Scarlet Macaw

[KimM]

Originally Posted by kellywess

Kim, was it hard introducing them? Did you have any rough patches? Just curious. I havent had much luck with my minis. They are individually very protective over me and my husband when they are with us... no one else is allowed near. We have tried with the Yellow Collared and the Severe on neutral ground. The Yellow Collared was interested but the Severe wanted nothing to do with it. He stayed right by me and kept his wing over my hand and lunged everytime she came close. On the other hand my Hahns and my Blue Crowned Conures new friendship is going pretty good. We have had a couple of bumps but all in all I would say its been pretty positive. Just wondering how it goes with the bigger birds.

Not really. Before I brought Elliot home, I took Newt to the shop to introduce them. Newt is comfortable there because that's where I got him, and it was Elliot's home turf as well. I think that first step helped. So, when I brought Elliot home, they had already been "introduced". Quarantine was tougher on me than them, trying to spend quality time with both. When I played with El and Newt heard us, if he did anything positive, I rewarded that when I was with Elliot and vice versa.

When they finally got into the same room together, I put them on separate play gyms. I purposely went over to Elliot in front of Newt and picked him up and snuggled him. Newt instantly watched very intently and said "Aaawwww" when I loved on Elliot. Newt got rewarded "BIG TIME" for that behavior. So far this technique has worked for both.

There has been no lunging or "attack" screaming. It's been more excited screaming and play screaming. They have not actually been on the same play gym together yet. Elliot is only 15 mos and with his bum wing, he's still learning to get his balance so I don't want to put them "together" yet, plus they're both males and Newt is going through the "sexual maturity" thing right now.

What's funny is they have "corrected" each other if one did not like what the other one did to "me". Elliot nipped me one day in front of Newt and Newt "griped" at him. The same for Elliot. Newt screamed at me one day being a snot, so Elliot growled at him. It's been quite funny. But so far, they've been pretty good.

[Julien57230]

Very interesting thread !

I won't let them alone without keeping an eye on them. Severes are smaller, yes, but my Arnold can be cranky. I'm his "father", I can do whatever I want with him BUT when other people come close to us, he can get cranky. Most of the time he simply ignores them. I want him to "adopt" the red guy and don't want him to consider the Scarlet as someone who will deteriorate our relationship. I'm sure that members who have several birds have had the same fears.

I plan to keep them in the same room (their room). Of course not together! It seems to sound logic, BUT 2 people (a pet shop's salesman and a macaws breeder) told me I could keep them together in the same aviary! I think they're crazy. Have they just noticed the beaks' size difference ? I'd be afraid for my green baby!
Arnold lives in a big macaws cage and my Scarlet will have a big indoor aviary.

r2rusmc, your Scarlet are just beautiful ! especially Sammy Oh yes, I think we can say that you're a Scarlets lover

[kellywess]

Originally Posted by Julien57230

Very interesting thread !

I won't let them alone without keeping an eye on them. Severes are smaller, yes, but my Arnold can be cranky. I'm his "father", I can do whatever I want with him BUT when other people come close to us, he can get cranky. Most of the time he simply ignores them. I want him to "adopt" the red guy and don't want him to consider the Scarlet as someone who will deteriorate our relationship. I'm sure that members who have several birds have had the same fears.

I plan to keep them in the same room (their room). Of course not together! It seems to sound logic, BUT 2 people (a pet shop's salesman and a macaws breeder) told me I could keep them together in the same aviary! I think they're crazy. Have they just noticed the beaks' size difference ? I'd be afraid for my green baby!
Arnold lives in a big macaws cage and my Scarlet will have a big indoor aviary.

r2rusmc, your Scarlet are just beautiful ! especially Sammy Oh yes, I think we can say that you're a Scarlets lover

My Severe is the same way. He tolerates my husband and on some days shows him a bit of affection. But hes mommas bird and makes absolutely no quams about it. Severes are very protective over those they are close to.
You may find that once you bring the new bird home that your Severe will take on the "alarm bird" position in the flock. Try to maintain his "alpha" role as much as possible. I say this because I am sure you know how piercing a Severe Macaws scream can be. For those who dont... it can honestly peel the paint off of the walls. Make sure that the Severe is the one you say "good morning" to first. He gets picked up first and fed first. Make sure the Severe gets to keep his "BIG" bird position. Otherwise buy some ear-plugs.

[Julien57230]

Thank you kellywess, I'll follow your advice. I hadn't thought about that trick.

Oh yes, mini Macaw's screams are very loud and strident. Small package but unproportional BIG voice

[Irish]

I have 2 purebred Scarlets (1 female, 1 male), and 2 male Scarlet hybrids, as well as one Severe Macaw male.

I LOVE the Scarlet personality! They are so smart, incredibly loving, loyal, and, yes, they tend to use their beak when communicating a bit more than my other macaws. Not a lot of hard biting, but inclined to pinch when they're excited, upset or feeling jealous of a perceived "rival", be that rival furred, feathered or clothed.

I think it takes a special kind of human to really love and appreciate the Scarlet Macaw personality. One who is as fearless as the bird (and I've never yet met a Scarlet who fears ANYTHING), who can meet their mental and emotional needs for new and exciting things to do and plenty of human/bird interaction, and who can be accepting of the Scarlet's somewhat "spicy" personality. Birdyland, with her Scarlet lady, Tiki, is a prime example. They basically grew up together, and they understand and appreciate each other perfectly.

My husband's Severe, Eddie, is not allowed to play with the "big boys". He fears them, and for the most part, the rest of them want to remove his beak. Imho, I would be extremely cautious in allowing two such differently-sized birds access to each other. While mine are all one happy flock, there are some who simply aren't safe with others. Eddie the Severe and Petey the Sun Conure are the two birds who have to play outside their cages away from other birds, even though they like to stay within sight of everyone, and vice versa. Oh, the noise if one bird can't see the rest of them!

One tidbit I've heard, although I don't have sources to back it up, is that the highly sensitive Scarlet personality makes them somewhat more prone to plucking than other macaws. I really don't know if that's true--I've just heard it from other Scarlet people.

[becca623]

I knew a guy with a young Catalina and a retired breeder Severe. The severe moved in the cage with the catalina. It was a huge cage. The guy was unable to catch her to move her back out. She was the "boss" of the two.

[kellywess]

Originally Posted by becca623

I knew a guy with a young Catalina and a retired breeder Severe. The severe moved in the cage with the catalina. It was a huge cage. The guy was unable to catch her to move her back out. She was the "boss" of the two.

Thats just an out of the ordinary situation. I agree with Irish, I would dare not try and introduce my Severe with my Miligold.

[Julien57230]

Like I wrote it, I won't let the 2 macaws alone without keeping an eye on them. And after a few weeks, they'll know each other and we'll know if they love them.

Originally Posted by Irish

One tidbit I've heard, although I don't have sources to back it up, is that the highly sensitive Scarlet personality makes them somewhat more prone to plucking than other macaws. I really don't know if that's true--I've just heard it from other Scarlet people.

I've already heard that too. One of the people who told me that was a Scarlets breeder. He hadn't evoked any reason but I think it could be what you've written.

[KimM]

Hi Julien. Here are a few pic's of my Scarlet Elliot.

The third pic is his little "spiked" look. He thinks its cool to dunk his head in the water bowl and he comes up with the little punk rocker "featherdo"!

[Julien57230]

I love the 3rd pic ! :)

What a red he has. I've just noticed that your baby was called Elliot! =O So does mine. And he is a Scarlet too.

Your Elliot is definitely a rocker (!) =D