Who owns a Macaw hereee??

[phatgun]

Well I dun have a macaw but want to buy one in Indonesia they sell it about 1 grand aka 10 million rupiah......

What do you guys think tell me what its like to have them...

[Sharlene]

Macaws are wonderful birds.. but can be a bit nippy, depending on the bird.. they are alot of bird unless you know what you're doing.. and unless you know how to handle them.. if you are unfirmilar with birds I would suggest you start with a smaller bird ... good luck to you...

[Sashagirl]

I am owned by 6 Macaws 2 minis and 4 large.It's not something you wake up one day and say I think I'll go buy a Macaw you really need experience to handle them or you can get seriously hurt.It's no fun getting bitten by them when they are in their mood and wanting to have their way.
Yes I have 6 of them but I do have experience with large birds and even saying that it's not for everyone.You can't show no fear or they will use that to their advantage.

[Fivejsfeatheredfriends]

I totally agree! I have 4........... 3 blue & Golds and 1 Scarlet. And even my tamest gets nippy at me now & then. Thats a really big beak and it DOES do damage, take it from me. I suggest you start with a smaller bird for you're 1st and move up from there. Plus they can be EXTREMELY loud! Good Luck with whatever you choose to do.

[Copper]

I'm owned by 2 B&G's and a GW. They are not for the faint of heart. Even on their most mellow days they can be stinkers. The higher the drama, the happier and louder they can be. They are destructive, and that's when they are bored or playing, or angry, or happy, or, or... you get the idea
They are fantastic.
I researched for almost a year before I met the first one. I also agree to start with a smaller bird.

[anengineerswife]

I started with a Greenwing Macaw for our first bird, but like everyone says I wouldn't suggest it at least not a rehome. Maybe starting with a baby might work. We worked long and hard and I still have scars to prove that we worked long and hard. Jack will now go to my son who is 11 and my daughter who is 9, they can get him out of his cage, the only thing I have not let them is give them a shower. It took them over 6 months to get him use to them. Good luck.

[JoAnnalso]

I have owned an rehomed Blue and Gold Macaw for about 6 1/2 years now. It was a long hard road getting her to relax and trust me. She was shaking with fear when I first saw her and biting everyone who got close enough. She drew blood from me on every visit and I finally bought her. Dumb or dumber?? I have to say that after a few years of testing my patience to the limit, this sweet young lady is now very attached to me and has also warmed up to my husband. She rolls over on her side when we play and the softness in her eyes when she is just sitting with me tells me that we have truly overcome her difficult start in life. She is almost 8 years old now and seems very content.
I suggest that if you don't have the time or determination needed to devote to a Macaw, you might want to think about it a little more.

[JamminsMom]

I have been raising Cockatoos, African Greys and Caiques for nearly 25 years. All of them are very bright and have the potential to inflict a nasty bite if they think it will get your attention. I have always been fascinated with Macaws but was intimidated with their size. loud noises and enormous beak. A breeder friend was moving and wanted to move some new Macaw babies into the hands of other breeders for fear of the moving stress on the babies. I fell in love with a grey bundle of fuzz which was a 4 week old Blue and Gold, now named Picasso. He is a HUGE bundle of sweetness and can be ever so gentle and loving. But he has his crabby moods from time, especially when he is moulting. Now nearly 6 years old, I still believe that a Macaw is not the bird for everyone. I think that with many early years of bird handling and nurturing discipline prior to raising Picasso, I was not easily intimidated by his occasional attitude changes. Like a precocious 5 year old, he is always testing his limits. On the other hand, he loves to show me a new trick or feat -- he is very responsive to praise and rewards. Noise has not been a problem, since I praise and reward him for his talking ability which is fairly well developed over the years. If you are experienced with birds, I would suggest trying to buy a recently weaned youngster and work with him diligently EVERY DAY to establish trust and a nurturing bond. I find that only a gentle reminder that Picasso's behavior is not acceptable, accompanied by a scolding look, that he will immediately do a 180 degree change in behavior -- I think he's just testing me. Although I only have a solitary Macaw, and B&Gs are among the sweetest, I have had the most positive rewards in raising him. But I know that if I ignored him for just one day, he would definitely remind me. Good luck in your search.

[imabeliever]

I own two, a Ruby & a B&G, and three cockatoos; 1 Umbie girl & 2 GSC's.

Each macaw- each BIRD has their own little differences from others of their own kind. For instance, macaws are bossy. yes they'll play and act silly much of the time but there do come times when they are absolutely going to have things go their way. We call it "pecking order" here in America. My Ruby is a double hybrid, that means her parents on both sides were also hybrids. Her appearance changes with every molt. Sometimes her head which always looks green-blue but reflects red in sunlight, her breast is bright red, her underwings are golden orange, her backside is cobalt blue on top and underneath is golden yellow. She has the Greenwings of a greenwing and big beak like a greenwing too. My second macaw is a typical Blue & gold, bright blue feathers on top and golden yellow underneath his wings and belly, smaller black beak and brown eyes.

They both fly, (all my birds are fully flighted and do fly whenever they want to) the Ruby is boss; all the birds move when she tells them to... all of them are free all day long, I let them out near to dawn and after they get their home cooked dinner that I make for them every evening, they go to bed and the toos get covered because if i dont cover them they'll raise hell all night long... cockatoos are so full of energy!!! The macaws each eat a full dinner then after a few minutes just hanging out, one will go into their cage then the other one goes in her cage and i close them both in for the night uncovered. I turn all the lights off except for a few small nightlights - i make it quiet for them and that is how the days go.

A macaw is quite strong in personality- my b&g is a little joker... he likes hanging upside down singing songs.. he carries a tune remarkably well. (the ruby couldn't carry a tune if i put it in a bucket and gave it to her) he will hang upside down and flap his wings till everything in the room that hasn't been nailed to the floor or put away is floating in the air and he is shrieking at the top of his lungs- which gets the others to skreeching too... my friends are convinced I have lost my mind, the noise drives people away but its a love song to me... I don't give a hoot how much noise they make, see, all my birds are rescues. Each one has been through its own version of hell... Here they are just thrilled to be here. This is as close to Heaven as I can make it for them....

I've gotten two birds that came to me from nearly a thousand miles just to put them here with me... two of the toos were nearly crazy when they got here from being screamed at, their cages kicked, the birds have been hit, covered up for days at a time, one kept in a basement for seven years... on only seeds to eat and tattered toys... he shreds his feathers all the time now even after being here 7 years... but he loves me... oh how he loves me! he's my heart! if you have any specific questions i'd be happy to try to answer them for you.. its hard to just give a general reply... ok?
Ginger

[CrazeUK]

Hi all.

Well i no lonmger have a Macaw.
I did, I now regret having t0o sell her (My emloyment position changed and i was leaving the country at the time). Anyways as i was saying...after reading most ofthese experiences i really regret having to sell her. She was the tamest bird i have ever had! From the first moment i saw her she had NEVER bitten me.

I hope kevin and son are treating her well.

Anyways i also had another macaw who took a particular dislinking (seems to me only). Anyways with his new owner they are apparently fine.

Anyways

What ever you decide,
Think long and hard and good luck! they need a LOT of time and consideration. Essentially, its like leaving your small child at home when you leave!

Good luck!