How bad are macaw bites really?

I have a DYH amazon, a gongo grey and a cockatiel. I have in the past been mutilated by a sulpher crested cockatoo so I am no stranger to bites really.

My DYH loves me and has only nipped me once, it didn't break the skin, but if he bites someone else, like men....he really hates men it does break the skin but nothing severe, and my CAG is mostly friendly he never has hurt anyone just little nips here and there.

I am currently handfeeding a blue and gold baby, (please no negative comments, I am very experienced with handfeeding and he is doing quite well)
My question is: how bad are macaw bites really? I have never been bit by one and I know owning a bird it is bound to happen, he is using his beak a lot on my hands and is very gentle, I think he is testing the waters so to speak right now and all is well. (he will be weaned soon and is almost fully feathered)

But I have read a few articles and forums online about macaw bites and i see that a lot of people say they aren't even as bad as a conure bite, that it is more of a pressure bite instead of a "cutting" bite.

Just wanted some first hand opinions on their bites.

Also I have read so much conflicting information on their personalities some people claim they are aggression prone but others say they are sweet cuddle bugs. I know a lot of that has to do with how they are raised and treated, but in general how do most of you feel they are?

My macaw is a HUGE cuddle bug, climbing right up under my chin and just burrowing into my neck, she sits on my shoulder and preens my eyebrows, gives kisses and "fixes" my hair for me. I bought her when she was 3 and have had her 3 years. She gave me a good bite once, still have a small scar on my hand. This is the only time she has ever actually bitten and was within a couple of weeks of bringing her home. She lets me hold and play with her feet, trimming nails easily. I can flip her over, pull her wings out etc and she LOVES it.

We rescued a male b&g from a situation where he had been ignored for AT LEAST 3 years in a basement, NOT handled AT ALL. We brought him home and we had him stepping up, allowing petting, able to transfer to different people in an hour. He was a bluffer and would lunge at your hand and squeeze your finger but not really what I would call pinching or nipping, just squeeze, and this from a bird that had plucking issues and was ignored for 3 years in someones basement and spent the previous 12 years in a car dealership. And all he did was squeeze! Macs want to be loved.....

I've never owned a Mac or been bitten by one, but the "conflicting" information to me is really just the difference between knowing how to read and respect your bird vs forcing it into situations that lead to a bite. I would say that because of the emotional intelligence macaws have that truly, they just want to be loved. But when they aren't, or are treated poorly, that's when aggression comes out. And quite frankly, I think it's totally reasonable. Plus if you don't socialize the bird, and then say "no, my bird doesn't like other people so they aren't touchable by anyone but me", then it's really not the bird's fault. Though there are always exceptions.

I only have a conure (which are referred to as shrunken macaws), and they are very easy to read when not hormonal. I KNOW when I'm going to get bit. I would imagine it's the same for your new baby. Just work on bite pressure training so that he learns to communicate with his beak gently.

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Flboy said:

Sorry, couldn't resist!

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That's gross, macs aren't THAT bad!

LOL! Though I do know the really big macs like Hyacinths could do serious damage or finger dismemberment if they were so inclined. Or tear a lip, eyelid, or ear off... but I don't think it's common place unless the bird is reeeeaaaaaaaal mad and you still decide to pick them up.

If you're asking how bad a mac bite can be, then the answer is REALLY BAD. A bigger macaw can snap a broomstick in half, so breaking a finger wouldn't be much of a stretch. They are capable of inflicting horrendous damage.

But so is a large dog.

Now as to their inclination to do so, that's an entirely different question. Most macaws are not naturally inclined to inflict anywhere near the level of damage of which they are capable. Even macs who haven't been well socialized are unlikely to go all out on a bite. Draw blood? Perhaps. But they can do far worse.

Macs tend to be among the more cuddly of the parrot set... unless they've been in abusive situations. Such situations can make them act contrary to their usual natures.

