Blue and Gold Macaw
72Blue And Gold Macaw Parrot Care
Blue and Gold Macaws are majestic animals and proper care should be maintained to ensure a long, healthy, and happy life.
Macaws need to have plenty of room to move around in. They should be allowed the run of the house to follow their flock (owner(s), they will see their owner(s) as their flock if they are bonded to you), but they should be in a cage at night for sleeping and if there are strangers (including children and other pets) in the house.
Blue and yellow macaws are very territorial, and they may attack a stranger, or another pet, so caution must be taken. They may even attack their people if they are protecting their cage.
The cage for a macaw should be no smaller than 40” wide, 30” deep, and 50” tall with the bars being no farther apart than 1”. The bars should also be strong enough to withstand a macaw’s powerful beak (at least 10 gauges).
Of course, the bigger the cage the better. macaws are active birds, and they love to climb around, talk, mimic, sing, whistle, and as occasional screech is in order. They are also known for chewing, so watch your furniture, window frames, picture frames, anything made from wood is fair game, at least according to a macaw. For this reason, it is important that your macaw has some guidelines as to what it can and can’t chew on. Plenty of toys that your macaw can chew up are important to have, even when it is out of its cage. Macaw parrots can be taught to put their toys away when they are done playing with them, and some macaws love to drag their favorite toy around the house.
Good care of a blue and yellow macaw also entails proper nutrition. In the wild, macaw parrots eat berries, nuts, fruits, and sometimes even small insects. Their captive diet should have the same nutritional values. A good pellet food, designed for macaw parrots is a good start. However, be sure to offer fresh fruits every day, and some cooked meat products. They can have chicken also but make sure it's limited. Remember that a macaw parrot needs a high protein diet.
Good care of a blue gold macaw parrot also entails good mental stimulation. These are very smart birds, and they love to learn. They love puzzle toys, learning new words, songs, tricks, and games.
Macaws will usually bond with just one person, however, they can accept others in the household, and sometimes even strangers, however, they have a very powerful beak that can do severe damage to adults and children, so extra caution must be taken around these beautiful, majestic birds.
Be sure to take your macaw parrot to a Certified Avian Vet or an Exotic Animal Vet at least twice a year for a wellness check up. This is important, as a visit for a sick macaw would cost so much more that the cost of the 2 yearly visits.
I hope this article was useful to you. I recommend you to check the following site out for parrot training and taming tips:
The Parrot Training and Taming Blog
You can also sign up for a free 3-day parrot training and taming course there so make sure to check it out.
Macaw Behavior
Macaws love to be a part of the family and invited into family activities. They love to interact with their owners, but they are also content to have heir quiet time. While a Macaw can be noisy, proper training can easily modify this behavior. Keep in mind that a Macaw will not learn to be quieter if the household is noisy.
The large beak of a Macaw can do quite a bit of damage to a house, as they are natural chewers, however, this behavior can also be modified if given enough bird safe, wood toys to chew on. They will learn that the toys are fine to chew on and they will usually leave the furniture alone.
Macaws love to walk around on the floor, so be sure to keep your floors clean and disinfected, and make sure that there is nothing that it can chew on that will harm your bird. Many Macaws will actually follow their owner(s) from room to room.
Macaws also love to talk. This is learned from their owner(s), and they do catch onto words fairly quickly, so you need to be sure not to say anything that you would not want your bird to repeat in front of people.
With the mentality of a 2-5 year old, Macaws will test rules, so be sure that you are consistent with the rules. If your Macaw gets the behavior that (s)he can get away with anything, (s)he will.
Although it’s inviting to have your Macaw sit on your shoulder, don’t do this. A Macaw is taught to bite easily and can bite you severely the face, which in turn can cause you to not love your bird anymore, or to get rid of your bird. The main one that suffers here is the bird.
Bad behavior is learned by negative reinforcement. If your Macaw starts screaming and you yell at your bird, then (s)he has learned the this behavior will get him/her attention and will continue to do this.
Macaws are mainly aggressive when it comes to their cage, therefore it is important to perch train your macaw so that you can move him/her to a play gym while you are servicing the cage.
Recommended site:
Parrot Taming and Training Blog
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Comments
Marilyn, The first and most important thing is not to reward your Macaw when she screams by giving her ANY attention. Wait until she has stopped screaming and then go into the room she's in and spend some time with her.
