Since parrots are such complex and intelligent creatures, owners have to consistently work hard at gaining and keeping their trust. Anything less, usually results in a very frightened and biting parrot. While a bite from a conure is painful, a bite from a large Macaw may land you in the hospital. Without this trust, you will never be able to properly train your parrot. The quickest way to achieve this would be to buy your bird as a fully weaned baby from a good breeder. Your parrot should already be used to human interaction and may be willing to please you immediately. Parrots that have been re-homed or adopted from rescue sanctuaries are for the most part abused or neglected by their previous owners making it much harder to gain their trust and train.

High Expectations

People who buy their parrots for the first time, often for the wrong reason and with high expectations, are usually disappointed. They see this beautiful exotic bird at a live show or at a friends and they think “I have to have one.” When they arrive home with the parrot and don’t get what they expect, frustration sets in, making it unbearable for the owner and the bird. This can affect the owners attitude towards training and the parrots willingness to learn, making the lessons more time consuming and less effective. It takes proper knowledge, skill, and attitude to train a parrot and results will vary since every parrot is different.

Don’t place such high expectations on your parrot and the results will be much more effective.

Training a new baby

Not a good idea at first. spend time getting to know your baby bird and form a bond before you start any training sessions. Go slowly and be consistent. Your first goal should be to get your parrot to accept a treat from you. Eventually you will be able to scratch his chest or pet him on the head. Before long he will come up to you and step on to your hand. If your parrot is a fully weaned baby, this should happen fairly quickly. But if he has been re-homed or abused, it could take considerably longer. Never punish your parrot during this process or you could destroy the trust you spent so much time building.

By getting to know your parrot in this way, you are actually training him through taming

Screaming or hitting your parrot

Always train your parrot using positive reinforcement. A good example of this would be clicker training. You tell your parrot to step up or step off. Keep in mind that once you say it, be prepared to follow through and make him step up or off. Every time your parrot does this, click your clicker and give him a treat. Eventually he will understand and step up or off just to get that treat. Always complement him using the same phrase. Good Boy would be a good one. Eventually he will understand what this means and he will know he has done something good.

Never scream at or hit your parrot as this type of behavior can result in aggressive and unmanageable behavior.

As most parrot training is based on observation and experience, This kind of training may not work for you. Each parrot responds differently to the same type of training, Something a lot of owners overlook. Think of your baby parrot as a child. Not every child learns the same way, sometimes you have to try different methods to produce the same results. You will find that if you are creative and persistent, your parrot will become a joyful and loving member of your family. He may even impress you with how quickly he learns the tricks you teach him.

A well socialized Macaw can be handled by more than one person. For this reason it is important to get everyone in the household involved in its care and handling. If you have a baby in the household, keep your Macaw away from it as a bite from even a baby Macaw can do serious damage.
Setting up a daily schedule for playtime is also very important as your baby Macaw will look forward to these times. Plan to allow your bird out of his cage for 3 or more hours a day as there is no amount of supervised time that would be considered excessive. Remember that the purpose of the cage is for protection not incarceration.

Macaws and all parrots deserve to be living in a situation where they are out of their cages frequently and enjoying the family.

An important part of your Macaws health is a good diet. The proper foods will help in the prevention of disease and the ability to heal if your Macaw does become ill. A diet based primarily on seeds is deficient in some of the most important nutrients your Macaw requires, Namely vitamin A and calcium. It is very important to provide your Macaw with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and a good quality organic pellet. Seeds should only make up about 10 percent of his daily diet. Listed below are some suggestions to consider when you prepare your Macaws daily diet.

Calcium – is very important in his daily diet. Foods rich in calcium would include:

• carrots
• broccoli
• unhulled sesame seeds
• almonds

Your Macaw will need a lot of sunlight or vitamin D3 to absorb the calcium. This can be achieved through natural sunlight (outdoors, not through a window) or vitamin D3 pellets.

