I need some advice ...

[brfussne]

After doing extensive research i've actually decided on a Dusky Pionus Parrot. A Pionus Parrot is the perfect bird for me. I've been emailing a breeder about reserving one of her babies.

[GlassOnion]

Congratulations!!

[CinnamonParrots]

Awesome! Good choice! They love bath time!!!!

[brfussne]

Congratulations!!

Awesome! Good choice! They love bath time!!!!

Thank you guys so much!! I was pretty set on the Dusky Pionus. It's been about a week and the breeder hasn't email me back yet. The very first time I emailed her, she got back to me fairly quick, in a day I believe. We discussed shipping since she lives in South Dakota & I live in California, we dicussed payment options and everything. I emailed her back about finalizing everything and she never returned my email? I don't know what to think. Yesteday I went to visit a bird store to see if they had any Dusky Pionus kinda to prepare myself for my little Dusky when it arrives and they didn't have any in so I just perused their other birds. They had this miniature Macaw. They never told me the species of it. I think it is a Hahn's Macaw?? It's entire stomach was bald!! My husband said he thought the Macaw looked ugly. I can't imagine what others think about it. It only had feathers on it's head, wings, some legs, and a few tail feathers. They said it's feathers will never grow back. I felt so bad for it. The thing was shaking & was afraid of everything. It was also on sale for $299 which leads me to believe they tried to sell him/her & nobody wanted it because it was bald. It was the sweetest thing though. As soon as I walked into the bird room, it came up to me and I asked the lady if I could hold it. It hoped right up on my finger and looked at me with an unsure look on it's face. After a 5 minutes alone with the little fellow, it began to trust me more. It started to make a few noises and would tilt it's head. The lady said a worker had been working with it making trying to make it friendly. It liked to be held, but wasn't ready for someone to touch it yet. It never tried to bite anyone. I feel like the poor little fellow didn't trust anyone because so many people come in everyday so all it knows is people coming in & out of it's life. It donesn't have a bond with anyone except the one worker trying to befriend it. I think if the breeder doesn't email me back by this Thursday I'm going to go ahead and buy the miniature Macaw. It's such a sweetheart & just needs a good stable family that will take care of it forever. Apparently it had another miniature Macaw with it at some point in time?? I don't know if the store sold the other one and this one became lonely & plucked it's self or maybe the other one over groomed this one??? They never said. I think this Macaw would also fit in well with my family. What do you guys think??

[Shelby]

I have rarely, if never, heard of a macaw being suggested as a "beginner" parrot - meaning for someone with little experience working with parrots. Any bird needs lots of regular and frequent interaction and training to become tame and remain that way. Macaws require lots of fresh food like fruits and veggies. Any bird, but especially larger parrots like macaws, also require a large financial investment at the beginning and their continual care can be quite expensive. They require fresh food, quality pellets, a large cage, LOTS of toys - especially chew toys and things they can shred to satisfy their natural instincts. I have heard of macaws going through chew toys in a matter of hours.

All that being said, if you are respectful of the bird, dedicated to training, feed the bird good healthy food, and make sure all its needs are fulfilled, a macaw can be a wonderful companion.

PLEASE do not buy it just because it cuddled a little with you at the store. Research the species, read up on their needs, typical behaviors, and common problems they have that can be avoided with proper training. Ask questions. Do NOT purchase this bird right away. Macaws live a VERY long time. Are you willing and able to give it a loving home for the rest of your life and its life? Look at your budget and the costs for food and toys. Can you afford it? Decide how much time you can reasonably dedicate to training and socializing with the bird. Learn a lot about the individual bird and its background. Then make your decision.

[brfussne]

I have rarely, if never, heard of a macaw being suggested as a "beginner" parrot - meaning for someone with little experience working with parrots. Any bird needs lots of regular and frequent interaction and training to become tame and remain that way. Macaws require lots of fresh food like fruits and veggies. Any bird, but especially larger parrots like macaws, also require a large financial investment at the beginning and their continual care can be quite expensive. They require fresh food, quality pellets, a large cage, LOTS of toys - especially chew toys and things they can shred to satisfy their natural instincts. I have heard of macaws going through chew toys in a matter of hours.

All that being said, if you are respectful of the bird, dedicated to training, feed the bird good healthy food, and make sure all its needs are fulfilled, a macaw can be a wonderful companion.

