Looking at a baby Hahns Macaw PLEASE help

[ffron69]

Please let me start by saying my spelling stinks so please bear with me...
We're looking at a Hahns Macaw hatched in July that was "Hand fed tame" when I went to meet him/her today she would sit on my lap but not even think of stepping up...wanted no real part of sitting on my hand, but the breeder says she/he is just a baby & has not learned any of that yet. Did let me scratch his/her head, neck & back all I wanted as long as i didn't try & pick it up. Wasn't mean at all just tried to get away. If you want it in your hand/lap you gotta pick it up. It was even fairly calm when she spread it's wings open to show me. Should I be concerned? Is this a sign or probably just a young bird that needs tought? Any help & insight would be greatly appreciated. By the way I have an 8 year old & a 3 year old & we're looking for a family pet which is why the possible Hahns. Thanks for all your help Ron

[lotus15]

"Step up" is definitely something that has to be learned. She might be slightly weary of hands for now which is perhaps a little bit unusual, but perhaps her personality is simply more apprehensive. Sounds pretty normal to me though.

Not sure, however, that Hahn's are really the best "family" bird as they can have quite a bit of attitude on them and their bites can cause serious wounds. I grew up with a Hahn's who still lives with my mother and she has clear and obvious favorites, but even with those she "loves" she can be a nippy little thing when she wants to be. She has drawn blood from ALL of us. She is also an incredibly jealous bird and will not tolerate other birds whatsoever. That said we love her to death and she is the sweetest, snuggliest, most adorable thing in the world when she wants to be.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I think if you don't feel a connection to this baby bird, there is no shame in continuing to look. If you are shopping available birds, as opposed to having contracted with a breeder for a specific baby, you might as well hold out for the one that "feels right". That said, if the bird is not fearful, teaching it to step up should be fairly straightforward. Being comfortable being handled is IMO more important than knowing that particular "trick".

Have you had birds before? Or would this be a first bird for everyone in the family? It might be several years before the 3-year-old would be able to interact with a bird safely at all, except from a distance.

[ffron69]

Thanks, we have had a cockatiel & lovebird, and as for the 3 year old it isn't a video game so he won't be interested beyond me holding his hand while petting it and watching it do tricks...
I have not "contracted" with a particular breeder, but these birds aren't so readily available around here especially for the $550 she wants for him. She has tons of birds & is offering all the support I want. I just am not sure if expecting it to be more "friendly" is asking too much AND one of the things all the sources I have read all say is that they are very easily trained so with that being the case I am thinking mabye with a little time & attention things would work out ok.
The family pet thing I put quite a bit of thought & research into & here are my thoughts, please add comments as you see fit. If you read enough on the internet & talk to enough people you will hear good & bad about all birds (and things for that matter). We (me & my 8 year old) want more than a cockatiel, something that is playful & "amusing" with a good ability to talk. Besides all that we really like the looks of the Hahns also. Back to the easily trainable, seems to be a good fit for what we want. The nipping & drawing blood, is there a bird out there that isn't going to bite?

[lotus15]

The family pet thing I put quite a bit of thought & research into & here are my thoughts, please add comments as you see fit. If you read enough on the internet & talk to enough people you will hear good & bad about all birds (and things for that matter). We (me & my 8 year old) want more than a cockatiel, something that is playful & "amusing" with a good ability to talk. Besides all that we really like the looks of the Hahns also. Back to the easily trainable, seems to be a good fit for what we want. The nipping & drawing blood, is there a bird out there that isn't going to bite?

That's a good point about nipping, but I think that with a mini macaw you're really getting the big macaw experience in a little body. There are definitely birds less prone to biting or with less of a reputation for being nippy-- that's one of the big reasons I chose a female Cape over a Jardine's, for example. (My Capey has still yet to bite anybody, ever.)

As for being "easily trainable," I think perhaps what you mean is that they are very intelligent birds, which is certainly true, but do keep in mind that with a higher intelligence comes the ability for them to definitely manipulate you just as much as you can "train" them. Our Hahn's, Karat, is certainly very smart but has a serious mind of her own, and when she wants something there is no stopping her. And sometimes what she wants is simply to bite your thumb off. She is smart enough to know when she does something naughty, and will immediately do something really ridiculously cute to make up for it. She's very manipulative in so many ways. She is smart enough to hold grudges too.

As for talking ability, just know that there is never a guarantee that any single bird will talk, even with, say, an African Grey.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Your mileage may vary... our Cape, Scotty, DOES bite --- usually my husband. It mostly seems to be inappropriate play rather than aggression, but... this Hahns might never bite anybody either. I have not had a baby straight from a breeder so I don't know how to judge if this baby is pretty much like most at that stage or not. I do think if the gut feeling is that it doesn't "fit" sometimes it is better to move on. You can always try tossing a coin and if you are very disappointed in the outcome, you kind of know what you really wanted.

[ffron69]

Thaks all, I decided against it...didn't feel right. Went to a place today to see another Hahns, totally different bird but it was sold. While I was there started playing with a Caique & just had to bring him/her home. THe kids named it Sunshine is a November hatched baby very palyful & seemd real gentle.

[rebeccaturpeinen]

what a pretty little face!!! congratulations

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Congratulations!!!

[ffron69]

Thanks