Woah, hold on... you mean to say you GAVE UP your conure because it wasn't tame (under the parrot part of your porfile, it says "no parrots yet")!? You are no where NEAR ready for a macaw, or ANY type of bird for that matter. A macaw isn't going to be any more tame than a conure, and they're much more of a commitment. Will you be able to care for this bird until the day you die? Let me rephrase it: Are you physically, financially, mentally, and socially prepared to care for what is basically a 5 year old with a chainsaw for a beak, extremely loud screams, etc. for your entire life? You'll end up spending 100,000, if not a million dollars on this bird. It will take up your tie, destroy your home, make it so you can't go on normal social outings with your friends whenever you want, etc. Not to mention $10,000+ for the initial costs of the bird, cage, toys, etc.
You should NOT be free flight training birds without a professional. Too many get lost that way. If you are even THINKING of returning the bird, you should give getting an even bigger one a second thought. I'm sorry if I was overly harsh, but you don't seem ready for a large parrot of any sort. I suggest you volunteer at a parrot rescue for a minimum of 25 hours, to understand just what you are getting yourself into.
Incorrect. A larger bird is in no way "easier to tame." It will, in fact, cause tremendously more damage and pain with their large powerful beak. In the hands of someone without knowledge or experience, it will likely lead to yet another innocent bird winding up being rehomed again and again. Rescues everywhere are full of birds that couldn't live up to the unrealistic expectations of humans that don't fully understand the level of responsibility and commitment required for these magnificent animals.
I am looking for a handfed and tame scarlet macaw. I do not support extracting animals from the wild and forcing them into cages. That is cruelty. A domesticated parrot is what I am seeking.
Handfeeding comes with it's own set of issues, and does not make a bird tame. Handfeeding just makes it think it's a human, sexually, and once it goes through puberty, it may very well start acting wild. It will also be hormonal at least once a year, and will most likely act like a literal wild caught bird during that time, if not more bitey and reactive. Are you prepared for those scenarios?
Nobody suggested anything about wild caught. Hand fed and tame for one person doesn't mean that they will be "tame" for someone else. My YNA is exceptional with me because she chose me as her person, period. If you, or anyone else, including my family members who are around her every day, expected her to be the same way with them, blood would be spilled. It's not reasonable to expect a bird, large or small, to like you or behave the way you want them to, just because you want them to. They don't work that way. Trust is earned. It can't be forced upon them.
Swong66666, please understand that the responses you are getting here reflect the way our membership feels about parrots, those we own ourselves and each others' as well. All parrots, regardless of size are much like toddlers - they require lots of time, work, money and attention, not just a few days as you have mentioned. Any parrot is a huge emotional investment and only you can know whether you are truly ready for that in your life. Please bear in mind how intelligent and emotional your conure is when you make your decision about his future, and please don't rush into yet another decision that you may end up regretting as well.
Seconding this. Parrots aren't really pets, they're wild animals that you bring into your home and expect to adapt the best they can.
PAITENCE. Is the key.
You think a GCC is hard to take care of? A macaw is even harder!
That makes a bird look like an item. PetSmart take terrible care of their animals. Period. Your bird is better off living at a rescue or a responsible person.
No. Big birds can be just as hard.
You should realize that hand-fed birds can(and likely will) bite too. All birds will bite you at some point.
www.parrotforums.com
Highly doubt it. This person will probably get a macaw, regardless of what we say, then in a week, they'll post "Help my Scarlet Macaw isn't tame, I want a Hyacinth Macaw, where can I get one?".
I agree OP should not adopt a bird, but I've heard this before and I don't agree with "this" particular statement(s). Lets just say I think there is a spectrum. My birds have become basically family, if not MORE loyal. Unless you're saying a dog isn't domesticated. Or even "more so" a cat. Or even "more so" a human 2yo or human teenager. Just IMO.
Definition of domestication:
Lets agree to agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