Vitamin A – is essential for your Macaws health. Foods in this category are rich in beta carotene. A good example of these kinds of food would be:

• mango
• squash
• carrots
• pumpkin
• papaya
• apricots
• palm oil

Making these foods a regular part of your Macaws daily diet will most certainly contribute to his well being and physical state. Besides these healthy foods, there are also other foods you can add to his diet. Macaws enjoy grains which can be cooked, sprouted or just soaked and there are a wide variety of these foods to choose from:

• buckwheat
• barley
• rice
• kamut
• spelt
• aramanth
• qroats

They can be combined with legumes such as garbanzo, mung, and adzuke for his protein needs. Other sources of protein can be trout, chicken, salmon, and the occasional egg as long as they are fully cooked. Macaws will delight in these foods and relish every bite they take.

We often read or hear from the experts, that if your macaw is sick, he will hide any signs of illness until its to late. Although I have yet to have that experience with Max my Blue and Gold Macaw, I do think I know him well enough by now, that I would notice any subtle changes quite easily. Ultimately, this did get me thinking and I decided to do some research. These are some of the results I discovered while on the internet. I’m sure there are more, but i think that these ones would be the most important.

A change in your Macaws sleeping habits-may be an indication that he could be sick. I noticed that when max sleeps, he tucks one foot up into his chest. A sick Macaw might sleep on both feet with his feathers fluffed up for warmth or he may crouch on the bottom of the cage.

A change in attitude-would also tell me that something might be wrong as healthy Macaws are for the most part active and playful. If your Macaw is listless or withdrawn, it’s time to call the avian vet.

excessive sneezing or nasal discharge-is a sign that something may be wrong although that isn’t always the case. It could just be an allergy. Discharge of bubbles from the nares are probably a sign of a respiratory infection. Either way, this is a warning sign that its time for a visit to the avian vet.

Vomiting-not to be confused with regurgitating, which is what Macaws do when courting or feeding their young, is another sign of illness. Vomit will usually stick to the chest feathers or around the face. Take your Macaw to the avian Vet.

Preening-A healthy Macaw is always preening his feathers. If your Macaw is starting to look ratty or disheveled, its time for a visit to the avian vet.

Tail bobbing-Birds lack a diaphragm to separate their chest cavity from their stomach. Their tail muscles help them to breath. Respiratory disease will result in Their tail muscles working harder than normal. Common sense will tell you whether the tail bobbing is a sign of a possible respiratory disease or just a little to much excitement or exercise. If your Macaw displays this behavior while at rest, take him to an avian vet right away.

Air sac mites-This is more common in canaries or finches, but it has been diagnosed in other birds. A sign of this could be a clicking sound from the beak as he breathes.

If you have more than one Macaw in a cage, the sick Macaw will usually be the one who gets picked on or even killed. Separate the sick Macaw right away and give him a warm safe place to rest until you get him to the avian vet. Don’t wait to long.

Changes in Vocalizations-Although this may be a little harder to diagnose, you should still be able to pick up on this. Sick Macaws are usually less talkative and you may notice a change of frequency in their tone.

Weight loss-Macaws will usually ruffle their feathers for warmth when they are sick so you may not notice any weight loss. Weight loss can be devastating to your macaws health. A loss of strength is a good sign. Weigh your Macaw regularly and you will know if he is having trouble maintaining his weight.

Cloudy Eyes-are a good sign of respiratory, nervous, or muscular disorder. Take him to a avian vet immediately.

Abnormal Droppings-Depending on what you feed your Macaw, the color of his droppings will most certainly vary. What you need to look for is yellow, rusty brown or tarry droppings. They could be an indication of internal bleeding or other serious problems. Look for changes in consistency. If they are too runny or firm, it is time for a visit to the avian vet.

For a loving Macaw owner, these signs should be immediately recognizable. Examine your Macaw everyday and make sure you keep a good relationship with your avian vet. Your Macaw is depending on you to keep him in good health so make sure you keep tabs on any behavioral change he may display. After all, you want your beloved Macaw to be around for many years to come.

