I have a cockatiel, and a cockatoo. Before you get a bird remember they = 1. are expensive af 2. live a LONG time 3. are destructive 4. need lots of attention birds are toddlers with can openers attached to their face that can fly
Is there a way to make them less destructive or teach them what the can/can't destroy? I get committed easily and if I'll get a pet I want something I won't have to watch die.
@@whitneyyvonne977 I consider animals part of family and don't handle their death well. Had a Guinea pig that naturally died well into his old age, but the habits you create when there is someone else in your life for so many years stick for a while and it was really tough getting over that sweet creature.
I really want a Macaw. I've always loved birds. But unfortunately, I don't think my lifestyle will support a bird as majestic as a Macaw. Thank you for uploading this video and showing a bit of reality. I appreciate you!
Lecil Inting no, do your research and get what you love, there’s NO such thing as a beginner bird, why would you get something you don’t like and is just a test subject?
I agree with Tyler. I love parrots so much but I don’t know if I’ll ever have the time and space dedication for one. I know not to get one unless I do because I would never want such a beautiful bird to suffer inside a cage
A while ago my mom impulse bought a blue and gold from someone. When we first got it I was probably around 9-10. He’s almost the same age as me. I’m 14 now and until recently I wanted nothing to do with him. But my parents started talking about rehoming him and that’s when I realized I actually like him a lot. My parents have done nothing to train him or even spent much time with him so he screams and bites. My parents always start yelling at him when he screams and to calm him down all I have to do is go up and talk to him. This video has inspired me to help him out and get him to become friendly. I’m going to start working with him on a daily basis. I’ve noticed that he’s always been very interested and curious about me. I feel like I can make his life a lot better.
autumn chiavelli Awww amazing. I’m so happy you are going to try and make an effort with him, hopefully it will be very rewarding when the both of you bond. It’s not easy gaining trust from an animal that has been neglected but with a lot of time and patience you should be fine. Good luck. It’s such an amazing feeling when you get there
Mikey The Macaw & Friends yeah. He’s always been interested in me and yesterday he let me pet his back and I talk to him a lot. So I think I really have a good chance with him
At the zoo they told us to imagine having a toddler with a bullhorn and a pair of pliers for 80 years. And that was enough to convince me to never get one.
I wanted to get one and was willing to put up with noise and housing but after getting really hurt after being clamped by that huge beak I considered otherwise
Mikey The Macaw & Friends Personally if I ever get one I would want it to be able to fly so that it can do reconnaissance work for me teach it to spy. And perhaps have it find things. Other than that teach it music.
Never get a macaw as a first bird. They are for advanced owners only. A good macaw is wonderful. A bad one is truly a nightmare. They are unbelievably loud and have an axe on their face which can destroy anything, including fingers. They are staggeringly intelligent. Mikey is clearly a wonderful bird and is having a great life. Congratulations. You're doing a great job and well done for rescuing him.
@@sebastiandimeglio1994 My son has just taken on a very badly abused rescue Blue and Gold. He has had birds before (both his own and mine when he lived with me) and she has turned out to be a huge success. What I was referring to is those who buy a macaw because they look pretty in a pet shop without understanding their complex needs and the problems that can arise if they are not met. Beginners are better getting a cockatiel or a Senegal or Meyer's Parrot before moving on to something more "difficult".
And yet, if people ask what’s a good beginner parrot, so many people say “ there are no beginner parrots”. Which is so disingenuous! Yes, you need to make a time commitment to them daily, but some are far easier than others. I’d recommend a budgie or cockatiel to start for sure and if any bird people tell me they take the same amount of work as a cockatoo they are lying!
@@laurafedora5385 cockatiels and budgie are still 15+ yr commitments, I prefer the term “focus on your dream bird” if you’re prepared and have experienced birds in person it’d be fine, birds aren’t something you can “level up”
If you get a “practice” bird you are wasting time that could go to a larger bird if that’s what a person wants. It’s not like you get a small bird and when you ready get rid of the small bird. I only wanted one bird and got one a blue and gold macaw. Amazing
Mikey The Macaw & Friends Oh OK. I searched up the cost and it said it’s 7K, could be because i’m in Australia and the Aussie dollar is like almost 2x the value of the British pound.
Gibbo 1986 yea I guess if they really want it. If they do, they probably do a bit of research before making such a commitment. But yea, some people are dumb, I feel sorry for some of the macawss and other birds.
I really hate when people say "oh I saw a cute bird video and now I'm getting one!" It's such a pet peeve for me! What you see in a video is completely different! I have a caique and people say oh it's adorable but they are honestly satan them self! Plus you need to set your social life aside! My boy is like my kid, I try to use so much time around him!
Ik. My bird is a very naughty bird! Coming with swears and screeches when he doesnt get what he wants. And my friends all say they want one not know that he is a pain...
Wow I totally understand. I had no idea how to handle a macaw when I got mine. I had not planned to have a macaw at all. A friend of mine had this big beautiful bird. She started to go through a rough patch and next thing I know I had a giant bird lol. I have been learning so much this past year on how to keep my macaw happy thanks to books an TH-cam. I think she is happier and healthier than when I got her. My poor bird has been through so much in her life. This video is so important to get out there. All people see are beautiful birds behaving well and never think of the downsides.
Brody Wolf Awww Brody what a good friend you are taking her on. What kind of macaw is she? There is a really really nice online bird community out there with thousands of people, we recently joined about 5 macaw Facebook groups and have learnt so much more in the last few months. We actually weren’t sure if making a video like this was a good idea as originally, I wanted to base this channel on happy times and smiles but I’m glad I did. Thanks for stopping by and watching and I wish you and your bird a lovely life.
Mikey The Macaw & Friends She's an 11 year old blue and gold macaw. I'm her 3rd home and she can be quite cranky. I no longer put her in a cage as well they just make her miserable.
Mikey The Macaw & Friends I hope so too. I know you had your doubts but people need to see the not so great aspects of these birds. They need to understand it's like having a permanent 2 year old
I am a disabled combat vet, most of my buddies are married with kids and have jobs, other responsibilities. So I do consulting work from home. Basically, I have all the time in the world. Not married. No kids. When I was a kid, I went on vacation to Colombia. They had two dogs, a cat, two, parrots, and a blue and yellow macaw. The moment I saw it sitting on his perch outside, that was it. Not a day went by were we did not see each other. I fed her, I cuddled her, showered her. The other green parrots were so jealous, even when i played with them too, they just could not be on my shoulders at the same time. They went at it like an avian UFC. I spoiled the heck out of her, which was a big mistake. A few days before I left, the owners, rightfully, put her in an island next to the hotel to distant me from her. I kid you not. She would call out my name. We knew the owners of the establishment, and sadly she died not long after I left. For anybody thinking about getting one of these beauties they can get incredibly attached to their owners. Thinking about getting one since ill be able to take care of it. Money and time is not really an issue. I do have nice furniture, a 65" OLED 4K TV, which ill have to cover it with a plexiglass enclosure. But i really want a companion. I LOVE macaws. They are a work of art. I will give it a good, caring home. I recently relocated to Australia, if anybody is a breeder or is a temp care. Hit me up. i will travel anywhere within the country.
Hi! There's a pet store with all kinds of birds in Illinois. Birdman's Parrots, Niles, Illinois. They have baby macaws which are $6,800. Just letting you know since you want a pet store with macaws 🙂. BTW they ship by plane for $200 extra. So, if you want them to ship it would be $7,000 (with the bird not just shipping). I'm not a breeder or anything BTW just a fellow person helping out.
See Sir. There you reveal the true bond between living beings. If the term "human" has any sense to it, it is the duty to : "Live to protect and love" not the converse, a theory which is getting huge popularity hits today. Well done Sir. Indeed you have proven what a Human is.
@@aquariusmoon771 After my precious macaw died I rehomed a 60 year old Moluccan cockatoo. It took him 2 years to accept me but he is such a wonderful bird. I live alone with no neighbors near which is good as he swings from his ropes on the ceiling and screams for about 30 mins morning and night. He is funny and very emotional. I am 70 now and he may outlive me. My dear friend who is only 50 is going to love him and take care of him if I go first.
piscesbobbie Of course. This is so true. There was so much more I could’ve talked about but didn’t want to go on and on for hours haha. Thanks for commenting it and thanks for watching.
As a owner of a parrot for 12 years: 1.) Macaws are the LOUDEST parrots in the rainforest. So they will scream EXTREMELY LOUD when they play, want attention, are upset, when they want your food, ect. 2.) Their intelligence is the equivalent to a human toddler. They need as much attention, love, & play as a human toddler. If you don't give them this time they will have significant mental health & physical healthy problems. 3.) They go through puberty just like humans. Once the reach puberty (in their early teens) their personality changes. They will become more aggressive, jealous if u hangout with anyone else, and randomly biting. 4.) They poop on EVERYTHING constantly. They poop every 15 minutes so you have to be ok with them pooping on ur furniture, nice house items, & with deep cleaning the cage every couple of days. 5.) Vet bills are EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. The average vet bill for me was $400. When she became sick it was around $1,000 each vet visit for mediations & tests. 6.) Their average lifespan in captivity is the human life span. If something happens to you or if u adopt a young macaw they will out live you. They have SEVERE PTSD if they have to switch owners because of the deep emotional connection. This can lead to self mutilation. 7.) They love only 1 human at a time. They will be jealous & hate any other humans you are close to.
AML This is all very true apart from with Mikey anyway he only poops on his perch and he doesn’t mind others, we have socialised him quiet well but good points.
I want to address a few of your points. 3. This is entirely dependent on how your bird is socialized and trained and how you keep up with your daily training work. 6. This is not true. Adult birds can and do transfer owners very readily even if they were bonded to their original owners. 7. Not true, if you have raised your bird as an included part of the family and keeping up with socialization and training your bird should be able to be handled by anyone in the family. The bottom line is that birds require socialization and training just like a dog and interaction with as many people as possible just like a growing child to become a sane and well balanced bird.
I want to address a few of your points. 3. This is entirely dependent on how your bird is socialized and trained and how you keep up with your daily training work. 6. This is not true. Adult birds can and do transfer owners very readily even if they were bonded to their original owners. 7. Not true, if you have raised your bird as an included part of the family and keeping up with socialization and training your bird should be able to be handled by anyone in the family. The bottom line is that birds require socialization and training just like a dog and interaction with as many people as possible just like a growing child to become a sane and well balanced bird.
My b&g macaw (4 yo) have pooped everywhere only during first week. It took very little time to learn that he's only allowed to poop on/in the cage and the perch. When he's on my arm or we are playing on the bed, he stops defecating for about 30-45min, then flies to the perch and take a much larger poo than normal. Noise is reduced to minimum by feeding early and foraging toys. Regards
He said everything I was expecting. My grandparents had a macaw that was kept indoors for like 85% of the time over the course of about 25 years. Still,he was a very happy bird and would say the funniest things. They're way more of a responsibility than I can take on now and in the foreseeable future.
Its nice that you rescued him, they are protected in my country (Perú) and the police really take it seriously, there was an illegal market here and it got closed, the sellers arrested and the parrots were released back into the wild in a protected area where hunting is illegal, sadly, there's still ppl that manage to capture them again and sell them illegally here and outside the country. I really appreciate you rescuing this guy instead of buying him, they're our national creatures and we love watching them free, flying in our forests. Please if you're getting one of these guys MAKE SURE you got the funds and spacious place and stay as much time as you can with them because they WILL bond with you, that's just how birds are and they're very dependent and loving.
Super Taco Awww it’s so sad to see people still take them from the wild, mikey was bread in london, they are such a big commitment which a lot of people don’t understand. Thanks for watching.
