Caging question

Im new to the forum so hi. I wanted parrots but decided against it because of hearing how much could hurt them and how easy it is to make a mistake. Well now i dont have a choice my dear aunt has had a stroke and has two macaws. Im recieving them on feb 17th. She cant send the cage shes a few states away and its basically an indoor aviary thats 11 foot long and 8 ft high. This was so unecpected and my funds are low due to being after the holidays. I know metal is toxic if galvanized i want to give them an enclosure about the size they had. I found a powder coated dog kennel thats 10 ft long and 6 ft high. I called the manufacturer and no galvanized metal is under the powder coat. It cost 350 compared to parrot cages that ive looked at that are powder coated, smaller, and more expensive. Im basically asking would this be a better solution. Sorry for the long post ive been doing a lot of research on macaws and trying to learn everything i can and keep them in the routine and enclosure she had.

Sorry to hear about your aunt. I'm a noob also so I don't have an answer for you. But I would also be interested in the kennel that you mentioned. Could you post a link or the name of the company. Hope that's not against the rules.

Thanks its a blue hawk dog kennel from lowes

Wow!
Welcome!
Glad you found us... stick with us... many here who will help/support/educate. We'll stay with you.
THANK YOU for stepping up to this challenge.

Paintedbynature44 said:

Thanks its a blue hawk dog kennel from lowes

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Thank you.

The only thing is it only has a sun screen top thing. Youll have to find a way to cover the top. Im looking into other plaatic kennel toppers that i might have to get two its 5 foot wide, 6 foot tall and ten foot long. Or ill have to get stainless steel wire which is more expensive but safe.

Odds are the cage she has comes apart (it wasn't shipped assembled) and can be taken down to a much smaller/more manageable size.

I'd be worried about the dog kennel for a bunch of reasons. The first being that they're not usually welded but are twisted together. Not a problem for a dog but a macaw with time on his hands can figure out how to undo those twists.

Also, the latches for most dog kennels would be child's play for a macaw to open.

Really, the issue in my brain is that a dog kennel is meant to keep a dog in not a macaw. Parrots are more adept at manipulating tools, smarter and usually more motivated.

I'd see about breaking down the aviary at their current house and shipping it. It won't ship for free but it might be cheaper than the kennel.

I have been trying to get her too see about it she just has so much to worry about latley with recovering. The good thing about this kennel its not twisted together its welded panels with the thicker little rentangles pattern. It will need modification though either way if thats how i go about it. It wont have slats to put in the food and water bowls, the gate will have have to be modified, and of course all the toys, perches, and other necessities. My bigest worry is ive heard they can even play with cage bars till they pop loose on cages that are suppost to be made for them. Ill do my best to get their original cage but if i cant as long as the metal is safe ill trial and error with it till i can afford something better. They have always been kept together i went to a store that sells cages they wanted me to buy two seperate cages, to change their diet as soon as i got them, and keeping them on jungle gyms was a bad idea. I was looking into keeping them on a large jungle gym I was building it out of pvc i still am cuz i dont want them staying in a cage all the time. I was told by a few people it was better to leave them uncaged on this setup. My good friend with moluccan cockatoos keeps hers this way. Ive also been told to stay with the way they were kept they stay in their big cage all night then they spend the day out on their playstands. Its been hard with all the conflicting info should i change everything or stay the course they have had all their lives?

'Commonly' even if your Aunt is currently in a recovery center, if she had placed you name in a 'Will' that her MAC's would be placed in your care, there is normally some supporting funds as part your care of the MAC's.

As stated above, larger units come apart for shipping and being able to get it into a home. So, it comes down to costs to travel too, dis-assemble, return home with the MAC's and the unit and reassembling compared to obtaining new.

Please take the time to ready the first Threads in the MAC Forums, which are high-lighted in light blue, they will provide great information regarding living with MAC's.

Best wishes and Thank-you for what you are doing for your Aunt!

Macs are tough birds to keep. (I'm finding this out repeatedly.)

They are loud, strong willed, cantankerous and needy.

They're also funny, loving, sweet and silly and totally worth it. But it's a LOT.

Cage or not to cage? YES. When you're not home you want to cage them. They can be incredibly destructive and you're going to want to protect your home, furniture, stuff and the birds themselves.

When you are home having a play area for them is a good idea. They'll want to be with you (eventually).

It's a lot of work to earn their trust. They're smart and sensitive birds being thrust into a situation they probably don't care for. Changing their diet may be a good idea... depends on what the diet is currently. But shoot... take your time with that. No need to wreck their ENTIRE lives right off the bat!

SailBoat said:

'Commonly' even if your Aunt is currently in a recovery center, if she had placed you name in a 'Will' that her MAC's would be placed in your care, there is normally some supporting funds as part your care of the MAC's.

As stated above, larger units come apart for shipping and being able to get it into a home. So, it comes down to costs to travel too, dis-assemble, return home with the MAC's and the unit and reassembling compared to obtaining new.

Please take the time to ready the first Threads in the MAC Forums, which are high-lighted in light blue, they will provide great information regarding living with MAC's.

Best wishes and Thank-you for what you are doing for your Aunt!

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I was going to say something similar regarding funds to care for the birds. When I rewrite my will, I will be paying more attention to that aspect, so it's something that a lot of bird owners do think about.

It may be helpful to post where you are and where the enclosure is. I have family that live 3 states away, I drive there a couple times a year. Bringing a enclosure back for a fellow bird lover wouldn't be a big deal.

Well the good news is there sending me the cage. Thanks for all the replies it will be less work on the cage that is. Im going to research and resd this forum as much as i can thanks.