Keeping MACAW PARROTS As Pets

Two macaws - a Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) on right,
and a Blue-and-gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) on the left.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Keeping Macaw parrots as pets isn't too difficult, but it does require a lot of time and commitment. Be sure that you know how to take care of one of these majestic birds before you bring one into your home, so you don't get any surprises about behavior or needs along the way.

There are a few different species of Macaw that are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors. There are Scarlet Macaws, Blue and Gold Macaws, Blue Throated Macaws, Military Macaws, and Greenwing Macaws. The oldest reported Macaw lived for over 100 years. Although the normal expectancy of Macaws is about 80, it's still a lifelong commitment you have to make with Macaws.

To help your Macaw reach his or her full potential, you need to feed him right. In the wild, Macaws mainly eat fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. You will have to mimic this as best you can, offering a good variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as some seeds and nuts. Be sure that the seeds and nuts are fed sparingly, as the captive Macaw doesn't have the same energy requirements as a wild one, and could become overweight with too many of these fattening foods. You should never feed a Macaw onions, avocados, tomatoes, chocolate, anything with caffeine, or salted nuts and seeds.

Another important part of having a Macaw is understanding behavior. Most of the negative behaviors such as excessive screaming and bad eating habits stem from wild instincts. When you know what the rood of these problems are, you can quickly and easily solve them rather than fighting with your Macaw over these things. Be sure to have a plethora of information on Macaws and their behavior before you get one. You can track down this information on the internet or in books.

Some behavior problems stem from improper socialization. Macaws that mainly interact with just one person will bond with that person and may show aggression when other people try to handle them. Solving this problem is easy. Just be sure that everybody in the house spends time talking to, cuddling with, and giving affection to your Macaw. It's important for the Macaw to know that they are a valued member of the household like he would be a member of a large flock in the wild. Once you get these things down, keeping Macaw parrots as pets is both fun and rewarding.

By Alan Stables - Article Source: EzineArticles

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