Calling all Hahns Macaw Owners!

[Conureflock]

Hello all,

I have a 1 and a half year old Hahns Macaw named Merlin. I got him last October and am in love with him. (Just to note I also have 3 little conures so have experience with a couple of parrots).
I have been thinking about getting a parrot companion for Merlin because he is very attached to me. It’s not a problem I just feel he may benefit from having another bird to play with, give head scratches etc.
I was wondering what people’s experience was with Hahns and whether you think he’d benefit from a friend. Not to live in the same cage just to play with when he’s out of the cage.
Also whether anyone has experience with Hahns socialising with other species/being friends with other species as I was contemplating a different species other than a Hahns.
Final question is, I know with some animals the same gender don’t always get along, is this the same with parrots?

Thank you!

 

[itzjbean]

I would not advise you to get another parrot to be a friend for your macaw Reason being, there is no guarantee they will even like each other. I'm sure your intentions are good, but you only should get a new bird because YOU want one, not because you want to give a friend to your Hahns.

I've heard Hahns macs can get VERY jealous of their owners handling their other birds and giving them attention. Throw a totally new bird into that situation and you are asking for him to be upset. It's not impossible though, just tendency for Hahns in general to be overly jealous.

It's important to note that if you do get another bird also, there could be very intesnse jealousy from your existing Hahns, being so closely bonded to you, who may want to attack this new bird. Not saying it WILL happen but likely could, especially if the two of you are very closely bonded.

Is your Hahns used to in-cage time? Would be great to get him used to being in the cage more especially if you do get another bird for yourself and then have to handle them outside of the cage separately. You want to prepare for the worst (not getting along, attacking each other) and then be pleasantly surprised if they take to each other.

 

[wrench13]

Note that in some cases of what we think are jealousy, which are really the parrot protecting his 'person' or flock member, the parrot can sometimes turn on the 'person' in efforts to drive them away from the offending other parrot. Bringing a second parrot into a close relationship is always a gamble. They could hate each other, be indifferent to each other, or become enamored of each other, thereby cuttin' you out of the flock. And they could be friends and still have a good relationship with you. 1 out of 4 - not good odds.

 

[Conureflock]

I would not advise you to get another parrot to be a friend for your macaw Reason being, there is no guarantee they will even like each other. I'm sure your intentions are good, but you only should get a new bird because YOU want one, not because you want to give a friend to your Hahns.

I've heard Hahns macs can get VERY jealous of their owners handling their other birds and giving them attention. Throw a totally new bird into that situation and you are asking for him to be upset. It's not impossible though, just tendency for Hahns in general to be overly jealous.

It's important to note that if you do get another bird also, there could be very intesnse jealousy from your existing Hahns, being so closely bonded to you, who may want to attack this new bird. Not saying it WILL happen but likely could, especially if the two of you are very closely bonded.

Is your Hahns used to in-cage time? Would be great to get him used to being in the cage more especially if you do get another bird for yourself and then have to handle them outside of the cage separately. You want to prepare for the worst (not getting along, attacking each other) and then be pleasantly surprised if they take to each other.

He does spend time in his cage which is in a room in which all 4 of my parrots share. Obviously it’s lovely that he’s bonded with me my only concern is that if I need someone else to look after him or feed him that he’ll be aggressive.
Ideally I’d like to make him more social with other parrots as well as people, I’m slowly encouraging my mum to get more involved with him but that’s about all.
I love my parrots and wouldn’t want to ruin bonds and friendships but I was looking into getting another bird (for myself) and didn’t know if it could benefit Merlin as well as myself.
He gets on with the conures on a talking from cages level but I would never risk him being out with them because he’s much bigger (specifically beak size).

If I decide to get another parrot it too would live separately and I would slowly introduce them as I did with the three conures.
Slightly off topic but do you keep your cockatiels in separate cages or do they live together? My three get along great but are cages separately, don’t know what your opinion would be on that?
Thank you

 

[Conureflock]

Note that in some cases of what we think are jealousy, which are really the parrot protecting his 'person' or flock member, the parrot can sometimes turn on the 'person' in efforts to drive them away from the offending other parrot. Bringing a second parrot into a close relationship is always a gamble. They could hate each other, be indifferent to each other, or become enamored of each other, thereby cuttin' you out of the flock. And they could be friends and still have a good relationship with you. 1 out of 4 - not good odds.

I know that some bird will never get along and that is a gamble but I am looking into another parrot (still researching nothing concrete) and was just wondering whether a new bird could benefit me and my Hahns.
I was curious as to whether different species are more likely to not get along than the same or if it’s just luck?
I got three conures all at different times and from different places and they now get along beautifully and I am still very included in the flock.
I understand I was lucky with that working out, I was just looking for other experiences of introducing new birds to one another.