@@MikeyTheMacaw you said Mikey was bred in London, is that, OH never mind, lol I thought you were in America, and was wondering how you got him from London to the US, but I now realize you're from the UK. Lol. Sorry
I just got a macaw three days ago. I adopted her from some one I knew. And ill tell you i knew nothing about these beautiful birds. I did some research and I learned more from your 10 minute video. Thank You!
I had one given to me that was captured in the Amazon back in the 70s! Absolutely wild animal i took him out as much as i could, but we met a lady that had a small bird rescue in her house with a full back yard atrium and 2 other birds and she took him and he’s loving it. I couldn’t own another one unless i was retired! These guys make having one look easy! They start squawking when the sun comes up and you have to start playing with them immediately and if you come home the squawk until you take them out, if you take your eye off of them they’ll crush anything they can touch. They don’t stay on the bird stands they walk all over the house chewing on absolutely everything. It’s a lot to take on and i can not over state that.
The wildlife illigal trade is third biggest! Loses only to drugs and guns. 90% of all animals trapped in the wild die before reaching its final destination! 1/3 of all parrots species is ENDANGERED!
EXACTLY! And not just for the big guys like macaws, but ALL BIRDS, even the smallest budgie, needs this much care, thought and attention. Your Mickey is sweet and loving because of all that effort you put in, each and every day.
moiraaoibheane You are so right. I was going to talk about all birds but I actually have no knowledge about any other birds apart from macaws. Of course they all need so much love and attention and the more you put in the more rewarding it will be
I let my two budgies free fly in my house with their cage always open, unless I have company over that isn't used to being aware of birds. I love how you covered your backyard. Great idea!
Bb Yea we sometimes have to put Mikey in his room when certain people visit, usually we tell them if you are coming around you are dealing with him haha. It’s his house not there lol. Yea the back yard was the best thing I did, he loves it, just wish it was bigger. Silly small back yard london haha
I can't stand people who shut their big birds away for the bird's entire life. Imagine that, you've got a huge lifetime to live and you spend it all day everyday shut in where you can never even fly. Those kind of people shouldn't even be allowed to keep macaws. There should be a house inspection and check list to ensure the home set up is suitable and the bird will be happy there.
I agree but also if your gonna have a free flight it needs to be potty trained, have a designated spot in the house to poop and pee. I agree they need space and lots of care. I do think tho too that if you have your parrots wings clipped that they still need to be able to walk around for periods of time, as long as your awake and in the house your bird should be too
Well birds shouldn’t be in cages, if you can’t handle birds don’t get them. And def don’t clip their wings. May as well buy an animal that doesn’t fly.
The problem with letting pet birds out to fly all the time is that they can injure themselves, and that they can fly out the door when humans go in and out and get lost. Once that happens, your pet bird is in big trouble, because he probably won't be able to find his way home, won't know how to find food, and probably can't survive a cold climate. The only exception is Monk parrots. www.thesprucepets.com/reasons-to-keep-your-bird-inside-390361 www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/nyregion/resilient-monk-parrots-flock-to-queens-and-beyond.html
My rescue took in a blue and gold 2 months ago, she’s a 20 year plucker, and had no physical interaction in former home. She’s thriving in our home, very sweet. Thank you for promoting rescue!
And then there is the other part of ppl that say the totally opposite since they know way better about macaw ownership then him.. even if they have never own one. Very good video! You might believe a video like this explaining the very obvious things is not necessary but with all the clueless pp out there believe me there absolutely is a very good reason to do so.
dtiydr This is very true. We could’ve gone into this a lot more and explained it in so much more detail but making a 30min video wasn’t our goal, it was to outline briefly these birds are a lot of work and I think we did that.
Wait only 18 months?! Lmao I expected to hear more like 10 years. The way you talk about him wasn as if he was your actual child. Kinda like...." he is a monster. He will literally destroy everything. Here's a list of reasons why he makes my life difficult. BUT he is mine. I love him and I'm keeping him"..... those kinds of relationships usually take years to build with an animal.
Rat-King Good for you, but please don’t assume everyone is like you, and make statements based on your experience. Many people need time to form a relationship, and in fact, many animals do need time to bond with their owner.
My vet said that psittacines (birds in the parrot family, everything from macaws to budgies) are like 3 year-old children. They know enough to understand what you want from them - yet bratty enough to be obstinate in spite of all that. Whereas dogs are "faithful" and cats are "moody", psittacines are rambunctious, demanding and deliberately destructive (those beaks are meant for chewing bark on a regular basis - so if there's isn't any bark consistently available...).
As an introvert this looks like a good pet for me, i would waste my life and money to make a bird happy and to have a great bond because i care for animals more than our own species😅😅😅😮
For sure. It takes a lot of thoughts before you get one of these animals. Its a major commitment. My brother got himself one, and didn't consider how much care and attention they demand. A wife , doesn't ask so much of you as this bird will.
Omg same. I’ve already committed my self to an inch worm. But it did stress me out a lot. To the point I developed two diffrent stress rashes cause I would always worry about him .-.
You’ve never heard loud until you have 4 cockatoos and 4 Macaws and several Amazons in one room all screaming with you for no reason 😂😂😂 (I work for a rescue/educational facility)
Aymen Timmers Unlike the bigger birds, budgies dont reqcuire TOO much attention, how ever if you are working or going to school ful time youd probably want to buy a pair and have plenty of toys for th em so they wont get bored or lonely. Budgies are the easiest of the parrots probably and if you can afford to properly supply one (or two) I would definitely reccommend!
Also I have to commend you for how big and beyond you have gone for him! Being the reptile community, we see impulse buys all the time and they dont always result in a great future, so I love how much you have grown and learned and are going above and beyond with fencing in your backyard, and planning outdoor aviaries! You can tell how seriously you guys have taken bird ownership and its so refreshing to see! Fantastic job! 😁
Thank you for doing this. Educating people about not impulse buying is so important because so many kids can watch things and get this wistful image of the perfect pet in a perfect world. I know I have a personal dream to one day be able to live a relatively good life that's perfect for raising a Mollucan Cockatoo. I've done a lot of research and I know full well what it takes to take care of even the simplest of parrots - and trust me. There is no simple parrot. You have to devote a lot of time, money, and love into them. Most, if not all, parrots are as intelligent as a 3 year old child. A toddler! And they live upwards of 20 to 80 years on average, depending on size and species. They're lifetime commitments. You'll literally be raising a toddler for a majority of your living life. While that can be rewarding for those who know what they're up against and are prepared for that, then they're perfect additions to the family. But you should never impulse buy any animal. Ever. You should always do your research and prepare, be it a mouse, a dog, a parrot, or a horse. Always make sure you can actually PROVIDE before you OWN.
Quick note: it's spelled mollucan. I'm only correcting you because most experienced bird owners will see the misspelling of a species name as a sign that you haven't done research. Good luck!
Cockatoode thanks for That! I'm actually a really shitty speller (': I do a lot of research on parrot bird species and specifically cockatoos. I'll fix that before I get sniped, thanks
They do screen and scwele they do it for attention but babys also do aswell they can be toutht not to by command and talking to them more will stop the attention from screams, ✋👍
VERY GOOD VIDEO! I have the same bird since more than 8 years and I know what you are talking about! We didnt bought him we adopted him after he was abandoned, we are doing our best to make him happy. Thank you for sharing the reality, cause having a macaw is not that easy!
My upstairs neighbor has a beautiful female Macaw. I enjoy sitting and listening to her calling; she even knows their car when they come home from work and is super attached to them! what a wonderful Bond they have!
He said he’s from NZ! Almost every person I’ve met from NZ have been both the nicest and chillest people; based on his video it appears this attitude to life is probably also needed to be a good owner of these birds
Me too! He eats better than me, has a best friend/s, can be as noisy as he wants and still gets played with and taken to park and climb trees. I want to live with Mikey too haha :)
Omg I wish I could "like" this video a million times because thats how good it is !!! A serious video, very informative and you're absolutely right. I take my responsibility to NOT get a bird because I could not give them what they need at this point in my life and I do not want to cage them or neglect them. It breaks my heart when I walk past homes and see a tiny round empty cage with 1 tiny bird in it. Birds aren't decoration for someones house to be caged like that. Thank you so much for this video. You're the best!♡
Miss Anonymous You are very right, thank you for being a good person and if you are, waiting for the right time in your life for a bird. We really appreciate your kind words on this, we never ever planned to do a serious video but we are happy we did and are happy that you enjoyed it. Thanks again for stopping by
Miss Anonymous If they want a bird for decoration, that's an option in Animal Crossing. There's other ethical and practical questions about that game. But anyway...
I have a 30 yr old Macaw who lives outside here in the foothills. He and I used to play "zoom" and run back and forth on my arm in front of the house which looked down a rather steep hill...so, he decides to let go and YES properly clipped, but took off for the 200 foot pine tree down that steep hill. He was about 10 at the time. We could not get him down. He was so frightened so he climbed to the top. No fire engine or any equip. could even get to this tree. It was a full moon that night and if it weren't for my fear of an owl grabbing him, it would have been a beautiful sight, moon, tree and my bird silhouetted. Next day tried again with no luck we finally took a bb gun and hit branch by his feet which made him startle and flutter down half ways. We got a monster of a ladder and I climbed up and grabbed him tight. Yeah he bit me but not too terribly. I took him up to the house and sobbed while I reclipped his wings but enough so he won't crash if he falls but enough to discourage him from taking another trip. He stays clipped. He has a massive manzanita bush cemented in a bucket. That works for oth of us.
@@marcydonnette1970 yes, some of them can fly with clipped wings, generally not to the top of a tree, but sometimes they do. the standard is to clip the last 4 or 5, but sometmes you have clip more. there's one video on youtube where a farmer clipped his pheasant, and the darned thing managed to fly to the top of a small tree, the farmer got a ladder, grabbed the pheasant by the tail and then clipped a whole lot more on that bird. the farmer was soooo angry. the bird did not do it again. the bird was worth $250. go figure. better to be safe on the side of clipping than losing a bird, I'm with you on that. and clip more if you have to. I loved your story. very cute
Why don’t you just train him instead of disabling him. It can really have serious effects on their mental and physical health. Mikey and Mia are you trees everyday they love it. A few months of training goes a long way
@@MikeyTheMacaw I'm sorry if you took that as an insult. It was definitely not intended as one! I meant more the people who go to breeders intending to get a $300 conure or something and wind up going home with an overpriced macaw from the breeder instead
nope nope no no not at all, we didn’t mean that by any means. It’s just what we chose to spend our money on where most people will buy normal things like cars, computers, nice furniture, or not live in a house of 6 just to save on rent haha, most people spend there money on hobbies, sports, music, collecting stamps or the most common, having kids of their own which would rack up wayyyy more than a bird cost. We just chose to spend our money on a bird instead haha
Im an animal behaviourist who specialises in macaws, and I have to say that for 18 months, an unresearched impulse buy, you are doing great! As to all the things he does that you dont love very much (carpet removal, door pruning, screeching, grabbing, etc) these are things that are easily fixed with help from a parrot behaviourist, in person or via live video on pm, etc. Lessons that you, your partner and Mikey all get to learn together, problem solving where you all have a piece of the puzzle. I would recommend you finding a macaw behaviorist sooner rather than later, to help you fix the negative issues. MY blue and gold wears a harness and goes everywhere I do, as he is a heart monitor and pre warns before I'm going to collapse, so believe me when I say your Mikey is SMART, and being a little rotter pushing the boundries with you, playing at "dumb birdy" ...and conned you successfully! Welcome to parronthood 😁 (some days your fid is just going to be a d@#&) best thing you can do atm is learn his real capabilities re understanding you both, and what his iq and eq ratings are, then tailor his learning appropriately. I am worried about your mesh by the way. It doesnt look stainless steel and anything else is poisonous to macaws in particular... It is why most bird rooms have only free standing perches and those hung from the ceiling (hook screwed through a frisbee so it cant be chewed out of ceiling) and all lights and windows covered with perspex or stainless cages, and a security screen door in place of the bedroom door! Same with most bird toys you buy... licking and chewing at chrome chains kill macaws.
