Animal Stories - People Talking About Macaws



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Latest Animal Stories on Macaws (474)

LORA - 2012-11-06
HELP! I RESCUED A severe macaw 2 days ago. He's 10. I'm in complete and total love but I would like to find out a few things to be able to take good care of him. His previous owner died. He was in a dark pet store in a dirty cage. He has 2 broken feathers on each wing. Does any one know what I can do to help his feathers?

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Charlie Roche - 2012-11-06
Congratulations and if you love him - I am sure he loves you. Then you just have to understand each others language and you will learn to obey him and all will be well. Joking but they seem to have a way about them that will tell you what it is that they want and like. The two feathers. If it is just the ends - I would just take a pair of scissors and while you pull his wing out saying pretty - cut the tip off where it is broken. I would just remove the scraggly end so it doesn't prickle or itch him. Then start bathing him with an aloe bird bath - spritz him down cuz fathers might be dry. He might even like a shower -

A.Khalil - 2012-08-30
What should I do to my new african grey first week?

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Charlie Roche - 2012-08-30
African Greys are more timid/shy thanmany birds. They don't deal with a lot of commotion, children running around, doors slamming etc. They will adjust to most things but are a more timid more - way more timid than a macaw. So the first week, just let him settle in. Let him get used to the sounds and smeels and sights of his new home. Talk tohim and put words to his actions. He probably won't move around a lot - just enough initially to eat and drink. But if he flaps his waings say something like 'pretty' or 'show off'. 'step up' is obvious. Id' take him from room to room and tell him what things are like bed, chair, window, sofa etc. It is a way of the two of you getting to know each other. Once he settles in - he will train you so just listen and you will be fine. They like to be close to you, they like being able to find a safe place with their cage (so against a wall - not a window). Indroduce a new toy or item outside the cage until he is used to it and accepts it. Think 3 year old shy child dressed in feathers and put sounds and words to anything you can think of. They do love to talk.
Mohammed Ahmed - 2012-11-20
Keep the bird clean and warm, pet the bird and smile at it. They love it. Repeat words that you want him to learn, they do learn quick. if you or any one you know of, have birds to give away due to care issues, feel free to let me know. :) i love birds

Can - 2012-11-15
Scarlecinth macaw is brilliant.

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Ali - 2012-11-28
This is very sad news but a great tribute to Mac He was such a nut. I still tell feinrds about his antics while I worked there. I will miss seeing him on my visits home.

chuck kimble - 2012-02-05
I have seven parrots and my newest addition is a 8 month old Buffon Mccaw named MOJO. What a great bird. So gentle and loves to be with me. Would love to find a female and maybe breed in the futhur to help strengthen the Buffon population. They are wonderful birds.

