Ha I am no expert. BUT I know a blue and gold who is an absolute cuddly tame bird, he even gently pulls the hair on my hand ONE AT A TIME, even so he needs very firm handling. Equally I know of one who is a terror in disguise and needs expert handling (they are a big bird if you are not confident with them).
Find out more about the bird, do you have children in the house? I have a five year old here and while I would love to have a macaw, they are a big bird to have near a small child, our five year old would be petrified!!
Hope this helps a bit, I am sure that members who are much more experienced than me will offer advice to you

Maddie you have made the first step and seem to be going about it in the right way. I am sure that over the next couple of days you will get some quality advice from this thread.

Doddie is far more experienced than me, and made a couple of good suggestions, comments and ideas about other things to consider. The only thing I would like to add is have you had a look at the rehoming list??

Hi Maddie

As you can see we have a B&G (Max) he is 6 yo. He is a great character but there are a number of things to take into account.

Size of cage - they are by definition a big bird and need a big home, Max lives in the biggest cage that can be bought, space is needed.

Noise - they as do most parrots have a good shout at times don't call us at 4pm if you want to hear yourself speak LOL - do you have others living close by.

Time out of cage - Max is fully flighted and loves to fly around the room. As with all parrots Macaws need time out of their cage and time needs to be spent working with them, Max lives with us in our living room so is just part of the family, we spend around 4-5 hours each day with Max out of his home and playing with him. We are lucky he will spend time with any one of us so whoever is in the room he will sit with, some only bond with 1 person, which makes it very hard.

Biting - as with most parrots they do nip occasionally Macaws are no different except they have a beak that can crack a shelled almond like it was made of paper.

Holidays - we don't have them it's our choice but its difficult to find someone that is willing to handle a Macaw and his home is not easy to accommodate.

Note you have other parrots, but, I would not recommend a B&G Macaw as a first parrot, they have strong personalities and need to be handled in a certain way, we learnt a lot from having Amazons before taking on the responsibility of Max.

If you can live with and are ok with the above then think again and again if you are still ok then a Macaw is propabaly right for you .

We love Max to bits (as we do all our parrots) and would not be without him the Macaw is a very special breed.

If you do decide to go ahead do not go to a breeder, talk to you local ACO. (or do you know a bird that is looking for a home)

Sorry if the above seems negative it is not meant to be, but it is our experience of living with Macaws for a number of years, I can say we would not change a thing.

Hope of help and best wishes

Paul Loraine and Luke
Max Henry and Archie





 

Great advice Doddie.....I am sure there will be someone who will let you visit and get 'up close & personal' with their Macaw if you let us know whereabouts you are. I have a blue&gold here who loves me but seems to dislike all others!! Of course you could always become a safehouse and try out different birds and maybe get to safehouse a Macaw!!! This would give you a taste of the big guys....

No Sharon the title says it all. Get another bottle of home made out!!!!

Mind you a bit more info in the text box is always good, and may incite more responses. (I love that word incite!!)

Yep poor Reg (Sharons husband) has a love hate relationship with her green wing. Probably more hate than love!!

Where the BL blue and gold (the same one I talk about in my first reply) is amazing and gets on with most people.

Just mention this to re enforce what Sharon is saying about there being no guarantees when it comes to parrots!!

As above,,,,, . My ACO has 4 B&G macaws in the house, 2 are hers which are quite old and are great friendly birds and 2 young safehouse birds who would eat me given the chance, they have done a good job of eating her house to bless em including the plaster. And like Sharon says when they are toddlers they are full of life and a pleasure to be with, but then the hormones kick in around 5 - 6 years of age and the change can be startling to say the least. I would not have a macaw personally an Amazon is big enough for me, i can just about stand a bite of an ammie but a macaw's bill (bolt cropper) scares me