Macaws as pets

Macaws make wonderful pets. Many of the macaw species are available for sale and they vary in price. Yes they make really good talkers if you take the time to work with them. Macaws are very active and need a good nutritious diet. They like to be scratched and cuddled. They can learn to accept multiple members of a family with a little work. Hand-fed Baby macaws are very sweet and do make fun pets for people willing to properly care for them. The large macaw species that are most commonly found for sale are: Blue and Gold Macaws, Greenwing Macaws, Scarlet Macaws, Military Macaws, Red Fronted Macaws, Blue Throated Macaws, and the Hyacinth Macaws. The different species vary in price depending on availability and rarity. I must say, though, that all macaws are great parrots. Babies and adults of all species are fun to have.
Large macaws do talk quite well if you put the time into teaching them. Unlike some smaller parrots their voice is quite loud so when they speak it’s not difficult to know what they’re saying. Be careful what you teach them, though, because it's not as easy to eliminate colorful words from their vocabulary, if you you know what I mean.
A macaws’ diet is made up of fruits, vegetables, nuts, a good seed mix, and mineral/vitamin supplements. Pellets can be added to the diet to eliminate the need for vitamin supplements. Pellets should not replace any other part of the diet. Peanuts and other non-salted nuts should be given as macaws need more fat than other parrots. Foods that should not be fed are: anything with caffeine, anything with lots of salt, no chocolate, and avocado can be problematic. Handling and cuddling are a very important part of the whole macaw experience. They love it! There’s nothing like a good scratch or gentle hug. Everyone in the family should take part in this experience so that the macaw doesn’t form a strong bond with any one person. Behavior is a huge issue when keeping pet birds. In fact the number one reason people get rid of their bird is because they can no longer deal with a behavior problem. Most if not all problems can be avoided or corrected if you learn to understand bird behavior. I would recommend learning as much as you possibly can. Most pet stores do not have good books. In fact the books on birds in the "super pet stores" I've seen are pure crap. Look for authors who have actually studied field guides and wild bird behavior.
Remember a nutritious diet, daily handling, short training sessions for desired behavior (like talking), and a good bird behaivior book will get you rolling into the world of the majestic macaws.