Macaws are social creatures that form close pair bonds; therefore, they are ideally suited as pets provided their extensive needs are met. These powerful – yet delicate creatures – demand respect and require loving husbandry from their handlers.
Depending on the size, these active birds require large cages and the ability to move around freely in a safe, bird-proof home enviornment … Some of the larger species aren’t really suited for any cage at all and should be provided a large flight – indoor and / or outdoor, with a steady flow of new chew toys and other environmental enrichments to keep their smart minds occupied.
If they are allowed to roam around the house, one has to keep in mind that they like to gnaw and chew, and can easily destroy valuable household items.
Any space they are in, or have access to, should be carefully bird proofed.
A large variety of macaw species are available as pets, ranging from …
- The smallest of all macaws – the Hahn’s or Red Shouldered Macaw – at a length of about 12 inches (30 cm) – they are about the same size as a cockatiel; they are part of a group commonly referred to as “mini-macaws“.
- One step us is the Yellow-Collared Macaw with a body length of about 15 inches or 38 cm. See how to care for your pet yellow collared macaw here.
- The larger Scarlet Macaw is both impressive in plumage details as well as size. They are about 33.5 inches or 85 cm long.
- The largest of all parrots – the mighty Hyacinthe Macaw. They are up to 1 meter (40 inches) long and weigh about 42 – 51 oz (1,200 to 1,450 g). They are rare and expensive, and in some areas, they are protected and licenses / permits are required to own them. This is the only member of the rare “Blue Macaws” family that is available on the pet market.
Communication with their “flock” in the wild or with humans
Their vocalizations consist of loud, screeching and squawking calls and serve them to communicate with their peers in the wild.
They make contact calls with one another; they use their voices to define their territories and to warn family members of possible dangers. They also imitate sounds (including human speech) around them, often practicing on their roosting perches.
Even though their harsh wild calls can to some extent be “replaced” by verbal speech over time; their early morning or late afternoon vocalizations will never be completely “trained away.” They are natural to these animals.
Their voices are as important for them in their social interactions, as our own vocalizations are for us. This being said, their loud voices do present considerable challenges for their care takers. Other family members or neighbors may not be as tolerant as bonded humans might be.
Longevity
Macaws have the potential of living 80 years or longer. This requires considerable commitment to their long-term welfare, including making arrangements for them for when we can no longer properly take care of them.
Macaws bond very deeply with their caretakers, who basically take the place of the lifelong mate these bird would have had in the wild.
They grieve deeply over the loss of their mate and being rehomed multiple times has the potential of causing physiological damage that cannot easily be repaired.
Not necessarily suitable for kids
Their strong beaks can cause considerable damage to small, curious hands. Even the friendliest macaw of all can get spooked and can bite if they feel threatened.
Oftentimes, there isn’t enough time for them to “think things through” and they will bite if something flashes in front of them or quickly comes towards them.
Children should only be able to interact with macaws under careful supervision of watchful adult eyes.
A macaw is not a bird for most households, but a source of great pleasure, wonderful companionship (and, admittingly, the occasional heartache over destroyed furnishings ;-), for the right owner.
Consider the following before adding a Macaw to your family:
- These are large parrots that require a lot of
space — Are you able to provide an appropriate and safe space for this bird? - These parrots can live up to 100 years. They bond for life — are you ready for a long-term commitment?
- Will you be able to provide daily, supervised time outside his cage?
- They are noisy and their voices are designed to carry over long distances. — will this be acceptable to family members and neighbors? These birds have an excellent talking ability, however constant training is also required to prevent this beautiful parrot from becoming excessively loud.
- Will you be willing to take time out of your schedule to give daily attention and stimulation to your parrot, play with him/her and train him to ensure that he or she doesn’t adopt behavioral problems? They show a large amount of intelligence in their behavior and require constant intellectual stimulation to satisfy their innate curiosity. They require an owner who is willing to provide the necessary stimulation, including providing lots of toys on which they can chew. Birds deprived of such toys often become very destructive, using their large, strong beaks to chew on their cage and other household items.
- Is the primary care taker a mature and responsible person who can adequately care for this complex animal?
Housing
Cage: The minimum cage size for one macaw would be 36 by 48 by 60 inches (~1 m x 1.2 m 1.5 m) with a minimum bar spacing of 1 to 1.5 inches (~2.5 cm – 3.9 cm).
A good flight / aviary size for macaws kept in a permanent outdoor aviary is at least 10 feet (3 meters) wide, 15 feet (4.5 meters) long and 8 feet (2.5 meters) tall.
They require a set-up that allows them to chew as much as they want, toys to keep them busy, an area that is easily cleaned and maintained.
Species Research by Sibylle Johnson