Figure out why she screams. Maybe she doesn't like where her cage is at. Maybe there's something new in her environment that is stressing her out. Here are some common problems blue and golds have and some fixes:
This is just a piece of my mind on who ever thinks that birds are retarded!! I have been raised around birds all my life and the one thing that i have learned is that they are far from retarded.. i have 3 children and i own a blue and gold macaw, he is a joy and a wonder every day he brings happiness and laughter to our home, as for you ruth maybe you need to research a topic on hatefull and ugly people, that may be more up your alley, since you sure are unaware of the true value of the love and joy that a bird can bring.
To the person that thinks that birds are "retareded" ( btw i think you mispelled retarded), clearly you have no life and i dont understand why you would waste your time posting a comment so ignorant. I whole heartedly agree with ptmilby birds do bring love and joy, and they certainly are amazing creature. No one wants to hear you.
Parrots are wonderful intelligent creatures. They are suffering from "loss" of habitant. Most of us do not personally have the money to save them so we have taken them in as pets. No animal on this earth is retarded. Many are misunderstood but they all have their place in this world.
i have a blue and gold macaw and i have to say he can really be a sod and an attetion seeker, i find that oscar can and will wake up in different moods every day which does make me laugh, i just have to gauge when he wants company and when to be left alone, a few of my friends who have tried to befriend him have come off worst,
if thinking about buying a macaw think very seriosly because as they do take up an awful lot of time and acquire as much attention as a child i believe, they can not be ignored for a day or days as sometimes you really would wish to....as they will become unhappy. much as we would in a relationship of any kind...
my parrot is spoilt so much so that he will screach if i leave the room, refuse to let me eat my dinner in piece and is always on the look out for furniture to chew but i dont mind altho at the moment i am trying to ignore his demands for attention ( its not easy)
so to ruth the rather stupid women who belives birds are retards i think a quick look in the mirror should reveal who is actually the retard in this whole discussion, not only is she commenting on a personality of an animal she does not understand as i am sure she has probably only encountered one in a zoo of sorts or in books, should really not comment on what we responsible macaw owners and lovers should belive or do with our beloved birds....... if we were wrong why at this very moment would oscar my bird have come down off his perch to sit on the sofa with my daughter who has just come in and help her do her jigsaw....
( or should that be try to eat it)!!?
I love blue and Gold macaws. i think they r beautiful animals. i really really want one but not lucky enough. those of u who have a blue and gold macaw r extremly lucky unlike ruth. if i where her i would not bother to write such a stupid and childish comment.
A MESSAGE TO RUTH: R U SURE U WHERE NOT TALKING ABOUT UR SELF.
I love blue and Gold macaws. i think they r beautiful animals. i really really want one but not lucky enough. those of u who have a blue and gold macaw r extremly lucky unlike ruth. if i where her i would not bother to write such a stupid and childish comment.
A MESSAGE TO RUTH: R U SURE U WHERE NOT TALKING ABOUT UR SELF.
I love blue and Gold macaws. i think they r beautiful animals. i really really want one but not lucky enough. those of u who have a blue and gold macaw r extremly lucky unlike ruth. if i where her i would not bother to write such a stupid and childish comment.
A MESSAGE TO RUTH: R U SURE U WHERE NOT TALKING ABOUT UR SELF.
ruth ur just a child its not ur age to go on the computer and write a message if u dont know wat it means.
to chet womach. i live in the uk and i really really love blue and gold macaws i want to know how much they cost. i want a baby blue and gold macaw so i want to know what they can and can not do and information how to look after one. thank u.
question really i am going to get a blue and gold macaw bird and would like to know if these kinds birds need shots and what kinds if anyone
hi stephannie delgado, i may be able to answer ur question what do u mean by shots. thank u. where will u get ur blue and gold macaw from because i really really want one. how much do they cost.
I just recently rec'd a blue and gold macaw. He is approximately 8 yrs old. The original owner neglected him and he lost all of his feathers. He was then rescued by a couple about 2 yrs ago and most of his feathers have come back. I was wondering if there is something special that I should do to help from his feathers falling out again?!
Thank you in advance for your help.