Parrots are like small children, ever playful and curious. They will scrutinize their surroundings very carefully, homing in on things like plants, electrical cords, and chemicals to name a few. The dangers they face whether loose in your house or yard are considerable and it is up to you, the owner to prevent situations from occuring that could seriously injure or even kill your beloved parrot. Here are three things you may want to consider before you bring your beloved parrot out of his cage for play time and exercise.

Toilet seat lids should be kept closed to keep your Parrot from drowning. Wings should be clipped so he can’t escape through an open window and keep him away from areas where you may have mouse traps or flypaper hanging as these can also be detrimental to his health. Turn off ceiling fans when your parrot is out of its cage and Keep him out of the kitchen where a hot stove, sudden changes in temperature, or fumes could do irreparable harm to him. Keep him away from any electrical cords as he will chew through them. Don’t take him outside on a cold day and keep his cage away from drafty or overly sunny windows. Even though they come from a tropical country, they can still get heatstroke. Keep the cage just a few feet away from the window This way he can still look outside.

Even some of the toys you buy for your Parrot can harm him. It is important to use caution and examine these toys closely. Examine your Parrots rope toys for frayed or unbraided rope as this rope may get tangled around his neck and strangle him. Bells and chains can snare toes and beaks which is why i don’t buy bells for my Macaw and any chains i buy are stainless steel. Galvanized chain will kill your Parrot because of the chemicals in the metal. Keep an eye on plush toys and huts to make sure your Parrot isn’t ingesting the material.

Fumes and Poisons:

Any substance that gives off a vapor can be potentially deadly to your Parrot. Here are some of the things to keep him away from.

aerosols
cigarette smoke
fingernail polish remover
Plug-in air fresheners
fumes from overheated non-stick cookware
other Teflon-coated products
space heaters
pine-scented car air fresheners

If you have to use these products, keep your Parrot out of the room and open the windows for ventilation. Lead paint is also poisonous so its time to remove it if you have any. Many well known plants and trees in your house or back yard are poisonous when ingested, so keep your Parrot away from them. If he ingests any poisonous substance, and starts to vomit or have a siezure. Remove him from the source and call your vet immediately.

Other Pets:

The safest household for a parrot is one without cats or dogs. If you must have other animals, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Never allow a Parrot and a cat to roam around in the house at the same time and never leave a dog unsupervised around a Parrot that is out of its cage. Despite his powerful beak, he may still get the short end of the stick when it comes to your cat or dog no matter how mellow they may be. An instinctual impulse could change things in a second. Also, a cats saliva contains a bacteria called pasteruella, which can be fatal to your Parrot. The general rule….Parrots are helpless against animals equipped with sharp claws and teeth, so its best to keep them separated.

It’s good to bring your Parrot outside for fresh air and playtime as long as you don’t leave him unattended. Even though he may be clipped, he can still flutter short distances and may be able to clear a backyard fence. In seconds, he could be dinner for an agile alley cat or other bold predator. I’ve even heard of cases where hawks have snatched Parrots off their owners shoulders. If you are going to have your Parrot outside for extended periods where you cant watch him all the time, it is probably wise to build him an aviary. Build it with double walls to keep any predators out.

When the bird comes up for sale, the auctioneer asks, “how much am I bid for this parrot?” The gentleman opens bidding with “Six hundred dollars”.

“Seven hundred!” “Eight hundred!” “Nine hundred!” go the next several bids, and the gentleman bids “One thousand dollars!”

Bidding goes this way for several minutes until the fellow finds himself the proud owner of a parrot for $1200. He approached the auctioneer and asked him “can the bird talk?” to which the auctioneer replied “Who do you think was bidding against you?”

Seems a lonely priest decided to get a parrot for a pet. He envisioned teaching the parrot to say the Lords Prayer or the rosary. The local pet store had a parrot but the owner warned that the parrot only says ” Hi, I’m Mary Magdeline and I’m a prostitute”. The priest says, “This is no problem, I’ll teach the parrot new words.

After trying and trying to no avail, the Priest runs into another priest who had two parrots which not only recite the rosary, but also hold the rosary beads. The priest with two parrots also tried to help the parrot say something other than “Hi, I’m Mary Magdeline and I’m a prostitute” but had no luck.

