Blue and Gold Macaw

[cf737]

Hello....this is for a friend of mine who is considering getting a Blue and Gold macaw. I was just wondering if anyone here has one.

1. What is he/she like?

2. Do they go through many of the stages the greys do (eg. terrible twos)?

3. Do they get along well with other birds?

4. Is their diet very much the same as greys?

 

Thanks! Overall I'm just looking for some general information as this is a serious decision for my friend and I want to be sure she is informed! I've heard many wonderful things about them but I just thought I'd check in to see what you guys have to say

[SchroedersJen]

While I do not own one due to space issues, I have worked with and cared for several and feel I can answer most of these.

1) na

2) Yes. They are more outgoing though and rather than being aggressive when they feel shy and intimidated, they are more likely to be aggressive when they want to intimidate you.

3)It depends on the individual. In general, since they come from multi species flocks in the wild, they enjoy having other birds around a great deal. The trouble is that they do not always understand or respect the fact that they are so much larger and can accidently injure the other birds they are trying to play wiith. Supervise, supervise, supervise.......

4) While they eat similar pellets, fruits, veggies, macaws meed a much larger percentage of healthy fats in their diet. A macaw diet should contain a lot of nuts (they like them in their shells, its fun to get them out). Rather than peanuts, stick to harder shelled varieties like almonds, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, filberts and walnuts.

[nanmadpad]

I owned a BG Macaw for a long time. He was a wonderful bird and the most gentle of all the parrots i had. He would go to anyone,was never aggressive and loved to socialize with the other fids. He was not loud or obnoxious like my moluccan and only voiced his opinions when one of the other birds invaded his space. He never bit anyone or hurt any of the other birds but i did supervise all my birds. I cant speak for others but mine was great. I raised him from a baby and he was by far my most behaved.:woohoo:

[Tycos_mom]

I have a Severe Macaw and although they are smaller than the blue and golds they do eat aboutthe same kind of diet he eats a lot of nuts in his diet brazil nuts being his favorite he love almonds and walnuts also. Mine is a rescue and was abused ithink as well as being neglected but I find even when he is trying to be aggressive most of the time he's jst bluffing so when he does actually make contact with his beak he doesn't bite hard. he just love human interaction and the more he get the happier he get he sits in his cage and say are you happy I'm happy its so cute he has a wonderful vocabulary and even knows his manners. Macaws are great birds but the blue and Golds as much as I'd love one they are to large for my house so I settled for a smaller Macaw and he has such a sweet personality if the Blue and Golds are anything like him your friend will have a wonderful companion.