Animal Stories - People Talking About Macaws



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Latest Animal Stories on Macaws (474)

MARIE - 2010-12-28
My severe macaw likes to attach and bite down like a pit bull can be very aggressive how can i stop this behavior?

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Emerald - 2011-08-07
Chico is the same personality. He attacks anybody that comes near me. May it be a dog or a 6 ft tall boyfriend. He is unfortunately unfriendly and mean. I tried to train him with CD training aides, with no improvement. Once a week I take him to work with me in the shoe store where he has a big cage nxt at the back. I try to socialize him with other people by having him meet my friends. He just opens his mouth and wants to bite with no hesitation. Birds are unique. They can be as loving and as mean. One said to me...you can teach the bird on what to do, but could never teach the bird what not to do. So true in Chico's case. He has 3 big cages, one outside, one inside the house, and one at my office all 3 are more than 5 feet tall. He has lots of toys and lots of fresh food and fruits, so it could not be that he is unhappy with space and diet. He only loves me, and steps up with me and no one else, I'm okay with that though I hope he is more sociable!

Kim - 2008-02-15
I have an 11 year old severe, her name is coco. She is very comical. She love kisses from me and only me. If my husband gets too close she yells at him and says get out of here, but he has never done any thing to her. She loves chocolate chip cookies and when she want a cookie she will ask for, and keep repeating, can i have a cookie until you give her one. Then she says thank you. I have always had birds but until i adopted her I did not know the true meaning of bird love. She is my pride and joy. I have 5 other birds; 1 is a blue and gold macaw, 1 is a military macaw, 2 cockatiels, and a senegal parrot. I love them all with all my heart, but coco is the one that holds the key to my heart. I hope everyone can experence having a severe the way I have. Please love your birds unconditionally, the way I do.

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Anita - 2010-03-10
Kim..I love your story and it sounds like my story. I have an adopted now 5 1/2 year old Severe. I love and adore my other birds but my Bella stands out and is my pride and joy. She was raised by a male for 4 years and she loves my husband and daughter but she does hold the key to my heart and "vis-versa". She puts the sunshine in my day. :)
Heather - 2011-04-13
Dear Kim,
Just to let you know that you should not be feeding your bird chocolate chip cookies as chocolate is very dangerous to birds just like with dogs.
Emerald - 2011-08-07
I owned/own a severe macaw, his name is Chico. He is so smart and he knows what he can get away with. He only eats fresh served food and would refuse to eat anything left over from yesterday, no matter how hungry he is. He is so attached to me. I bought him when he was only 7 months old from a local breeder.
# months ago from buying him, I lost a severe Macaw ( His name is Charlie) He is one of the greatest blessings we ever had. Charlie unfortunately has a heart condition, he was born with it, he finally rests in peace after weeks and weeks of vet visits and prayers and love and care. We still love him always and he always will have that special place in our hearts that no one can ever replace.
After his passing, Chico found me while visiting a local breeder. Chico came up to me and climbed right up my shoulder. I had to take him home.
Chico looks so much like Charlie, same size same Severe Macaw.
Now I truly believed that Parrot has a special instinct and can feel how we feel. Chico refuses to be Charlie. Or at least fill up the big hole Charlie left in our heart. He may look like Charlie but his personality is completely different, Many times I just can't believe that he is a Macaw or is he even normal. Anything we know of a Macaw through Charlie, Chico is the complete opposite of that. But Parrot love is unconditional love. We learn our lesson to not just love Chico as much as we love Charlie no matter of what personality.
Chico is 6 years old now. He is so handsome and bright feathers. He has a big cage outside our fenced-in house and at night he sleeps in his big cage inside the house. He loves to take showers when it's sunny outside.
He is the love of my Love, my baby and no one would ever understand the real Love we shared with this feather friend unless you have one. We are blessed to have Parrots in our lives.
Just an advice to all my parrot lover friends....no chocolate, no avocado, no teflon/nonstick pots and pans...the fume if left heated will kill the birds instantly.

