Blue and Gold Macaw Review

As a professional zookeeper and aviculturist, I would most definitely not recommend Blue and Gold Macaws as a pet.  Let's review the three basic needs that one must satisfy in order to maintain a happy and healthy macaw.

First, proper shelter must be provided to the animal.  Macaws are large birds and therefor require a large enclosure.  Failure to provide adequate room lead to feather damage and possibly other injuries.

Second, a balanced and sufficient diet must be provided daily to keep a Blue and Gold Macaw fit.  Fresh fruit, nuts, as well as a well balanced parrot pellet diet must be on hand.  This can be difficult for many people as fruits can spoil quickly.

Third, the attention demanded from these parrots is almost unattainable for the average nine to five worker.  In a zoological setting, we are able to provide 10 hours of interaction daily, and we still can fall short.  When these birds feel attention deprived, they may scream.  This isn't the generic macaw noise, but rather a high pitched wail that quickly can become a major behavior problem.

If you have the ability to satisfactorily fulfill all of these basic needs, then visit a local pet shop and see if this species is for you.  If you think that it may be a stretch, then I would suggest looking for a much more manageable bird.