PLEASE do not buy it just because it cuddled a little with you at the store. Research the species, read up on their needs, typical behaviors, and common problems they have that can be avoided with proper training. Ask questions. Do NOT purchase this bird right away. Macaws live a VERY long time. Are you willing and able to give it a loving home for the rest of your life and its life? Look at your budget and the costs for food and toys. Can you afford it? Decide how much time you can reasonably dedicate to training and socializing with the bird. Learn a lot about the individual bird and its background. Then make your decision.

Shelby, money by far is not an issue. Neither is being a life long companion. I currently own 2 dogs, & 2 Chinchillas. Chinchillas living 15-20 years. Fresh food & water everyday is not an issue either and neither is time with the bird. I'm currently a house wife, so I have all the time in the day to be with the bird. The only thing I'm concerned about is the noise level. I know Macaws are loud, and I can safely assume the smaller ones can become quite loud as well. I do live in an apartment now, with 1 neighbor upstaires. He is a professor and is gone most of the day. I still want to be as polite as possible when he is home to not disturb him & don't want to get a bird that squawks all day long. It's not the little chat or noises, it's the big screams that make me a little uneasy. I know all birds make all kinds of noises. I just want to know how frequently he/she makes the loud noises. I read that some birds only do it twice a day, 1 being in the morning, and 1 being in the evening. Then there's other birds like cockatoos & parakeets that do it all day. I only have 3 months left on my lease, then we're moving to a house. It's just these 3 months I worry about. I'm going to continue doing research before making my final decisions. Thanks for the help Shelby.

[GlassOnion]

Macaws are a LOT of bird, even the Hahn's Macaw that you're talking about is a LOT of bird in a little body. I can guarantee you that this bird will be much more challenging and difficult in comparison to a Pionus. All hook bills need fresh foods, not just Macs; however, Macaws do have a very sensitive respiratory system and you will want an air filter if you have a dusty home OR if you ever plan to add a dusty bird such as a Grey, 'Tiel,'Too..

Hahn's Macaws are very nippy- every Hahn's owner I know has holes in his/her fingers and those buggers will give you lip piercings.

Please take the time to read the threads I've posted below, they will be an eye opener for you.

http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... %27s+macaw
http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... %27s+macaw
http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... -like.html
http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... acaws.html
http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... hahns.html

[brfussne]

Macaws are a LOT of bird, even the Hahn's Macaw that you're talking about is a LOT of bird in a little body. I can guarantee you that this bird will be much more challenging and difficult in comparison to a Pionus. All hook bills need fresh foods, not just Macs; however, Macaws do have a very sensitive respiratory system and you will want an air filter if you have a dusty home OR if you ever plan to add a dusty bird such as a Grey, 'Tiel,'Too..

Hahn's Macaws are very nippy- every Hahn's owner I know has holes in his/her fingers and those buggers will give you lip piercings.

Please take the time to read the threads I've posted below, they will be an eye opener for you.

http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... %27s+macaw
http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... %27s+macaw
http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... -like.html
http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... acaws.html
http://forums.avianavenue.com/macaw-mot ... hahns.html

Thanks for the forums GlassOnion. I read them all and what I get out of it that Miniature Macaws are loving, stubborn, nippy, and clowns. Obviously, they're very intelligent. I'm sure all birds go through a nippy stage or stay nippy. When adding a bird as a family member you always have to assume you're going to get bitten. Nippy is not a problem. I'm not afriad of being bit. Someone said "they seem to be wired to be one person birds." I'll be sure to socialize it well if I do decide to adopt it, but i planned on socializing any bird that I got. Let it get accustomed to all sorts of sounds, people & places. They kinda remind me of a GCC in a way. How they can be stubborn, act like a clown, bossy, and are up front with their feelings. They sound like a wonderful bird.

[GlassOnion]

Needless to say, a Mini Macaw is one of my few 'dream birds'

[brfussne]

Needless to say, a Mini Macaw is one of my few 'dream birds'

They seem so wonderful, who wouldn't want one? haha I'm definately going to visit the bird quite a few times to try and get a taste of it's personality before purchasing. Obviously one visit is not going to show it's true colors. I'm also very sure that a bird acts completely & utterly different from when it's at the pet store to when it's settled in it's new home. I just love the idea of giving ANY animal a second chance at life and a new home. We adopted 1 of our 2 Chinchillas from a Chinchilla Rescue here in San Diego and Jackson is such a blessing & wonderful gift. Him & Gus are inseperable. Jackson lived with his brother Jacob, who beat up on him and literally took a small piece of his ear & lip off. Regardless of what he looks like, he will always be special to us. He has a forever home with us. I feel so blessed just to have him.