Alicia Manolas Thanks for the comment. Most of the things in this video are now fixed, Mikey free flys daily now so all his entertainment is burnt flying which is great, it was the best thing we did for him.
Hi, we are getting a 4 month Old Greenwing early Jan. We have two great baby 5-6 month old recalled trained Sun Conures. Can the Greenwing share the same Bird room in our house?
I'm a little late to the party but i've got to ask, how is your blue and gold macaw your heart monitor that can pre-warn you before collapsing? Fascinating! Is this actually a studied thing?
Thank you for making this video. I recently rescued a blue and gold macaw.. we are 8 days in and I’ve been having second thoughts.. lol just hearing you say for the first couple months. They will drive you crazy... gave me hope. Looking forward to building a beautiful bond like y’all have. You’ve got a beautiful bird.. mine came to me plucked.. hoping to give her the best life. Again thank you!
My parents bought a macaw before they had children. Macaws & children DON'T mix. My parents had the macaw locked up in a cage for 17 years because macaws can't handle children so she would bite the us. Macaws can bite through broomsticks so you can imagine how bad the bites were. When I turned 12 I "saved her" & developed a relationship with her. We were insperatable until she passed away 2 years ago. So I took care of her for 12 years. So PLEASE do NOT get a macaw if you plan on having children. While in the cage she plucked out the majority of her feathers out of stress of being locked up 24/7. The feathers never grew back & she developed PTSD. Please don't get a macaw if you want children
AML Ohhh this is so sad. I know of some people with macaws and kids who get along great but this doesn’t make sense. Thank you for giving him a good life before she passed away.
Dylan Castro - yeah I think that exactly it. Also my macaw thought it was super funny to scare people so I bet she did it to us kids a lot. My parents didn't do enough to try to intergrate us kids with our macaw. Which is very sad.
Tony Reyes - I know of a macaw who bit a persons wrist & broke their bone. It was a person running a parrot sanctuary. So maybe not a broomstick but damn they can cause a lot of damage if they want. I don't know if you have ever been bit before by a macaw but my god their bites (even small ones) are rough. My macaw used her bottom beak to rub back and forth and at the same time she used her top beak pircered though the skin so it would leave the biggest bruse & deep hole in my arm. I have scars & infections from when I have gotten bitten over the years.
The destruction aspect is soo appalling to me. I would never get any bird for this and a second reason: my cat would probably never go unsupervised again. I don't want a clash of species in my house. The bird owner life is no life for me, I know my boundaries. Still: amazing creatures! I'LL STICK TO WATCHING THEM ON TH-cam :D
Nati Whatever Haha having everything destroyed isn’t fun, they are a lot of work but also very rewarding, and yea if I had a cat a bird wouldn’t be my first choice for a second pet. Thanks for watching.
Same haha. That's why I have two budgies, later on perhaps something like a Senegal but foto the macaws: TH-cam it is :) the destruction and noice would be too much
Agree with you 100% and I have a few cats at home as well so I wouldn't be able to have one (other reasons aside) I watch so many bird videos on TH-cam it's actually crazy lol.
Leonie vW Haha watching macaws on youtube is a much safer option, I would’ve opted for that but there’s nothing like cuddling there sweet warm body’s next to your face haha
I would be more afraid of the cat getting hurt. Macaws know how to show who is the boss, by using that gorgeous beak. I've seen plenty of counters between my previous macaw (belongs to my ex) and visiting dogs and cats, to know how it goes. All birds, not only macaws, require a lot of time, money and work to have a great life. I have an african grey, which I adopted 8 years ago. No doubt that I sometimes regret my decision (I was 16), because I never will be able to travel anywhere, but I adore my Felix. He is my boy and I would rather have to decline a fancy living situation, than saying goodbye to him.
I love birds more than anything, the imagination of having a feathered friend for the next 80 years sounds beautiful. But the reality is that i wouldn't want to take the responsibility. Having such a bird is like having a child your whole life. I love how you integrate those birds in your life, they are you're babies ♥️🕊
Nudili su mi novu aru ja je nisam htjela jer prošlo je 28 godina ja još osjećam tugu ali evo priče moj je otac bio zapovjednik stroja na brodu i kupili smo ga u rabatu kod čovjeka koji uzgaja i trenira ptice bio je na jednoj šipki i već je znao govoriti to je bila kombinacija psovki na arapskom i francuskom i par pozdrava ja sam imala samo osam godina i odmah je kliknulo hiljadu i po dolara smo platili za njega i još nešto malo manje za kavez i opremu i zdravstveni karton da može ući u zemlju bio je visoko socijalizirana ptica koja je ljude prihvaćala kao svoje jato prvi rođendan je dočekao na brodu i morao je biti dva tjedna u karanteni iz karantene se vratio sa riječima idemo i ajmo bili dolazili su tatini s broda mamine prijateljice moje moje sestre nosili su poslastice toliko se razmazio da bi odmah počelo pretraživanje đepova uz riječi šta ima a onda bi počeo šou telefon i kućna vrata to je bio urnebes uđi otvoreno ajde di si alo ja miško sa mnom je u tri mjeseca naučio freddy mercury queen tv i glazbena linija to je bio obrazovni centar baternut je povezao s bocom koka kole to je ono pravo rekla sam da je nastradao za vrijeme rata ali imala sam vrlo pozitivno iskustvo s njim sam odrasla iziskuje novca i vremena i prostor ako imate volje i entuzijazma pokušajte nisu tako strašni samo treba pravi odnos a za uništavanje popis za robnu kuću
In short, it's basically like having a permanent three year old to take care off. The way you are trying to spend as much time with your bird and even put on a movie very rarely, it's like you are talking about a young child. And I honestly think that is a good way to view these birds, they are highly intelligent and I've heard they can even suffer from lasting mental trauma's if they aren't properly taken care off. Just like a human child, they need a stable household to live in with someone that gives them lots of attention and love, they need mental stimulation and room to play. When you get a macaw, don't think of them as a pet. Think of them as a permanent three year old, and then see if you're still sure you are equipped to give them a good life. Edit: I should've watched the entire video before commenting. ^^; The connection to a child was already made. Whoops.
I wish more people realised how difficult it is to properly take care of a bird. Not only birds, a lot of people underestimate the challenge of having just about any pet. They're treated like gifts for a birthday at times. I don't think that's the right way to look at them at all. Any pet should be viewed not as a gift or an object, but a living breathing thing with wants and needs. You're going to ad a new person to your household, and that person will need accommodations. Sadly most animals can't really choose which household they want to join, nor can they leave when they don't like it. I just hope that slowly more and more people will step up to the responsibility of being a good pet owner.
Luna kuutamo There was one in my childhood town who entertained the public. It perched above an alley beside a bus stop. It enjoyed giving us the number of any approaching autobus! ( Probably repeating what it overheard people were saying.)
Oh my goodness, we have the loudest most needy macaw and he is the joy of our lives. We got him from a breeder who we are pretty sure he was abused by. It has made training him difficult because he has already lost trust in humans. It takes a lot of work to get that trust back from a macaw. But he is so spoiled and so loved. He has someone with him all of the time. We feel awful when we can’t be with him. But the tv or music is on and we never leave him alone for long. He also has three dogs and two cats as part of his flock to keep him company. All in all, he has been the best $2,000 I have ever spent in my life.
Mikey The Macaw & Friends thank you, he really is. I loved this video by the way. It absolutely informative and really puts things into prospective for people who want them. Thank you so much.
This is 4 Mikey's owner, you are a great bird lover!! Now the TV, my Quaker used 2 do the same thing, get some foul paper, cover just top part of the TV, he will not land on it, it worked 4 me, hope it works 4 you. Great job w/yr beautiful Mikey!
Thank you for posting this, I appreciate you telling it like it is. We have a 68yo Hyacinth, 17 yo Eclectus, and a 45yo Bare eyed. 2 have their own room, the Eclectus is in the living room. They will destroy everything, but that is the way it is. They are beautiful, loving and kind if you take care of them. They cost a bunch, $600 a year vet bill if they are healthy and it's just a yearly checkup, $50 / month on fruits and vegetables, $30 / month for pellets, $30 / month on treats (nuts). The Hyacinth eats about 10lbs of macadamia nuts a month (50% of her diet is Mac nuts, 30% pellet 20% fresh fruit and veggies) and that's $100 every 3 months to get from HI. I will always do what it takes to give them a good home. They are all rescues and some of the places they have lived have been terrible. Thank you for telling folks to get a rescue and not buy a baby. Clipping wings should only be done to protect a birds medical condition, it's very rare. I agree, that's the only reason to clip wings. @birdtricks are great free flight trainers. Awesome video 👍
I am adopting a 16 year old blue and gold macaw. His previous owner got sick and kept kiwi in a room all alone until she finally gave him up ( he also has a cage that is too small for him ) now he has lived at a pet store for the past 2 years. The only window he has is a skylight. People come into the store and are mean to him and from all the stress he is plucking. I am going to buy this bird and hive him a living home knowing all this ( I’m the only person he likes and Ive been going sense December and I’m now able to buy him ) me and kiwi are going to be super happy together
I am also able to hold him and I buy toys for him to play with he has a blanket these ball things that I bring in too and I bring treats in for him I love to pet him too!
I love birds. Especially parrots, I find them smart, funny and phenomenal. I always felt really bad about keeping them captive, in small cages all day long. What a horrendous life this would be. Because of this I always fought my temptation into adopting a parrot. I love how your videos are educative and real. It really shows how dedicated one must be when adopting a parrot. Your videos comforted me in my idea that it would not be reasonable for me to get a bird. I can appreciate them in the outdoors, in our gum trees and our beautiful blue sky.
Birds are noisy, messy, and basically an all around pain in the arse :D They're extremely needy pets and I genuinely wouldn't recommend them like that to anyone. Like you mentioned they live long too so one has to be dedicated! They need a lot of love and time, and a lot of people liken parrots to having a toddler with a beak. They are flock animals so they need your company, even if you have a mate for it (which is recommended). I like to joke how essentially you're owning a pocket dinosaur. That having said I absolutely love parrots, and macaws in particular; they have huge personalities and definitely have a sense of humour. Mikey is a beautiful boy - give him a tummy rub from me :)
Viatrixa Octavius awww you are so right. And don’t worry we have plans to get Mikey a friend, we just need to move to a place with a bigger back yard so we can have an aviary big enough for both of them. Thanks for watching
Same, I've been begging my parents to get me a green cheeked conure because I think birds are so cool, but I have two dogs and one of which would probably eat it, so the only way I could get a bird is if I sold my dog but I just love her so much. :( Also, she was staring very intensely at the macaw on the screen. ;p
Im so happy that you take EXTRA good care for your macaw. I have the same mind set. I go to my clients house every other day to take care of her 2 elderly parents and they have a military macaw that they “LOVE” but refuse to let her out for 30 years because she is mean most of the time (BC SHES IN A TINY CAGE) i buy her toys and interact with her as much as possible bc the owners don’t. Their good people that are abusing there companion and refuse to give her away. It’s so sad, I wish there was more i can do for that beautiful baby.
same thing with most animals, people get them and don't really do enough, my cats have been free to go outdoor on their own, birds and dogs need lots of time to play and train if you actually care about them, I've seen elderly peoples put donkeys in dark wooden rooms tied up for who knows how long.. too sad pets are not considered enough
I'm gonna be honest, I agree with the no clipping. My mother has raised me to believe that owning birds that can fly is cruel, unless you have a space where they can fly. They were made to fly so why prevent them from doing so? If you don't want your pet to fly then why the hell would you get a flying pet? And I agree with the window thing. People say they clip their bird's wings so they won't fly out the window. Why the hell is their window open? It's all so stupid to me to be honest.I do admit that I have had to clip wings. But it was the wings of a small chicken. I never expected her to fly like she did and we have neighbors with dogs. It broke my heart to have to clip her wings but chickens weren't exactly made for flying in the first place. (And we didn't know how flighty her breed was when we got her.)In the end, if you don't have a place for your bird to fly and it's not safe, don't get a flying bird. Just don't do it! Let someone who can take care of a flying bird do it! It's that simple. If you love them, you'll let them fly. If it's not safe where you are, be caring enough to let them fly elsewhere.