We own two 10 year old Blue and Gold Girls. They are wonderful friends and great company for each other. It is the biggest responsibility to care for them but so worth it. I wish they were free in the South American jungle but they aren't....but they play in the woods in Oregon. They are the best watch-animals ever! See our byrds on youtube...taking a shower.
i really really want a blue and gold macaw but there are expensive.
i just go t a blue and gold 5 week old baby fir my birthday. he is so much fun and he bonds well, he gets so excited when he sees me. i wanted to know round what age do they start talking. dosent matter he is my baby.
i just go t a blue and gold 5 week old baby fir my birthday. he is so much fun and he bonds well, he gets so excited when he sees me. i wanted to know round what age do they start talking. dosent matter he is my baby.
I have had my blue and gold macaw, "Jay" for over 10 years. He is extremely smart, loves to ride in the truck, play on the back deck, and talks all the time. He gets along well with my two dogs and two cats. Altho he thinks he is superior to them. I think Ruth is an idiot.
blue and gold macaws start to talk at the age of about 1-2 months.
blue and gold macaws start to talk at the age of about 1-2 months.
does anybody know where i could get a blue and gold macaw
Who in the hell sold you a five week old Macaw? Same idiot that posted the retard comment???
Nobody should have a macaw from that age I am pretty sure you made a mistake with your typing
I have a blue and gold who has access to trees daily is fed the Harrisons diet alongside copious amounts of speciality and organic foodstuffs. I interact with my bied for hours on the daily. He is bathed daily and has a cage big enough to house three or four kids
Please if you would like to get a macaw make sure you can give the time and attention needed. They live a mighty long time and need special care and are not just Whimsical buys
Get insurance the best diet you can buy and allow some freedom in a natural environment. Dont whip in and out of a cage at your leisure
Enjoy your friend he could very well outlive you
I had so much trouble with a blue and gold. A wonderful bird. Personality changed. After 3 months of a biting possessive bird. It took a long time to finally look on line and find a site about female nesting.Their hormones are raging and they do not know how to handle it. Maybe this is why people say their birds suddenly change as mine did. We are now getting thru. it and I must say it was bad. There were no problems with cage size, she has the largest, good pellet food and snacks. Just thought this might help someone that has had the same problem and didnt know what was going on with their wonderful friend. Thanks Bunny
Birds are definitely my fav animal (along with dogs/wolves). I have heaps of little birds, (budgies, cockatiels, Greencheeks, etc), and can Gladly say: Ruth - get a life. Stupid cow doesn't know what she's talking about, why bother post something like that? There is no more exportation of wild Macaws, so all the pets are captive bred. I am thinking of a Macaw for my next pet, as I have the chance to get one for $100, with full id (papers, leg band, NEBRS) and I have always loved Macaws.
Addicted, if you are getting a macaw for only $100 be sure its not a scam. these bird cost about $3000. there are a lot of scams out there with macaws. careful.
i read alot of posts and i cant believe someone would call birds retarded i own a blue and gold and a military macaw and i wouldn't trade my babies for the world.
i have a blue and gold macaw and he wont stop screaming even when were in the same room as him wat can i do to make him stop? i tried to ignore him but he just keeps on going i put him in his cage but i think that just shows him he can get my attention help me plzzzz!!!
Wow - Ruth was dumbass. Probably why she hasn't posted in two years. With that said, I have been adopted by a 17 yr old B&G who was neglected by the previous owner. I have to say that after a year of 'getting to know' eachother, we are better. I was in love from the get go. I have had big birds before but a Macaw is by far, the unniest. He sings opera when he takes a bath and meow's like a cat at night. Althought we havehad a few hard times(he tore my lip off and then gave my finger the beak death clamp) we are growing into a bonded couple. YES they are sooooo moody. He has his days of keep the f*ck away from me and then days of total love, hugs and kisses. He is a part of my life for ever and I hope to grow old with him.
So does anyone know when they stop the ability to learn new words? I hae been trying since he came to me to teach him 2 words and it's like talking to my husband! I know he was neglected and that this new life is a total change for him, but after a year of every night of 'Super Bird' I am a bit discouraged. He can say Hello, out, ouch, stop it and goodnight, so I know he CAN speak but maybe doesn't want to learn anything? I don't know. When I took him to the vet, I had questions but they broke his toe before I could have them answered. (yeah I sued the A.H. and won).
So if anyone could help, that would be awesome. I also joined a macaw pwners group on Yahoo that is amazing, if anyone is really into their macaws too.
Thank you and Happy Holidays!
marilyn says:
2 years ago
i want to teach my mccaw from screaming. i have tried alot of different approaches. plz help. i love my bird hes 3 yrs old bought him from a private owner