Out of all macaws

Which breed is the friendliest? I'm thinking about getting one and I read green wings are gentle giants is there others besides them and Hyacinths that are gentle likes to be snuggled etc.

I have a Greenwing (6 years old, I've had him since he was 5 weeks old) and he is the gentlest, sweetest bird I own. I also have an CAG and a Yellow Collar Macaw. He loves being held and scratched on his chest and head he always asks for kisses. He loves to sit on strangers arms and have his picture taken. I can,t speak for all GW's but mine is a real jewel. However I know his older brother (by 4 years) and if you stick your hand out he will bite you. So, you never know. I would definitely recommend one as a pet. Just make sure you socialize him with as many people as possible and he'll be fine.

what about noise level? I was told go with the breed that I want, I have always wanted a Macaw, but my bird that I had the most contact with (and best) is the African Grey. I dont know what one to pick, I really really like the Umbrella cockatoos too, but the ones Ive encountered are Really vary loud.

xreinx said:

what about noise level? I was told go with the breed that I want, I have always wanted a Macaw, but my bird that I had the most contact with (and best) is the African Grey. I dont know what one to pick, I really really like the Umbrella cockatoos too, but the ones Ive encountered are Really vary loud.

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I heard macaws are usually loud at sunrise and sunset. I also read macaws don't do good with dusty birds and cockatoos are a dusty bird I think African Greys are to so if you have allergies I wouldn't suggest them.

BluBird said:

xreinx said:

what about noise level? I was told go with the breed that I want, I have always wanted a Macaw, but my bird that I had the most contact with (and best) is the African Grey. I dont know what one to pick, I really really like the Umbrella cockatoos too, but the ones Ive encountered are Really vary loud.

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I heard macaws are usually loud at sunrise and sunset. I also read macaws don't do good with dusty birds and cockatoos are a dusty bird I think African Greys are to so if you have allergies I wouldn't suggest them.

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I have 5 very dusty birds, a Cockatoo and 4 Cockatiels!!!! I keep them around my macaw without a issue. But we're always dusting and cleaning on a daily basis. When we remodel the room they're in, going to put in a brand new air filtration system in the same room to help with the dust.

xreinx said:

what about noise level? I was told go with the breed that I want, I have always wanted a Macaw, but my bird that I had the most contact with (and best) is the African Grey. I dont know what one to pick, I really really like the Umbrella cockatoos too, but the ones Ive encountered are Really vary loud.

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Any bird can be loud, it just depends on the individual bird. My macaw can be very noisy at times when he screams non-stop for attention. Then my Cockatoo would go off screaming cause she wants attention. You can get the bird you want, but you really need to let them pick you, not the other way around.

Problem is we have no place up here where there are birds that I can go where they can "pick" me. Theres a breeder of conures, (brand new, in the last year or so, maybe alittle longer) but as always, I had never heard of her, and She has her birds at unreasonable prices, I dont even know if they are handled. Probily why I dont have a bird yet, there arnt any up here.

I guess we've been lucky, all the birds we've visited that we wanted to bring home wanted to come to us. Except one mean Cockatiel I took from a friend and unwanted or rescued Parakeets that we took in. And JoJo my Eclectus male that needed work, he wouldn't even step up for his previous owner or have anything to do with him. Now he's doing great, steps up and give birdie kisses. Maybe because I've been around birds for so long I really don't have much issues. Who knows?

I did like that CAG, even though he hissed and growled at me every time I started to get close. we made some hard eye contact but I withdrew because the guy wanted to get rid of both birds at once, he's 10 or 14 or something, shes only 8 or 9, not too old, they should have nested and layed eggs but she dosent let him close and hes "wild".
I think I could work with him, but I only have space for one bird, otherwise Id be back with peanutbutter and apples.

They can surprise you at times even though they're wild or breeder birds that's never been handled. For example, the breeder Conures I bought from a breeder years ago, they're supposely breeder birds, the breeder could not handle them without a glove. The Nanday acted like she's interested on the car ride home. She let me pet her head. Took them home, open the door, there she comes right out. Jenday on the other hand was very wild, but he tolerates me to feed him and stuff. The Nanday was easy to teach to step up and stuff, too bad they drove me up the walls screaming...They stayed with my best friend when I moved...

You're going to get as many opinions as forum members. I'll (as I always do) recommend red-front macaws. Our Jade is playful, flirtatious, cuddly, feisty and a diva. She's not very loud at all - no flock calls on a regular basis. She's friendly with strangers.