I've had Simba for a little over a year, and he's only latched on once. He has squeezed and pinched several times. The pinches are what usually break the skin. Jo's son gets tagged by Simba now and then, but has yet to be hurt. Just a grab and release. Now the Quaker (Cosmo), on the other hand, has grabbed him and bit down with a fair amount of force so that he was yelling "ow ow OW!". And this is not a child, it's a man in his 30's. I think that if they are handled regularly, and pressure trained (ask Birdman), they will be lovey dovey all the time. Of course, you will occasionally run across the real mean ones, like Fargo.:32:

Oh, yeah! Fargo's a real beast! [emoji23]

A family member's Scarlet macaw gave me the worst bird bite I've ever received. I deserved it. I take responsibility for it. It's always the human's fault getting bit. I just admittedly don't really understand macaw body language as well as I do birds I'm more familiar with, like my own. But the question wasn't about that, it was how bad are they. I can confirm that the bite I received was a crushing bite and not a cutting bite. It was to my arm and it left a knot under the skin that literally took months to heal. The bruise was pretty impressive, as well. She didn't like me, and I knew that. She was a daddy's girl and I overstepped my boundaries with her. I don't blame her. She certainly never bit her dad like that, so I really think a macaw that you have a good relationship with probably wouldn't bite you that bad. I'd also hope that someone who owned a macaw would be familiar enough with their body language to avoid a bite like that all together. For what it's worth, her dad says my female lovebird, who is the sweetest bird on the planet but IS territorial about her cage, gave HIM the worst bird bite he's ever received (yeah, right). He says she can bite him a dozen times in the five seconds it takes him to reach into her cage, like holding ones finger under a sewing machine needle. LOL I guess bird bites are all in your perspective.

Stephen has the correct answer. They are capable of being horrid, however, I'd take a mac bite over a zon any day of the week.

Here's Zoe in all her viciousmess

Just love these birds!

Alright, now i want a macaw!

thekarens said:

Stephen has the correct answer. They are capable of being horrid, however, I'd take a mac bite over a zon any day of the week.

Here's Zoe in ask her viciousmess

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Hahahahahaha! Zoe is such a feathery pile of mush! Sweet!

I especially love that last pic! She is in such an obvious state of bliss!

Flboy said:

Sorry, couldn't resist!

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I call BS on the hand...muscles are still clenching, and the skin color is too good.

I keep Hahnzels beak (Hahns macaw) dulled at the end due to the fine point it develops into on its own. Draws blood with minimal pressure.

But I have learned to calm myself under the pain of her bite, because it might lead to me damaging her if I flailed about. And I'd never want that to happen.

goalerjones said:

I keep Hahnzels beak (Hahns macaw) dulled at the end due to the fine point it develops into on its own. Draws blood with minimal pressure.

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Just had Simba's beak filed down for the same reason. It was getting long, too. Makes a HUGE difference when he's just hitting to push the hand away.

Thanks to everyone for all of the replies. I really didn't think they were that bad, otherwise I would never have got one that's for sure lol!
The breeder I got him/her from (DNA won't be back until midweek) was showing me all of the babies he had available which included several cockatoo's....he was displaying to me how lovable they were and had 2 of them out on him, one was nuzzled into his chest and he says "see! she's so lovable...HERE you hold her!" I, purely out of instinct started backing away...."Nope, not gonna happen I will NEVER hold another cockatoo again no matter how "lovable" it appears" I told him.
My experience with the sulphur crested many years ago cured me of any and all desire to hold or own a cockatoo again. I would hold any bird except a too...no thank you!!
He had several kinds of macaws available, I was torn between the illigers and a blue and gold, but in the end I could not resist the B&G, and am very happy with it, can't wait to find out if it's a he or a she so I can settle on a name

Anansi said:

Oh, yeah! Fargo's a real beast! [emoji23]

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Well of course, Fargo is known as the most ferocious beast in all the land...

Gaaahhh, myyyy thumb That was right before he snapped it off hahaha


You always have to be on guard with this boy.







This seems like the look of a crazy bird... You have been warned!




It honestly depends on how you train and play with the macaw.. Fargo has never bitten me and he is 3 now, I treat him like a child haha

Tab, I LOVE Fargo!! Better not show his adorable pics to Bella!