Greenwing Macaw questions?

Hi, I am a new user and thought I'd introduce myself to all. My name is Hailey, I'm 13 and from California. I have owned and still own several parakeets and cockatiels. I have conure, African Grey, Cockatoo, and Macaw experience. I've always wanted a bigger bird but I think I'll wait until I'm an actual grown up who can make that decision of owning basically a toddler for 50+ years. So, I will continue to love the little birds for now. But what's the use of dreaming of a big bird and now doing research? I have plenty of time to get as much info as possible So, after around 1 year 1/2 of research on which breed I have decides on a GW macaw. I know, HUGE bird with and even bigger responsibility. That's the one that's suites me most though. Anyways, I have most everything figured out and stuff. I've read all of birdyman666's posts and they were very helpful. So, onto the questions. On a minimum how much time do you spend with your big MAC. What kind of pellets do you feed and on average how much do you spend of fruits/veggies and pellets with minimal seeds a month? I know all birds are different but, for aggressive chewers, how much do you spend on toys for one month on him/her. When they hit puberty and breeding season comes around, which is worse for a female owner male or female? I was getting an indoor aviary that's about 8 feet long and 6 feet tall. For the simple fact that macaws need to stretch they're wings and move around, although I know that even parakeets are more active. Thank you!

Welcome, Hailey. Glad you found us!
You sound like a great researcher. I bet you're a wonderful student. I applaud all of your efforts at learning and reaching out. You have a very mature and sensible attitude.
There are lots of macaw folks (and others) who will enjoy teaching you and learning from you, too.

GWs are awesome birds they really seem like the absolute best Big Mac ever I at one point was going to get a GW baby from a breeder and I went to go see some at a parrot expo and I also decided to wait until I have more room for a Big Mac to fly.


To answer some questions

1 I have a red Lored Amazon and he is out for about 10 to 11 hours a day if he even wants that much time that is plenty for a Big Mac I'm sure you could get away with 5 or 6 hours of interaction.

2. I feed Harrison's adult lifetime with a tiny bit of hookbill mix in. I also give him fresh fruits and veggies constantly as he demands a tribute from my plate like an angry God.

3. The female/maie thing does not matter I have heard that the girls are a little less headstrong but that could be false. Also you being a girl does not affect mating season at all

4. I feel like you don't have too much carpentry experience being 13 but I'm sure you can figure it out but if you don't make your own toys your gonna spend a lot of money on toys.

5. If you want a baby GW check out eggs otic parroting they are the best breeder I have found in the United States they are located in California as well.

Welcome to the forums, Hailey!! I highly respect your patience and quest for knowledge before acquiring a Big Mac. Birdman666 is a legend and has generously shared his incredible experiences.

I had a GW until about 9 years ago and found him to be a wonderful companion. Never bit despite the huge potential for damage. Rocky was a male adult, so I can't help with questions of puberty. His diet was a triad of fresh vegetables and fruit, Zupreem pellets, and some high-quality nuts and seeds. I had about 15 parrots at the time, so hard to break down the cost per bird, but would guess monthly food cost around $40 or so. They can be terrific chewers, so budget accordingly for chew-toys. Safely colored wood is a favorite.

Thank you everyone who has replied. Its a huge help! ❤

I am also quite impressed with the maturity level and research diligence that you are exhibiting at 13 years old. Most impressive, Hailey. I think that, when the time comes, you will make an incredible parront for a GW... or whatever parrot you ultimately choose.

If I may ask, what form of experience do you have with conures, greys, 'toos and macaws? You've racked up quite a bit of experience rather quickly. You must have discovered your passion for birds quite early.

Also, we'd love to see pics and hear stories about your current flock. How many cockatiels and parakeets do you have? There are sub-forums for both of those species as well, and we'd love to read all about your little guys.

Welcome to the Parrot Forums family, Hailey! We hope to have you around for years to come.

Anansi said:

I am also quite impressed with the maturity level and research diligence that you are exhibiting at 13 years old. Most impressive, Hailey. I think that, when the time comes, you will make an incredible parront for a GW... or whatever parrot you ultimately choose.

