What are your tips for a first time macaw owner?

Hi everyone
I am going to be the mom of a 4 month old scarlet macaw! I pick her up Nov 15th but will be going to meet her on Saturday..
Now I am sooooo excited but starting to get nervous because I am hearing mixed responses from people. I was told that all macaws are extremely aggressive in comparison to all other parrots. Someone also told me that they've never met a macaw that didn't have issues with biting! Now I know it is impossible to expect no bites... But am I setting myself up for a disaster by picking a macaw? I have always wanted one and understand the amount of attention they need. I just want some tips and maybe reassurance that macaws aren't the spawn of satan lol!!!!
Also name ideas are welcome! I am thinking of skittles so far...

Welcome You came to the perfect site ! I also am a new owner so no advice but I love the name !

LOL @ spawn of satan . Gus is my rehome I would not trade him for anything right now. He has already brought so much joy into my home. Keeps me laughing.

Make sure you keep checking back there is a lot of good people here that will go above and beyond to answer any questions.

Hi and welcome. I have not had a young macaw. I aquiredmine almost 2 weeks ago. He is 11. I know there is a lot of adjustment and trust building. Check out sites on web and books. They will help. Good luck!!!!

Personally I find macaws easier to read than any other parrot. I'm a lot more comfortable with my mac than sennies. My sennies like to chomp out of the blue, I always know if my mac is going to pinch (she hasn't chomped so far.)

However, you picked the mac that's the biggest challenge. Scarlets are known for being the beakiest of the macs.

Christine 2000 Send her the stuff I sent you... pay it forward!

You got it Birdman

Macaw 101 Great information in the whole thread
http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/48584-hi-i-am-here-learn.html

Here are some other interesting threads that you might find useful:

START WITH THIS ONE! Because this is probably what you've just gotten yourself into:

Feathered buzz saws...

And some more light reading:

Amazed at Gracie the Rescue

Rita made huge progress

This is the way we like to have our tail preened

What a lap bird.

What's your bite pressure training technique?

How do you all play with your Macaws?

Roscoe is crazy

gaining my macaws trust

very aggressive macaw

And if that isn't information overload enough, here's a good one on parrot diets:

Converting Parrots to a Healthier Diet - Tips

You are now up to speed. Need anything just ask. Someone will be along to help out.

Just wanted to say I've followed your other thread and am glad you didn't let the beak issue deter you from getting her

And just an observation- EVERY species of parrot seems to have the reputation for being "the worst". If they're all such blood thirsty demon birds, no one would own them and there wouldn't be forums dedicated to owners who adore and cherish them! Theres a reason people own and love parrots but not truly mean animals like lions and tigers. Much of the bad rap parrots as a whole get stems from how the owner trains and interacts with their bird, not the bird itself. I have no macaw experience, but I have heard scarlets do have a reputation for being nippy. Kind of like the males my birds species has a reputation for turning feral and vicious at puberty. They may have a slight disposition towards it, but it becomes your job to work with the bird so they retain their desirable traits and learn appropriate alternatives to the non-desirable traits. You're getting your bird very young, so you have the opportunity to raise her in such a way that those POTENTIAL (not guaranteed) "aggression" issues are minor to none. Bite pressure train, stick train, keep your bird occupied, form a strong bond and learn the signs a macaw makes when communicating they want to be left alone. Stick around here, listen to those who have macaws who are perfectly sweet birds (and pay attention to what they did/do) and you'll be fine!

luluskittles said:

Hi everyone
I was told that all macaws are extremely aggressive in comparison to all other parrots. Someone also told me that they've never met a macaw that didn't have issues with biting! Now I know it is impossible to expect no bites... But am I setting myself up for a disaster by picking a macaw? I have always wanted one and understand the amount of attention they need. I just want some tips and maybe reassurance that macaws aren't the spawn of satan lol!!!!

Click to expand...

Not all of them, just the Scarlet's! That's why they're red... little devils!

Most people provoke their own bites by the way they approach a macaw. Macaws sense fear a mile away. Tentative and wishy washy doesn't work. They will lunge and make you jump every time... Why? Because they know you'll do it... !!! (It's funny, and it makes them feel like "I'm the big bad bird!")

Most macaws are lap birds if you work with them. The problem is that people don't work with them enough, and they don't set boundaries... then they get mad and become aggressive. I disagree with them being aggressive birds by nature... goofballs is much closer to the truth!

Lunging and beak wrestling are forms of play, in a tame mac that is trained to control it's bite pressure. It's not aggression - IT'S LET'S PLAY A GAME!

When you react to that as if the bird intended to hurt you - the bird wanted to play - you reacted to that by becoming fearful and defensive, and aggressive towards the bird - NOW he's aggressive with you!!! (From the bird's perspective: I was interested in interacting with you. I was being friendly and nice, and you attacked me for no reason!)

Who started it?! The bird, or the person reacting to the bird?! Macaws require a confident firm hand, or you won't be able to handle them.

This is a "train the humans" thing.

Mine don't bite. I bite pressure trained them. They pinch every now and again, but they DO NOT bite! EVER! This too, is a training issue...

If you're still convinced Macaws are aggressive birds after the "feathered buzz saws" post, watch a few of these:

http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/50009-numerous-macaw-clips-videos.html

Yeah... aggressive, someone cue Rio for another one of those farting noises!

Get them out of their cages and play with them. Everything else will fall into place.