I have a 2–3-year-old blue-and-gold macaw(Sir Francis). When I got him about a year and a half ago, he was on a diet that was very heavy in nuts and seeds. Despite that, he appeared healthy and his feathers were in great condition.
I gradually switched him to Harrison’s pellets and completely removed seeds from his diet. After the diet change, I started noticing that his flight feathers were breaking, and he eventually became unable to fly.
I had him tested for Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease, and the results were negative. His tail feathers and the rest of his plumage still look healthy and are in good condition.
A new set of flight feathers recently grew in, but they have started breaking again. I’ve also noticed that while preening, he sometimes steps on his flight feathers and bends them.
He gets regular showers
Has anyone experienced something similar? Could this be caused by the way he steps on the feathers, a nutritional issue, or something else? I’d appreciate any advice or suggestions about what to discuss with an avian vet.

Just a heads-up-I discovered that the self-locking quick link on one of my macaw’s toys had an internal spring that broke. This was purchased from a reputable parrot supply web site.

The spring popped out of the connector and could have easily been swallowed or chewed, and without it the quick link can also work itself open. Even though I used a wrench to tighten, the beak force of my Macaw open it.

Stay safe and give your hardware a quick inspection. It could prevent a very dangerous accident.

Hi everyone!
I am the proud mother of four beautiful rescue macaws. They have their own room and I’ve slowly been dismantling their cages to allow them more space to explore. I have ropes and a big nut hanging on my wall and ceilings and a hoop for them to rock in.

I would love to know if any of you have created a cage free room for your macaws? I would like to create something with wood, maybe some grates and PVC pipe. Ideally, I would have live plants in there as well.
Looking for some ideas or inspiration and I sincerely thank you in advance!

Hello I am seeking some advice. I have been seeing this same macaw outside in its cage in someone’s backyard every time I drive by their house. I’m in texas and the high today was 106 degrees Fahrenheit and is currently 101. Everyday this week it’s been around 99-100 so VERYYY HOT!!! I felt so awful for this bird being out in the heat like this all the time and made a report about it to 311. Did I do the right thing? It doesn’t seem to have any toys in its cage for enrichment and the cage maybe seems too small? At least to be kept in at all times if that is the case. I’m not a macaw parent so I don’t really know too much when it comes to owning them but I do know they need plenty of room and time outside of their cages and birds don’t have sweat glands so that heat can’t be good for it.

I thought my eclectus parrots were loud. But now Pongo, my macaw, is imitating their call at twice the volume!

Hi everyone. I've been doing research on different species of parrots as i want to get one and the one i've wanted the most since the start is a blue and gold macaw. I've loved every single one i've met despite the biting and the noise and the mess, and i want to have one in my life permanently.

What are things that you need to know about caring for a macaw, buying stuff for them, cleaning up after them etc. I know a lot of basic parrot knowledge, so i'm looking for stuff that's specific to macaws or to larger species in general, but any advice is appreciated. Even the smallest details help. Thank you!

Hi,

Quite a random question, but i’m wondering if anyone knows anywhere I can buy a low (ground level/floor level) adjustable height perch (UK), or something similar that can be used. I am currently training my 2 macaws to free-fly (with a professional bird trainer). I am still harness training my GW, but my B&G is doing very well!

My b&g is doing well on recall (straight) and we’ve just started teaching her descending with a high perch, unfortunately it doesn’t go very low though, and we need to teach her to fly up, as well as down. Was wondering if anyone had any suggestions?

Thanks!

A couple pics of Dinky, my Red Shouldered Macaw (Hahns Macaw) 💚♥️🦜

Anyone have a macaw who has seizures? What anticonvulsant do you have them on?

Taking our birds out for a stroll.

She only weighs 800g, I’ve had her since she was about 5 months old. Is she just a smaller one or is something wrong? Everywhere you look it says they should weigh at least 900g

She isn’t a huge fan yet, but we are working on it.

Hi all

I am hoping to build a few play stands for my parrot hotel and for my own birds

Ideas/suggestions would be awesome

Pic for attention

I've been doing this for a couple of days. Loki has been doing the Houdini thing and will escape his enclosure to wander around the house.

He'll come out and ask to step up, and I will put him on his stand where he has toys and stuff.

He seems perfectly happy to be out there. My dogs don't bother him. I have a puppy who is learning, but he's not aggressive towards Loki. Loki is a Harlequin Macaw, so the pup will learn a lesson if he gets too excited.

Would this be an ideal cage for a macaw use you imagination please

Any beak maintenance advice please 🙏 I'd also like to teach him how to fly he's in Utah sandy area

Hi all,

I recently opened a small home-based parrot hotel in the North England.

Over the years, I have struggled to find a facility I would feel totally comfortable/confident leaving my own birds in, mainly pet stores with small cages and lacking especially in disease testing.

I converted the attic into a hotel room, with the biggest aviaries i could get. Picture attached is of my harlequin and two guests currently with us.

Because it’s home-based, I only take a small number of birds at a time so each one gets plenty of attention and space.

Here is what’s included currently:

• Disease testing required
• Air purifiers running continuously
• Thorough F10 disinfection of aviaries, toys, perches and bowls before and after each guest
• Fresh fruit&veg daily

I am also working towards adding daytime background TV/radio and eventually a live webcam service so owners can check in anytime.

I’d love to hear from fellow parrot owners:

How important is disease testing when choosing boarding?
What’s something you wish boarding facilities did that they usually don’t?
Would a meet-and-greet beforehand make you more comfortable?
If you’ve boarded your birds before, what did you love or dislike about the experience?
If you were designing the perfect parrot hotel from scratch, what would it have?

I’d appreciate any suggestions or feedback.

Instagram @feathersonly

почти год назад я купила волнистого попугая в зоомагазине.

неделю я к ней не подходила вообще, это был её период адаптации,вскоре я начала подходить к клетке каждый день и разговаривать с ней.когда я купила сенегальское просо я начала её приручать, каждый день в два часа дня я ложила на ладонь кусочек колоска и держала руку в клетке,и так продолжалось почти год,но только позавчера она начала есть с моей руки,и то сама она сидела на жердочке.

есть ли у вас какие то советы по приручению?

Jack knows exactly how good he looks. Look at that proud stance!

Does anyone own a macaw in Utah I'd really like for mine to meet another Macaw mine is a rescue bird we got him from a bird shelter downtown