Unusual Pets: Macaws

Macaws belong to the family of New World Parrots. They are extremely colourful and are the largest in the Parrot family. These birds inhabit the rainforests in Central America, tropical South America and Mexico. Some of them even live in savannas and woodlands. They are very intelligent birds. Macaws are known to live up to one hundred years, but on an average they live from fifty to seventy-five years. Mini Macaws live up to thirty years. The lifespan of a captive Macaw totally depends on the nutrition and care provided to it.

Although there are many species of Macaws, the most popular in the pet trade are Scarlet Macaws, Military Macaws, Blue and Gold Macaws and Hyacinth Macaws. Their size can vary from twenty inches to forty-two inches, which includes their long tail.

Macaws feed on fruits and nuts. In the wild they also eat clay, which neutralizes the effect of poisonous nuts and seeds, which they accidentally eat. In captivity, the bird can be fed vegetables, fruits, grains, dry fruits, nuts, ice cream, cheese, etc. Care should be taken that the total fat shouldn’t exceed ten percent, as that can be harmful for the bird. They are also known to chew on objects. Because of their intelligence and curiosity, they should be monitored constantly. Macaws make partners for life but the ones that are kept in captivity and don’t have a mate, usually bond with their owner. They feel the need of communication and hence, the owner should talk to the bird constantly. This is also a technique used for bonding with the bird. Macaws that aren’t interacted with suffer mentally and physically. They are not shy to new people. If a stranger is accompanying the owner, they do not hesitate to accept the new face and be friends with them. Macaws normally only bond with one person at a time. If for some reason the person they have bonded with is no longer available, they will bond with a new person. If at a later time the person they had previously bonded with returns, the bird will not have anything to do with that person. It is not known if this is “holding a grudge” or if it is just that they are only capable of bonding with one person at a time.

Sometimes, Macaws have some behavioural problems when kept in captivity. Because of stress development they start to pluck their feathers, bite and even scream. They also have a large beak, which they sometimes use to harm people around them. Their voices are quite loud and when they screech it can be heard over a mile away. Sometimes, when they get excited, even their vocalizations can be quite loud. Macaws can be taught to talk. “Bucko” mom and dad’s Blue and Gold Macaw had a large vocabulary. He even learned “Yabba-Dabba-Doo and a few other terms from watching the “Flinstones” cartoons on television. The best talking birds are the African Grey Parrots, closely followed by Amazon Parrots. However, some Macaws are very good talkers and so are some Cockatoos and some Cockatiels. Mom and dad have a Cockatiel that is more than twenty-eight years old and he can talk very well.

Macaws are extremely playful and active. For this reason their cage needs to be very big and strong as well. It should be big so that the bird can move around freely and it should be strong because the bird is very intelligent and stands a chance of escaping. They have a very strong beak and can snap a metal “Hot Wheels” toy car in half with one bite. The material used to make the cage should be stainless steel and the dimensions should be at least forty by forty-eight by sixty inches high. A cage of this size will cost from $500 to $800 depending upon where you live. The bird is very fond of chewing things, so the cage should have a number of wood pieces or toys, which the Macaw can chew on. Hanging toys and toys on which the bird can climb are also a good choice.

Macaws are considered an endangered species and five of the species have become totally extinct. The problem is deforestation, killing them as farming pests and illegal capture for the pet trade. Therefore, in some states in the United States it is only legal to sell Macaws which have been born in captivity. In other states, they are banned completely. In Canada, you can only have Macaws which have been born domestically. Macaws are great pets, but they require a lot of attention and a lot of work. It is like having a hyperactive one and one-half year old child. Mom and dad eventually had to find a new home for “Bucko” because as they got older, he was just too much for them to handle.

Until next time,

Teia

What You Should Know Before Buying a Parrot for a Pet

It is very delightful to be in the presence of such magnificent creatures as Parrots! Their stunning colour combinations and attention grabbing mimicry create quite an impression on both young and old alike. Mom and dad have owned three Parrots. An orange-winged Amazon Parrot called “Bert,” a lilac-crowned Amazon Parrot called “Rascal” and a blue and gold Macaw called “Bucko.” They purchased “Bert” from a pet store in Ottawa, Ontario in 1981. He loved to go camping with the family and sat on a perch mounted on the inside of the passengers’ window of the car. Once, this proved to be a problem when he decided that he wanted to visit dad while he was driving down the freeway at 100 kilometres per hour. He ran across the dashboard and jumped onto the top of the steering wheel. It’s not easy to steer a car with a Parrot blocking your view of the road. Fortunately, dad was able to safely slow the car and then get “Bert” to climb onto his hand so he could pass the Parrot to mom who placed him back on his perch. When the family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan in 1982, both of mom and dad were working full time and “Bert” got lonely by himself, so they purchased “Rascal” at a Regina pet store so he would have some company. That turned out to be a bad move. The two Parrots got along fine, but neither of them wanted to have anything to do with any member of the family. “They had each other.” Mom and dad's older daughter bought “Bucko” from a Regina pet store in 1988, when he was two years old. He was like having a permanent one and one-half year old child. He got into everything he could think of. Once, he climbed up the shelves in the pantry and removed the labels off all of the canned goods and chewed all of the boxes off the boxed groceries. For weeks the family never knew what was being opened until the lid was off the can. It’s a little difficult to make chili when you open a can of sliced peaches instead of a can of kidney beans. As the result of this incident, childproof locks were put on all of the cupboard doors.