brittany - 2011-08-03
I'm 14 recently got a 12 year old macaw...Right from the start she loved me she kinda doesn't like my mom her old owners poked at her and teased her. I love her and my mom so jealous cuz my macaw comes and sits on my chest and gives me kisses tells me she loves me and if I ignore her she keeps saying hi and hello till I notice her, If I keep ignorng her she gets off her cage and climbs up my chair and scream then says "hi mama" She's a blue and gold macaw. She's loving. When she wants petted she lays her head on my arm. She says Brittany when she wants me and when I leave the room she screams come back. I will never regret getting her shes brought so much happiness to me and my moms says she is so funny she laughs at herself sometimes. She's a little angel

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Charlie Roche - 2011-08-03
I am soooo glad that all is good. Birds pick who they love.

Jenny - 2004-02-19

I THINK HAVING A PARROT IS WONDERFUL!

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tamara - 2011-07-28
Yes they are. I have a 1 year old blue and gold macaw.

Gary - 2011-07-26
We, too, have a wonderful red-shouldered macaw--named Kiwi (why is Kiwi such a popular name for a mini-macaw?). She is 5 years old, but we have not had her sexed as yet--no real need to know. She talks quite a bit and knows when to use certain words at the right times. She has definite preferences for members of the family--an established flock hierarchy, in her mind. She is free-flighted in our home, but sleeps in her cage. She comes when she is called and prefers affection to food as a reward. My wife was a cat person and I was a dog person, so we went many years with no pets. When our daughter wanted a pet, a friend had a bird, so we chose the bird route as something different. Kiwi is a wonderful pet, very affectionate and talkative but will play with her toys when asked. Kiwi is quick to learn new tasks and has quite a good memory over time. She can be a bit trying sometimes when you are doing something with your hands and she wants attention, she can get nippy with you. All in all, we think she is the ideal family pet. Even goes on our boat with us for summer cruises!

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Charlie Roche - 2011-07-26
You just have to love a macaw. Yes, they get bossy sometimes as they want their own way. However, we humans get in our moods too. There are just those "I do have a headache day" or the "overwhelming moment" but the macaw has all the personality, love and moods of a very intelligent human - least if they are my children.

Shay - 2004-08-26
Srry-but I dont think itz right to keep macaws in captivity cuz there endangered...

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Gary Barrett - 2011-05-25
Hi , not all Macaws are endangered. I don't agree that wild caught Macaws or any wild animal should be stuck in a cage though but if you buy a captive bred hand reared 1 that is fine and it does not hurt the numbers in the wild .
Charlie Roche - 2011-05-26
Many years ago us humans spent almost our entire day trying to find food and shelter. We have come a long way. We have built homes. We have installed indoor plumbing. We have built grocery stores. We go to the hospital to have our children and our children live and thrive. Our life expectancy has increased 3 fold. I believe that animals are intelligent and peaceful creatures. They, in many cases, just do what they can to live. They work all day to just eat and if there is any time left over, they can play. They create nests and have children and if they are lucky some of their children may survive. The human population has increased and we rid ourselves of forests and wetlands. We also take that away from our animals. Maybe our animals would prefer playing more and not being worried about where their food was coming from. Maybe they enjoy being loved and pet. Maybe they enjoy having fresh water and maybe they love not being afraid and knowing their children will live. I hope that my children's children will be able to see birds flying in the trees and having young. I hope my children's children will be able to know what an owl or a bunny is. I hope many things and maybe some of them will come true. But I think if I would ask my macaw "hey you want to go out there in the wild or do you want to sit with me today and watch TV? Would you like to go for a car ride? Would you like to go to the park. I think my Macaw (Luci) would say "hey Ma just take me where you go."
Thomas Patterson - 2011-07-19
I think you are right!!!

anonymous macaw lover - 2011-07-18
I love her, enjoy her. She's beautiful:)

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Charlie Roche - 2011-07-19
It seems most of the hybrids are gorgeous and I thought many of them seem to have a more even disposition. I love macaws.

coree - 2011-06-09
I'm getting a scarlet macaw in a few months. I'm going too name it Mongo (M-on-go). And I have 2 questions. Do they bite a lot? And if they do bite does it hurt? Since I heard they can make you bleed sometimes when they bite.

