unknown - 2006-07-01 I have a Harlequin and he is 2 years old July 2006. I Bought him when he was 8 weeks old. I've hand raised him! He is very intelligent and has an excellent vocabulary. Excellent talker! When he want's me he yells MAMAAAAA! He knows what he is saying and he knows when he is good and bad. He laughs really loud when he does something bad. My Blue and Gold Macaw will laugh really loud when she sees that he's in trouble. NEVER a dull moment in our house! These are great birds as pets, but stores that sale them don't tell you the health problems that come because they are crossbred. Really excellent pets stores will not sell any crossbreed birds as they know the problems that can arise! My Harlequin Macaw is one of many with health problems and it's not a pretty site when he is sick or has a serious allergy reaction to his foods. The Vet bills can become very costly. Please be educated on these birds, know what you are dealing with. These guys live 80 plus years. I hope the rest of you have very healthy Harlequins.
Alyssa - 2006-05-30 Me and my boyfriend got a Harlequin macaw off the buy and sell about two months ago. We love im to death he's so playful. His name is Ruben and he waz suppost to be my boyfriend's pet but he likes me more. At first i didn't want anything to do with him, he just scared me at first but now i wouldn't get rid of him for anything. I'm glad my boyfriend bought him.. If anyone is looking into getting a parrot then i suggest you get a Harlequin macaw they are very frindly and playful and make good pets. As long as you are willing to spend at least four hours a day with them, well, all i can say is he is the greatest bird in the world....
Chuck - 2006-05-16 Update: McKala now has a harness to go outside with me. She is enjoying the walks with me and seeing the neighbors who seem to enjoy seeing her outside and up close. I purchased the harness from the Hartman Aviary and find that it was the easiest to put on and take off as it was all one part. I have also purchased another one for my other birds so that the Hahn's, sengal, & conure can all enjoy the outsides. I really enjoy being around my birds and I wanted them to experience the outdoors. It sure makes owning a bird more fun. Also, she is talking much more, says come here, up, and is working on how are you. I really do enjoy McKala.
Anonymous - 2006-04-28 I've been around two Harlequin macaws in my life. If anyone is looking for a macaw as a companion pet, they should choose a Harlequin. Harlequins are easy-going, intelligent, sassy, outgoing, affectionate and loving, but they also love pleasing a crowd and are eager to learn something new. That's how my Harlequins are like. Harlequin macaws forever! :)
Jennifer - 2006-03-20 I was adopted by a harlequin macaw. She was a rescue, taken from her previous home by the Health Dept due to neglect, starvation and deplorable conditions. She was lucky to still be alive and in pretty good shape -- many of the other animals were not. We had a bit of a rocky start given her history and my relative inexperience with birds; but we quickly got help through a local bird store, a bird behaviorist, an avian vet and websites like this one. Today she's a lovely bird, happy, talkative, well-adjusted, playful, naughty, noisy and NEVER hungry! Macaws are amazing birds and it's wonderful to see her happy and healthy -- such a difference from the sad, crying, frightenend, miserable bird who moved in with me a few years ago. I wouldn't recommend a rescue as your first bird -- I was successful, but very lucky I had access to great resources and able to devote a lot of time and money to her rehabilitation. Rescues are not "free" birds and can end up costing you much more than if you had purchased a hand-raised baby!
Chuck Smith - 2006-03-01 I recently purchased a 7 month old harlequin macaw I named Mckala in Feb 2006. She has a GW father named Casino and a blue & gold Mother named Maggie. Her hatch date was June 8, 2005. I have a hahn's macaw as well, along with a sengal, and a conure. All are learning to talk. She is a very pretty bird and I am enjoying her and I am looking forward to getting her out this spring and showing her the outside. Chuck Smith
john - 2006-02-26 Hi,I just purchased an eleven week old Harelquin. He's still being hand fed at Bird Jungle, so I'll have to wait another two weeks. I've been going over every couple of days so he'll start getting used to me. Two days ago, he sat in my lap for a good hour and we both loved every bit of it. There were a lot of kids coming into the store since they were off from school. so they were comming up and petting him along with me, and asking a whole lot of questions. I haven't yet picked a name, but, Bud and Ringo, come to mind. Already the bird is letting you kiss him, he is so loveable and I look forword to a lot of happy years.