They decided to put the one parrot in the cage with the two parrots so that the two could teach the one to recite the rosary. After putting the parrot in the cage, as expected, it said “Hi, I’m Mary Magdeline, and I’m a prostitute”.

The two parrots still holding the rosary beads, smiled and looked to the heavens and said “Alleluia, our prayers have been answered!”

A man walks into a pet store to buy a Christmas gift. The clerk shows him “Chet” the Parrot, which sings Christmas songs.

The man asks “How do you get Chet to sing?” And the clerk takes out a match, lights it and holds it under Chet’s right foot. He lifts his right foot up, squawks and begins to sing, “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way… “

The man asks if he knows anything else and the clerk holds the match under Chet’s left foot. He pipes in with, “On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me, caw…”

The clerk leaves the man alone with Chet and he lights a match and holds it between the Chet’s legs and he begins to squawk
“Chet’s nuts roasting on an open fire…”

Macaws aren’t generally mean and they usually don’t like to bite. Their reasons for biting are usually to protect themselves or stop behavior they aren’t comfortable with. Like us, they have a comfort zone that we need to learn and not cross. Some Macaws are quick to trust you while others may take time and some just aren’t affectionate at all. Similarly, humans display the same types of behavior. Still, a successful and loving relation can be established provided you can gain their trust.

Spend lots of time making friends with your Macaw and in a non threatening manner. By non threatening, i mean not approaching him with your finger or hand till a bond starts to form and he is okay with you. Talk and interact with your Macaw being careful not to stress him out by putting demands on him that take him out of his comfort zone. In the wild Macaw pairs will fuss and bite at each other when one doesn’t like what the other is doing, their way of saying back off. If the mate ignores his partners warnings, the bites will increase and become more intense. So if your Macaw doesn’t like what you are doing to him, then stop. Of course you cant always do that. There will be times when you have other things to do and need to put him in his cage. if he senses that, you may need to bribe him. Put some treats in his food dish and make sure he notices. Chances are pretty good that he will go straight for the treats and you can go on about your day.

You may feel real comfortable with your Macaw and he you. But like you, he may have his moments where he doesn’t feel like being fondled. Continuing may result in a bite. Once bonded though, these bites are more of a pinch, like a warning to back off. The ability to read your Macaws body language is very important. If you see that he is uncomfortable with what you are trying to do, then find another way to achieve the result you are looking for. Keep in mind that the Macaw you bought may not be the cuddly pet you bargained for. No worries though, he will most assuredly have other personality traits you will enjoy like Talking up a storm or singing. He may even enjoy just sitting and watching tv with you. The bond you form with your Macaw in the end will be very special and you will be surprised at how affectionate he can be.

Experts say that When they are very young, they may bite to gain independence or they may be learning how much force to apply with their beaks. Either way you will get bit. So if you Macaw bites to hard, say no and put him in his cage. A lot of times this is all that is needed. His beak is like a third foot, so he will often use it to climb up on or even preen you. Remember, we don’t want to discourage him from using his beak. We just want to teach him how much force he can use. He may even bite or turn on you and pick another family member imitating the wild Macaw leaving its parents and choosing a mate. As you can see there can be several reasons for biting and the best way to prevent this is to learn his body language. what movement does he make before he is about to bite you? Its a trial and error process that takes time and if you have the patience you will be truly rewarded.

-1TB Adam’s Natural Peanut Butter -1/4 banana, mashed -2 slices bread, whole wheat
Warm peanut butter & bananas just a few seconds in microwave. Mix well together. Toast bread. Spread mixture onto toast & squeeze together firmly. Cut into 1″x1″ cubes & serve. Because of high fat content, give as treats a couple times a week and only a piece or two at a time.

-Flour or wheat tortillas -Cooked yam or carrot slices -Scrambled egg (no milk) -Organic Baby Food (veggies)
Scramble egg. Mash a couple of cooked yam/carrot slices and add a TB or so of organic baby food to make creamy. Add scrambled egg. Roll up into a burrito and slice into foot-sized servings. Be sure to let cool slightly before giving to birdies so it won’t burn their tongues!