“Bucko” did not like red hats. One day the electrical meter reader, wearing a red hat, entered the back yard. Bucko’s cage gave him a good view of the back yard through the patio doors. He spotted the red hat and let out a blood curdling screech. The meter reader jumped, looked around wildly and ran as fast as he could to read the electrical meter on the side of the house, then ran back out of the yard leaving all the gates open. He never came back again. The family doesn't know if he was assigned a different route or if he quit.

So, have you been thinking about buying a Parrot of your own? Parrots are quite unlike any other pet and they have distinct attributes that make them both loveable and frustrating. Before you choose to own a Parrot, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of their qualities to ensure that they will fit with your lifestyle.

LIFE SPAN

Are you planning to commit to a pet for your entire lifetime? While a dog may average 10 to 15 years and a cat slightly longer, some species of Parrots live up to 75 years or longer. That means that not only will the bird live as long as you, but quite likely it will survive you and its living arrangements will need to be provided for. Many people who own Parrots have them provided for in their wills. If you leave your Parrot to a child or other relative, as you get older, make sure that the person who is going to get the Parrot through the provisions of the will still wants to get it. Circumstances change with time, and you may have to make different arrangements.

Because of their long lives, many Parrots find themselves in new homes several times during their lifetime. Despite your loving commitment, your bird will likely need a new home when you are no longer able to care for it. You don't want your aged bird to suffer the stress of constantly changing homes so determine what arrangements can be made to satisfy your bird's needs.

MESS

Birds are messy - no matter what species. Their natural instinct to spread seed throughout the forest has not disappeared and you will need to deal with the seeds thrown out of the cage on a daily basis. Leaving seeds strewn about can attract rodents and become a source of bacteria.

Parrots will also produce a fair amount of waste every day. Not cleaning their cages and dishes routinely can lead to infections and diseases. It is also not healthy for the humans who live with the bird.

Parrots that are allowed to roam freely can also cause extensive damage to furniture and other items. Large species like the Macaw have a strong bite and can chew furniture, rip wallpaper or knock items over.

NOISE

While you may find their calls and chattering adorable, your neighbours may not. Different species have different vocalizations. If you live in attached or semi-attached housing, you may have to rule out certain species like Cockatoos which are extremely loud. Cockatoos are also very active chewers and cannot be left unattended or your furniture will be demolished.

RESPONSIBILITY

Owning a Parrot is a privilege and with that comes responsibility. Taking care of your bird does not have to be costly if you clean and feed your bird properly but you will have to invest in proper housing so your bird is comfortable. Parrot cages are quite large, so as well as being quite expensive, they take up quite a bit of space. The family that eventually bought “Bert” and “Rascal” converted one of their bedrooms into a bird room. They put in thick wooden wallboard and mounted perches on the walls. Swings and other bird toys were hung from the ceiling. The room contained no furniture at all. When we asked why they were doing this, they responded, “Our kids have moved away and these birds are now part of the family. As family members they are entitled to their own room.” Now that is dedication to your pets!

If you have other pets, such as dogs or cats, you must protect your Parrot from being harmed. Never leave other pets alone with your Parrot. Smaller Parrots could become a meal. However, if you have a Macaw or Cockatoo, the other pets could become a chew toy. Our family was fortunate because all of our pets got along really well with each other. Even so, when the family went out, the birds were locked in their cages and the dogs were confined to another part of the house. As pet owners you are always responsible for making sure that they are always as safe as possible.

Many Parrots will also develop strong attachments for a certain individual in the family. While the growing loyalty may be appreciated by the favoured person, it can cause problems when birds become overly protective of their loved one. On the other hand, a Parrot is a social and intelligent bird which will become easily bored. A home with a number of people that can talk to and amuse the bird or a single owner who has time to give plenty of attention to the bird would be best.

You may find that your Parrot craves the company of another bird. This is particularly true when the bird matures (around 5-8 years for the larger species). When a mate was provided for “Bert” he lost all interest in the family and spent all of his time with his new mate. However, if you decide to provide a mate for your Parrot, you must also take responsibility for the increased care required for two birds and also keep in mind the possible babies that may arrive.

Parrots bring great joy to the lives of individuals who appreciate them despite the work and noise involved. You owe it to your pet to learn as much as possible about its care so you can commit to your pet and provide a loving home for as long as possible.

Until next time,

Teia