The Basics:

These birds pack a large parrot personality into a relatively small package. That’s part of their charm, but it’s also why their owners have to be willing to devote time and attention to them when they’re kept as pets. They become very attached to their human companions and require that this love and devotion be reciprocated. Both birds are primarily green with orange eyes surrounded by a white patch.  They have the intelligence that characterizes Macaws, and they can be good talkers, though many will prefer to whistle.

Cage:

Their small size notwithstanding, these are active Macaws, and as such they need a relatively large amount of space. A good cage will be at least 30” wide by 30” deep by 36” high. Space between the bars should be no more than a ½” to 5/8”. Cage bars should be sturdy, since these birds are determined chewers. 

CAUTION

In most cases, more space is more desirable for birds. However, when increasing the size of a Macaw’s cage, the bird’s human companion must be careful to maintain a safe (narrow) space between the bars. The bars of a cage have to be narrow enough to prevent a bird from sticking his head in between. Bars that are spaced too far apart for the bird’s size can result in serious and even fatal injuries.

Positioning The Cage:

Both birds are very sociable, so their cage should be kept in an area that is frequented by other family members. This will provide them with the bonding and interaction needed to maintain their emotional health. Ideally, the cage should be positioned in an area that is normally busy, yet still affords the Macaw a feeling of security, such as an alcove off the family room. The cage should never be positioned in areas of direct sunlight, or in the direct path of drafts from heating and air conditioning units. The kitchen is always off-limits for any bird’s cage since the smoke and fumes (especially from nonstick cookware) can cause serious, even fatal, problems.

Playthings:

Curious, intelligent birds, Macaws need many interesting and colorful toys, made especially with their strong beaks and size in mind. The Macaw should be provided with a varied selection of wooden toys to chew on; this can help prevent beak overgrowth of the beak. A highly intelligent bird, the Macaw enjoys solving intricate puzzle-type toys. A play gym is necessary for the time Macaws require outside of their cages. A proper play gym with many perches and toys will help keep them, and their beaks, busy and away from furniture.  Most Macaws enjoy learning (and showing off) tricks; many have learned to ride parrot bicycles and push parrot wheel barrels, and these little guys are no exception.

Perches:

Both birds need to have a variety of perches with different diameters, and made from different materials. Perches should be around 9” long and 1” thick. In addition to providing the bird with an area for standing, they help keep his beak and nails trim. A perch should be placed in front of, but not above, food and water dishes.

Play Time Outside The Cage:

Macaws require time outside of their cage and ample opportunities to socialize with their human owners. Any room that these pets are given access to must be checked to ensure that it is bird-safe. This bird should always be under the direct supervision of a human companion when outside the cage.

Grooming:

Consult veterinarian or literature about trimming nails and possibly flight feathers.

Bathing:

Provide bowl of chlorine-free water for supervised bathing. You can also mist bird with chlorine-free water. Bath and mist water must be lukewarm to room temperature. Avoid drafts. Remove bath when finished. Most Macaws love to splash around in a lukewarm bath.

Diet:

Pelleted diets formulated for Macaws should form the basis of the diet for these birds, following manufacturer’s directions for portion size. Along with pellets, the birds should be offered fresh and washed vegetables and fruits, such as broccoli, carrots, berries, apples and pears. All seeds must be removed from fruit before it is offered, since they can cause serious, even fatal, medical problems. Fruits and vegetables should be rinsed, dried and cut into appropriately sized pieces before being offered to this bird. Packaged seeds can be offered to the birds as an occasional treat. Provide additional calcium i.e. cuttlebone during egg laying. Clean, fresh chlorine-free water should always be available.

A Note About Water:

All water given to birds for drinking, as well as water used for misting, soaking or bathing must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals.  (Not all home water filtration systems remove 100% of the chlorine and heavy metals from tap water, so check your system's specifications before using it to filter water for your pet.) We recommend that you use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water and never untreated tap water. Do not use distilled water, which can cause severe medical problems, since it lacks minerals that are essential to important body functions.