Lisa - 2006-01-22 I have a 2 1/2 yr old Harlequin Macaw and he is absolutely one of the best things that has ever happened to us ! He is so sweet and friendly, we often take him to the beach or to the park and people flock to him (he loves the attention). He is very mischevious loves to chew on anything in his reach. He has a large vocabulary for only 2 1/2. He started talking around 6 months his first words were "hello" and "I love you". He is very comical -- he laughs at all the appropreate times and loves his swing, he will swing all day long if you let him. He picked up the dogs name fairly quick... he loves to call the dog, who, i might add, is thouroughly confused by this! I would recommend a Harlequin to anyone planning on buying a macaw. they are very very entertaining but they do demand a lot of attention and LOVE!
Anonymous - 2006-01-21 These birds talk alot!!! They can get irratated very easily and when you make them mad they will let you know. When our Macaw bites someone or gets in trouble (he knows these things) he will scream "no". Also everytime we answer the phone he says hello about 3 times. Some how our bird also learned how to insult people... If you want a bird this would be a good choice to make they are very fast learners and would be just like another member of the family.
terri - 2005-09-17 We are owned by a 13 year precocious, mischeivious, hilarious, bratty harlequin. She's got a great sense of humor and rules this roost. We love her madly.
Great creature, but .......VERY high maintenance. While quite lively and entertaining, they require--no, demand-- a great deal of time, care and attention. It's like having a 4 year old under foot at all times. This includes both the good and bad behaviors. So if you aren't ready to engage in a full time relationship, this is not the bird for you.
That being said our little "monster" (her name is Spanish for a mythical boogie man monster) is truly a great addition to our family. FYI: we do not have children in our home. She knows all our cats by name and calls for them. Often telling on them when they have done something wrong. Or blaming them for something she has done wrong. One afternoon she had opened up the lock on her cage and quietly ventured into the bathroom where she proceeded to chew off an entire corner of the door! Created a hole the size of a large fat cat. When I found her, I said "What happened here?" She said, "The kitties."
Recently we had to travel overnight and left her alone. Mind you, overnight only. She was stocked up with plenty of food, water, toys and classical music playing softly. When we got home, she had no voice. We took her to the vet to be sure she wasn't sick. She wasn't. As it turns out she screamed herself hoarse. Needless to say we enjoyed the respite from the earsplitting noise she shares with us.
The Harlequin Macaws are some of the most beautiful and well behaved of all the hybrid macaws.
I have a Harlequin and he is 2 years old July 2006. I Bought him when he was 8 weeks old. I've hand raised him! He is very intelligent and has an excellent vocabulary. Excellent talker! When he want's me he yells MAMAAAAA! He knows what he is saying and he knows when he is good and bad. He laughs really loud when he does something bad. My Blue and Gold Macaw will laugh really loud when she sees that he's in trouble. NEVER a dull moment in our house! These are great birds as pets, but stores that sale them don't tell you the health problems that come because they are crossbred. Really excellent pets stores will not sell any crossbreed birds as they know the problems that can arise! My Harlequin Macaw is one of many with health problems and it's not a pretty site when he is sick or has a serious allergy reaction to his foods. The Vet bills can become very costly. Please be educated on these birds, know what you are dealing with. These guys live 80 plus years. I hope the rest of you have very healthy Harlequins.
Me and my boyfriend got a Harlequin macaw off the buy and sell about two months ago. We love im to death he's so playful. His name is Ruben and he waz suppost to be my boyfriend's pet but he likes me more. At first i didn't want anything to do with him, he just scared me at first but now i wouldn't get rid of him for anything. I'm glad my boyfriend bought him.. If anyone is looking into getting a parrot then i suggest you get a Harlequin macaw they are very frindly and playful and make good pets. As long as you are willing to spend at least four hours a day with them, well, all i can say is he is the greatest bird in the world....
Update: McKala now has a harness to go outside with me. She is enjoying the walks with me and seeing the neighbors who seem to enjoy seeing her outside and up close. I purchased the harness from the Hartman Aviary and find that it was the easiest to put on and take off as it was all one part. I have also purchased another one for my other birds so that the Hahn's, sengal, & conure can all enjoy the outsides. I really enjoy being around my birds and I wanted them to experience the outdoors. It sure makes owning a bird more fun. Also, she is talking much more, says come here, up, and is working on how are you. I really do enjoy McKala.