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Charlie Roche - 2011-06-09
Anything will bite. The worst bite I ever got was from my 3 year old daughter.
I had two Scarlet macaws, Chariot and Charlie. I raised them both from babies. They both liked to what I call "pinch-bite". The goofs would just sorta gently reach down and pinch me with their beaks. It hurt slightly but not a lot but was very annoying. I watched them and as they would bring their beak down to pinch me I would stick my thumb in their beak and make a figure 8 saying "good girl". They actually totally stopped the pinch biting and would just swivel their heads in a figure 8 which was hysterical. A macaw has a good bite but it is a pressure bite. Some birds will bite and then saw and they don't let go. Most macaws will just clamp down and it hurts but not nearly as bad as hitting your finger with a hammer. They don't just BITE. You learn to watch your feathered friend and you will be able to tell if they need some space. You hold a bird on your hand with your thumb on one of his feet. That way you have control. If you believe the bird is going to bite, you just twist your arm and he will be forced to balance and won't bite. You need to go slow and just learn. I have had macaws for 25 years - and I have handled wild caughts. I was bit by a macaw one time and it wasn't his fault. A perch fell and scared him and he fell and grabbed my hand. It hurt. A person usually bleeds from a macaw bite because they pull back and the beak scratches them. It is natural to not want to get bit but the strength is in the bottom beak - not in the top beak. People see the top beak and think WOW but that they use for climbing and holding. So if they go to step up they might use their beak for balance. Don't pull up or out and you won't get scratched. Watch you bird. Learn your birds body language and postures. A child, a horse, a dog, a cat - anything will bite sometimes. It isn't something you should be afraid of but it is something you don't have to accept. It would be real doubtful that this bird would fly at you and attack. It is more often you are holding them and they get a little jealous that ALL your attention isn't on them and they reach down and pinch bite. That is fairly typical of a scarlet macaw and not typical of all macaws. You can train them not to do it. How old is your scarlet going to be? It is much easier to train a baby not to bite than it is to break a bad habit. So yes, if you get pinch bit - it hurts but not as bad as stubbing your toe. If you get bite, it is like hitting your finger with a hammer. I had several large macaws in my home with my children for years and years and no one was ever bit except for the one time the macaw fell. Be concerned but don't be afraid. Watch out for a three year old child though.

Tanner Kay - 2007-01-05
I think military macaws are the coolest pets ever. I just recently got one and i have bonded with it more than anybody else could. His name is Fred Kay and he is really protective of me.

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ann - 2011-06-05
That's great! I hope all goes well. Just be sure to socialize him and make sure he does not become hormonal. Good luck with your new birdybaby!

roberta lathrop - 2011-05-14
Hi everyone- I have just adopted a 12 yr blue and gold named Teeka. He is truly a handful. I have wanted a macaw since I was 10 yrs old. Well at 44 I finally found a deal I couldn't resist. Ha, well after a week, of adopting Teeka, I was like,,,,what in heavens name was I thinking. It is like having a 2yr old all over again. If i am making dinner, and don't get him a dish right away, he will go to his food dish and fling all his food out of the bowl and squack like a spoiled brat. I have had him now for 2 months now and after numerous bites and black and blue swelling arms, I do think I may be gaining his trust. He definetely does not like woman, which is heart crushing as I was getting the bird of my dreams. On a good note, he loves my husband and son. His vocabulary was a bit distrubing when we first got him, but as I have learned to ignore his poor word choice, the less he says them, and is saying much nicer words these days. But what a messy bird, I clean his cage and play stand daily, and not 5 minutes after I do that, he is either shredding the paper on the bottom of the cage, or throwing his food around, or pooping all over....literally feels like i have a two year old again.
He is very chatty and makes me chuckle daily, so I definetely don't regret my purchase, but really hope he begins to enjoy my company as much as he does my husbands. I do have a question as far as bathing goes, I have been putting him in the shower once a week, as he is very dusty all the time, and he is constantly putting his beautiful feathers in his poop, gross.
How often should a parrot be placed in the shower? I hate to think I am over cleansing him.

