Macaw Basic Info Sheet

[Kylie]

Macaws

Description: Macaws are the largest birds in the pet parrot world, with the Hyacinth being the largest. Not all the macaws are large though. The mini-macaws are the Hahn’s Macaw, the Severe Macaw, and the Yellow-Collared Macaw. Some well-known large macaws are the Scarlet, the Blue and Gold, and the Greenwing Macaws.

Diet: Pellets, nuts, fruits, vegetables and fresh water.

Cage Size: The largest cage that will fit your budget. For the mini macaws, at least a
20 x 20 x 24. For the larger macaws, at least a 42 x 24 x 42

Toys and Perches: Macaws are constantly going through toys because of their large beaks. Always have plenty of toys to replace old toys, or to give your pet something new to chew on. A good sized perch for your macaw would be the largest you could find, with the basic diameter being 4-5 inches in diameter.

Life Span: 30 to 50+ years depending on the size. The mini macaws won’t live as long as the larger macaws.

Intelligence: Very smart. Always provide lots of attention and always be ready to buy a new toy when the old one is no longer useable. They can go through large toys in record time.

Personality: Macaws are very playful, energetic, and need lots of attention and affection.

Talking Ability: Although they aren’t the masters of speech like the African Greys, Macaws can learn to talk and mimic along with playing games such as peak-a-boo and high five.

Training Ability: Macaws are fairly easy to train and can perform basic tricks such as playing peak-a-boo, or more complex tricks such as using roller skates or playing bird basketball.

Noise: Macaws can be loud if they choose to, or if they want your attention. Most of the noise you will hear from them will be repeated words.

Mess: Macaws can be messy, with the larger macaws feces being large and watery. Also you will be constantly picking up chewed up toys. Some like to put their food into their water and make soup, so water has to be changed several times a day.

Store bird, Greenwing Macaw, Neko...he is such a handful:


A hyacinth macaw one of our customres had, Blueberry:


A Blue and Gold macaw baby:


A Scarlet Macaw baby:

[chocobodragon]

Good write up Kylie, thanks.
Buying a pet macaw is not a decision to take lightly, they demand a lot of your interaction and time. And that massive beak can be intimidating to some. Macaws require more fat than other parrots, which is why nuts play a role.

I love macaws, I am hoping to aquire a Blue and Gold in the next few years, I have been researching the large macaws for a while now, and I have been trying to interact with every macaw I come across now (which, in Australia, isn't that many).

I love the photos, they are adorable! ;D

The availability and price of macaws differs largely in Australia compared to the US. Blue and Golds are probably the most common here and the easiest to find a breeder. Greenwings not so much, but aren't that difficult to find someone. The Greenwings in Australia are about the price of a Hyacinth in the US.
Scarlets are here, but are still being established and I'm not sure how accessable they would be to aquire as a pet yet. There are only a small handful of Hyacinths in Australia so you can't really get them as pets here (but if you manage, expect to pay $40,000!), but perhaps sometime in the future the ones we have will breed and a population may begin to be established (that could be difficult to avoid inbreeding though...)?
As for the mini macaws, I do think we have some here, such as the Yellow Collared guys (who are soo cute!) and the Hahn's I think, but expect to pay quite a bit for one.

[Smiley]

THanks for all the graet info here guys!