We have four budgies as a family pet. We did not realize how much a joy it would be to share our living space with an airborne creature. Not that wing clipping is a guarantee against flying because they still can and remain light enough to be caught up in wind and air drafts.
Man, you are a saint to give this bird the time and attention it needs. I cannot even imagine how hard this is. I have a little budgie and even that little creature almost requires my all day to take care of. She gets depressed and starts to pluck her own feathers when she stays alone for like 1-2 hours. Even though she has ample toys and her cage door is open all the time, she gets bored and stressed when I am not around for couple of hours . Even I do not have to interact with her all the time, she needs to be in the same room with me and kind of watches me and takes naps while I sit and do my own business. So I cannot even imagine how hard should it be with a bird that 10 times larger than a parekeet. And I also absolutely agree that we should adapt a bird instead of buying a new one. This might sound controversial to some, but I think these birds are actually wild at hearth and even if I give like more than 12 hours of attention to my bird, I think she still lacks in some respects and she would actually desire much bigger freedom and be in the wild, flying amidst the trees as part of a flock of budgies etc. So unless it is to save a bird via adaption, I am convinced that we should not really buy these birds in the first place and let them live in the wild where they really belong.
I love how you guys actually empathised with the parrot and it’s living condition. Most people who meet unapproachable animals just call them wild and rabid and untrainable and give up on them.
I adopted a starlight macaw from a zoo because she was part of an accidental clutch they were going to kill her and her siblings. So I adopted her. I called her Luna. She has her own room ( it is a huge room ). I have had her for 2 months and she is so friendly. Once I had to go on a trip so I asked my cousin to look after her and she was so good. And when I invited my boyfriend Dylan came over she literally sat on his lap and fell asleep. But not all macaws will be like this I just got very lucky. This is Becky's boyfriend Dylan and u really shouldn't get a macaw honestly. We just had to save Luna.
Man I wish they dotn just kill them off what horrible poeple ehats wrong with them, macaws are such beautiful intelligent creatures how couldt hey foster nothing like that?! The least they could do is find them new homes!!
I can’t say thank you enough for this video. Most people are not informed on care and diet of birds before they get them. Thanks again you are amazing!!
Mikey The Macaw & Friends tbh it gets bad. He says things like “pretty bird, Jenny’s bitch” idk what kind of conversations go on in that house but he’s picked up on somethings ig.
Pika Bamboo I lived with them for 10 years he isn’t abusive, he used to yell and curse at my dad, football games and get frustrated when things didn’t work, in those ten years he got the parrot (who recently turned 8:)) Pablo started picking things up from these situations. He called his friend Ron a stupid bitch a lot because it was a weird inside joke I never got, we know for sure that’s where he got that
Our macaw just picked up things he had only heard a few times but he really likes. Like words I only say when something really frustrating happens (mother f****r) and he now says it
I realize this video is over three years old by now, but thank you for making this! It was really informative and I think a good starting point for potential macaw owners. I've been wanting a parrot for a long time and have mostly settled on getting a cockatiel now once I'm able to, but I've been researching larger birds out of curiosity as well (though I don't think I'd ever be able to own one).
Mikey The Macaw & Friends yea my Catalina just waits for him to hear me wake up before screaming until i let him out even if I wasn't planning on waking and some days il just move a little in my bed and he will flip
Yep! I actually got my girl free, because the person who had her was having problems with her causing all of her other birds to get into trouble and then sitting back and chilling. Billy had the run of my house, and was actually pretty quiet. And at my house, you'd see the bird chasing the cats, not the cats chasing the bird. BUT....I will say that the small cage has it's use in an emergency. When i had been up north for a bit, and took Billy with me, we had a power outage and ice storm. The house dropped to 20 degrees f at night. We kept her warm at night by putting her in the the small emergency cage in front of the fireplace, put plastic gallons of hot water around it then threw quilts over it. Kept her warm all night, which I couldn't have done otherwise. Billy wasn't that destructive either. Even when no one was home (and she still had full run of the house). But she had the cats and a dog to play with and I always left a radio on or TV, so there was always someone around for her. And I agree about the wings. Don't clip.. she came with clipped wings and when she'd try to fly, she'd end up hitting a wall or door. Letting her have her wings back ended that issue. And, towards the end of her life, she became "mommy" to 3 orphaned kittens and an orphaned newborn goat (it was dead winter and I had her in the house so she'd survive). She'd preen them, discipline them, curl up and sleep with them...Basically did everything a mom would do but feed them and was their "mom" for the rest of her life. She ended up dying from a series of strokes. As she was already an adult when I got her, and she was an adult when the other person had gotten her, I had no clue as to her age. She was burried with my dog and potbellied pig, who were her 2 best buddies for a good part of her life!
I been wanting to adopt a macaw later in the future I had smaller birds and I know macaws are a HUGE difference but I love them. I’m waiting till I move into a larger place, and make enough money. The goal is to adopt a rescue. I’ve lost count how much research I’ve done, from food, vets, cage care and accessories, free flight and more. Their not just some pet that you have for two years and die off. But they are life companions who need a lot of attention and care.
Thanks so much for this video, it upsets me too that some people just impulse buy and lock them in a cage until they pluck then re-home them. I see it on TH-cam videos, I see impulse-buying comments on cute videos, and you're right it is animal cruelty to do that. I hope this video reaches a lot of people :) Also check out Harley The Cockatoo and Adventures of Roku, they talk about the responsibilities of parrot ownership as well in the description of their videos. Adopt don't shop! Also hi from New Zealand!
If I could I'd adopt one. Ive studied them and I'm super committed to all my pets. Their basically my children. ❤️ I am a chilled person and mainly enjoy staying home anyways. Plus I work at a health pet store and I would be able to bring my bird to work all day. So much room to chill at the store and get free treats lol. But I live in a apartment and I know my neighbors would complain from the noise ugh. Maybe when we get a home with a huge backyard to fly around. ❤️
You have no idea what you are in for. If you are willing to change yourself lifestyle for the next 50 years. No Holiday's, cant work more then 6 hours away from home, more then at parrot's will start screaming for you. Its Nature and you cant stop it. Bored or sad parrot is a horrible parrot. You will have to dedicate 3 hours of solid one on one time. Bird out cage is not one on one time. It's like serious work. This is the tip of the iceberg. BE WARNED. They are highly intelligent and are not toys.
I think I’m getting a lovebird instead.Theres no way I’m gonna be able to get an entire room for a macaw.And the destruction is also going to be impossible to deal with.
Iustin Oprea I have 2 lovebirds. I love them dearly, but honestly wish I hadn’t gotten a 2nd. The strong bond I had with my first went out the window. She still trusts me, but now only wants to spend time with her mate and not me. (Side note: my personal remedy to this lack of a bird bond is adopting a conure. Lol)
About the "Adopt,don't shop" i kinda agree..my first ever parrot was a full grown cockatiel i got from a pet shop. i literally could never touch him because he would bite hard,so he always remained in his cage..after he died(and a few years later) i got a very small budgie from a breeder(he was hatched and saved for me so i took him home as soon as it was possible) and he was the sweetest thing. He sat on my finger and fly around in the living room but always allowed me to put him back in his cage without fuss..that is why it's better to get a young bird because they will be nicer and will only be used to you.
Only thing, what happens to these birds in need of homes. Right now they are being euthanised because there are so many of them, and with macaws, no one can keep them for a lifetime anyway.
Moja sestra je naučila aru da lupa zdjelom i viče jesti i žao mi je što nemam tehnologije na koju bi spojila video papagaj je nastradao za vrijeme rata u hrvatskoj 26 godina je bio s nama naveče bi mu uzeli zdjelu jer bi dobili buđenje s vrlo glasnim alarmom
I love these birds, they’re my dream bird.. I used to work with parrots so I understand all that goes into them and that is exactly why I do not own one currently. I live in the suburbs and I just don’t think it’s fair to subject to my neighbors to their screaming, you can literally hear them blocks away from your home so if you live around people be sure to check with your neighbors if they’re up for the screaming otherwise you may end up with noise complaints. Not only will your neighbors know you have a parrot but I’m not kidding your ENTIRE neighborhood will hear this bird. I plan to get one when we move in a few years out to the country where there won’t be people nearby to hear the screaming and where I can build a big aviary. They can be wonderful pets but they’re also a lifestyle not just an animal you give attention to from time to time, it’s like having a toddler for 50 years. If you’re unsure go smaller, right now I own a Senegal and green cheek conure.. they are also fabulous pets without the huge commitment and noise levels.
I wish it was required to take lessons about the bird you want to adopt or buy before you are allowed to own one. People should learn about the needs of their future companion and also get exposed to the noise and judge if they can handle it. And it should be included in those lessons what a naked bird looks like. One that has plucked itself to the point where it can't grow its feathers back and has to stay naked for the rest of his considerably long life. I've been living with one or more pets for almost all my life which is nearly 60 years now. And I got all my animals first and started to read books upon books afterwards. You'd think that I got wise after it happened once or twice, but it happened over and over. The reason is simple. There was a pet in need that the owner wanted to get rid of and I felt I had the space, the time and the level of commitment to take it in. I'm glad it never was a parrot because I'm not sure I could have handled that without being the one being unhappy in the relationship. Because once I commit I stick with it especially if the pet bonded with me and relied on me to take proper care. I like birds and I enjoyed living with a "flock" of 6 budgies that spent most of the day on a bird tree in the living room outside their cage. But that's worlds apart from living with a parrot. So I'm gonna stick watching parrots on TH-cam enjoy other people loving their birds.
CologneCarter Haha we actually agree with you, people should need some sort of licence or have to pass a test of some sort. There wouldn’t be so many birds getting re homed. And yea, it’s much easier watching bird on TH-cam than owning them haha
Fun fact: budgies actually are parrots. They're just small ones. :D They're a lot less of a nightmare in terms of not having the same destructive capabilities, and eat much less (although they still need variety in their diet), and if you have 6, they take care of each other's social needs, but otherwise they're just as much work as the larger parrots with rotating toys and space needed (scaled down because they're smaller) and bathtime and socialization if you only have the one (or if you want them to be hand-friendly) to keep properly happy.
I'm gonna have to disagree, if the law was changed and you required a licence or special training to own a bird people would complain. People would argue why do you need a licence or training to own a bird but not if you want a dog,cat,hamster etc. Some may argue changing the law so that you require a licence or training for all pets instead of just birds. The problem with that is people already own pets, would they be required a licence or training? Or would they get to keep their pets and anyone in the future getting a pet would require the licence or training? In my opinion it would cause more issues in the pet community then solve. However if your going to get any kind of pet I highly recommend doing your research and figure what kind of pet is right for you and what interest you the most, not something you thought was cool but now that you have one its not a cool as you thought.
