These birds are easy to train and rarely aggressive. They do best when handled regularly and are able to mimic words.
Macaws consume a diet of pellets, fresh fruits and vegetables, and seeds. They also need some perches made of wood for climbing and chewing.
Macaws may develop a dominant streak, particularly when first entering the new environment. To prevent this, an avian behaviorist and a veterinarian should be consulted.
Training
Macaws are intelligent birds that thrive when handled regularly, provided with enrichment and exercise, and with constant attention. They love playing, exploring their environment and manipulating objects. They also enjoy being "skritched", or cuddled when they feel at ease with the person.
Macaws who are not handled properly can become territorial, aggressive or destructive. The boredom of a macaw can lead to feather picking, which is a form of self-mutilation. To stop boredom, give plenty of toys that are textured and multiple perches. Playing with toys that simulate preening will also help keep feathers from being destroyed by boredom. Consult a qualified avian behaviourist and/or vet should these behavior occur.
Young macaws who are fed by hand are well adapted to new surroundings and training. Introduce them to new people, car trips, hospital visits as well as other pets (including cats and dogs) and other birds from a young age. These birds are easily imprinted and need regular handling from a young age to avoid developing one person bonds. When this happens, these parrots will often scream for attention and may start biting. Discipline, leadership and patience are the key to changing these behavior patterns.
Larger macaws like the Blue and Gold, Scarlet, Military and Hyacinth are more susceptible to behavioral problems as adults. Hormonal imbalances can lead to depression and aggression. If left unattended these issues can develop into serious health problems for the parrot, and a difficult situation for the pet's owner.
Mini macaws tend to be more easy to train than their larger counterparts. They are able to learn basic commands, tricks, and words. They will however not connect as easily with their owners and will seldom snuggle or snuggle towards them. To establish a bond spend a few hours each day with your bird outside their cage and talk to them in a reassuring tone to get them accustomed to your voice. Once you've established an alliance, you can teach your bird to hop on your finger to learn to be in a secure environment.
Care
Macaws are intelligent, social birds that need interaction with humans. They are prone to depression and boredom if they don't get enough playtime with their people. A macaw suffering from depression could self-mutilate, taking out its feathers. This can be a risk.
To avoid these issues early socialization and training is vital. Macaws should be taken care of regularly to strengthen the connection between them and their owner, improve their general health, and allow for a simple examination of the body to detect any injuries or other abnormalities. Macaws can also be destructive, which is why owners should ensure that their pets have plenty of toys that are strong enough to keep them away from furniture made of wood and other items that can be tempting in the home.
Regularly trim the nail of the macaw. This helps with the handling of the bird, and makes it harder for the nails to get caught in things like caging and toys. Short nails also help keep the bird clean and healthy.
Macaws require a huge cage that allows them to fly and exercise. A minimum cage size of 3 feet wide, 2.5 feet deep and 6 feet tall is recommended. These large birds must be able to spread their wings during flight, and have space for toys, climbing and perching.
Offering your macaw an assortment of foraging chewable rope, chewable wood toys puzzles that are easy to take apart and mechanical toys is an excellent way to give your pet daily stimulation. Providing a variety of branches for your macaw to climb on and hide on is an additional way to enrich your pet's physical health.
If your macaw behaves oddly, is gasping for breath, or is fluffed-up and lethargic it may be trying to lay an egg. The eggs could put pressure on the nerves controlling the legs, and can cause self-mutilation and paralysis. So if you see this behavior, contact your veterinarian or the local animal emergency clinic.
Feeding
Macaws are omnivores. They consume fruits and vegetables in their diet. They can also eat pellets, nuts and commercial parrot foods.
They'll need to be fed various meals every day to ensure that their diet is balanced. Smaller birds consume less food than their larger counterparts and therefore owners don't have to make as many trips to pet stores. This can save you some money, and that's always a positive thing!
The Hahn's Macaw is a great talking animal, with a booming and brief call they use to find other members of their flock. They also make loud, piercing contact calls when they are anxious or scared.
It is a good idea to start your macaw off by touching it all over, especially between the wings and behind the head. They are awestruck by being touched and love being admired! Annual examinations are a must to keep your bird healthy. This is the time to look for parasites, fecal tests and other issues with avian health.
If you're thinking of purchasing macaws, you'll need to have an enclosure that is at least 36" by 24" x 24." This will give your macaw enough space to fly around and stretch out into. To be healthy and happy, they need to be able to work out their natural energy.
The cage should be well-ventilated and include a variety of perches to give the bird choices. Providing the macaw with ways to let their energy flow will help them avoid becoming stressed and bored. These little birds are extremely active in the wild, so they need to be able to let their energy flow when they are at home.
Adolescent hormones are a big issue for these birds. As they mature, they can act like teenagers and become very irritable. It can be difficult for parrot owners to learn how to live with a bird. The best way to approach this is to be patient and encourage them to maintain their positive behavior.
Health
Macaws love to play with their owners and form strong bonds. They are intelligent birds that can learn to communicate well. They make a great addition to any family and can be a wonderful companion during their 45-50-year-old lifespan. They can be noisy and difficult to handle if they are not socialized at an early age. This species will be happy and a great pet if you train it and give it lots of love and attention.
Hahn's miniature macaws offer all of the fun and enjoyment of large macaws in a smaller package. They are affectionate, and love cuddling. However, they do not bite or nip as often as larger Macaws. They are very active little performers, but are calm and quiet as well. They are a good option for those who want an macaw, but do not have the space needed for larger birds.
The chestnut-fronted macaw is called the severe macaw and is among the largest mini macaw breeds. It's green in color with patches of red and blue on the wings. The head is covered in an orange-brown chestnut patch and black feathers that cover its eyes. The chestnut-fronted macaw is aggressive during puberty, and this could be a problem in captivity. This bird is tolerant of regular handling and loves learning new things.
Macaws don't tend to be territorial, but they can become aggressive when their surroundings become too overcrowded or stressful. It is recommended to place the macaw in a private area until it settles down. A veterinarian can perform a complete physical examination on your bird to check their ears, eyes and heart. A stool sample can be taken to test for parasites.
Your macaw needs to be regularly wormed Make sure to use a wormer such as Worm-Away from Birdsville. You will also need to change the water on a regular basis and ensure that the cage has plenty of fresh clean air. Keep the cage away from direct sunlight, since the heat can cause overheating of the bird and cause illness.