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Charlie Roche - 2011-05-14
Congratulations and welcome to the world of 2 year old dressed in feathers. It will get better. Bathing. I don't believe you can over bathe them - there is definitely a rainy season where they come from. I would do mine 3 - 4 times a week and he loved it. Paper on the bottom just gets totally shredded so you can try a bird bedding. If you can place a shelf in the cage (they have them) large crocks may work better than bowels. My blue gold actually took his entire cage apart by unscrewing all the bolts. I put it back together with new bolts and lock nuts. He should have a perch in addition to his cage and it would be easier to work with him on the perch - by a lot. How is he getting poop on his feathers? Maybe the cage could be set up differently. A macaw is a 2 - 3 year old child and he will become quite affectionate and he will learn to please you. Of course you have to complete your macaw training classes that will be taught by him first.
roberta - 2011-05-15
Hi Cheryl-
thank you for update. when Teeka is on his play stand, he sits there and poops on it all day, then drags his tail thru it....I tried putting bird bedding on the bottom of the play stand but I found that he would sit there and eat the bedding, and didnt think that would be very good for his digestive system.
He sits on that stand all day and listens to the radio and dances, its amazing cute.
Charlie Roche - 2011-05-15
I'll try not to be confusing here. It sounds like the wooden perch Teeka is standing on is to low and her tail is dragging on the bed of the perch. Is that the case? If so, is it possible to raise the height of the wooden perch by adding another wooden perch on top of it? Get a large branch from a tree and just hose it down and let it dry. Drill a hole through both ends of the tree limb and the perch you are using. Bolt them together. I don't know the perch you are using but that could raise the perch the height of the tree limb - possibly 3 inches and might work.
roberta - 2011-05-15
Cheryl-
he has one of the stainless steel perchs with the two feeder trays and the big round stainless steel tray at the bottom, his tail feathers just touch it when he is sitting up, but he loves to climb down from the perch and walk all over the tray, just dont know what else to try. If he didnt walk all over the tray their wouldnt be an issue, but he loves to slide down the pole to the bottom where the tray is, so he can clean up what ever treats he drops.
and of cource his poop is so watery that it just smears...any suggestions?\
Charlie Roche - 2011-05-15
OK I think I got it. It is a round bottom perch with a U and then a sorta like dowel rod with two feeder dishes. Is that correct? Macaws really can't stand on round dowel rods (most birds can't) as their feet are larger and they get cramps from trying. It would be like you walking on the dowel rod. Just can't do it. You need a large variable diameter wooden perch for your Teeka. You can buy one (used or new) or you can make one. I would look up various perches that are available for macaws and then decide if you want to make or purchase. You do need some wood that is 2 - 3 inches deep - like a limb of a tree. Your Teeka is coming down from the perch because his feet hurt trying to hang on to it. Don't use smooth manzanita either cuz too slippery. I have seen home made perches that have a plywood bottom with a large limb bolted to the bottom and then a perch on the top. So the distance from the bottom to the top of the perch is more like 3 feet. You can always bolt or drill food bowels into a limb.
Anonymous - 2011-05-18
Thank you Cheryl. I am going to look into these this weekend:)
will keep you updated!
PJ - 2011-05-28
Hi, I have had my Green Wing Macaw for about 10 years now. The bad language will eventually take a back seat to any words that you teach your bird. Ignoring the bad words is a very good way to alter their language. It works. As for the bathings. I have a misting showerhead in my shower and that is what I use. My bird loves it and she gets her shower just about once a week. She seems happy with that and it keeps her feathers clean and shiny. Also, all birds have a certain amount of "feather dust" and you don't want to deplete it completely. So, once a week is about right for birdy showers.

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Animal Stories - People Talking About Macaws

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