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Kim Strong - 2012-04-07
Hi Chuck,
I am looking for a Buffons breeder as I am keen to buy a baby to add to my bird family. These are SO hard to find! Are you in the US, and if so, can you recommend a breeder? I would appreciate any help you can give. Thanks.
Chuck - 2012-06-10
There is a breeder in California named Teri who breeds Buffon. Her number is 925-550-8856. Don't know too much about her. Had babies the last I heard. Chuck Kimble
Nancy - 2012-11-12
Hello, I am interested in getting a Buffon's macaw but am having a hard time finding a breeder. Would appreciate any info. that you might have. Thank you for your time.
Cheryl - 2012-11-12
Howard Voren in Florida breeds Buffons. They are gorgeous. Voren Aviaries in Florida
Anonymous - 2012-11-12
Thank you Cheryl for the info. I will definitely get ahold of them.
Nancy - 2012-11-13
Well Cheryl I went to the website but there was no info., on what exactly the raise or price or availability etc. Kind of makes me wonder about the quality of their business. Don't want to get scammed!
Cheryl - 2012-11-13
Hi, I just looked up his website (I haven't in about a year) and realize he doesn't list babies for sale on it anymore. Probably too many phone calls. The Buffon (Lulu) that you see in the above photograph is my Buffon and was purchased from Howard Voren - Lulu is now around 12 years old. I can assure you that Howard Voren is one very well known person in aviculture and does much to save all parrots and works a lot with genetics. He is an excellent breeder and very knowledgeable. I will check with a friend and see if OK to send out email address.
Nancy - 2012-11-13
Hi Cheryl, thank you so much for your help. I continue to try and find a reputable breeder but have come across quite a few scammers instead. I even tried to find someone that has fertilized eggs so I could hand raise my own thus maybe offsetting the high cost. That ended up an even worse fiasco. I am a mom of 4 children and my youngest is getting ready to spread his wings and leave home. I'm feeling the empty nest syndrome really bad. From all I have read, these macaws thrive on love, attention and a patient teacher. The way I see it, it would be a win win for not only myself but the bird as well. Actually I think that the love that it would give me in return would be unmeasurable. Well please let me know what you find out, and again thank you for your effort and time.
Cheryl - 2012-11-14
Buffons are really lovable and make wonderful pets. You do not want to buy a fertilized egg and hatch it out. First problem is you could purchase a buffon fertilized egg and hatch out an amazon. (scam) Two, hatching out an egg and hand feeding from hour 1 takes a lot of practice and many babies get stuck in the egg and the chances of getting a baby successfully hatched and then successfully hand fed from hour 1 is very very slight. The cost of a good incubator would be more than the cost of the parrot. Babies are born in the spring so you might as well wait until spring and be sure you are getting a hand fed baby. Golden Cockatoo is an excellent pet bird strore in Florida and they have had them for sale. Tod Marcus Birds Exotic is also excellent excellent bird store and has had them in the past. Howard Voren (Voren Aviaries) must have a tel# somewhere cuz he has many sites. Susan Clubb (one of the top avian vets in the country) probably knows where you can find one. That would be Hurricane Aviaries. Terri is a friend and a broker and she knows where most things are and her email is tt1cowgirl@aol.com. She does placement for many of the top breeders. Many of the top breeders use a broker because they just can't feed the adults, feed the babies and answer th phone and emails. Impossible. Buffons can be quite expensive and yes they are excellent pets. The Buffon/Hyacinth cross are tremendous pets. Catalina. You might want to think about a cockatoo also. Umbrella or Moluccan. They do like to eat wood but they are cuddly lovable.
Nancy - 2012-11-14
Good morning and thank you sooo much for all your advice and help. At least now I have some excellent places to start. Will keep you posted. Have a great day! :-)

Shaon Ahmed - 2012-11-12
Hyarlet macaw is the best name of this breed. hope so...

Anonymous - 2012-02-01
I have a 6-month old male Buffon's Macaw and he is a big beauty and came from a wonderful breeder . So calm, friendly and learning to talk. He says his name and 'hello' quite often. He will offer his claw to greet me and the same when I leave. He also watches me constantly and will now fly to the sofa where I sit to watch tv wanting me to join him, often when I'm in the kitchen preparing supper. He is also very quiet and loves to be held but is somewhat Leary of other people but anyone who approaches him is intimidated by his size and I think he senses it and wants little to do with them. He seems to be quite protective over me so I guess I have a guard bird. He's such a beauty and an absolute joy to have around! He also gives the vacuum cleaner quite a work-out :)

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Charlie Roche - 2012-02-02
I don't know if the personalities of these guys are the same from bird to bird but mine was totally amazing - like this. He would never ever bite anyone but he didn't want anyone else to pick him up. Always with me - even right into the grocery store. He broke out of the house (through the doggy door) and walked down the street to bus stop to meet the kids.
Kim Strong - 2012-04-07
Hey Anonymous,
Where is this breeder? I just am having a hard time finding one of these babies! Help!
Nancy - 2012-11-11
I am looking to purchase a Buffon's for a companion but have been unsuccessful. Could you please give me the name of the breeder that you purchased your bird from? Thank you

