Newsgroups: rec.birds
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!intercon!news
From: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Subject: INDOOR Re: Pet Macaw Questions
Reply-To: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Organization: InterCon Systems Corporation, Herndon, VA
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 91 15:53:34 GMT
Message-ID: <281C417E.44E@intercon.com>
References: <1970001@hpgrla.gr.hp.com>
Sender: usenet@intercon.com (USENET The Magnificent)

In article <1970001@hpgrla.gr.hp.com>, robertm@hpgrla.gr.hp.com (Robert Moss) 
writes:
>   I am thinking about getting a macaw and am interested on any feedback from
> other macaw owners.  I plan on getting a baby, but I am not sure whether
> I should go for a 5 week old, or a 3 month old (partialy weaned) bird.  Some
> breaders think one imprints better on the younger birds, others will only
> sell weaned birds (they seem to care more about their health).  I have limited
> my search down to 4 varieties, but need help in pruning my list.

First off, there are so many dangers associated with a first time bird owner 
hand feeding a baby, that would preclude me recommending you get a 5 week old.  
These dangers include not only the obvious problems with possible aspiration of 
food, but proper sterilization, inherrent diseases that a novice may not notice 
until it's too late, etc. etc.  Also keep in mind that many parent passed 
diseases result in no symptoms but death of young birds.  It's heartbreaking to 
handfeed your baby for weeks and/or months just to have it drop dead.  I'd much 
rather see you purchase the 3 month old on 2 feedings per day.  Purchasing a 
weaned bird really won't hurt your imprinting.  For the first few weeks, the 
bird may be looking for the person who fed it, but after that, you will become 
"mommy" and the bird will love you just as much.
 
>     Hyacinth:    +Mellow,+Intelligent,+Puppy dog like temperment,
>                  -Price

The other - to a hyacinth is that they CHEW like crazy and CAN eat your house.  
Another important thing to consider is that they are highly endangered, and 
keeping one for a pet rather than breeding him/her may create many people who 
will push you to breed your "child", thus losing many of the pet qualities you 
desire in a bird.  There are more hyacinths in captivity than there are in the 
wild.  

>     Green Wing   +Mellow,+Intelligent,-Easily frightened,
>                  -Needs lots of attention

ALL macaws need lots of attention.  It's not just a - with the greenwing.  
Also, I wouldn't consider a greenwing to be easily frightened.  Greenwings are 
my favorite pet macaws.

>     Scarlet      -Nippy with strangers,-Family oriented bird,-Noisey,
>                  -Susceptible to personality problems,
>                  -Needs lots & lots & lots of attention

Not just nippy with strangers....scarlets can be nippy with anyone!  I would 
rule this one out, although, as you know, every bird is different and some 
people have wonderfully sweet scarlets.  I'd never buy one as a pet, however.

>     Blue & Gold  Reference with which above +,-'s compared to

I also really enjoy blue and golds.  They are pretty mellow, intelligent, they 
need lots of attention, but they may not be quite as loving as a greenwing.  
I'm raising a baby blue and gold now.  I'll have more to report later.
 
>   I think the Scarlet's have too many disadvantages to remain on the list, but
> am welcome to suggestions (some breeders say a hand feed macaw is a handfed
> macaw, when it comes to temperment).

I think those breeders are wrong.
 
> Also, I am questioning cage sizes.  Some cage manufacturers sell 24" x 36" 
> macaw cages, while others say 36" x 48" is required to keep the tail feathers
> in good shape.  The median is on the order of 28" x 44".  So what is the real
> scoop (I know bigger is better, but what is a realistic size).

My macaw cages are approximately 5 feet by 6 feet.  Keep in mind, however, that 
if you are looking at a hyacinth, you will need to invest in a larger, and much 
heavier cage.  My personal opinion is that it would be absolutely abominable to 
keep a macaw in a 24x36 cage.  That is barely big enough for an amazon!.  36x48 
is also too damn small.  If you are going to keep your bird in the cage for 
most of the day and overnight, keep in mind that the cage is the bird's home 
for probably the rest of its life.  Buy the largest cage you can afford.  If 
you can't afford more than 36x48, wait and don't buy the bird until you can.  A 
bird in a small confined space is under stress, and very unhappy.

Mikki Barry