How to Buy a Macaw

Macaws' friendly personalities make these birds great pets. Before you buy one, you should know that it likes to be the center of attention. A healthy bird should live for a long time. When you decide to buy a macaw, consider these tips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Purchase the cage. Set it up before your purchase the bird. It's less stressful on your macaw to have a new home already waiting for it.

2. Shop around for your macaw. There are breeders and pet shops that specialize in macaws. Look for signs the bird has been well cared for by its owner.

3. Consider a young macaw instead of an older one. Sometimes an older bird has learned bad habits that may be hard to break. You can bond with a young bird from the beginning of its life.

4. Make sure your bird is healthy. The macaw should have shiny bright eyes that are open and blink to show its alertness. Its feathers should be smooth and its nostrils free from discharge. Check for firm and not runny droppings.

5. Consult an avian vet regarding the bird's overall health. Many breeders provide certificates of hatch and health papers.

6. Purchase the same food for your macaw that it's currently eating when you buy it. Let the bird settle in to its new home before altering its diet. Change your macaw's diet gradually.

[maartje]

on 2/16/2009 There is so much wrong with this little article, that I do not even know where to start. Don't you think it is a tad oversimplified? There are many more considerations before you purchase a large bird. IF you have any doubt about that, go look at petfinder.com. The rescues are overloaded with macaws from people that did these impulse buys without knowing what they were getting into.before you buy, read up very well on what it is like to own a large parrot. these are not remotely like dogs or guineapigs. And after you have an idea about time, labor ,money etc, take a second look at a rescue and consider taking a second hand bird. There are way too many birds abandoned already, and you will be doing something good. In addition, they will make sure that you have the capability and knowledge , and it is cheaper.Maartjetwo macaws, one cockatoo, one crow, one starlingall birds second hand and

[ChetWomach]

on 2/14/2008 If you have multiple birds it's extremely important to keep them seperate for at least 30 days to make sure the new bird doesn't have any illnesses to give your current bird.
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