macaw at kindergarten

[Atli]

Hello,

I was offerd to addopt two macaws and i do not have any space at home for them but i work at a kindergarten and could have a space there for them, so my questions to start with are.

How are macaws with kids?
Do they not like loud noises?
Do they not like constant attention while in the cage?
Do they need to be out of the cage alot?
Can they be left alone over a weekend if there are two of them?

Thanks for answers
Atli

 

[Anansi]

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family!

In my opinion, I'm sorry to say, the situation as you've described it would be far from ideal for a macaw. The general chaos of a kindergarten classroom would likely be terrifying for most birds as their constant. The stress would be very high, which could lead to varying health issues. As to your individual questions...

How are macaws with kids? Depends on the individual macaw, as each has its own personality and upbringing. Given the environment that you propose, chances are that those macaws would not be good with kids.

Do they not like loud noises? Generally, no. Sudden loud noises can be frightening and stressful to them. Though their tolerance for said loud noises would vary depending on their upbringing and personality.

Do they not like constant attention while in the cage? Constant can be stressful, depending on the bird. I know you're seeing the word 'depend' a lot, but parrots are highly intelligent birds with great variations in terms of personality. But as a general rule, no, a bird would appreciate being able to escape constant attention if even for a little bit.

Do they need to be out of the cage alot? Yes. Several hours per day.

Can they be left alone over a weekend if there are two of them? Assuming that you mean left largely alone, with someone coming in to provide them fresh food and water at least twice a day? Then yes, it's possible, once in a blue moon when absolutely necessary. But in the way you likely mean, leaving them alone every weekend? No. Macaws are social creatures. Again, a kindergarten class environment is just not a good place to raise macaws.

I really appreciate you coming here to ask these questions before just blindly accepting the offered macaws. Shows a lot of consideration on your part. I'm hoping the best for those two macaws and their search for a home.

 

[Kiwibird]

Anansi answered your questions perfectly. I would like to add:

Macaw beak - a kindergarteners finger (or fingers) = massive lawsuit. I grew up with large parrots, learning to handle an interact with them from a very early age and even I got bit on occasion (bad enough to bleed and scar). An average child who has never been taught how to interact with a potentially dangerous animal or perhaps never taught to respect animals at all who has very non understanding non bird parents? That’s a recipe for disaster, for the child and the macaw who will suddenly be demonized for reacting as birds do to certain situations (biting). A macaw is more than capable of quite literally amputating a child’s finger. A highly trained macaw may be ok as part of a brief presentation in a classroom in the hands of a skilled handler who never lets the bird close to the children, but day in and day out in a classroom? A child will be injured, severely, it’s inevitable. This is a terrible idea.

 

[Joon]

I'd add to this: if they're a bonded pair they will be far less likely to want to be social with humans and more aggressive towards anyone who isn't their mate. At the shelter I volunteer at the bonded pairs can be really nippy to just plain aggressive in and out of their cages. When bonded pairs are adopted out they typically have to be separated, sometimes in separate rooms, to be handleable by their owners. And my macaw can't ever be around children because she can be very aggressive ie: need stitches and unpredictable.

 

[Atli]

Hello

Thanks for answering these questions i had i was really hoping they would be happy in this environment i even managed to convinced my boss to have it here.

I have to find something else since i really want these bird they are so bautiful and fun, these birds are 1 year old and hand fed and its awsome to be around them.

But i have two more questions for now,
tThese birds are from the same nest male and a female would you guys recommend i take just one of them or both so they have some company while i am at work?
If i take just one which should i take the female or the male?

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Macaws are not for the inexperienced/unmentored. So a few things come with that.

Right now, they're 1-year-olds, which means they're still babies in a way. They'll hit maturity around 3-6 years of age. So yes, they are cute babies now, but when you hit puberty and those hormones (just think about human teenagers hitting puberty), they won't be so fun. They might

If these macaws are siblings (brother/sister) or otherwise closely related, you should not let them be together when they become sexually mature. Ideally they will have separate cages of adequate size (the absolutely minimum recommended is 1.5x their wingspan).

Regardless of 1 or 2 macaws, do you have the time necessary to give them time outside their cages, time for basic training, and patience to manage hormones?

I suggest you look through a thread written by our resident macaw expert: http://www.parrotforums.com/macaws/56384-big-beak-o-phobes-guide-understanding-macaw-beaks.html

 

[Aspie_Aviphile]

What species of macaw? If you've been talking about two little Hahn's this whole time everything is different.

 

[Atli]

I am pretty sure they are hyacinth macaw.

 

[wrench13]

I am very sorry, but i echo what every one is saying. Macaws , even one, in a kindergarten class is a terrible idea,for both the parrot and the kids. And you adopting one ( which is what is best) is also not ideal for the parrot, because you will be at work for most of the day, right? And I am sure you have other responsibilities out of your house too ( shopping, socializing, church) so you can''t devote all your out of work time to your parrot.

Macaws are very smart and have emotional needs too. A macaw that is frustrated and left alone too much can develop psychological habits like plucking ( very common) and can literally tear every feather out of his body and wings, and even in severe cases tear out skin and flesh.

 

[itzjbean]

I am pretty sure they are hyacinth macaw.

Hyacinth macaws are extremely expensive birds, which are also extremely expensive to feed and care for. I would not recommend them for beginners!

 

[Atli]

I was offered them for free with a cage and toys so they would not be expensive initial purchase but i know feeding would but i could manage that.

I only have experiance with Cockatiels have owned 3 of them and Budgerigars had two of them when i was a kid.
I will take your guys advice and not adopt them since i am at work for at least 8 hours a day and some days i could only give them attention for 1 hour or less.

Thanks for the advice guys and good luck with your birds.