Deciding on whether or not a Macaw is for you can be a hard decision. There are so many beautifully colored to pick from. Getting ideas from Macaw owners can be helpful, but most owners are partial to their own species. You will get the ins and outs of one species, so be sure to find multiple species owners to get a full grasp of what is available. What you need to decide is which Macaw will fit best into your life style.
These birds will often be lifetime companions if fed a healthy diet and allowed freedom.
Macaws can live for such extreme time lengths you can go through many births and deaths of other pets like dogs and cats. Your Macaw’s life span should be highly influential and considered prior to purchase. You will also have to consider what the bird will do while you are at work. Will you be able to take your Macaw with you or do you have to invest in a large caged environment that allows the bird to play and exercise happily?
The common Macaw species are mostly bred in captivity and have good numbers. Macaw species in the wild are not so fortunate and populations are very low. Because many of the species are so rare they should not be taken from the wild and turned to pets. You should get your Macaw from an experienced breeder who does not take birds from the wild. This will ensure your bird is domesticated and young when you get him or her for optimal bonding. There are many species of Macaws available to the bird lover.
The most popular are the large colorful birds that many people see in pet stores:
Blue and Gold Macaw
Greenwing Macaw
Military Macaw
Red Fronted Macaw
Scarlet Macaw
Hyacinth Macaw
The size of your Macaw will depend mainly on the species you choose and can range from 20 – 42 inches including the tail. If you decide that you would prefer a mini Macaw, then you will be at a more manageable size of 10 – 20 inches. The size of your bird at full growth will determine the cage you get for your bird companion. Most Macaws can live up to 30 – 50 plus years. The mini Macaws tend to live on the lower end of the scale, while the larger breeds can live to be well over 50 years with good care and nutrition. Macaws are not pets for those who do not want to make a life long commitment.
These gorgeous birds have very playful and active temperaments, as well as amazing personalities. Macaws can be very challenging pets and require a lot of attention from their owners to be happy. They are also extremely affectionate and love to be loved. Expect your Macaw to be very noisy. The can scream very loud and are excellent at mimicking speech. They will whistle, talk, babble, and scream quite frequently to entertain you and themselves. So you will need to be a person that is unscathed by excessive noise and noise levels.
Your Macaws cage will be a large investment. A mini Macaw alone will require a cage 24 x 36 x 48 inches minimum. This is very reasonable for those with less space or who live in apartments. For large Macaws you will be looking at cages with minimum dimensions of 36 x 48 x 60 inches. These cages must also be very strong to with stand the beak strength of these birds. Stainless steel seems to be a very Macaw proof and friendly material when it comes to cages. Your cage should have many toy options for your Macaw. Good toy choices include wooden toys or untreated wood chunks for chewing, toys meant to be taken apart to find treats, and safe hanging and climbing toys. These are all toys that Macaws enjoy and will need to be replaced regularly once they have been used too much.
There is a considerable investment when it comes to getting a Macaw. For many the cost is worth a lifetime companion that brings great joy. For others it is just too much. Once you have weighed out all the pros and cons of Macaw care you will be able to see clearly if one of these fabulous birds could fit into your family.
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