Yams are an excellent source of vitamin A. The corn is a good addition because most birds will eat corn, and the yam mixture sticks to it, so they get to learn how to like yams if they’re wary of new foods. The yogurt gives them not only calcium, but acidophilus and bifidus, both excellent fighters of yeast infections! This is a great recipe for birds that are feeding their young. It’s easy to digest and regurgitate for babies.
-2 Medium/Large Yams -1/4 c Raisins (unsulphured) -1 tsp. Butter (optional) -½ tsp. Pumpkin spice -½ c Corn -1/4 c Nonfat Yogurt (preferably organic)
Cut yams into quarters then boil until soft. Drop in raisins for the last 5 minutes of boiling. Cool. Peel off skins. Put peeled yams back in pot and mash, adding butter and pumpkin spice. Add back raisins and corn and mix into the yams. Serve in glass bowls for maximum visual stimulation ;->. Put a dollop of nonfat yogurt on top of each serving. Warning: Do not leave this food in the cage for more than 2-3 hours, especially on a hot day.

Blue and Gold Macaws, and most other Parrots enjoy this recipe. You can add almost anything to this mix and they will love it. Peanut butter, oatmeal, coconut or any fruit or vegetables are some examples.
-1 large sweet potato, microwaved until soft -1/2 cup raisins -1 mashed banana -1 cup mixed fresh or frozen vegetables -1 cup diced apples -1 1/2 cup raw oatmeal, corn flakes or granola cereal.
Mix all together and add enough fruit or vegetable juice to make it form small balls. Freeze balls individually. Defrost and serve.

-1 c brown rice -1-1/2 c rolled or cracked corn -1/2 c unsulphured dried banana -3-1/2 T split green peas -2-1/2 T raisins -2-1/2 T pistachio nuts (unsalted) -1 T dates broken in pieces -1 tsp dried milk powder -1/4 tsp allspice

Add contents to 1 quart water. Bring to boil, lower heat, cover and boil gently for 30 minutes. Serve warm or cool. Yields 2 lbs. Approx. 1-1/2 quarts. You can make batches weekly or monthly depending how many birds you have. Keep a 3-day supply in fridge to reheat in the microwave (avoid hot spots) Serve no more than can be consumed in 5 hours to avoid spoilage. In hot weather, be careful not to leave it in cage for any more than 2 hours. You can also freeze the recipe in ice cube trays and put the frozen cubes in baggies. They should keep for about a month. When ready to use, pop 2 cubes in the microwave on DEFROST, cool and make sure its not to hot to serve.

-4 coarsley grated sweet potatoes -2 bags brown rice -1 can carrot juice -1 can veggie baked beans (rinse to remove sugar) -1 bag small shell pasta
Boil rice using carrot juice added to the water until almost done. Add in sweet potaoes and pasta (adding a little more water if needed – just enough to keep from sticking – you want it to fully absorb). Stir often. Add in rinsed baked beans, stir some more. I divide it up into several zip freezer bags and then take out what I need each day.

Playing with your bird is not as simple as playing with a dog or cat. Birds are very susceptible to household dangers and infection because of their high metabolism, sensitive respiratory systems and curiosity. So, before you bring your bird home, take a few extra precautions. Don’t leave any standing water in your home, which includes keeping your toilet bowl closed. Make sure you buy macaw toys that are non-toxic. The best toys are: toxin free they won’t entangle your pet and are hard to take apart.

Your Macaw will be just as curious about its surroundings as your cat. That means you have to take extra time to bird proof his surroundings. Certain metals and chemicals are toxic to birds, so you really have to make sure that there are not any Chemicals      Lead     Zinc     Dyes      Glue     in open places in your home. Your Macaws beak is especially strong and he will peck and chew at anything, so make sure the playthings you buy are safe for him. A good Macaw toy is strong, made of stainless steel or wood and won’t have ropes or strings hanging from it.