Susan - 2012-10-28
I have a Hahn's Macaw who is an 11 year old male. I have had him since he was a baby. He has always been an avid talker, greeting me in the morning with 'Good Morning!' For the last few months he has been pulling his feathers from his back, under his wings and then his chest. He did not chew the feathers, just left them lying whole in the bottom of the cage. Two days ago I decided, after reading so much on line, to make some major changes. First, I cleaned both his large daytime cage and his smaller sleeping cage and spraying them with mite spray. I also doused the bird in mite spray (made for birds.) I bought a lamp to hang over his cage with a full-spectrum bulb, which he uses for about 6 hours a day. I also sprayed him with Itch Soothing Spray for birds. I bought him a new bed, washed all his toys in the washing machine (no bleach, little bit of soap), got him a fancy mirror, threw away all seeds and bought ZuPreem coloured pellets and lots of fruit. We are approaching day three of these changes and he will not stop 'quacking.' I have never heard this sound before. He uses the new bed but sleeps in the old bed, eats the pellets and fruit since that is what he used to eat a year or so ago, he loves to look in the mirror and is much more loving, not nipping at all. He has not pulled one single feather since the changes. These all seem like good things but I am afraid there is something wrong. He is not talking now, he just keeps quacking. Is he reverting to normal Hahn's sounds due to the mirror? Last night we took a shower together and then I blow dried him, which he loves. Has anyone had a quacking Hahn's. If you mate them to they talk to each other that way? Is there something wrong with his respiratory? Please let me know. Thanks!

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Charlie Roche - 2012-10-29
My guess is the mirror. He is reaching puberty, possibly thinks mate, but so much better than plucking. Now parrots this time of year also go into a heavy molt and will pull old feathers out to et new feathers in. They literally molt 100% of their feathers so I don't know whether molting or feather plucking. But congratulations you solved the problrem. I would just remove the mirror occasionally and see what happens.
Anonymous - 2012-11-01
He might be sick if the quack is anything like a hiccup. As for the feathers, there might be multiple causes, bugs, or dry skin.

linda - 2012-07-02
I adopted a 6 yr old macaw named Blue, from Crystal, a lady I work with. Her Dr. advised her to rid her home of Blue, whom she hand raised, and Blues parents, due to Crystals allergies and breathing problems. Blue was never handled by anyone other than Crystal and she only took about 3 days to get used to me and allow me to touch her and she now steps up for me once she comes down from the security of her cage. She will allow me to pet her on her cage but bites terribly hard if I try to get her to step up while on the cage, so I coax her down to the floor and then I can hold her. My husband and 3 teenage kids (the kids are very kind, calm, gentle animal lovers) have been trying to make friends with her by giving her treats which she will accept, my husband even had her licking cream off his finger, then in the next instant she will lash out and bite. She still bites me pretty hard when she feels like it. She seems very interested in my six year old son, he probably spends the most time around her cause her cage is in our florida room where he plays his video games. She really seems to love watching him play his games and shes always dancing along to the music. I am scared to let him try to pet her because she is unpredictable but she does seem to be very calm when I'm holding her or letting her sit in my lap and he is close by. A couple of times she has tried to approach him when shes off her cage walking around on the floor but I get scared and tell him to move away from her cause his little fingers are so little and cute I don't want them injured by her. Could I please get some reccomendations about training videos, and maybe some trust building exercises or something like that cause I feel like maybe I'm holding her back from developing a relationship with my 6 yr old out of my fear she may injure him.

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Clarice Brough - 2012-07-02
Chet Womach has good training videos., you could check them out to see if they can help: Parrot Training Techniques.
jolenne - 2012-10-28
If you still have any guestions feel free to contact me at jgirardmk@gmail.com. I have alot of bird experience. I own everything from lovebirds to macaws..and have a lot of training experience. Another lady mentioned chet he is great. Chet and his brother have a ton on wonderful training videos out..but mostly for misbehaving. Anyway if you want you can contact me.

