Owning multiple Macaws - Personality Match?

[KimM]

Hi Experienced Multiple Macaw Owners. I've spotted a new macaw that I have fallen in love with and am seriously looking at. He is at the same shop where I got Newton. Still pretty young, less than 6 mos old - not fully weaned yet.

It's a male Scarlett and they call him Love love. As soon as I walked in the door, I heard, Hiiiii! I swear he batted his eyes at me! He is so adorable, smart and very outgoing. Talks up a storm, chatters, flirts, etc. Within two minutes of talking to him and blowing kisses, he picked it up.. MmmmmmMuh!

He and Newton seem to have similar personalities. Have you found this to be a plus with multiple macaws or not? I know sometimes when "siblings" are alike they tend to squabble more than ones that are very different.

What has your experience been?

[Amie]

I know nothing about owning more than one macaw, but I just wanted to comment on how smart your little Scarlet love sounds!!!

I'll be wanting pictures if you end up giving him a home!

[KimM]

Originally Posted by amiestgermain

I know nothing about owning more than one macaw, but I just wanted to comment on how smart your little Scarlet love sounds!!!

I'll be wanting pictures if you end up giving him a home!

Absolutely! I hope I can swing it. My dog Cash is very very old and having health issues right now. I'm hoping a "vet" issue doesn't come up with him. Also, Cash and Newton are a little attached to each other. I'm afraid if Cash does go to Rainbow Bridge it may really affect Newton, so I'm also thinking now would be a good time to introduce a new flock mate for Newt.

[texbird]

I have found that in general it is better if two animals have similiar personalities.

Otherwise the active/playful one ends up annoying the placid one.

The exception is if you have two alpha/aggressive animals in which case fighting can result.

[birdyland]

It's all a gamble... Similar, different, male, female, old, young. If you are prepared to deal with it any of several ways it could go, then you're good.

They LOVE eachother and overbond... leaving you out of the mix.
They HATE eachother and can't be in the same room for fear of jealousy attacks
They HATE eachother, but tolerate one another as long as they don't touch
They get along well, with occasional squabbles

At ANY situation, I would be hesitatant to ever house them in the same cage, even if they are buddies... so be prepared with space.

Do some research on Scarlets... they are WONDERFUL and loyal companions that tend to be very misunderstood. Proceed with eyes wide open and you will do well.

Good luck!

[KimM]

Thanks everyone - great advice. I actually stopped in to see Lovelove again after work tonight and talked with the owner, whom I know very well.

I'm not making a decision just yet, although he seems a good match. I've read and talked to many people who have Scarlets and have a pretty good idea of what they are like. If anyone knows of reading material specifically on Scarlet's, I'd love to know for further research.

The owner of the shop is also very particular about who her Scarlets and Cockatoos go to. She said she will only sell him to the right owner and she would sell him to me, which I thought was very nice of her. She said she knows how I am with Newton and knows he would be well cared for and taught well.

So what I'm going to do is make daily visits as much as possible to see if he bonds with me. It won't do any of us any good if he is not happy too. I did handle him tonight and he did give me a good pinch to test me. When he figured out I wasn't going to be intimidated by that, he backed off. The owner let me take him in the nursery so I could work with him. I started by just letting him sit quietly on my lap and talking softly to him. He was a little nervous about stepping up. Within 10 minutes I had him stepping up on me without the nervousness, so the trust (I think) has already started. When I told him what a good boy he was for stepping up so well and just made a big fuss, he just thought he was the bomb! It was so cute.

Please feel free to give me any other tips you may have. I also thought at once point of taking Newt to the shop to see how they react to each other.

And, he will definitely have his own "house". I would never put macaws together in the same cage. My dining room is now fully converted as the "bird room"..LOL

[KimM]

Hi Everyone.. so far so good. In 1 day I had him stepping up out of his cage without fear or hestitation. I went from 2 bites the first day, 1 bite yesterday and no bites today. He even flapped and exercised his wings today and wagged his tail feathers while sitting with me today. I think we're making progress.

[Irish]

From my own perspective, only, multiples getting along is a crapshoot. Some of mine love each other, some hate each other, some tolerate each other, some are terrified of each other, etc. Caution should be exercised when introducing them (after the normal quarantine period), and you should be hypervigilant about watching their body language when they're near each other. Some of mine loved each other from day one--others took awhile to become buddies. Yet others, if they were close enough to ones they don't like, would try to injure or kill. Knowing who gets along with whom, who doesn't, and who is or is not safe to play together or share aviary space is extremely important.

[Irish]

p.s. Thank Dog for Adblock Plus!

[Copper]

Gotta agree with Irish about it being a crap shoot. I do have to say though that the more positive you are with them, the better the chance is for accepting a new resident.

Admit it.... the new guy is going to come home
You know you have already decided!