Feathered Family Inc.

Coming in a variety of sizes, all with long tails and expressive faces Macaws are popular companion parrots. Macaws have massive heads and beaks, which perfectly match their massive tails and wings. In a home setting Macaws can use those beaks to disassemble furniture, eat window sills, and do other damage if not properly distracted. Part of the appeal of this parrot is the bare face patch which shows off the feather trails beautifully. Like fingerprints, no two macaws have exactly the same facial feathers, and this bare patch of skin allows them to do something no other parrot does visibly.. blush.  A blushing macaw is expressing excitement, aggression, joy, or fear... or a variety of other emotions. It is a beautiful sight to behold, but one must read it with other body language to be sure what has inspired the gorgeous glow. Macaws are famous for learning new behaviors, adapting well to new situations, and for teaching each other behaviors. Being so prolific in captivity means that many people get a chance to share their homes and their lives with one.

The companion Macaw loves to be included in things going on around him. Young macaws love to cuddle and snuggle, but this should be kept to a limited amount as you don't want a macaw on your hands who is dependant and needy. Instead train the young bird to do the things you will need it to do later in life, such as step up readily. It has been observed that macaws lunge at people, threatening to bite often, but most often those lunges are really just a bluffing behavior and if one faces the bird without fear most times will not be bitten. Macaws are very dominant birds, who must not be allowed to take over the human home. If not well socialized they can terrorize the human inhabitants until there is no choice but to re-home the bird, which is a shame, both for the human and the bird. One must also provide these parrots with plenty of chances to chew wood, as they are cavity breeders and the instinct to do so is so strong that many an owner has lost a favorite chair or table leg to this constant need to destroy wood. Providing a macaw with proper toys to chew instead of household items is something that must be done, and it is not inexpensive at all. Noise is probably the behavior that costs most Macaws their home. The larger parrots, such as the hyacinth and greenwing, have huge booming voices which have been described as able to wake the dead by more than one person. However, some of the smaller Macaws make more noise with smaller voices by screaming more often than the large birds do.

Most Macaw species are now threatened species in the wild. Unfortunately, in the companion parrot setting they seem to be nearly overpopulated due to their ease of breeding. Macaws are long lived birds, with the larger ones living 80-100 years, and the "Mini" Macaws sometimes hitting 40. These parrots also need a higher fat diet than most companion birds, which means one should include lots of nuts in his daily mix.

Many of the Macaw species are fantastic companions, though some have reputations of being "nippier" than others. Macaws do continue to test you long after bonding to you, as if to make sure that you will not suddenly allow them to become dominant and rule the roost. The macaw that does love you will be a very special prize in your life, something you will cherish much more often than you will be frustrated with. Like puppies a macaw who is well bonded wants to be with you, even if its just where it can see you and they should be included as much as possible in daily activities.

Another important consideration for anyone who wishes to add a Macaw to the family is the amount of space they will need in order to provide properly for their family members. The larger species need extremely large cages, often 6ft or more high, and at least 4ft wide to allow these beautiful birds to fully extend their wings while playing. Even the smaller species need a good deal of space, and one must consider that due to their social nature playstands must be provided for these birds in the areas of the house that humans most often frequent.

Having grown up with a macaw I have a special relationship with these beautiful birds, an instinctive understanding and adoration for all of them. Even with that I am sometimes befuddled by their behavior, and often saddened by the birds who come to us in need of a new home. Macaws are prone to feather abuse, and even mutilation of their own skin when their very special needs are not properly met. They can easily become aggressive with humans if mistreated, and they have a long memory so it can take years to earn the trust of a Macaw who has been abused. Neglect of these beautiful birds is sadly common, and birds who have been neglected often lack social skills with humans that can make them seem aggressive or frightened, when the actual problem is that they have never been taught what it is to interact with the human race.