Macaws and babies

[snoopdilla]

Hello,
I am considering getting a baby macaw...either a greenwing or a blue and gold.
My wife is concerned that we might be having a baby in the next year or so and that the bird might hurt him/her. What is the experience of people with babies/small children and macaws? Is there a real danger for the baby? I know not to leave the baby/bird alone at any time. What else do I have to watch out for or how should I train the macaw?

Thanks for any advice and comments...

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Unless you plan to have a flighted bird with free run of the house, I don't see how the putative baby is at risk. I can well imagine a macaw could give a human baby a pretty bad bite, but I don't know why the macaw would have access to the baby such that that would be possible. I do think as the baby got to be a toddler, you'd have to take steps to baby-proof access to the bird, until the child was really old enough to understand how to sensibly handle the bird.

More at risk, I think, would be the bird. You hear a lot about birds (and other pets) being re-homed because the new parents no longer have time for the bird. They do take a lot of time and need a lot of attention, so I'd suggest being sure you can care for both a bird and a baby before adopting the bird.

That said, I think it is healthy for children to grow up in homes with well cared-for pets.

[Jenny]

You hear a lot about birds (and other pets) being re-homed because the new parents no longer have time for the bird. They do take a lot of time and need a lot of attention, so I'd suggest being sure you can care for both a bird and a baby before adopting the bird.

this is what struck me as more of a concern than a bird physically hurting a baby.

[Michael]

I don't think "Macaw" is specifically relevant to this question at all. The same would hold true for absolutely any parrot down to a budgie. Sure a budgie might not do life threatening harm, but an aggressive budgie could also hurt a baby. Neglect and other issues mentioned by others would apply to any parrot as well. So I just wanted to point out that this topic may as well be called "Parrots and babies."

[zazanomore]

I've never owned a macaw before, but from what I've heard, they are a lot of responsibility (as all birds are).

Think of buying a Macaw, as adopting a child. Are you prepared to take care of both the baby and the Macaw? You can't neglect your baby, and you can't neglect the parrot either.

I think it would be best for the baby, for your sanity, and best for the parrot, to wait until both you and your wife have the time to take care of both child and bird.

[Mr.Darcy]

I just got a Hahn's Macaw (mini macaw) he is quite content to be by himself but does need lots of attention. My youngest child is 17 yr he is 6'5" 210 lbs and when the bird uses his beak or tries to preen his neck.....it hurts! I can see why the larger birds can break or remove fingers. I would think that MrDarcy could do some very serious damage to a baby,......I would think very long on this decision.... ;]

[Mom2Rico]

I've never had a parrot as large as a macaw, but from what I've researched they are much like having a two year old with a razor blade attached to their face...and you'd have it for MANY years. Sweet, funny, adorable, BUT a LOT of responsibility and work. I have had 2 children, and especially as babies they were all I could handle at the time...I couldn't imagine having had a large parrot at that time too.
However, you know your situation and life better than anyone out here in internet world.

[captwest]

Well here we go again withmy 2 cents worth, but i would hate for you to get a bird and later have to rehome it. Yes , there is a very real possiblity that your parrot will be agressive to a new baby, dog ,wife,picture on the wall.etc.most basicly don't like change and prefer a routine. If you had the baby first and then got a baby macaw, i would like your chances better, a few other things to consider, your bird will cry like a baby the rest of his life( hey it gets attention), parrots don't like small, loud, fast moving things that get attention that they deserve(kids). i've had amazons that have never biten anyone and have never acted like they wanted too, ( her name is Stacy) Stacy never jumps off her perch, never jumps off your arm or shoulder, plays with other birds, plays with the dogs, BUT low and behold she jumped off my shoulder one day and bit the tar out of a friends 3yr old who was calmly being held in his fathers arm, 3 sticths worth. there was no warning and nothing i could do to stop it from happening , it was over i an instant. All this being said, all birds are individuals and it's not fair to sterotype any as not suitable for kids , this could happen with any spieces. If it were me, i'd have baby first and then see if i could find a bird who could handle it, or maybe take a bird around some bird savvy kids and see how it reacts, iknow my mother had amazons when i was a kid and before my bothers and sister were born and we never had a problem.