What to do

[trafficgal]

Ok folks I want honest opinions. I am considering a beautiful blue and gold macaw baby he is still on one hand feeding but will be fully weaned soon...

I want honest opinions how are they... I've heard that they turn mean and become a one person bird and then I heard that they are sweet and make great family birds... I'm getting so much from both ends of the spectrum I'm not sure waht to believe anymore!


How are they to handle? Train/workwith? how nippy/biting are they?

thanks
a prospective Macaw Mom

[featherfanatics]

I don't know about babies. Mine was 11 when I adopted him. He's such a sweetheart and will step up for anyone. He flirts with all the girls and if your a blond, watch out! Lol, he won't leave you alone then.

I think the B&G's are like any other bird. It just depends on how much you work with them.

[doc33]

Well my b&g is a little over 2 yrs old so he's still a baby. he is a real sweetheart but stubborn as can be too! he has his moments when he doesn't want anyone but daddy and i can't even coax him out of his cage with a treat but most days he will come to both of us, he loves being handled and scritched..sometimes fights me when i try to help him preen places he can't reach. he plays peek a boo with daddy will roll over on his back for tummy tickles and lovin.he has bit the crap outta me and DH and it hurts like heck! in other word he has his moods like any other child. he is very smart he mumbles a few words here and there and laughs at everything and will tell me hello i love you rarely but hes more of a closet talker lol. he is very nippy at times and VERY loud he tries to out scream the kids (who are 6,4,2,and soon another lil one!) the kids can give him treats but he still lunges at them if they try to pet him. he has been fairly easy to train he steps up, waves, puts up his dukes,shakes his head yes to answer questions,plays peek a boo,loves kisses dry mouth only! but you do have to work with them constantly! he is a sweet boy but really tries to be a one person bird not a family bird. it is like living with an argumentative 5 year old ha ha. i'm a first time bird owner so im still learning,we have had him since he was about 4 months old and i didn't know how much joy a bird would bring into my life and my DH didn't really want a bird as he said it he wasn't a "bird person" yeah right lol he now has a different view that is "his" baby

I hope i helped in my ramblings...my brain just doesn't function right when im pregnant lol

[Bradleyzoo]

We adopted our B&G, Harley, when he was about 7 or 8. He was kept in a small cage (for a Macaw) for years and was so stressed he screamed a lot, so they abused him by squirting him with a water gun. He ended up in a shelter/rescue and a woman adopted him and gave him a ton of love and attention and affection that he completely changed and became a huge love, of women only. Well, her life changed significantly and she gave him to us because she knows how much we love birds and we were moving to Honduras, so she thought it would be great for him to be closer to his native climate.

We worked with him a lot too and now Harley LOVES my husband as much as he loves me. Some days he doesn't want anything to do with me, and some days he doesn't want anything to do with my husband. He loves to cuddle and loves for me to preen on the back of his neck. He loves to be held upside down, sometimes, and he loves to be on his back on my lap and his belly rubbed. He talks quite a bit, and he and our CAG have "phone" conversations with eachother all the time... and when one screams the other one tells them to shut up. lol

My point of all this rambling is that I agree with the other folks that said it really depends on how much time you spend with them and love them. It also depends on individual personalities - just like in people. So, if it's a B&G you want and the situation is right for you and the bird then I say go for it. Harley is such a joy for us I can't imagine not having him in our lives.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[trafficgal]

ok I've been doing lots and lots of reasurch and speaking to lots and lots of people.... and though I think I can handle it I'm not certin as I've never doen it befor so sadly I decided NO :(

Last night I also got an email from a women looking to rehome her Eclectus, We went to visit him tonight and brought him home!!

Thanks for all the help!!!!!

[SDavid]

The honest truth is probably that your taking a gamble on ending up with "exactly" the type of pet you want. It's just a fact of life with parrots it seems. A birds personality (or that of any other wild animal) is not science. So, you will hear all kinds of stories. None of which may apply to your "baby" once it's an adult. Some may.

Parrots in the wild mate for life so it's in their nature to be "one person" birds. Most people I know with macaws (or other parrots) will quickly tell you "don't go near him" as soon as you approach an adult. I don't think it's exactly true when people tell you that, through work, you can change that. If your bird becomes a one person bird, it's tough to change them. But, people don't usually tell you how hard. Then, you end up feeling frustrated with your bird and yourself. This is just one bad case scenario that i'm throwing out.

Alot is up to you. To what extent are you willing to work with your bird and to what extent are you willing to tolerate the not-so-good (although natural) qualities if they come up. Like screaming, biting (it really hurts!), assertiveness, or his intolerance of other people in your family. These are all things that may or may not happen but nobody should just assume they won't.

As far as getting different reviews, I don't think that'll change no matter how many people you ask. You just have to weigh everyone's experience and make a decision.

Remember also, the people who gave up their parrots because they couldn't handle them are not on these types of forums. It's too bad because they should be heard as well just to balance things out.

I don't think that everyone who's ever had to give up a bird was a bad person. I know that sometimes parrots can proove to be too much for even a well-meaning and nice person to handle.

I don't wan't to be the one that sounds negative but sometimes someone has to. Me and my wife are thinking of adding a macaw to our family-maybe next spring or later. It's alot to consider. I think about how it would be if our bird turned out to love one and not the other. With smaller birds it's somehow more tolerable. But with a macaw. Bigger bird = bigger problem if that happens.

Remember, you're adding another person to your home...that's how I look at it. We both have something (or many things) that we love about these birds (that's why we wan't one). But, the negatives as they apply to the circumstances of our lives have to be considered.

Good Luck to you.

[SDavid]

It seems I responded at the same time you gave us your decision.....sorry I was seconds late....lol

Good luck with your Eclectus!!! and Congrats!