annually and that the vet does a complete check-up. Any new bird that is brought into your house needs to be quarantined for at least 30 days. You can also prevent this disease by cleaning your birds cage regularly and changing their water daily, or if you have a bird that likes to bathe in its water dish, change it twice a day.
Thank you! Wings and Wheeks
Whichever kind of Macaw you decide to purchase, enjoy it! They are birds that will provide hours of entertainment if treated properly!
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