Michelle - 2012-05-23
I bought a blue and gold, supposed to be a female, she's 9, have had her about 1 1/2 yrs and she has never layed an egg, is she supposed to be or could she be a male? Other then that she is a very good bird, talk like you wouldn't believe. I have counted 50 or more things she says, and she seems to learn quickly, you tell her to dance and she dances, you make noises at her and she repeats them, she loves to go for rides in the car or walks in the yard, she's like my kid, me and granddaughter sing her a song 1 bella 2 bella and when we get to 4 she says 5 lol, she amazes me all the time, she screams then tells herself to shut up lol, she cracks up laughing and coughs most awesome pet I have ever owned, I also have a red lored amazon and he is quite the talker too, way too kewl, they are part of the family for sure, spoiled rotten

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Michelle - 2012-05-23
Here r some things she says, hi, hello, bye bye, whats up, are you ok, mama, shut up, mmmmmmmmm is that good uh huh, good girl, bella, pretty bird, no. When u give her something and she drops it she says uh oh, pretty girl, thats good, when the phone rings she says hello, uh huh, uh huh, ok, alright, bye bye, she cracks up laughing which is so funny, she coughs, just like my sister in law lol, we count and get to 4, she says five, trying to get her to start at one. I make noises at her she repeats them, tell her to dance she dances, she sings the banana split song, la la la lalalala, this bird is very smart, no other word for her but amazing, she picks things up quite easily, she even calls my sons name, matttttttttt lol, shes my buddy I spend the whole day messing with her, she my baby thats for sure, I love this bird
Charlie Roche - 2012-05-23
Parrots are absolutely amazing to me. I wouldn't be slanted in any way. They are definitely part of the family for sure. I have actually gotten into arguments with a couple of mine. OK Blue/Gold and egg laying. At some time she may lay an egg - just let her sit it if she wants. However, it may never happen. I have no idea why some female parrots will just lay an egg and others can be 35 years old and lay an egg for the first time. Others never do. Hormones - just have no idea. She could be a boy but it is usually the gals that talk the most - or she just doesn't feel any desire to lay an egg.
Michelle - 2012-05-23
She also says, come here and come on and whatever, proud of her, can ya tell sorry gotta brag a bit, anything I say I guarantee ya that bird is going to repeat, spend alot of time with your bird and u will be amazed at what they can do, seems like everyday she says something new in the morning when I go past her cage, hello, mama, she's a trip says things at the moment she should, they say these birds have the mentality of a 5 yr old child I believe it, sometimes I tell her to come here and she says no and she don't come either lol truly an amazing animal and I'm sure anyone who owns one would agree with me on that on,
Michelle - 2012-05-23
ty for the input charlie, thought about having her sexed, but not planning on breeding so not a big thing, maybe she will surprise me one day with an egg,
jolenne - 2012-10-28
If you still have any questions and would like to talk you can reach me at jgirardmk@gmail.com. I own two blue and golds and have alot of big and small bird experience.

Charles Blase - 2012-10-23
I got a military macaw named Tupac (we didn't name him) and he was rescued by animal control from his cruel owners. He was given to my aunt who gave him to me because I have expereince with birds (having a moluccan macaw and had a green conure) but I'm having problems with him. He only likes me which would be fine IF I wasnt in high school. I don't have the time I wish I had to dedicate to getting him out of the cage more often then he does. But I'm the only one who can hold, pet, feed, or water him. He will attack anyone else who trys to touch him and anyone else who feeds him he dumps the food and water out. Anyone know how to fix this?

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Charlie Roche - 2012-10-23
Militaries can be just a wee bit stubborn but I wouldn't give up or lose hope cuz they usually come around. First I'd fix the food and water bowels so he can't throw them cuz that's a pain and a mess. You can usually drill a hole through the very top of the bowel and use a u-bolt or screw botl to bolt the cups down. Have others start by just talkling to him or giving him a small treat from their plate whether a piece of chicken, a peanut, cracker, piece of pizza - you will find out his favorites. For some reason (and possibly a great one) he has bonded with you and it would be nice if he would with the rest of the family. I would want him to at least come out and sit on a perch around the family and that is a good place to start. Might take awhile but I think he will learn to accept 'his position' in the family. By the way I named my Military Sargeant Barker cuz he had to be the boss - but he came around.

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