Should I go with the Macaw I want?

[baron1282]

The reason why I am asking this is because many people tell me to stay away from the Scarlet Winged Macaw as my first parrot and go with the Green Wing or Blue & Yellow Macaw.

Both the Green Wing and the Blue & Yellow are awesome looking birds, but I am still drawn to the Scarlet Winged Macaw. I do not wish to have two big birds in my life. I only want one for the rest of my life which if I get one now I would be 80 years old if the thing lives to a full 50 years.

I already own a small pineapple Conure. He is a great little bird and I love him to death. Its my wife's bird mostly and I do have a lot of out of cage time with him as well. He likes both of us which is good!

I have just been drawn to the color of the Scarlet Winged Macaw and being I only want ONE big parrot should I just go with the one I want? The place I am going to purchase the Macaw from will allow me to pay for it and when they get the babies in they will allow me to choose one and come in three times a week to hand feed it and help them ween it before being able to take it home. I like that a lot, it allows me to be involved with the bird from the start and get it to trust me more.

I do like the Blue & Yellow as well, as that is my second favorite, but for some reason I keep going back to the Scarlet Wing!

 

[Karigan]

I would get to know the babies and see if one stands out for you. I know that I want a Greenwing or Greenwing hybrid, but if the right personality came along in another macaw I would snap it up in a heartbeat. I too plan on only one macaw, so I know what a tough decision this must be for you!

 

[baron1282]

It is, price is whats keeping me from owning two Macaw's, plus I would just want to spend time with one and not have to divide my time between two.

As is, I would have to split my time with the Conure and the Macaw. Three birds would be killer. I also don't want a Zoo. I like a nice clean house, and I don't want it to smell.

 

[Karigan]

Haha, good luck! I had planed on my sennie, a grey and a macaw. The sennie came first, and then my brother-in-law surprised us with two greys... about five years and 1000 sqft before we felt we were ready! Now we live in a 1200 sqft house with three parrots and two cats and it's so hard to keep clean. My husband thinks I'm nuts for wanting another bird, but I keep telling him that when we have the dream home it won't seem like so much... ;p

I actually find that more birds mean that they need a little less one on one time since they have each other for company. They still get about an hour apiece, but much of that time is spent with them all on me.

 

[MikeyTN]

I personally wanted a Scarlet for a very very long time but B&G kept falling in my lap....lol.....I love my B&G but I still dream of Scarlet one day.....IF your that passionate about getting a Scarlet, then go for it. I've always been told they're more temperamental by owners and shops. But I also think if you train them right while they're young, it's much better that way! But once hormone hits is when things can change drastically!!!!

 

[calieckies]

Some people say a Scarlet should not be your 1st Macaw as they have a tendency to "bite" but in reality they are just a very smart Macaw and IMO require more time to be spent with them and they pinch when they "nip" and they do that frequently and can be very playful about it- they use their beaks a lot.
I love my GW he is truly a Gentle Giant but I wanted a GW to begin with I fell in love with their massive heads and beaks and coloring.

BUT I don't think you should go with a GW opposed to a scarlet just because you have never owned a Macaw before. Like you mentioned you may not have more then one and if you are drawn to a Scarlet you shouldn't be told you necessarily shouldn't get one.

I think there are a lot of birds on the market for many reasons but one being they bought "starter" birds to see if they could handle a certain type of bird before they went out to get what they really wanted to begin with.

 

[dulphinz]

I'm a new bird owner, so I don't know much We started with our Eclectus which many say you shouldn't have as your first bird...everything has been awesome and I have read up all I can and am always searching through the forum. I got our Ekkie in February and just got our B&G 3 weeks ago. If your heart is set on a Scarlet and you are willing to deal with the temperament many say they have, then go for it. Better to get the one you want then to settle for another and not be completely content with your fid. I think what everyone says is true, each bird has it's own personality and you just go with it. I've been reading so many stories of rehomed birds that are super agressive and the new parronts do what they need to (training, patience, etc...) and in the end they have the most wonderful companion! So if you want a Scarlet...why not!!! I hope you find the perfect little baby for yourself. That is great that the breeder is close enough that you can visit that often Good luck in your search.

 

[JerseyWendy]

People told me 14 years ago to stay away from Amazon parrots because of their temperament, and look at me now.

If your heart is set on a Scarlet, then go with it. Yes, Macaws can be "beaky", some more than others. Your skin will toughen up from the pinching. JUST KIDDING!!!

 

[haleybird]

I think you should go with the bird you are most drawn to!

...and don't forget: each bird, despite common "tendencies" perscribed to their species, is an individual. I've heard of sweet scarlets and nippy blue and golds (and vice versa)...it really all depends on the bird, the nurturing/raising/training of the bird, and also the human(s) involved in the bird's life.

I'd say if you're up to the challenge of a macaw, which it sounds like you are, then its time to get out and meet some chicks!

Good luck, and keep everybody posted!

 

[baron1282]

Thanks everyone. I have decided that I will go with the bird that I am drawn too. If for some reason a Green Wing draws me, than I will go ahead and buy it. I didn't want a bird until my wife was drawn to our little Conure. I went ahead and bought the Conure and love it to death. I believe the right bird chooses you!

I have also decided to wait a few and do this right. I am hooked on a cage I want and it's in the $3 grand range. It's something I am going to save for and when I am ready I am going to go and get my bird.

Here is the website to the cage I want.
Bird cages, decorative bird cages, parrot bird cages, custom bird cages.
I really like this cage and I think it would make a great addition to the home in terms of furniture. I will put a air unit on it as well for the extra 100.
King Solomon Cages - The last bird cage you'll ever buy.

