I am not trying to be a downer, but until you are in a house, a Macaw or any large parrot is going to be too loud and the space is too small. The cage alone should be MASSIVE and in a space that size, it will take up too much of your room.
In case you are shopping for cages (just to get an idea), I did a Google search and I wanted to let you know that this cage (or any comparable in size) = far
TOO SMALL----I am saying this because lots of companies market cages toward Macaws that are totally unsuitable.
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Choice-Products-Cockatoo-Birdcages/dp/B002SMC25E?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4
My cockatoo is smaller than a macaw and this first cage would be too small for her. Macaws have huge tails as well and if you don't have enough space in the cage, they will break blood feathers all of the time and that can be an emergency.
This is like the minimum size you would need for a macaw:
https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Pet-Products-Silverado-Macaw/dp/B007TTP6YK?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_5 <--basically, all decent macaw cages are in the $1000 plus range (barring an insanely good sale). Remember, these birds fly up to 40 miles a day in the wild, so caging them at all is crazy (even though we do it)---you have to get them the biggest cage possible (not just for your price-range), but for the bird's sanity. Macaws are the largest birds you can get as pets, so all of the expensive/huge cages were made with them in mind. Their toys are also around $40 a pop and they blow through them in a matter of days (sometimes 1).
The other thing to consider (aside from the fact that a macaw is a very poor choice in an apartment) is what you would do if you got noise complaints. Many have a 3 strikes rule and then you're out.
Moving when you aren't feeling all that great is very hard and so is finding a place that accepts birds at the last minute (let alone macaws). The bird will likely bond to you, so keeping it at a friend's house (in the event that you were forced to move due to noise) wouldn't be the kindest thing, plus you would have to impose a ton of rules on said friend (regarding teflon use/cleaners/fumes etc..).any bird-sitter would need to have a bird-safe home (and most people don't).
Re-homing the bird due to noise should not be a possibility if you do get one---it is unfair to the bird. Consequently, in my opinion, it is best if you wait until you have a space that is conducive. When we say these birds are loud, their calls are meant to be heard from miles and miles away. They are louder than an air-horn by a lot.
To give you an idea of the noise: I very briefly had my bird at an apartment before we moved. One day, I was chasing a cat away from a bird's nest outside (so I ran across a field/lawn/picnic area about 1-2 blocks away because this was an ongoing issue- lol--long story)...
Anyway, Noodles was inside (doors/windows shut). From over a thousand feet + away (through a maze of brick complexes) I could hear her calling...clearly.
I also visited my neighbor once and when she screamed, and it was like she was in the same room with us.
I am in my 30s. My youngest sister is in her early 20s. If anything happened to me, she is the only person in my family who would even consider taking Noodles and at this point in her life, she would be unable to do. She loves her but she couldn't take her even if she wanted her for the following reasons:
1. college, 2. apartment housing, 3. the expense, 4. her crazy schedule with school/work etc. and 5. because she has no idea what she will be doing for a job/where she will be living in the next 5 years, AND, she has roommates who couldn't deal with the requirements of keeping a bird safe.
I asked my mom what would happen if I got in a car crash/ something terrible and she said, flat-out, that she would take Noodles to a zoo or sanctuary but that she would not keep her at their house (even though she loves her).
Your daughters are young and if you "will" your bird to them, you are making a life-long commitment in their stead without knowing what they may be doing in the next 10- to- 15-to 20 years. What if they want to burn candles or clean with chemicals or have a social life that doesn't revolve around the bird? What about travel? What if they go to college and cannot have a bird at their apartments/dorms? It really isn't for everyone, and it is also a lifetime of expenses, so unless they are in their 20s already, it seems a bit of s stretch to assume that they will want to care for the bird. A child can't possibly understand all that it entails when adults struggle to do so themselves.
Also, if you spend a ton of time with the bird for the next 1-3 years and then all of the sudden you are getting out and about/working etc, your bird is going to feel the stress of that change. They get used to routines and don't understand when they are suddenly getting less attention. This can lead to self-destructive behaviors and other issues, such as screaming etc...Plus, they hit puberty around 3-4 and they can get very difficult/loud/nippy during this time...add a transition to that already-complicated-scenario and things could get rocky fast.
Finally, if your immune system will be compromised due to the transplant, you should also consider the fact that you will be having to clean up a lot of poop/mess and that will put you at risk. Another family member of mine just went through chemo and was not even supposed to touch my bird when she came to visit me.