Listed below are some of the different kinds of toys you might consider. Keep in mind that Macaws can be fussy, so they may not like every toy you buy or build for them. Its a trial and error process that you will eventually overcome the more you get to know your little buddy.

Foraging toys are very important. Your Macaw should have at least two or three toys in his cage that will make him forage for his food. Manufacturers are coming out with some very nice foraging toys, and you can even make some from items found in your home such as an old pill bottle, washed, and filled with food. Fill a cotton sock and hang it in his cage or a small cardboard box or egg carton filled. Always alternate his foraging toys so he doesnt become bored.

Here are a few links that sell these kinds of toys;
http://www.bird.com/search.asp?SKW=BDK%20&catID=34
http://www.thepinkbird.com/foragingbirdtoys.aspx
http://theperchstore.net/toforexlabi.html

Macaw’s need well thought out large toys that are mentally stimulating yet safe and tough. They are intelligent and inquisitive birds and require large bird toys that let them chew (blocks of wood) and puzzle toys that encourage them to think. Keep enough large bird toys around so that you can rotate them frequently.

Here are a few links that sell these kinds of toys;
http://www.chewtootoys.com/large-bird-toys/view-all-products.html
http://www.avianlove.com/category/Extra_Large_Toys/c57
http://www.canadianbirdtoys.com/large.htm

Many play accessories will appeal to your Macaws intellectual or emotional needs. These bird toys are usually constructed of indestructible or difficult-to-destroy materials, although food or destructible elements may also be included.

Beads are a favorite component of many interactive bird toys. Your Macaw will love playing with beads of all shapes and sizes. They offer sound and movement, and many are indestructible.

Fascinate your Macaw with some puzzle toys. He will enjoy manipulating or dismantling them in addition to simply chewing them up. These might include nuts and bolts, knots to untie, moveable elements or small compartments that can be opened. When food is included, these now become foraging toys.

Here are a few links that sell these kinds of toys;
http://ww.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_supplies.cfm?c=5059+5648+16444
http://nalanitoys.com/Puzzlebirdtoys.htm
http://www.birdtoyoutlet.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=26

Macaws housed in a cage, especially those that are clipped, require additional accessories to facilitate exercise. Toys to consider are:

Swings: Many Macaws love to swing. Some swing front to back. More commonly, birds enjoy swinging side to side or in circles.

Grippable perches: Many Macaws love to hold on to their perches and flap their wings. To accommodate this, one or more perches should be small enough to be gripped rather than simply stood upon. Make sure the perch is small enough for him to grip, especially when he starts swinging from it. .

Grippable cage bars: Birds with trimmed wing feathers require at least a little time atop the cage to hold bars and flap violently. Young grey parrots often exhibit this behavior, but almost all companion parrots take part in this.

Boings: Large spirals of stiff cotton rope perch promise many happy hours of swinging, bouncing and climbing.

Here are a few links that sell these kinds of toys;
http://www.funtimebirdy.com/Cockatoo_Toys.html
http://www.chewzybeaks.com/swings.htm
http://www.royalparrot.com/ParrotProductSwings.html

It is fun and easy to make your own Macaw toys, especially if you know what your Macaw likes. There are a couple things to keep in mind though.

-Design toys that are suitable for the size of your bird. Your Macaw will require a very sturdy toy as he can be much more destructive than a smaller parrot.

-Make sure you use soft wood like fir, apple, dogwood, or elm. Hard woods such as oak will splinter, which could cause injury to your Macaw.

-use a variety of non toxic wooden beads, blocks, rawhide, and acrylic in your design.

-When you make hanging toys, use stainless steel quick link hooks and avoid zink plated or galvanized links. These links could be hazardous to your bird. and finally, Only use chains that have solid welds and a smooth surface.

-Check your homemade toys frequently for chips or cracks where your Macaw may get his foot or beak stuck. Trim any frayed sismal or cotton rope and remove any damaged toys before they become a hazard. The best part about making your own toys is that it is generally cheaper and you know what you are giving to your macaw.