If I may ask, what form of experience do you have with conures, greys, 'toos and macaws? You've racked up quite a bit of experience rather quickly. You must have discovered your passion for birds quite early.

Also, we'd love to see pics and hear stories about your current flock. How many cockatiels and parakeets do you have? There are sub-forums for both of those species as well, and we'd love to read all about your little guys.

Welcome to the Parrot Forums family, Hailey! We hope to have you around for years to come.

Click to expand...

Thank you very much. I have 2 parakeets and 4 cockatiels. I have much experience with the big birds from a local family owned pet shop in my hometown. They have very problematic birds. I've seen cokatoos scream for attention and I've held them when they learn to stop screaming for it. The African Greg had a pluck problem and would eat out of my hand and dance with me if it wasnt too grumpy and said hello. The macaw was a big sweetheart and would sit on my arm about 3 times a week for 1 month until no one bought him and he went to a rescue. As for the conure...oh.my.gosh this little girly was a love bug. She would roll of her back for scratches and hold my hand with her foot, and licke literally all day. She unfortunately was bought just when I was about to buy her the next da . Thanks for asking!

I too give you kudos for doing the research. I hope you can wait a bit though. At 13, you have many life experiences ahead of you, primarily education, but love, family and others. A bonded parrot, regardless of size is not going to understand say if you go off to school or the new BF doesn't like birds or the neighbors in your appt. complain about noise (and gw's can be loud). I know when I was in my early 20's I could barely keep a dog fed and walked and played with. I KNOW a parrot would have been a disaster, and not for me. So, maybe listen to the old fart wrenchie and wait. Volunteer at a sanctuary, or work partime at a bird shop, set up a bird sitting gig. And we have to see pics of your birds... you know , pics or it didn't happen .

I second the old fart, I mean wrench13. Getting a parrot is more like having a child than anything I can think of. At least kids grow up, learn to drive,cook their own food, and so on. When the kid is graduating from college, the parrot will be the exact same with the cage paper changing and the pooping on the carpet and what not. But think how great to volunteer at a parrot rescue, or work at a et store, or with an avian vet where you can learn to reach out to the heart of a neglected or abused little soul, and help them move on to a better life. You might learn some avian medicine and save a bird's life. And you will meet so many wonderful birds, you will get to know the quirks and habits of the different species, that you will naturally gravitate to the kind of bird that best fits in your heart. And when that bird comes along, you will be ready! Keep writing to let us know what you do!

Welcome! I am of no help for your direct questions, but please become a regular around here, your input offers much!

Nice to start learning now and nice a local store is encouraging your passion for parrots You can never be totally prepared for bringing a large parrot home, but plenty of experience will help you not go in totally blind. And theres no experience like first hand experience! Even if in the exciting upcoming years of your life, don't stop setting aside at least a little time every week to interact with birds. It WILL pay off big in the future when you are ready for your own. I am sure your little ones are wonderful companions too. You could probably do a lot with your own little flock. Have you been teaching them any tricks? You should share a little about them in the species specific forum

You obviously have quite a few more years before you'll be ready to bring a GW home and a lot will change in your life before then. Don't be in a rush. Get a big bird with big demands when your lifestyle suits having one. I adopted my amazon when I was 19. I love the little monster, but it's kinda like having a kid. Actually, mine was more like having a velociraptor who wanted to eat me at first and is now having a friendly velociraptor 8 years on. I frequently questioned myself as to what I had done by choosing to bring him home, yet was old enough to realize I had to do the right thing and take good care of him. I did not go to college (not because of the bird lol, college was just never going to be a good fit for me). As most people will go to college though, I cannot imagine the difficulty of those demands and having a big bird to care for. Really, people are informing you about thinking very carefully about having large parrots as a young adult for a reason! If I could do it over, I would totally get Kiwi again. Having him has helped me grow as a person. You have plenty of time to decide though just how essential a large parrot is and how non-essential any kind of meaningful social life due to said parrot will be