So you are thinking about buying a Macaw. Great…that is if you are purchasing one for the right reasons. Please do not buy a Macaw for a status symbol. Do not buy a Macaw because you think bigger is better. Do not buy a Macaw because they have pretty feathers. If you do, your chances of success with this species will probably be slim. However, do purchase a Macaw if you have researched the species, talked to several Macaw owners, and feel that you can keep the upper hand. Also, be sure that you are willing and able to arrange your lifestyle to accommodate these large birds for the next 60 to 70 years.

Macaws are large parrots with even larger personalities. They are not for the timid. Macaws are very confident birds, and they need an owner who is firm and equally as confident. If you are not up to the task, a Macaw will skillfully manipulate your fears. At the Rainforest Café I worked with a 6 yr old Green-winged Macaw named Rocky. If he sensed that a person was hesitant to remove him from his cage, he would hang upside down and lunge at the person's hand. If I happened to walk in the room when this was happening, a stern look from me is all it took for him to step up for the person. Rocky knew that I wouldn't tolerate that kind of behavior, so 98% of the time he would co-operate with me. The other 2% of the time he would test me to see if I was still the boss!

When considering living with a Macaw, realize that your home will need to accommodate a large cage. Obviously, the larger the cage the better, the cage needs to be at least wide enough for the Macaw to fully extend its wings and flap without hitting the sides of the cage. The cage also needs to be tall enough to accommodate the long tail feathers. Macaws need ample room to climb, swing and play. Not only do you need a large cage, but a large play tree is needed as well. If given the opportunity, Macaws will enjoy the art of play.

Another must when owning a large Macaw is being able to tolerate a large squawk! Macaws can be heard for 2 miles in the wild. In my experience only a Malaccan Cockatoo can rival the scream of a Macaw. However like any parrot species, if you keep your Macaw happy and healthy, screaming will not be an issue.

Cost is another consideration in owning a Macaw. Not only will the bird and cage carry a hefty price tag, so will their toys. Macaws need lots of big, colorful chew toys. They are very skilled at rendering large chunks of wood in to toothpicks. Feeding a Macaw can be expensive, too. They have bigger appetites than the "little guys". However, I still think my male Eclectus eats more than my Macaws!

I'm not trying to turn everyone away from purchasing a Macaw. I just want to help you make an informed decision. I happen to be head over heels in love with Macaws. I think they are beautiful, magnificent creatures. I also believe they are incredibly smart, loving, playful and entertaining. I could not imagine my life without my Blue and Gold Macaw, Megan. We have an unspoken connection. With the risk of sounding corny, when I'm holding Megan, I forget where I end and she begins. We simply become one.

If you are considering a Macaw as your first bird, you might be better off starting with a baby. In my opinion, nothing is sweeter than a baby Macaw. When I was managing the Habitat at the Rainforest Café, I was fortunate to be able to help raise many Macaw babies. I miss having a baby Macaw nestled in my lap fast asleep. Macaw parents have been observed in the wild using their wings to give their babies a protective hug. Baby Macaws live for the tactile stimulation that comes from being snuggled and preened. However, please teach your baby to play independently.

Another very important consideration when purchasing a Macaw is choosing the right breeder. Some breeders will force wean their babies at an early age. There is one breeder I know who would consistently force wean his Macaw babies at approximately 3 months of age. This resulted in stunted birds that suffered from weaning trauma. Just because a baby Macaw starts to eat solid foods does not mean that it is capable of ingesting enough food on its own to meet its growth requirements. Supplemental hand feedings must continue. Phoebe Linden recommends waiting until the Macaw is 20 weeks old before even beginning the weaning process. Many Macaws will want an occasional hand feeding though out its first year. For those of you with parrot experience, please do not hesitate considering a second hand Macaw. An adult Macaw (past 7-8 yrs. of age) can be a wonderful calm companion. Macaws are not difficult to rehabilitate if they haven't been too severely abused. I have found that most Macaws are abandoned because they entered their independent stage (usually the onset of puberty) and started testing the "flock leader" by becoming nippy. Some owners cannot make the transition from the cute, cuddly baby stage to the sometimes pain in the rear (or finger!) stage of puberty. The owner will stop taking the Macaw out of its cage because of the fear of being bitten by that huge beak. As always this starts the downward spiral of negative behavior from the bird because it misses the attention it used to receive. Eventually, the Macaw becomes cage bound. This can all be avoided with proper guidance. Note that I used the word guidance and not punishment. A Macaw should never be physically punished. They do not understand this concept and will meet your aggression with equal or greater aggression. Being aggressive with a Macaw will almost certainly result in a nasty bite.