Here are a few links that sell these kinds of toys;
http://www.birdsupplies.com/Toy-Making-Parts-s/8.htm
http://www.windycityparrot.com/page/Windycityparrot/CTGY/ParrotToyParts
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_supplies.cfm?c=5059+5648+8596

Hang the toys at beak level and in areas where the Macaw frequently plays. Multiple toys offer a choice for your Macaw, facilitating control in his planned environment. Provide a few new toys at a time to give your Macaw a choice over what he wants to play with or not. The toy he plays with is just as important as the toy he doesn’t play with as he may eventually come back to it or even destroy it. multiple bird toys also provide the bird with opportunities to make decisions about what is or is not dangerous.

As newer toy growth continues to exand, we will see new designs that will benifit domestic as well as wild instinctual behaviors. Destructible paper barriers will distract from screaming, and fringing or snapping bird toys will deter feather destructive behaviors.

The Blue And Gold Macaw is the most popular of all the macaws. If raised properly and with some luck, the Blue And Gold Macaw will grow up to be an extremely playful parrot. They have great speaking abilities, and will have less of a tendency to become nippy, or bite, like other species of Macaws.

Whether you are experienced or just a beginner, there are some things you have to think about when you consider adopting one of these fine birds. They are not the same as a parakeet or one of the smaller parrots. Raising a Blue and Gold Macaw to be a healthy, well adjusted member of your family is going to take a lot of work.

Here are a few facts about the Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)

For more detailed information about the raising
and training of the Blue and Gold Macaw go to
www.birdtricks.com

The Blue and Gold Macaw, (Ara ararauna) is a member of the large parrot group known as macaws. It breeds in the forest and woodlands of tropical South America from Trinidad and Venezuela south to Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. It extends into Central America, where it is restricted to areas around Panama. It is an endangered species in Trinidad, has probably been wiped out from western Ecuador, and is on the verge of being eradicated from Paraguay, but still remains fairly common in a large part of mainland South America.
Blue and Gold Macaws are popular as pets partly because of their striking appearance and ability as a talking bird; however, their large size makes accommodation problematic, and they require much more effort and knowledge from owners than more traditional pets such as dogs or cats. They are intelligent and social, so for someone who can provide for their needs, they make a good and loving companion parrot. Blue and Gold Macaws bond very closely to their owners. They tend to be more aggressive during mating season, typically 6-8 weeks in the spring.

Even the most well cared for Blue and Gold Macaw will “scream” and make other loud noises. Loud vocalizations, especially “flock calls”, and destructive chewing are natural parts of their behavior and should be expected in captivity.
They require a varied diet, a seed only diet will lead to health problems such as vitamin deficiency. An example of a good diet would be a quality pelleted mix, in conjunction with a mix featuring seed, nuts, and dried fruits, with fresh vegetables (greens and roots) and fruits fed regularly; furthermore, it is quite common (and appreciated by the parrot) to partake with their human owners of safe foods like pasta, bread, etc.
You should try to provide a wide variety of foods, while avoiding foods with high fat content. There are some foods which are toxic to most birds and parrots. Cherry and most other Rosaceae pits and seed, avocados, chocolate, and caffeine are among the foods toxic to parrots. Chocolate and caffeine are not metabolized by birds the same way they are in humans, Sacerdotal seed contain cyanogenic glycosides and avocados contain persin which are both toxic compounds to birds. The Blue and Gold Macaws safe food to eat is oranges, apples, Grapes, peanuts, walnuts and sunflower seeds.
This captivating parrot truly stands out as a crowd pleaser. They are vivid in appearance with blue wings and tail, black chin, golden underparts and a green forehead. Their beaks are jet black and very strong for crushing nuts. The naked face is white, turning pink in excited birds, and lined with small black feathers. Apart from their exquisitely vivid coloration, the Blue and Gold Macaw can have exceptional temperments when kept as pets. They talk well, enjoy playing and get along very well with people if brought up and socialized correctly. If well cared for and kept healthy, this lovely parrot can live as much as 50 years.