macaw rash

Hi every1 ... iv got a blue and gold macaw shes going through a molt at the moment but iv noticed shes got a red rash on the white of her face... does any1 know if this is normal??

Hi Laura, and welcome to the forum.

No, typically a red rash in your B&G's face is not normal, not during a molt either. Could she have possibly banged up her face on a toy or something? They CAN bruise themselves. Some pictures may be of help, too.

Yeah. Show me a picture.

Some macaws also blush, when they get excited, or angry.

A Buffons macaw with a bright red face is usually about to give you the territorial warning routine. Militaries as well...

Blue throats, and red fronts that turn red?! Happy to see you. Glowing with love. Let's play! Somewhere Karen posted a picture of Zoe with a face that was so lit up it would have made Rudolph the red nosed raindeer jealous...

Here's when she hit herself

Don't know if this could be the problem, but you might be interested in reading this: Skin and Feather Disorders of Pet Birds: Disorders and Diseases of Birds: The Merck Manual for Pet Health

If she has had/looked pink around her eyes and been excited, for whatever reason, it is a possible skin blush.....

Absent any other credible answers, you might want to have her examined for psittacosis, if for no other reason than to rule it out.....

Good luck.....

thekarens said:

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YEP! That's the one. PICK ME UP!!!

Sweepea has a very similar pose...

thekarens said:

Here's when she hit herself

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Ouch!

Tusk had one of those as well when he was younger from a faceplant.
Graceful flyer he was not. And still isn't...

Birdman666 said:

thekarens said:

Here's when she hit herself

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Ouch!



Tusk had one of those as well when he was younger from a faceplant.

Graceful flyer he was not. And still isn't...

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I don't even know how she did it. It was when we first got her. She wasn't real coordinated at that time.

That looks like a "conked herself in the face with a toy" bruise...

Sweepea has about knocked herself silly a few times playing rough with wooden blocks.

One of the funniest things Sweepea used to do, was to hang upside down by the rings on the far end of her maribella line, disconnect the quick link holding that end up, and then swing like Tarzan, upside down, to the other end of the cage. Sometimes she caught herself with her beak. Other times, she just face planted into the side of the cage - AND HAD THE NERVE TO LOOK SURPRISED!

Tusk has done even dumber... He'll be hanging upside down by one toe, attacking three toys at once, and get a little too animated, and that one toe slips off, dropping him on his head...

Of course, that's the same stupid bird that flew straight and level into my neighbor's second story house, and bounced off. Fortunately I was able to run and catch him, like a baseball basket catch of a pop fly... before he also face planted into the ground!

They do tend to get themselves into trouble!

Do any of your macs ever dunk a dyed wooden block and end up 'wearing' the color on their face? :54: Ripley is constantly looking like a rainbow. :32:

Hi! Your macaw is beautiful, let me say first. But, she is a Blue-Throated Macaw, not a B&G. The blue throated macaw is much more rare than a Blue and Gold and they are becoming scarce in the wild. On her "rash", it looks to me like she has abraded the skin on something, a toy or perhaps her cage bars. To be safe, I would suggest you take her to your avian vet for a look-see. You want to catch any problems before they become bigger. I, also, have a female Blue-Throated Macaw and she is ten years old now. Good luck with your beautiful bird!!

DLF said:

Hi! Your macaw is beautiful, let me say first. But, she is a Blue-Throated Macaw, not a B&G. The blue throated macaw is much more rare than a Blue and Gold and they are becoming scarce in the wild. On her "rash", it looks to me like she has abraded the skin on something, a toy or perhaps her cage bars. To be safe, I would suggest you take her to your avian vet for a look-see. You want to catch any problems before they become bigger. I, also, have a female Blue-Throated Macaw and she is ten years old now. Good luck with your beautiful bird!!

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Ahem...no.

The photos posted were by our member 'TheKarens', NOT by the original poster, and Karen explained that her Blue Throat had this when she got her. It's gone away all on its own.

Hey Laura,
It's a possibility that your baby could have a yeast infection.
I'm no expert but, mine has had it twice. She shows signs of reddish face and horrible molts.
Your avian veterinarian can best determine and treat.
Not to scare you, but it is something not to take lighty.
But best to have your vet's advice.

Hello Laurie,
Your bird is not a blue and gold macaw. It is a blue-throated macaw. These macaws blush red when they get excited. Your bird is fine. Read up on blue throated macaws. They are highly endangered in the wild and hard to find in captivity. Hope this helps.

laurawillis said:

Hi every1 ... iv got a blue and gold macaw shes going through a molt at the moment but iv noticed shes got a red rash on the white of her face... does any1 know if this is normal??

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thekarens said:

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Rita said:

Hello Laurie,
Your bird is not a blue and gold macaw. It is a blue-throated macaw. These macaws blush red when they get excited. Your bird is fine. Read up on blue throated macaws. They are highly endangered in the wild and hard to find in captivity. Hope this helps.

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Hi Rita, please have a look again, I multi-quoted the OP's (Original Poster's) message, and then a reply by a fellow member (TheKarens), who included a picture of HER bird (Zoe). Yes, Zoe is a Blue Throated Macaw, Karen is well aware of that, lol, but the OP never posted a picture of her bird, she only said she has a B&G with a rash.