If I haven't totally scared you off yet, then I would like to give another piece of advice. Research all of the different species of Macaws before making your purchase. There are as many differences as there are similarities between the species. I will try to briefly give you some generalities of each species. Please note that I am not claiming to be a Macaw expert. My column is based solely on my experiences. Others may have different opinions based on their experiences.

Hyacinth Macaw: What a beautiful bird! The Hyacinths that I have worked with tended to be very laid back. They were not very out-going in their personalities. I do not mean this in a negative way. This is what works in some households. Those of you who want a parrot that is personality plus may not find that in a Hyacinth. That said, I think they are wonderful birds. They do need to know who is boss. They also have special diet requirements that can make owning the bird almost as expensive as purchasing one.

Green-wing Macaw: Green-wings, I believe, are the smartest of all of the Macaws. Their cognitive ability seems greater. Green-wings like to study a situation before they decide how they will react. You can almost see the little cogs turning in their brain. One time I offered Rocky (G-wing from the Rainforest café) a treat he had never had before. Before he would take the treat he looked it over and then asked me, "Is it good?' Every now and then when I would ask Rocky to do something for an audience, he would look at me and say, "No, you do it!" Green-wings are very confident birds and they will quickly take the upper hand if given the chance. They are great at manipulation if they sense your fear. Green-wings are capable of being quite affectionate when they are in the mood. They are not as mellow as the Hyacinth, but they are generally a calm bird. I am in awe of this species.

Blue and Gold Macaw: It will be hard for me not to be prodigious when writing about this species. I love these beauties. My friend calls me a B&G magnet because they seem to be drawn to me. I believe it is because they know how much I love them. The majority of the B&G's that I have worked with (100+) are very affectionate parrots with out-going personalities. They need a good deal of physical interaction with their owners. They are more excitable than a G-wing. I feel B&G's are more like a human 2 yr. old emotionally as young birds. They are more emotionally reactive with their feelings. Because of this B&G's seem more prone to feather plucking when not properly nurtured. I have also seen cases of feather plucking and hyper ness due to allergic reactions from artificially colored diets. B&G's are easier to rehabilitate because they respond so well to verbal praise. They are not generally as great a talker as a G-wing, however you will find some to have great vocabularies. If you like cuddly parrots that will not Velcro itself to you like a Cockatoo, then a B&G might be for you.

Scarlet Macaw: This species is thought to be the most beautiful of the Macaws. If properly and carefully socialized a Scarlet can be a wonderful companion. However if this species misses out on adequate socializing it can be a nightmare to own. If not properly guided, Scarlets can be very high strung, temperamental and bitey. I have heard many stories of Scarlet owners needing stitches. My worse parrot bite came from a Scarlet who had not been socialized and by the time she was 2 yrs. old, by no fault of her own, she was out of control. If you are thinking about purchasing a Scarlet, please avoid buying one from a large pet supply chain. There is very little chance that the bird was properly nurtured. Work with a breeder who specializes in raising Scarlets.

Military Macaw: This is a unique looking bird with its bushy red "eyebrow". Militaries are similar to Scarlets in temperament. Although they do not tend to be as high strung as Scarlets, they also need extensive socializing at an early age to be good companions. If allowed to have the upper hand they can be bullies. I'm not trying to disparage Scarlets or Militaries. They can be wonderful parrots. They just need firm, consistent guidance to remain well-behaved macaws.