@@MajikkaniHand their bites hurt though my budgie Star he was abused by his old family and he bite my mum after we got him he had a whole room to himself no cage because we didn't want him to feel trapped i went in there everyday and sat in the centre of the room and like within a week star was as tame as Mikey he came when called he let you pick him up and put him on his back and once i went to school he was hiding under my blazer on my shirt we kept hearing him so my teacher shut the windows we heard him again i reached into my phone pocket to ask if star was at home he stepped on my hand but i thought the blazer rubbed my hand i went to finish my work and star appeared where everyone could see him then i went on my shoulder up to my head and feel asleep i gently moved him and watched him the teacher knew he was my bird because he wasn't aggressive he woke up 10 minutes later he picked up my pen and tried to write my teacher told me to get my stuff and go to the office with star so i said to star , we gotta go star so he flew onto my shoulder and we went to the office i was suspended for a month but i didn't really care
I researched for over a month before I got my green cheek conure. And when I went to buy a green cheek conure for my younger cousin. The bird shop made sure that my cousin knew how to take care of a bird before they would sell him to us. Basically gave us a verbal parrot quiz. Little did they know that she baby sits my Green Cheek and studied bird care for over a year! It was fun to see both of us spouting off basic bird care cause we weren't bird noobs or bird boobs!
Im so content with my cockatiel/budgie friendly lifestyle. Macaws are beautiful and I wish I could plan my retirement around one but how the hell do you find someone to take them after you die??? Its just not practical unless you manage to adopt an older rescue AND happen to outlive it.... Just not confident about those odds....
Angela Boss This is very true, in Mikeys situation after we saw him stuck in that cage we just had to save him, we will probably have kids one day who we hope love him too haha, or I’m sure if we get too old to care for him, there is some lovely person out there that will take him
Mikey The Macaw & Friends you guys are still young! Lol Im sure your kids will love him! I just know my lifestyle won't be good for one until much later in my life and by then it'll be too late for me.. Lol
+Angela Boss you could always adopt an elderly one. There will always be parrots that need homes because they live such long lives. Ours came to us because of that very situation you describe. Owner had died and no one wanted him. We have adult kids and it's already been decided that our youngest will have 'the raptor' if we die first or become unable to care for him - we took him on not knowing how old he is or anything else about him.
I want a Macaw so bad!! However with 2 kids a dog and our lifestyle and busy schedule I know I can’t have one. So I rely on good folks like you who do have one so I get to live vicariously through good Macaw stewards on here! Thanks for the vids!
Kavez u kući sloboda velikog stana i vrt devedeset metara obrok u kući desert u vrtu to je raj za papagaja tako je živio moj zvali smo ga miško na engleskom nešto kao little mike
100% percent agree with all the points..me and my wife were looking to get a pet bird and were in love with a Macaw near my house and we were planning to adopt one but then we did our research and dropped the idea. instead we got 2 budgies and absolutely love and adore them. 100% agree on not clipping the wings. Had my birds for around an year now and the thought of not having them flying around the house just is not for me.
One thing I want to say: he said he got mikey as an impulse buy and I've got to say DON'T DO THIS, Do A LOT of research before buying one. Make sure you find the right type of bird, macaws aren't for everyone.
I'm so pleased that you made a video like this. It's so important for people to understand All of these things. I've seen many miserable birds and you're absolutely right it is animal abuse. I think probably parrots are some of the most abused quote unquote pets on the planet. You guys do a great job and it's so responsible that you made this video. I really respect you. I just came across your channel today I know you made this video quite a while ago but I couldn't help myself because I was impressed with your integrity and making this video. Thanks! As one animal rescue worker to responsible pet owners, thank you thank you thank you.
@@MikeyTheMacaw I do love all birds, but I know my limits. 😁 I stick to smaller breeds because of the shorter life span. It sound so cruel. But what I mean by that is, many of the bigger species are a life long comitment, like 50+ years or so.
Wonderful video on how to be a great friend to these awesome birds. I am a board member for Exotic Bird Rescue of Oregon (USA) and am blessed with a loving Catalina Macaw myself. People, please listen very closely to this message. It is wonderfully put. On average, exotic birds are re-homed, more than 5 times before finally finding a 'forever' home. and the effects on them can be horrendous. Everything from self-mutilation (feather plucking and even tearing holes in their own flesh) to nearly un-controllable screaming and aggression. (Nearly... a lot of work and love can remedy a lot of problems). Also, find a bird club in your area and get some experience with them. Learning to read body language can save the bird and YOU a lot of blood and tears. I only have one... small... disagreement, and that is with clipping wings and free flighting. I agree that clipping wings seem a travesty but there are situations where, for the safety of the bird, I would recommend it. Also being part of a rescue I can assure you that even well-trained birds get scared and fly away on occasion... sometimes never to be seen (alive at least) again. We get several calls a week regarding birds that 'have never flown off before' having been scared and are gone....it is heartbreaking. If you do take your bird outside....please PLEASE think about an appropriate flight harness.
My grandparents have had birds since I was a kid. My grandma has been wanting to give me a macaw since I met her first one. She now has the one that I will get from her eventually. I'll learn as much as I can before he becomes mine. He's a rescue from a circus and I will do my best to make the rest of his life amazing.
I have a cockatiel, and a cockatoo. Before you get a bird remember they =
1. are expensive af
2. live a LONG time
3. are destructive
4. need lots of attention
birds are toddlers with can openers attached to their face that can fly
nothing Very good points.
Is there a way to make them less destructive or teach them what the can/can't destroy?
I get committed easily and if I'll get a pet I want something I won't have to watch die.
@@valesth4903 the fuck?
Vale sth what the hell
@@whitneyyvonne977 I consider animals part of family and don't handle their death well. Had a Guinea pig that naturally died well into his old age, but the habits you create when there is someone else in your life for so many years stick for a while and it was really tough getting over that sweet creature.
I really want a Macaw. I've always loved birds. But unfortunately, I don't think my lifestyle will support a bird as majestic as a Macaw. Thank you for uploading this video and showing a bit of reality. I appreciate you!
Thanks. It’s great that you know you can’t have one. Really shows how responsible you are and care for them
If you really want a bird start with something small like a budgie or a love bird
Lecil Inting no, do your research and get what you love, there’s NO such thing as a beginner bird, why would you get something you don’t like and is just a test subject?
Get a indian ring neck or african grey....trust me
I agree with Tyler. I love parrots so much but I don’t know if I’ll ever have the time and space dedication for one. I know not to get one unless I do because I would never want such a beautiful bird to suffer inside a cage
A while ago my mom impulse bought a blue and gold from someone. When we first got it I was probably around 9-10. He’s almost the same age as me. I’m 14 now and until recently I wanted nothing to do with him. But my parents started talking about rehoming him and that’s when I realized I actually like him a lot. My parents have done nothing to train him or even spent much time with him so he screams and bites. My parents always start yelling at him when he screams and to calm him down all I have to do is go up and talk to him. This video has inspired me to help him out and get him to become friendly. I’m going to start working with him on a daily basis. I’ve noticed that he’s always been very interested and curious about me. I feel like I can make his life a lot better.
autumn chiavelli Awww amazing. I’m so happy you are going to try and make an effort with him, hopefully it will be very rewarding when the both of you bond. It’s not easy gaining trust from an animal that has been neglected but with a lot of time and patience you should be fine. Good luck. It’s such an amazing feeling when you get there
Mikey The Macaw & Friends yeah. He’s always been interested in me and yesterday he let me pet his back and I talk to him a lot. So I think I really have a good chance with him
@@autumnchiavelli4946
Aaaw,
Keep doing it! Please update us!
This is awesome. Keep being awesome you awesome person.
autumn chiavelli Take the macaw with you when you move out! He will be happier with you for sure instead of staying with your parents!
He says “macaws destroy everything, that’s what they do” then gets bit on the cheek. Bird knew he was talking smack
😂😂😂😂
Haha totally.
My cockateil spent an hour on chewing on the book case.... Making a beautiful sculpture.....
Mom wasn't happy
Hi
I have a ringneak and I love him but he does not flee fly
Literally before this video: I need a bird in my life.
After this video: I don't need a bird in my life.
Ashendoll Haha glad we could help
Tekken!!!!!
TEKKEN
Update, guys...
I got a bird in my life.
(HOWEVER, a baby cockatiel is a different ball-game than Mikey, if that makes anything better, LOL)
Ashendoll haha awww congrats. Hope you have a wonderful life together.
At the zoo they told us to imagine having a toddler with a bullhorn and a pair of pliers for 80 years. And that was enough to convince me to never get one.
Haha yup
I wanted to get one and was willing to put up with noise and housing but after getting really hurt after being clamped by that huge beak I considered otherwise
furry circuitry Same thing happened to my great-grandma. Her parrot just about bit her finger off
Lmao so true
That’s it. Right there.
So glad you don't mutilate your macaw's beautiful wings. You really love your bird! God bless you for not destroying his happiness!
Stephen Reid We would never. He free flys daily now and is happier than ever.
Mikey The Macaw & Friends Personally if I ever get one I would want it to be able to fly so that it can do reconnaissance work for me teach it to spy. And perhaps have it find things. Other than that teach it music.
@@charlottewalnut3118 warum nicht Obersturmführer?
SirTrix I’m fine how are ya.
@@charlottewalnut3118 good, thank you. But why are you Oberstruhmfuhrer and not Obersturmführer?
Never get a macaw as a first bird.
They are for advanced owners only. A good macaw is wonderful. A bad one is truly a nightmare. They are unbelievably loud and have an axe on their face which can destroy anything, including fingers. They are staggeringly intelligent.
Mikey is clearly a wonderful bird and is having a great life. Congratulations. You're doing a great job and well done for rescuing him.
I did it but I was properly prepared, I wrote a long comment about it if you're curious
@@sebastiandimeglio1994 My son has just taken on a very badly abused rescue Blue and Gold. He has had birds before (both his own and mine when he lived with me) and she has turned out to be a huge success.
What I was referring to is those who buy a macaw because they look pretty in a pet shop without understanding their complex needs and the problems that can arise if they are not met.
Beginners are better getting a cockatiel or a Senegal or Meyer's Parrot before moving on to something more "difficult".
And yet, if people ask what’s a good beginner parrot, so many people say “ there are no beginner parrots”.
Which is so disingenuous! Yes, you need to make a time commitment to them daily, but some are far easier than others.
I’d recommend a budgie or cockatiel to start for sure and if any bird people tell me they take the same amount of work as a cockatoo they are lying!
@@laurafedora5385 cockatiels and budgie are still 15+ yr commitments, I prefer the term “focus on your dream bird” if you’re prepared and have experienced birds in person it’d be fine, birds aren’t something you can “level up”
If you get a “practice” bird you are wasting time that could go to a larger bird if that’s what a person wants. It’s not like you get a small bird and when you ready get rid of the small bird. I only wanted one bird and got one a blue and gold macaw. Amazing
$7000? Wow that’s a lot, but I guess it prevents clueless people from buying them.
Craigslist Assassin Who said they are 7k? They aren’t cheap but they vary in price all over the world.
Clueless people can get a credit and buy fast cars with money they don't have. And they can buy birds that way, too 🍄
John Smith Very true.
Mikey The Macaw & Friends Oh OK. I searched up the cost and it said it’s 7K, could be because i’m in Australia and the Aussie dollar is like almost 2x the value of the British pound.
Gibbo 1986 yea I guess if they really want it. If they do, they probably do a bit of research before making such a commitment. But yea, some people are dumb, I feel sorry for some of the macawss and other birds.
I really hate when people say "oh I saw a cute bird video and now I'm getting one!" It's such a pet peeve for me! What you see in a video is completely different! I have a caique and people say oh it's adorable but they are honestly satan them self! Plus you need to set your social life aside! My boy is like my kid, I try to use so much time around him!