I am going to first buy a cage from them for my Conure to see if they really are good cages. From what I read they are great cages. Easy to clean and keep up!! I like the idea of a air filtration unit as well. So thanks to everyone that has told me to stick with my original choice. I am doing a lot of research before I get the Macaw and I might not be ready for a few more years, but when I am ready I will know which Macaw to get and how to handle them.

 

[Karigan]

Awesome! I'm so afraid for those cages though, You'd have to make sure that the bird never climbed the cage from the outside and that it had a wicked awesome play stand. Let me know how it goes, I've been eying those cages for a while!

 

[Betrisher]

Wow! Nifty cages! Just asking, but wouldn't the acrylic panels get covered in poop pretty quickly?

About your Macaw: if a person 'shouldn't get bird X' as a first bird, doesn't that sort of suggest that you'll be nearly dead before you're experienced enough to own one? I mean, the Macaw lives a long life and if you wait until you're forty or fifty before getting one, then... ?

I reckon you should inform yourself by reading and talking to experienced owners and then get your Scarlet Macaw!

 

[Mayden]

If you 'settle' for another bird, you'll just end up getting a Scarlet as well as the bird you 'settled' for in the first place.

That's how it seems to go anyway!

Go for a Scarlet, if you want it that badly, you'll make it work, nippyness and bad attidues can be worked on.

 

[baron1282]

The cage comes with a play stand that you can add too or take away from depending on the bird. It's what you see in the picture, the wood perches. I think the top of the cage is normal bars that would allow you to hang toys.

As for poop on the acrylic, everything I have read said it's much easier to clean off than from metal bars, and it's a-lot cleaner environment for the bird as it's easier to clean. I admit that cleaning poop of the bars of my cage for my Conure is a rough experience, and I would have to assume that with acrylic it's as simple as a wiping off. With the bars I have to really scrub the poop off. Plus the acrylic and the food bowls will keep all the food in the inside of the cage and not allow it to get on the floor.

I have seen cages like this, and never thought to get one myself. It seems like they are a good idea for the home environment to really showcase your bird to visitors and to keep the bird safe from kids that might want to stick their fingers in the cage.

I like the fact that they are inclosed, and you can add a filtration system and lighting system. I can put the lights on a timer and have them come on and off when needed. The food dishes can be upgraded to make them apart of the cage and easily opened from the outside to fill up. Otherwise it just comes with standard bowls that clip on somewhere on the inside. Overall the cage's look like they are perfect for cleanliness as no seeds will fall on the ground, and poop would wipe of easily off the acrylic.

All in all I am looking to have to save up around $7 grand for the cage and bird and some toys to start out with. It should only take me two years. LOL

 

[Mayden]

My concern about those cages are airflow, I'd be a little worried on hotter days/in sunlight etc. But maybe I'm just missing something!

 

[mtdoramike]

I say get the one you want.

 

[DeeNTheChillas]

If you 'settle' for another bird, you'll just end up getting a Scarlet as well as the bird you 'settled' for in the first place.

That's how it seems to go anyway!

Go for a Scarlet, if you want it that badly, you'll make it work, nippyness and bad attidues can be worked on.

This is my opinion too!

I have always wanted a CAG but toyed with the idea of an Ekkie first, at the recommendation of a friend. The smart people here told me if my heart is set on a CAG, go with the CAG.

 

[Chesphoto]

I would go with the Scarlet, but I'm slightly biased.

Actually, I started volunteering at a shelter in January, not even sure if I wanted parrot. After seeing all the birds and reading through all the post on this forum, I was leaning towards a blue and gold or a green wing, just like you.

Someone at the shelter said don't worry about picking the bird, one will pick you. Turned out to be scarlet. I couldn't be happier. So, my advice, keep an open mind, don't settle and find companion that wants you as much as you want them.

 

[baron1282]

Hey guys an update. While I am still far away from getting my Macaw, I am wondering what I should do.

On one hand I would love a baby raised by my hand, I would trust him/her more, but on the other hand I see all the wonderful birds that need to be rehomed. I still feel that a bird that needs to be rehomed shouldn't cost as high as they do.

I want another Conure and I feel like I should rescue one, but they want as much as a breeder would for a baby. It kind of gets me angry that the poor birds suffer because they want too much money to rehome a bird that was given to them.

I also am thinking with going with one big cage for all my birds to come.

This cage

Hybrid Bird Cages : 72"H x 144"L x 36"D H3 large macaw cages, African gray cages, toucan cage

It would give me SO much room so I can have two conures on one side and my Macaw on the other. It would be a great investment it looks like, and with the time I got to save I know I can do the right cage for the right animal. This would give each of my birds 6feet length and 3feet in width each. Would two Macaws fit into one unit? I know I would have to make sure they are friends first and get a long before I put each bird in with one another. I hear it's easy to get the same specie of birds to like one another. I know that with my Conure anyway if I got another bird and they bonded they would not want my attention as much, but would that be the same with a Macaw?

I know I said I only want one Macaw, but if I go with a baby first, I might want to rescue one as I am trying to do with my conure.

I got off the phone with the cage company. The cage allows me to divide it to be smaller on one side and larger on the other. So my Conure could get a cage that is 3 by 3 feet while the Macaw could get a cage that is 9 by 3 feet. I don't think my Conure would need a 6 foot in length cage. I know this cage his HUGE and expensive but it cold be the end all solution I need! It would allow me to display my animals (because who does not want to display their birds? ) and it allows me to have a big enough cage for when they need to be in the cage. So yes I may be aiming high, but I got time to save and learn so I might as well go with the best I can save for. If I save a thousand more I can get the cage with the four foot depth and not the three foot. So who knows!!

 

[Karigan]

LOVE IT!!! If I had 6 grand lying around I would so be with you!