I've been around two Harlequin macaws in my life. If anyone is looking for a macaw as a companion pet, they should choose a Harlequin. Harlequins are easy-going, intelligent, sassy, outgoing, affectionate and loving, but they also love pleasing a crowd and are eager to learn something new. That's how my Harlequins are like. Harlequin macaws forever! :)
I was adopted by a harlequin macaw. She was a rescue, taken from her previous home by the Health Dept due to neglect, starvation and deplorable conditions. She was lucky to still be alive and in pretty good shape -- many of the other animals were not. We had a bit of a rocky start given her history and my relative inexperience with birds; but we quickly got help through a local bird store, a bird behaviorist, an avian vet and websites like this one. Today she's a lovely bird, happy, talkative, well-adjusted, playful, naughty, noisy and NEVER hungry! Macaws are amazing birds and it's wonderful to see her happy and healthy -- such a difference from the sad, crying, frightenend, miserable bird who moved in with me a few years ago. I wouldn't recommend a rescue as your first bird -- I was successful, but very lucky I had access to great resources and able to devote a lot of time and money to her rehabilitation. Rescues are not "free" birds and can end up costing you much more than if you had purchased a hand-raised baby!
I recently purchased a 7 month old harlequin macaw I named Mckala in Feb 2006. She has a GW father named Casino and a blue & gold Mother named Maggie. Her hatch date was June 8, 2005. I have a hahn's macaw as well, along with a sengal, and a conure. All are learning to talk. She is a very pretty bird and I am enjoying her and I am looking forward to getting her out this spring and showing her the outside.
Chuck Smith
Hi,I just purchased an eleven week old Harelquin. He's still being hand fed at Bird Jungle, so I'll have to wait another two weeks. I've been going over every couple of days so he'll start getting used to me. Two days ago, he sat in my lap for a good hour and we both loved every bit of it. There were a lot of kids coming into the store since they were off from school. so they were comming up and petting him along with me, and asking a whole lot of questions. I haven't yet picked a name, but, Bud and Ringo, come to mind. Already the bird is letting you kiss him, he is so loveable and I look forword to a lot of happy years.
I have a 2 1/2 yr old Harlequin Macaw and he is absolutely one of the best things that has ever happened to us ! He is so sweet and friendly, we often take him to the beach or to the park and people flock to him (he loves the attention). He is very mischevious loves to chew on anything in his reach. He has a large vocabulary for only 2 1/2. He started talking around 6 months his first words were "hello" and "I love you". He is very comical -- he laughs at all the appropreate times and loves his swing, he will swing all day long if you let him. He picked up the dogs name fairly quick... he loves to call the dog, who, i might add, is thouroughly confused by this! I would recommend a Harlequin to anyone planning on buying a macaw. they are very very entertaining but they do demand a lot of attention and LOVE!
These birds talk alot!!! They can get irratated very easily and when you make them mad they will let you know. When our Macaw bites someone or gets in trouble (he knows these things) he will scream "no". Also everytime we answer the phone he says hello about 3 times. Some how our bird also learned how to insult people... If you want a bird this would be a good choice to make they are very fast learners and would be just like another member of the family.
We are owned by a 13 year precocious, mischeivious, hilarious, bratty harlequin. She's got a great sense of humor and rules this roost. We love her madly.
Great creature, but .......VERY high maintenance. While quite lively and entertaining, they require--no, demand-- a great deal of time, care and attention. It's like having a 4 year old under foot at all times. This includes both the good and bad behaviors. So if you aren't ready to engage in a full time relationship, this is not the bird for you.
That being said our little "monster" (her name is Spanish for a mythical boogie man monster) is truly a great addition to our family. FYI: we do not have children in our home. She knows all our cats by name and calls for them. Often telling on them when they have done something wrong. Or blaming them for something she has done wrong. One afternoon she had opened up the lock on her cage and quietly ventured into the bathroom where she proceeded to chew off an entire corner of the door! Created a hole the size of a large fat cat. When I found her, I said "What happened here?" She said, "The kitties."
Recently we had to travel overnight and left her alone. Mind you, overnight only. She was stocked up with plenty of food, water, toys and classical music playing softly. When we got home, she had no voice. We took her to the vet to be sure she wasn't sick. She wasn't. As it turns out she screamed herself hoarse. Needless to say we enjoyed the respite from the earsplitting noise she shares with us.