Why aren't Macaws good first time bird owners birds?

Question

Need to know. In 2 weeks going to get bird. Maybe grey african parrot, Amazon Parrot, or macaw.

Answer 1

My first birds  were 2 macaw they were 3 weeks old when I got them they are over 20 now Macaws are large and strong  so most want to start with something easier

Answer 2

african greys tend to bond to one person, they can be pure visious with anyone not chosen! they require a firm but kind hand due to their inteligence.

Amazons tend to be MOODY

macaws...

well macaws are a few things...

LOUD (even the best behaved mini macaw can cause noise complaints from neighbours and get you evicted froma  rental!)

they are DESTRUCTIVE  they destroy EVERYTHING...suprisingly quickly

EXPENSIVE...you need to buy new toys every week, changing things to keep them from boredom, taking out the destroyed stuff...

parrots of any kind are not PETS...they are feathers children, they cannot be lef tin their cage while you work all day, they cant be trained to be perfect angels..think of it as having a child with the brain of a 3-5 yr old...the TEMPER of a 2 yr old mid terrible twos and the POWER or a powersaw!

personaly id suggest any of the grass or ringneck parakeets, lovebirds, parroletts, budgerigars or Teils to the beginner bird owner.

Answer 3

To me a macaw is like a child that is acting out if he or she is not getting what they want and need.                                             So because of this if you don't have a understanding of what it is like to deal with any kind of parrot,  your house can become free game of destruction your bird can become a biter,   and in a macaws case this can be vary severe.    Besides that fact if you are not sure how to make your bird happy it can also become a plucker,   to me these are the reasons that so many birds are given away and neglected because they are misunderstood that's why everyone says their like a child, so to gain experience and like a parent you try to be the best you can to make the right decision and the same needs to apply to these birds.....

As a owner you become their parent they look to you for everything but they can't tell you what they want and need you have to read them and figure it out ...

As for me l had two Quaker three parakeet's and husband had a African Grey but ringo our military still gave us a run for our money but things at 18 months have gotten a lot better l  understand a lot more of him and his like and dislikes and he is vary happy..........

Answer 4

They're harder to take care of.  Parakeets are better for first- time pet owners.

Answer 5

I have an Amazon parrot that I highly recommend. When I was new to the whole parrot thing the guy Marc from Parrots of the World suggested it. Trust me.. its the way to go. macaws can be very dangerous if you do not know how to delt with them. they can take off your finger if its overly aggressive or just pissed off. also you need to show it a lot of attention. parrots require fresh veggies + fruits weekly and also like the one person said they are like babies

But all Macaw buisness aside.. amazons are the perfect first time parrot owner exp. they are total clowns and never bite.. HUGE on talking(right up there with the African grays)

EDIT: Forgot to mention they can be loud but thats because they want you or need food/water.

Answer 6

Macaws, Greys, cockatoos, or amazons are often not good first birds because they are so demanding.  It's like taking care of a 2-3 year old for about 60 years.  They are also much more expensive as well as muhc louder, messier, and they need a lot more time and get bored easily.  Most people who are new to parrots are not used to these demands and most can't keep up and aren't prepared and then the bird drives them insane and the bird ends up in a rescue.

These larger aprrots are like children, they need many hours of your time and need lots of activities to keep them from getting bored because a bored parrot will screech, feather pluck, and some even becoming biters.  If you want any of these species you ahve to be prepared to spend thousands of dollars, to spend at least 6 hours a day with them, and be prepared to have your ears screamed off.

Are you willing to clean cages, deal with screaming, spend thousands of dollars, handle get bitten (even nice birds bite, you will get bit), for as long as you live (the bird will probably outlie you), and then put the bird in your will to someone who will care for him. Basically it's just such a comittment to jump into when you haven't owned a bird before.  Getting a large aprrot this size as a first bird is like a teenage marriage, some last but most don't.

Answer 7

You just have to understand, it's more like having a baby than it is getting a pet.

The larger parrots are as intellegent as children.  They need as much time, attention, interaction, stimulation, and supervision as a 3 year old human child.

It's like having a 3 year old for the rest of your life.

Complete with screaming tantrums, biting and destroying stuff.

"Newbie" owners don't know what they're getting themselves in for.  It's a HUGE responibility.

It's a HUGE expense

Parrots take a HUGE amount of time and effort.

They aren't dogs in feathers.

They have their own rules and needs.

They will have opinions on EVERYTHING in your life.  From life partners, to your career (they resent all the time you spend away from them), your present and future children, your furniture, your house, your friends, your other pets.  EVERYTHING!

You have to know what you're getting into.

What to do?

Find a mentor and/or a bird rescue.

Volunteer.

Find out what life is like with these amazing, incredible animals.  It's remarkable if your willing to completely tailor your life to theirs.

Choose a smaller bird.  Parrotlets, Cockatiels, Lovebirds and parakeets all make wonderful pets, and aren't as demanding as a parrot.

Answer 8

They are very big, they live a long time, they are very, very expensive.

They are intimidating, hook-billed birds that can remove fingers with ease and as has been said -- need a lot of intellectual challenge.  They are deafeningly loud and almost never quiet down.  My neighbors have one and I can hear him clearly all day -- and they're in a separate house 100 feet away.

All of the popular bird species are intellectually challenging; but I'd recommend one that isn't such a physical challenge as well.  Amazon greys are a little better in this regard, even Cockatoos.  Myself, I have a little Quaker parrot, and even she's a handful.

The big birds are incredible, but there are some tricks you need to know going in -- try to learn them on a more forgiving breed or with a friend who has a big breed of bird.