Trines Nails Haha we hate that too, that’s the reason we made this video haha. You know how we feel
Ik. My bird is a very naughty bird! Coming with swears and screeches when he doesnt get what he wants. And my friends all say they want one not know that he is a pain...
heheh PET peeve
Trines Nails yeah
Same with any pet. You should consider any pet for months before you buy
Wow I totally understand. I had no idea how to handle a macaw when I got mine. I had not planned to have a macaw at all. A friend of mine had this big beautiful bird. She started to go through a rough patch and next thing I know I had a giant bird lol. I have been learning so much this past year on how to keep my macaw happy thanks to books an TH-cam. I think she is happier and healthier than when I got her. My poor bird has been through so much in her life. This video is so important to get out there. All people see are beautiful birds behaving well and never think of the downsides.
Brody Wolf Awww Brody what a good friend you are taking her on. What kind of macaw is she? There is a really really nice online bird community out there with thousands of people, we recently joined about 5 macaw Facebook groups and have learnt so much more in the last few months. We actually weren’t sure if making a video like this was a good idea as originally, I wanted to base this channel on happy times and smiles but I’m glad I did. Thanks for stopping by and watching and I wish you and your bird a lovely life.
Mikey The Macaw & Friends
She's an 11 year old blue and gold macaw. I'm her 3rd home and she can be quite cranky. I no longer put her in a cage as well they just make her miserable.
Brody Wolf You sounds like a good bird mum. I can imagine the stress the poor bird must have been through. Hopefully you can be with her forever
Mikey The Macaw & Friends I hope so too. I know you had your doubts but people need to see the not so great aspects of these birds. They need to understand it's like having a permanent 2 year old
Brody Wolf haha this is so true
I am a disabled combat vet, most of my buddies are married with kids and have jobs, other responsibilities. So I do consulting work from home. Basically, I have all the time in the world. Not married. No kids. When I was a kid, I went on vacation to Colombia. They had two dogs, a cat, two, parrots, and a blue and yellow macaw. The moment I saw it sitting on his perch outside, that was it. Not a day went by were we did not see each other. I fed her, I cuddled her, showered her. The other green parrots were so jealous, even when i played with them too, they just could not be on my shoulders at the same time. They went at it like an avian UFC. I spoiled the heck out of her, which was a big mistake. A few days before I left, the owners, rightfully, put her in an island next to the hotel to distant me from her. I kid you not. She would call out my name. We knew the owners of the establishment, and sadly she died not long after I left. For anybody thinking about getting one of these beauties they can get incredibly attached to their owners. Thinking about getting one since ill be able to take care of it. Money and time is not really an issue. I do have nice furniture, a 65" OLED 4K TV, which ill have to cover it with a plexiglass enclosure. But i really want a companion. I LOVE macaws. They are a work of art. I will give it a good, caring home. I recently relocated to Australia, if anybody is a breeder or is a temp care. Hit me up. i will travel anywhere within the country.
Hi! There's a pet store with all kinds of birds in Illinois. Birdman's Parrots, Niles, Illinois. They have baby macaws which are $6,800. Just letting you know since you want a pet store with macaws 🙂. BTW they ship by plane for $200 extra. So, if you want them to ship it would be $7,000 (with the bird not just shipping). I'm not a breeder or anything BTW just a fellow person helping out.
@@swapnamallireddy Thank you kind person. I will check it out. Not too too far from IL. I'll prob drive.
See Sir. There you reveal the true bond between living beings. If the term "human" has any sense to it, it is the duty to : "Live to protect and love" not the converse, a theory which is getting huge popularity hits today. Well done Sir. Indeed you have proven what a Human is.
macaws are illegal in Australia too bro, but you could get a cockatoo, amazing birds.
@@aquariusmoon771 After my precious macaw died I rehomed a 60 year old Moluccan cockatoo. It took him 2 years to accept me but he is such a wonderful bird. I live alone with no neighbors near which is good as he swings from his ropes on the ceiling and screams for about 30 mins morning and night. He is funny and very emotional. I am 70 now and he may outlive me. My dear friend who is only 50 is going to love him and take care of him if I go first.
don't forget the cost of veterinary care! Avian specialists are hard to find and expensive!
piscesbobbie Of course. This is so true. There was so much more I could’ve talked about but didn’t want to go on and on for hours haha. Thanks for commenting it and thanks for watching.
i take mine to the local wildlife center. they have done some work with parrots so basic things they can handle.
As a owner of a parrot for 12 years:
1.) Macaws are the LOUDEST parrots in the rainforest. So they will scream EXTREMELY LOUD when they play, want attention, are upset, when they want your food, ect.
2.) Their intelligence is the equivalent to a human toddler. They need as much attention, love, & play as a human toddler. If you don't give them this time they will have significant mental health & physical healthy problems.
3.) They go through puberty just like humans. Once the reach puberty (in their early teens) their personality changes. They will become more aggressive, jealous if u hangout with anyone else, and randomly biting.
4.) They poop on EVERYTHING constantly. They poop every 15 minutes so you have to be ok with them pooping on ur furniture, nice house items, & with deep cleaning the cage every couple of days.
5.) Vet bills are EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. The average vet bill for me was $400. When she became sick it was around $1,000 each vet visit for mediations & tests.
6.) Their average lifespan in captivity is the human life span. If something happens to you or if u adopt a young macaw they will out live you. They have SEVERE PTSD if they have to switch owners because of the deep emotional connection. This can lead to self mutilation.
7.) They love only 1 human at a time. They will be jealous & hate any other humans you are close to.
AML This is all very true apart from with Mikey anyway he only poops on his perch and he doesn’t mind others, we have socialised him quiet well but good points.
Basically... Just leave them in the wild and we can all live normal lives
I want to address a few of your points.
3. This is entirely dependent on how your bird is socialized and trained and how you keep up with your daily training work.
6. This is not true. Adult birds can and do transfer owners very readily even if they were bonded to their original owners.
7. Not true, if you have raised your bird as an included part of the family and keeping up with socialization and training your bird should be able to be handled by anyone in the family.
The bottom line is that birds require socialization and training just like a dog and interaction with as many people as possible just like a growing child to become a sane and well balanced bird.
I want to address a few of your points.
3. This is entirely dependent on how your bird is socialized and trained and how you keep up with your daily training work.
6. This is not true. Adult birds can and do transfer owners very readily even if they were bonded to their original owners.
7. Not true, if you have raised your bird as an included part of the family and keeping up with socialization and training your bird should be able to be handled by anyone in the family.
The bottom line is that birds require socialization and training just like a dog and interaction with as many people as possible just like a growing child to become a sane and well balanced bird.
My b&g macaw (4 yo) have pooped everywhere only during first week. It took very little time to learn that he's only allowed to poop on/in the cage and the perch. When he's on my arm or we are playing on the bed, he stops defecating for about 30-45min, then flies to the perch and take a much larger poo than normal. Noise is reduced to minimum by feeding early and foraging toys. Regards
Zero social life?
*I’M AN EXPERT AT THAT.*
Haha great
so bad comment.
@@ayeshasultan8689 what...
nguyet anh trinh th-cam.com/video/JWApNLq7D7Y/w-d-xo.html
I had a birthday party with myself
He said everything I was expecting. My grandparents had a macaw that was kept indoors for like 85% of the time over the course of about 25 years. Still,he was a very happy bird and would say the funniest things. They're way more of a responsibility than I can take on now and in the foreseeable future.
Good briefing
Very informative!
Its nice that you rescued him, they are protected in my country (Perú) and the police really take it seriously, there was an illegal market here and it got closed, the sellers arrested and the parrots were released back into the wild in a protected area where hunting is illegal, sadly, there's still ppl that manage to capture them again and sell them illegally here and outside the country. I really appreciate you rescuing this guy instead of buying him, they're our national creatures and we love watching them free, flying in our forests. Please if you're getting one of these guys MAKE SURE you got the funds and spacious place and stay as much time as you can with them because they WILL bond with you, that's just how birds are and they're very dependent and loving.
Super Taco Awww it’s so sad to see people still take them from the wild, mikey was bread in london, they are such a big commitment which a lot of people don’t understand. Thanks for watching.
Super Taco hey is there any Spix’s macaw that is protected in your country?
@@MikeyTheMacaw Wow, In London? How did you find him from there?
Jane cooper ?
@@MikeyTheMacaw you said Mikey was bred in London, is that, OH never mind, lol I thought you were in America, and was wondering how you got him from London to the US, but I now realize you're from the UK. Lol. Sorry
I’m 100% against wing clipping, too.
Amazing.
Well I clip my birds wing but long so then they still can fly but if they get outside they won’t be able to fly way far away
Same I feel like it’s not healthy to clip there wings it’s not natural I have a blue biggie
I just got a macaw three days ago. I adopted her from some one I knew. And ill tell you i knew nothing about these beautiful birds. I did some research and I learned more from your 10 minute video. Thank You!
Awww amazing.
Awe what the name?
good god
I had one given to me that was captured in the Amazon back in the 70s! Absolutely wild animal i took him out as much as i could, but we met a lady that had a small bird rescue in her house with a full back yard atrium and 2 other birds and she took him and he’s loving it. I couldn’t own another one unless i was retired! These guys make having one look easy! They start squawking when the sun comes up and you have to start playing with them immediately and if you come home the squawk until you take them out, if you take your eye off of them they’ll crush anything they can touch. They don’t stay on the bird stands they walk all over the house chewing on absolutely everything. It’s a lot to take on and i can not over state that.
Oh wow. So sad to hear they were captured.
The wildlife illigal trade is third biggest! Loses only to drugs and guns. 90% of all animals trapped in the wild die before reaching its final destination! 1/3 of all parrots species is ENDANGERED!
Macaws can be good for alarms that a good thing about getting a macaw
That’s one very high maintenance alarm
@@MikeyTheMacaw It's better than one you can just turn off and ignore though, lol
Lol , they r that alarm that don't even let u sleep
Expensive alarm, poehh
Expensive alarm
EXACTLY! And not just for the big guys like macaws, but ALL BIRDS, even the smallest budgie, needs this much care, thought and attention. Your Mickey is sweet and loving because of all that effort you put in, each and every day.
moiraaoibheane You are so right. I was going to talk about all birds but I actually have no knowledge about any other birds apart from macaws. Of course they all need so much love and attention and the more you put in the more rewarding it will be
I have budgies and honestly it's the exact same thing just slightly smaller supplies. :D
moiraaoibheane I can imagine
I let my two budgies free fly in my house with their cage always open, unless I have company over that isn't used to being aware of birds. I love how you covered your backyard. Great idea!
Bb Yea we sometimes have to put Mikey in his room when certain people visit, usually we tell them if you are coming around you are dealing with him haha. It’s his house not there lol. Yea the back yard was the best thing I did, he loves it, just wish it was bigger. Silly small back yard london haha
I can't stand people who shut their big birds away for the bird's entire life. Imagine that, you've got a huge lifetime to live and you spend it all day everyday shut in where you can never even fly. Those kind of people shouldn't even be allowed to keep macaws. There should be a house inspection and check list to ensure the home set up is suitable and the bird will be happy there.
Dallas Darko 100% agree with this.
I agree but also if your gonna have a free flight it needs to be potty trained, have a designated spot in the house to poop and pee. I agree they need space and lots of care. I do think tho too that if you have your parrots wings clipped that they still need to be able to walk around for periods of time, as long as your awake and in the house your bird should be too
Well birds shouldn’t be in cages, if you can’t handle birds don’t get them. And def don’t clip their wings. May as well buy an animal that doesn’t fly.
The problem with letting pet birds out to fly all the time is that they can injure themselves, and that they can fly out the door when humans go in and out and get lost. Once that happens, your pet bird is in big trouble, because he probably won't be able to find his way home, won't know how to find food, and probably can't survive a cold climate. The only exception is Monk parrots.
www.thesprucepets.com/reasons-to-keep-your-bird-inside-390361
www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/nyregion/resilient-monk-parrots-flock-to-queens-and-beyond.html
Robin Lillian Or you can do what we did and train your bird to free fly safely everyday and return.
