Macaw questions...:D

Okay, as i posted in an earlier post, i was really looking into cockatoos, but, seeing some of the responses, i opted out of it for my safety, and the parrots safety. I am now looking at various macaws to be owned by. I looked at the mini-macaws and found they are a one-person bird, in comparison with the larger macaws, who I found to be able to bond with everyone. I have talked with my family and we agreed that mini-macaws are not for us. What species of macaw do you think would make the best family pet? What is the goofiest thing your bird did?



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Both of my B&G are one person birds but I firmly believe it is how they were trained to begin with and also if you show fear to the bird, they know and will use it to their advantage. Why don't you guys just go out and visit different types of birds and research all you can on the ones you liked instead of being restricted to certain species!

Thanks for the reply! We are going to one of local parrot shoppes tomorrow.

Most big mac owners will tell you that they are FANTASTIC, highly intelligent creatures, full of themselves, ornery, lovable, ...well....just the whole package.

Everything depends on how the bird is/was raised, and how well he/she was socialized.

Being owned by both a Green Wing and a Blue & Gold, I can tell you I don't want to be without either.

Best of luck in your search...maybe the best advice would be to let the bird pick you.

There's so much good advice out there, but Wendy's final sentence may be the best of all.

Hi! Welcome to the crazy world of giant birds! We have two Blue and Golds, and I can say they certainly seem to WANT to be one person birds, though we don't allow that! They are too smart for tricks, no jealousy games are going to work here - but bribes in plenty will win the day. Jack goes back and forth who he is infatuated with, Paris so far has had eyes only for me - but we have only had her perhaps six months or so, and she was a ten year old bird who was bonded strongly with one person, simply tolerated a few others, when we got her - so that has a lot to do with it.

Jack, by FAR, is the clown - Paris is regal and reserved. I imagine that, like people, birds are bound to have wildly different personalities, and it is good advice to pick the bird by the bird rather than the species - or let them pick you. Look for a few species that have characteristics you like, then go out and find a bird that most closely matches all of them.

I hear noble macaws make excellent pets but can be hard to come by. Yellow collared and illigers may be two other good options, but they are not quite as common as some other species. Red fronted macaws do make wonderful pets, too!


I'm not really a fan of recommending a large parrot species to an owner that has limited experience handling and caring for various sized species. It can work, if you do the research and you and your family are prepared for that jump in size, but it can also go very wrong. You need to learn the pros and cons of owning a larger parrot. They require a minimum of a 40" x 30" cage, if not larger, it will be more expensive to feed them and provide toys for them, it may be more difficult to handle them (when they bite, it can cause a lot more damage than a budgie can!), they are noisier (this could be a problem if you live close to neighbors), etc.



Keep on researching the various species! Maybe you'll come across one you never thought of before! Interact with various species to find one that will fit into your family! Some species may require a special diet (macaws may need a higher fat diet than other species, amazons may require a higher vitamin A diet, african greys may require higher vitamin A and calcium diets, eclectus may require a fresh food based diet [i.e. no seeds/pellets or in minute amounts], lorikeets require a nectar based diet, etc), so do learn what the birds require before purchasing one!


You may want to look for some local rescues who could allow you to interact with their adult birds so you can see what they may be as adults (of course, this will vary on how they are raised). You'll also want to hear just how loud these birds can be before getting a young parrot (if that is your decision to do so). Make sure you can handle the noise before it's in your home!

While I heard Greenwings can be gentle and that Blue and Gold Macaws are considered nice there is still more stuff to consider before getting a large parrot. Owners of cockatoos, Macaws, and Amazons can correct me but I have read horror stories of cockatoos, hormonal Amazons, Macaws smart enough to know if someone is intimidated by their big beak and think it is fun to see people jump. I am getting a hahns macaw myself since my only parrot experience is with a conure and the birds I had as a child (I almost considered a illigers macaw or yellow collard macaw). It is a whole different ballpark being bit by a smaller parrot then a large one.

Mc, I am quite experienced, but am really bad at making decisions... I have taken care of my friends m2, emerald toucanet, and fostered a pair of u2s, and a bad tempered yellow naped amazon. I only have one bird because if i could make decisions better i would have too many lol.

Wings if you had your heart set on a cockatoo what about the rose breasted cockatoo? They differ greatly from the large white cockatoos. They are quieter and not as unpredictable. That said they are funny, energetic, playful and seem to get along with many different people. I was sold when I sat outside in the outdoor aviary of my breeder (that is in Ohio) and watched a group of them interact with a group of children. They were untying their shoes, running around after the kids. The kids ran around (all the other birds mostly macaws looked horrified) the rosies were allowing the kids to pick them up and play with them. Since I want a bird that will get along with my whole my family I decided that this was the bird for us. That said I will be bringing home my new baby tomorrow!

I didn't know what experience you had, and knowing that now, and how loud these birds can be, well I guess you are better prepared than you sound! I understand the jittery of trying to decide!


I do think galahs are adorable! Usually not as neurotic or demanding as their larger "white" cousins, and you did mention them!


I think you need to set aside a few days to go visit various bird stores and rescues in the area to get a feel for the various species out there!

I am lucky, I have lots in my area wednesday is the day i am going...excited

Brian sorry for not getting back to you sooner, Congratulations on getting that galah, update your "parrots" status when you bring him home

Wings, I don't think macaws are any different from other parrots when it comes to bonding. My blue and gold has been with my family for 12 years. He was suppose to be my bird so to speak because I am the one who wanted him as well as the primary caretaker. He ended up preferring the men in the family in the long run. I did my research beforehand and some sources said B&G are family oriented. In my case that is not true. I have read in many posts on different forums that macaws bond to certain people. Getting a baby is not a guarantee either because that is what we thought too. Of course every bird is different as it matures and how it is socialized. I just wanted you to be aware that things may not go exactly as planned.

Thanks! Really helpful. I still have lots of research to do on other species to. I guess i should just choose the individual bird, that bonds well with me, not the species.

My best advice is to let a bird of whatever species you prefer choose you! Too bad it doesn't work that way when purchasing a baby. My mature baby tolerates me, but absolutely loves my son. I do everything for the bird and my son nothing. Go figure. lol.

Wings said:

I looked at the mini-macaws and found they are a one-person bird, in comparison with the larger macaws, who I found to be able to bond with everyone. I have talked with my family and we agreed that mini-macaws are not for us...

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Well, I better tell Hahnzel, our mini-macaw to stop being so friendly to my son and wife then. When I am home he does want to be around me the most, but when I want a break or when I'm simply not home he does just fine with everyone but my stepdaughter, and that is by her choice.

If you properly socialize your bird they do fine with everyone else.

Thank you, did the stepdaughter do anything bad to the bird? Or is he jealous of the attention>

Wings said:

Thank you, did the stepdaughter do anything bad to the bird? Or is he jealous of the attention>

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No, nothing besides acting like a worthless princess. Oops, too much opinion there. She just doesn't want to have anything to do with anything remotely responsible so she shuns my wifes german shepherd and Hahnzel

0_o I shouldn't be laughing but it is funny she "shuns them" Not to be rude to her or your family but that leaves me thinking "Do the animals really care if they are shunned"...my parakeet is so angry with me atm