Dealing with MACAW PARROTS

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) showing side of head and neck. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Among the parrot family, Macaw parrots are known to have the largest number of members. According to studies, these colorful, flamboyant, and captivating birds have inhabited the planet ever since and there are actually at least 18 species of macaws recognized today.

Characterized by their playful nature, Macaw parrots have earned a hefty reputation of being one of the most interesting birds because of their high intelligence and beauty. Hailing from South and Central America as well as from the Caribbean islands, macaw parrots have been legendary for possessing a unique personality and lovable characteristics, which makes them loyal and great companion parrots.

But, despite of its superb potentials, most people say that Macaw parrots are not good pets because they possess destructive tendencies, raucousness, demanding, and very noisy large birds.

Macaw parrots are not among those most favorite parrot pets because they screech so loud that most owners cannot tolerate. Aside from being creating loud noise, macaw parrots also have a reputation of being very demanding birds.

If you are planning to purchase a Macaw parrot for a pet bird, you have to have a great deal of knowledge and research about the nature and characteristic of macaw parrots species so you would have an idea how to take care of them. Although this parrot specie is not the most suitable parrot pet an owner can have, these large birds can live from 25 to 80 years and even beyond if taken care of properly.

Understanding Macaw parrots

Among the so many species of macaw parrots, the most popular include the Blue and Gold Macaw, Blue and Yellow Macaw which are the most available and popular kind of macaw parrot for being adaptable, playful, curious, and fun loving;

Scarlet Macaw, Red and Yellow Macaw which are considered as among the top ten of the worlds most beautiful parrots; Greenwing Macaw, Maroon Macaw, Red and Green Macaw, Red and Blue Macaw which are extremely intelligent and inquisitive ones;

Military Macaw that has fine talking skills and a pleasant behavior;

Red Fronted Macaw, Red Crown or Crowned Macaw which are among the sweetest and amiable parrots;

Hyacinthine or Hyacinth Macaw which is the largest among the parrot family;

Hahn's Down which are full blooded Macaws which are talkative and thrive in attention and Severe Macaw which is an uncommon pet bird because of its small size.

Here are some points to consider before buying a macaw parrot:

1. Talking Ability. These parrots are not considered excellent talkers but have high capabilities for speech and can be very good at language interaction.

2. Personality. Macaw parrots are among the most demanding pet parrots there are so you better make sure that you can spend enough time to interact with your parrot. Because of its violent tendencies, owning a macaw parrot is not advisable for parents that have little children.

3. Basic necessities. Since they can be quite demanding and destructive if not given the proper care, you must make sure that you can provide the things the macaw parrot might need such as toys, acrobatics and love ropes, big and secure cage and proper diet.

4. Biting and Taming. Because of its complex personality, macaw parrots can be extremely aggressive if not handled properly. Bear in mind that macaw parrots’ temperament changes as time goes by so you better brace yourself for the best or the worst attitude this bird can exhibit.

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Flooding – A Bad Parrot Training Technique For MACAWS

When I first decided to become a parrot trainer I read up on all sorts of training techniques from supposedly good parrot trainers. These trainer’s birds were amazing. Their Green Wing Macaws were capable of jumping off the top of hotel roofs, without any restraints and would willingly fly down from the roof and land on their trainer's hand.

Two Military Macaws at Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, England. The macaw on the left has damaged feathers on its chest and abdomen probably because of a feather plucking habit.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was an amazing thing to watch, so amazing that I decided to follow all instructions he gave me to the core. I obeyed everything he said, including a method that I later realized, was FAR from the best way to train a parrot not to bite.

The method that this trainer taught me was what is known in the animal training industry as flooding. Flooding is where you put an animal in a situation and force it to comply with whatever means is necessary. In my case, I was trying to get my Blue and Gold Macaws to willingly come out of their cages without biting me. And I was instructed to take two wooden dowels, one in each hand, and proceed to forcibly put my Blue and Gold Macaws with the wooden dowels.

Obviously, my Macaws did not like this situation as they didn’t like being touched. But I was instructed that they would soon realize that the touching was OK and that I (the trainer) was the boss and not the bird.

This technique was to be executed so as never to harm the bird, but scare it into submission. My blue and Golds would scream, flap their wings and bite at the sticks, and each time he did so I was to overwhelm them even more by touching them with the other stick in my other hand until they realized there was no hope and finally gave up.

Luckily for me, this technique works on Macaws that like to attack their owners, but it’s woefully ineffective on other species of parrots, especially certain species that are prone to running away in fear vs. holding their ground and putting up a fight like my blue and gold Macaws were.

In hind sight, there are much more gentle approaches to training that not only work faster than the flooding method I’ve just described but work for helping parrots of all temperaments learn to not bite. It involves putting a parrot in situations where he has to choose to do or not do something and is rewarded for the correct choice, and ignored with the wrong choice.

The end result is a parrot who realizes that you are trying to communicate with him in a nice way because you’ve never scared him or hurt him. Plus the parrot realizes that life with you is a puzzle… and it’s his job to figure out because there’s always a nice treat in it for him if he can figure out the answer.

This type of training is extremely mentally stimulating and with just a few short practice sessions a week with a parrot can be the perfect preventative medicine for all sorts of behavior problems like feather plucking, screaming, and boredom.

Submitted by: Chet Womach About the Author: To learn more about how Chet Womach teaches positive reinforcement my Blue and Gold Macaws visit http://www.birdtricks.com/macaws.html and sign up for my free ezine jam packed with parrot training tips you can start using today.  Source: www.isnare.com Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=149979&ca=Pets

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