My rescue took in a blue and gold 2 months ago, she’s a 20 year plucker, and had no physical interaction in former home. She’s thriving in our home, very sweet. Thank you for promoting rescue!
Awwww
4:49 "Make sure you have a sufficient amount of time, with ZERO social life"
Whoop that's me
Ella's Animals Haha I guess you can adopt a bird then
Well Thank God I have a mother who loves my parrots when em out chillin :P
I have no social life, strange, I also have a macaw.... Hahahaha so much truth!!
Don’t think there’s anything in your video that I disagree with every single point is bang on 👍🏻
Mick Thank you very much. We actually never thought we would make something like this. Glad we did and glad you enjoyed it
And then there is the other part of ppl that say the totally opposite since they know way better about macaw ownership then him.. even if they have never own one.
Very good video! You might believe a video like this explaining the very obvious things is not necessary but with all the clueless pp out there believe me there absolutely is a very good reason to do so.
dtiydr This is very true. We could’ve gone into this a lot more and explained it in so much more detail but making a 30min video wasn’t our goal, it was to outline briefly these birds are a lot of work and I think we did that.
You did it very well!
Wait only 18 months?! Lmao I expected to hear more like 10 years. The way you talk about him wasn as if he was your actual child. Kinda like...." he is a monster. He will literally destroy everything. Here's a list of reasons why he makes my life difficult. BUT he is mine. I love him and I'm keeping him"..... those kinds of relationships usually take years to build with an animal.
Yea true, we just felt we were promoting how lovely he was in all our other videos, thought we would make one a bit more real.
They are like children idiot
Chacha The caique why do you keep saying idiot?
Rat-King Good for you, but please don’t assume everyone is like you, and make statements based on your experience. Many people need time to form a relationship, and in fact, many animals do need time to bond with their owner.
My vet said that psittacines (birds in the parrot family, everything from macaws to budgies) are like 3 year-old children. They know enough to understand what you want from them - yet bratty enough to be obstinate in spite of all that. Whereas dogs are "faithful" and cats are "moody", psittacines are rambunctious, demanding and deliberately destructive (those beaks are meant for chewing bark on a regular basis - so if there's isn't any bark consistently available...).
As an introvert this looks like a good pet for me, i would waste my life and money to make a bird happy and to have a great bond because i care for animals more than our own species😅😅😅😮
I like the part when you say you care more for animals than your own species because that's relatable.
For sure. It takes a lot of thoughts before you get one of these animals. Its a major commitment. My brother got himself one, and didn't consider how much care and attention they demand. A wife , doesn't ask so much of you as this bird will.
Omg same. I’ve already committed my self to an inch worm. But it did stress me out a lot. To the point I developed two diffrent stress rashes cause I would always worry about him .-.
If you’re an introvert, don’t keep it that way. You are going to be miserable if you have no friends
@@simplesimp9664 An Inch Worm? What exactly are they (I only know of these little worms I’ve seen in the garden?) and how do you care for him/her?
You’ve never heard loud until you have 4 cockatoos and 4 Macaws and several Amazons in one room all screaming with you for no reason 😂😂😂 (I work for a rescue/educational facility)
Haha wow.
Elizabeth Jewel th-cam.com/video/JWApNLq7D7Y/w-d-xo.html
ARMADILO ! Probably big room
lmao we need a video of your room
@@Mateolouden Did you read all of the comment?
When the parrot was loud the subtitles said "Music"
Haha TH-cam subtitles need to add “macaw screams”
Mikey The Macaw & Friends 😂
💃
“Beautiful music”
I'll stick with my budgie.
I wanna buy a budgie but I don't know if I can give it enough time
SAAAAMME
Aymen Timmers Unlike the bigger birds, budgies dont reqcuire TOO much attention, how ever if you are working or going to school ful time youd probably want to buy a pair and have plenty of toys for th em so they wont get bored or lonely. Budgies are the easiest of the parrots probably and if you can afford to properly supply one (or two) I would definitely reccommend!
Same :)
Tiel Master I have a pair of budgies now, and I think the biggest bird I’ll ever get is maybe a conure 😂
Also I have to commend you for how big and beyond you have gone for him! Being the reptile community, we see impulse buys all the time and they dont always result in a great future, so I love how much you have grown and learned and are going above and beyond with fencing in your backyard, and planning outdoor aviaries! You can tell how seriously you guys have taken bird ownership and its so refreshing to see! Fantastic job! 😁
Thank you very much.
Thank you for doing this. Educating people about not impulse buying is so important because so many kids can watch things and get this wistful image of the perfect pet in a perfect world.
I know I have a personal dream to one day be able to live a relatively good life that's perfect for raising a Mollucan Cockatoo. I've done a lot of research and I know full well what it takes to take care of even the simplest of parrots - and trust me. There is no simple parrot.
You have to devote a lot of time, money, and love into them. Most, if not all, parrots are as intelligent as a 3 year old child. A toddler! And they live upwards of 20 to 80 years on average, depending on size and species. They're lifetime commitments. You'll literally be raising a toddler for a majority of your living life. While that can be rewarding for those who know what they're up against and are prepared for that, then they're perfect additions to the family. But you should never impulse buy any animal. Ever. You should always do your research and prepare, be it a mouse, a dog, a parrot, or a horse. Always make sure you can actually PROVIDE before you OWN.
Vapourwaves Great comment. We agree with everything. They are a lot of work and if you are prepared it can be very rewarding.
Quick note: it's spelled mollucan. I'm only correcting you because most experienced bird owners will see the misspelling of a species name as a sign that you haven't done research. Good luck!
Cockatoode thanks for That! I'm actually a really shitty speller (': I do a lot of research on parrot bird species and specifically cockatoos. I'll fix that before I get sniped, thanks
Don't get one they are EXTREMELY LOUD! They scream constantly and will drive you nuts and your neighbors too will be pissed.
Haha yup
They do screen and scwele they do it for attention but babys also do aswell they can be toutht not to by command and talking to them more will stop the attention from screams, ✋👍
If I do get a birb it will be a cockatiel
Then I won’t need a printer I could just get a printer birb
Printer birb? O_o
VERY GOOD VIDEO!
I have the same bird since more than 8 years and I know what you are talking about!
We didnt bought him we adopted him after he was abandoned, we are doing our best to make him happy.
Thank you for sharing the reality, cause having a macaw is not that easy!
Simple Me Thank you. Yes we have seen your bird. He/she is beautiful. So good to see people who really care and love there birds. Thanks for watching.
My upstairs neighbor has a beautiful female Macaw. I enjoy sitting and listening to her calling; she even knows their car when they come home from work and is super attached to them! what a wonderful Bond they have!
You are literally the most chilled out guy I have ever seen in my life
Haha, life shouldn’t have worries
He said he’s from NZ! Almost every person I’ve met from NZ have been both the nicest and chillest people; based on his video it appears this attitude to life is probably also needed to be a good owner of these birds
your bird has better life than me. no joke
pain_____ Haha, you can come and live with Mikey if you want
I’d definitely bring my cockatiel and live with Mikey I’m such a bird lover
@@MikeyTheMacaw can I live with Mickey bro I will clean his room and cuddle with that amazing macaw :))
Burak haha ok
Me too! He eats better than me, has a best friend/s, can be as noisy as he wants and still gets played with and taken to park and climb trees. I want to live with Mikey too haha :)
Omg I wish I could "like" this video a million times because thats how good it is !!! A serious video, very informative and you're absolutely right. I take my responsibility to NOT get a bird because I could not give them what they need at this point in my life and I do not want to cage them or neglect them. It breaks my heart when I walk past homes and see a tiny round empty cage with 1 tiny bird in it. Birds aren't decoration for someones house to be caged like that. Thank you so much for this video.
You're the best!♡
Miss Anonymous You are very right, thank you for being a good person and if you are, waiting for the right time in your life for a bird. We really appreciate your kind words on this, we never ever planned to do a serious video but we are happy we did and are happy that you enjoyed it. Thanks again for stopping by
Miss Anonymous If they want a bird for decoration, that's an option in Animal Crossing. There's other ethical and practical questions about that game. But anyway...
Kathy Bramley yeah anyway 😃
It’s nice to see someone properly caring for one of these animals.
I agree with you the clipping of the wings ITS WRONG
They actually can fly w properly clipped wings. Just not to the top of 30 ft trees. I agree they shd b taught to fly in a controlled environment
I have a 30 yr old Macaw who lives outside here in the foothills. He and I used to play "zoom" and run back and forth on my arm in front of the house which looked down a rather steep hill...so, he decides to let go and YES properly clipped, but took off for the 200 foot pine tree down that steep hill. He was about 10 at the time. We could not get him down. He was so frightened so he climbed to the top. No fire engine or any equip. could even get to this tree. It was a full moon that night and if it weren't for my fear of an owl grabbing him, it would have been a beautiful sight, moon, tree and my bird silhouetted. Next day tried again with no luck we finally took a bb gun and hit branch by his feet which made him startle and flutter down half ways. We got a monster of a ladder and I climbed up and grabbed him tight. Yeah he bit me but not too terribly. I took him up to the house and sobbed while I reclipped his wings but enough so he won't crash if he falls but enough to discourage him from taking another trip. He stays clipped. He has a massive manzanita bush cemented in a bucket. That works for oth of us.
@@marcydonnette1970 yes, some of them can fly with clipped wings, generally not to the top of a tree, but sometimes they do. the standard is to clip the last 4 or 5, but sometmes you have clip more. there's one video on youtube where a farmer clipped his pheasant, and the darned thing managed to fly to the top of a small tree, the farmer got a ladder, grabbed the pheasant by the tail and then clipped a whole lot more on that bird. the farmer was soooo angry. the bird did not do it again. the bird was worth $250. go figure. better to be safe on the side of clipping than losing a bird, I'm with you on that. and clip more if you have to. I loved your story. very cute
It isn’t wrong. I respect your choice to not clip birds wings but you can’t go and say clipping birds wings is wrong because you don’t support it.
Why don’t you just train him instead of disabling him. It can really have serious effects on their mental and physical health. Mikey and Mia are you trees everyday they love it. A few months of training goes a long way
Imagine being rich enough to make a $7,000 impulse buy.
Or £1350.... which most adults should have...
@@MikeyTheMacaw I'm sorry if you took that as an insult. It was definitely not intended as one! I meant more the people who go to breeders intending to get a $300 conure or something and wind up going home with an overpriced macaw from the breeder instead
Twenty Paphonies haha don’t worry, wasn’t insulted. Yea we get what you mean
nope nope no no not at all, we didn’t mean that by any means. It’s just what we chose to spend our money on where most people will buy normal things like cars, computers, nice furniture, or not live in a house of 6 just to save on rent haha, most people spend there money on hobbies, sports, music, collecting stamps or the most common, having kids of their own which would rack up wayyyy more than a bird cost. We just chose to spend our money on a bird instead haha
I made a 2700 impulse buy
Im an animal behaviourist who specialises in macaws, and I have to say that for 18 months, an unresearched impulse buy, you are doing great! As to all the things he does that you dont love very much (carpet removal, door pruning, screeching, grabbing, etc) these are things that are easily fixed with help from a parrot behaviourist, in person or via live video on pm, etc. Lessons that you, your partner and Mikey all get to learn together, problem solving where you all have a piece of the puzzle.