My CAG Ruby is my baby and first birdie in my heart, but Jade is a close 2nd. RFMs can be difficult to find and are very endagered in the wild so be sure the breeder you use doesn't have any wild-caught breeding pairs. I highly recommend our breeder here in Texas and I know she ships within the US - but that's pretty pricy.

i like mini macaws , they frindlier and eaiser handle,,,yellow collard is my fav:41:

Well I'm a newbie but I'll chime in! I had a Scarlet Macaw years ago and he was very tempermental. At times he'd crawl up my husband's chest and practically lay down to be pet and other times it was nipping all the time. We sort of rescued him from a pet store because he'd been there several years and had never been bought so obviously he didn't have the best beginning.

Now I have a B&G. He's been with us 4 weeks this Sunday and he is just Mr. Cuddles and love. In the last few days he's started rolling over against my chest and lays that way looking up at me waiting for his hugs, kisses and scratches.

Although generalizations can be made about birds each one is so different, in my newbie opinion the living conditions and owner make more of a difference than the kind of bird.

Good Luck whatever you decide.

Our GW Bob has been with us for 4 months. He is about 6 years old. We are the 3rd owners. He is very gentle, never has tried to bite me, mostly only screams when he wants' attention or when he is alone and knows someone is around. He is vocal, but usually very loud. They are defiantly not apartment pets! He came to us with a plucking problem, not sure what exactly triggered it, but he lived with a Cockatoo, that plucked severely, had no toys, and got very little attention. He is truly a Gentle Giant. About 3 feet worth!! Hope this helps with your decision. As I write he is beside me and starting to yell! The big stinker!
Gary

ok, another question, if you pick up a baby that still has to be hand fed, thats not the same as getting picked is it? would the bird bond to you the same way as a bird that picks you? or can it go either way?

All this talk about green wings makes me think maybe, just MAYBE, SOMEDAY... I will let my boyfriend have his macaw, but I think it would have to be a green wing. From this and all the other posts about them, they sound like lovely parrots.

Most friendly macaws are by far the Hy and Green wing, Blue throat macaws are also friendly. Hy can be very loud, GW, Blue throat and some B&G too out of the Macaws can be on the more quiet side. Don't get me wrong, there are always exceptions to the rule. All Macaws and parrot alike has their own personalities, good and bad days. Most Macaws during the molt seasons can be real bears. If your thinking about getting a Macaw, Do your homework first, learn as much as possible about the breed your interested in. Make sure they fit your life style as they will be around for a very long time. Best of luck. Joe

All macaws are friendly if socialized and treated well. Just subtle differences in their personalities really. My experience has been with B&Gs and GWs being the friendliest, but I have zero experience with Hyacinth.

Mike

Well it depends on experience of course if you should even be looking at a macaw. What is your previous experience with parrots? If you've had birds before you'll know what your getting into here

I'm bias towards the hyacinths. Aunt of a friend of mine breeds them, and they are beautiful well natured birds! Of course, most of that is due to the care she puts into her birds and not the breed itself. Beyond that I don't have much experience with macaws.

Conures are great too though if you would like something smaller. Similar personalities but cuddlier packed into a tiny little body!

xreinx said:

ok, another question, if you pick up a baby that still has to be hand fed, thats not the same as getting picked is it? would the bird bond to you the same way as a bird that picks you? or can it go either way?

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Alex chose me when I first met him and he had barley any feathers. A chick is capable of letting you know it really likes you. Alex would crawl all around the hotbox to get near me for a cuddle and a scratch. He would snuggle into me. meant to be

I ended up taking him home earlier then expected and handfeeding him myself because Joan was ill. But it was one of the best things I have ever done. It certainly helped cement the bond between us. Not that I don't doubt that would have happened with time, but it made for a great experience.

I think if you say chose a chick at random and fed it, you would always have the 'parent bond' with it. Alex still sees Joan as his mother and is more then happy to stay with her when I go away . But I am his favourite person So even though we both fed this bird, he still chose his person! In my experience hand feeding doesn't always make you the birds person, it makes you in their eyes a parent who they love dearly, but they will still probably choose a person, whether you or someone else.

By all means though, if you find a chick who is eager to get to you and seems to really like you, he's probably saying "TAKE ME HOME! I like you!" So go for it and handrear! Just make sure your taught how to do it first!