I would recommend you finding a macaw behaviorist sooner rather than later, to help you fix the negative issues. MY blue and gold wears a harness and goes everywhere I do, as he is a heart monitor and pre warns before I'm going to collapse, so believe me when I say your Mikey is SMART, and being a little rotter pushing the boundries with you, playing at "dumb birdy" ...and conned you successfully! Welcome to parronthood 😁 (some days your fid is just going to be a d@#&) best thing you can do atm is learn his real capabilities re understanding you both, and what his iq and eq ratings are, then tailor his learning appropriately.
I am worried about your mesh by the way. It doesnt look stainless steel and anything else is poisonous to macaws in particular... It is why most bird rooms have only free standing perches and those hung from the ceiling (hook screwed through a frisbee so it cant be chewed out of ceiling) and all lights and windows covered with perspex or stainless cages, and a security screen door in place of the bedroom door!
Same with most bird toys you buy... licking and chewing at chrome chains kill macaws.
Alicia Manolas Thanks for the comment. Most of the things in this video are now fixed, Mikey free flys daily now so all his entertainment is burnt flying which is great, it was the best thing we did for him.
Hi, we are getting a 4 month Old Greenwing early Jan. We have two great baby 5-6 month old recalled trained Sun Conures. Can the Greenwing share the same Bird room in our house?
I'm a little late to the party but i've got to ask, how is your blue and gold macaw your heart monitor that can pre-warn you before collapsing? Fascinating! Is this actually a studied thing?
Alicia Manolas o
Very long comment 👍
Thank you for making this video. I recently rescued a blue and gold macaw.. we are 8 days in and I’ve been having second thoughts.. lol just hearing you say for the first couple months. They will drive you crazy... gave me hope. Looking forward to building a beautiful bond like y’all have. You’ve got a beautiful bird.. mine came to me plucked.. hoping to give her the best life. Again thank you!
Good luck. They take a lot of patience but are well worth it.
My parents bought a macaw before they had children. Macaws & children DON'T mix. My parents had the macaw locked up in a cage for 17 years because macaws can't handle children so she would bite the us. Macaws can bite through broomsticks so you can imagine how bad the bites were. When I turned 12 I "saved her" & developed a relationship with her. We were insperatable until she passed away 2 years ago. So I took care of her for 12 years. So PLEASE do NOT get a macaw if you plan on having children. While in the cage she plucked out the majority of her feathers out of stress of being locked up 24/7. The feathers never grew back & she developed PTSD. Please don't get a macaw if you want children
AML Ohhh this is so sad. I know of some people with macaws and kids who get along great but this doesn’t make sense. Thank you for giving him a good life before she passed away.
Mikey The Macaw & Friends I think the bird probably got jealous of the kids because he wasn’t getting the same attention as he was before
Also, macaws cannot bite through broomsticks, but their bites do hurt and draw blood when they want to.
Dylan Castro - yeah I think that exactly it. Also my macaw thought it was super funny to scare people so I bet she did it to us kids a lot. My parents didn't do enough to try to intergrate us kids with our macaw. Which is very sad.
Tony Reyes - I know of a macaw who bit a persons wrist & broke their bone. It was a person running a parrot sanctuary. So maybe not a broomstick but damn they can cause a lot of damage if they want.
I don't know if you have ever been bit before by a macaw but my god their bites (even small ones) are rough.
My macaw used her bottom beak to rub back and forth and at the same time she used her top beak pircered though the skin so it would leave the biggest bruse & deep hole in my arm. I have scars & infections from when I have gotten bitten over the years.
Someone needed to do this at some point. Thanks for making this! I fully agree with everything said here.
Thanks so much.
The destruction aspect is soo appalling to me. I would never get any bird for this and a second reason: my cat would probably never go unsupervised again. I don't want a clash of species in my house. The bird owner life is no life for me, I know my boundaries. Still: amazing creatures! I'LL STICK TO WATCHING THEM ON TH-cam :D
Nati Whatever Haha having everything destroyed isn’t fun, they are a lot of work but also very rewarding, and yea if I had a cat a bird wouldn’t be my first choice for a second pet. Thanks for watching.
Same haha. That's why I have two budgies, later on perhaps something like a Senegal but foto the macaws: TH-cam it is :) the destruction and noice would be too much
Agree with you 100% and I have a few cats at home as well so I wouldn't be able to have one (other reasons aside) I watch so many bird videos on TH-cam it's actually crazy lol.
Leonie vW Haha watching macaws on youtube is a much safer option, I would’ve opted for that but there’s nothing like cuddling there sweet warm body’s next to your face haha
I would be more afraid of the cat getting hurt. Macaws know how to show who is the boss, by using that gorgeous beak. I've seen plenty of counters between my previous macaw (belongs to my ex) and visiting dogs and cats, to know how it goes.
All birds, not only macaws, require a lot of time, money and work to have a great life. I have an african grey, which I adopted 8 years ago. No doubt that I sometimes regret my decision (I was 16), because I never will be able to travel anywhere, but I adore my Felix. He is my boy and I would rather have to decline a fancy living situation, than saying goodbye to him.
I love birds more than anything, the imagination of having a feathered friend for the next 80 years sounds beautiful. But the reality is that i wouldn't want to take the responsibility. Having such a bird is like having a child your whole life.
I love how you integrate those birds in your life, they are you're babies ♥️🕊
It’s great you are aware of this.
Also I love how you guys take care of him 😭 warms my heart
Aww thanks. We do our best to keep him happy
Nudili su mi novu aru ja je nisam htjela jer prošlo je 28 godina ja još osjećam tugu ali evo priče moj je otac bio zapovjednik stroja na brodu i kupili smo ga u rabatu kod čovjeka koji uzgaja i trenira ptice bio je na jednoj šipki i već je znao govoriti to je bila kombinacija psovki na arapskom i francuskom i par pozdrava ja sam imala samo osam godina i odmah je kliknulo hiljadu i po dolara smo platili za njega i još nešto malo manje za kavez i opremu i zdravstveni karton da može ući u zemlju bio je visoko socijalizirana ptica koja je ljude prihvaćala kao svoje jato prvi rođendan je dočekao na brodu i morao je biti dva tjedna u karanteni iz karantene se vratio sa riječima idemo i ajmo bili dolazili su tatini s broda mamine prijateljice moje moje sestre nosili su poslastice toliko se razmazio da bi odmah počelo pretraživanje đepova uz riječi šta ima a onda bi počeo šou telefon i kućna vrata to je bio urnebes uđi otvoreno ajde di si alo ja miško sa mnom je u tri mjeseca naučio freddy mercury queen tv i glazbena linija to je bio obrazovni centar baternut je povezao s bocom koka kole to je ono pravo rekla sam da je nastradao za vrijeme rata ali imala sam vrlo pozitivno iskustvo s njim sam odrasla iziskuje novca i vremena i prostor ako imate volje i entuzijazma pokušajte nisu tako strašni samo treba pravi odnos a za uništavanje popis za robnu kuću
In short, it's basically like having a permanent three year old to take care off.
The way you are trying to spend as much time with your bird and even put on a movie very rarely, it's like you are talking about a young child.
And I honestly think that is a good way to view these birds, they are highly intelligent and I've heard they can even suffer from lasting mental trauma's if they aren't properly taken care off.
Just like a human child, they need a stable household to live in with someone that gives them lots of attention and love, they need mental stimulation and room to play.
When you get a macaw, don't think of them as a pet. Think of them as a permanent three year old, and then see if you're still sure you are equipped to give them a good life.
Edit: I should've watched the entire video before commenting. ^^; The connection to a child was already made. Whoops.
Luna kuutamo Great comment. This is all very very true. Thank you
I wish more people realised how difficult it is to properly take care of a bird. Not only birds, a lot of people underestimate the challenge of having just about any pet.
They're treated like gifts for a birthday at times. I don't think that's the right way to look at them at all. Any pet should be viewed not as a gift or an object, but a living breathing thing with wants and needs. You're going to ad a new person to your household, and that person will need accommodations.
Sadly most animals can't really choose which household they want to join, nor can they leave when they don't like it.
I just hope that slowly more and more people will step up to the responsibility of being a good pet owner.
Luna kuutamo There was one in my childhood town who entertained the public. It perched above an alley beside a bus stop. It enjoyed giving us the number of any approaching autobus! ( Probably repeating what it overheard people were saying.)
Luna kuutamo We appreciated that help as we could not see as far as the taller people.
That's so cool. Even just immediately repeating what it heard from different people is pretty dang smart. And it''s cute too.
Oh my goodness, we have the loudest most needy macaw and he is the joy of our lives. We got him from a breeder who we are pretty sure he was abused by. It has made training him difficult because he has already lost trust in humans. It takes a lot of work to get that trust back from a macaw. But he is so spoiled and so loved. He has someone with him all of the time. We feel awful when we can’t be with him. But the tv or music is on and we never leave him alone for long. He also has three dogs and two cats as part of his flock to keep him company. All in all, he has been the best $2,000 I have ever spent in my life.
Melissa Lundeby Haha awww amazing. He sounds like he is in a loving home.
Mikey The Macaw & Friends thank you, he really is. I loved this video by the way. It absolutely informative and really puts things into prospective for people who want them. Thank you so much.
This is 4 Mikey's owner, you are a great bird lover!! Now the TV, my Quaker used 2 do the same thing, get some foul paper, cover just top part of the TV, he will not land on it, it worked 4 me, hope it works 4 you. Great job w/yr beautiful Mikey!
Foil paper meant to say
Thank you for posting this, I appreciate you telling it like it is. We have a 68yo Hyacinth, 17 yo Eclectus, and a 45yo Bare eyed. 2 have their own room, the Eclectus is in the living room. They will destroy everything, but that is the way it is. They are beautiful, loving and kind if you take care of them. They cost a bunch, $600 a year vet bill if they are healthy and it's just a yearly checkup, $50 / month on fruits and vegetables, $30 / month for pellets, $30 / month on treats (nuts). The Hyacinth eats about 10lbs of macadamia nuts a month (50% of her diet is Mac nuts, 30% pellet 20% fresh fruit and veggies) and that's $100 every 3 months to get from HI. I will always do what it takes to give them a good home. They are all rescues and some of the places they have lived have been terrible.
Thank you for telling folks to get a rescue and not buy a baby.
Clipping wings should only be done to protect a birds medical condition, it's very rare. I agree, that's the only reason to clip wings. @birdtricks are great free flight trainers. Awesome video 👍
Amazing comment. You sound like you have a busy life with all of them. Thanks for saving them.
I am adopting a 16 year old blue and gold macaw. His previous owner got sick and kept kiwi in a room all alone until she finally gave him up ( he also has a cage that is too small for him ) now he has lived at a pet store for the past 2 years. The only window he has is a skylight. People come into the store and are mean to him and from all the stress he is plucking. I am going to buy this bird and hive him a living home knowing all this ( I’m the only person he likes and Ive been going sense December and I’m now able to buy him ) me and kiwi are going to be super happy together
I am also able to hold him and I buy toys for him to play with he has a blanket these ball things that I bring in too and I bring treats in for him I love to pet him too!
Awwww you sound like such a lovely person. Thank you for saving this poor bird and I know you will give him the best life you can.
Sadly they gave the bird to spca after he bit her.
Hey did you get the bird
Diana A who did??
Macaws are expensive, like children, require lots of care, and can be mean
Jenna Jamieson Haha very true.
They're have both the personality of a toddler and a moody teen, all at the same time lol.
i would like
to cook hin
You should probably learn to spell simple words like “him” before attempting to use cooking facilities.
@@MikeyTheMacaw I will think about it. So can you recommend me the right bet for me?
I love birds. Especially parrots, I find them smart, funny and phenomenal. I always felt really bad about keeping them captive, in small cages all day long. What a horrendous life this would be. Because of this I always fought my temptation into adopting a parrot. I love how your videos are educative and real. It really shows how dedicated one must be when adopting a parrot. Your videos comforted me in my idea that it would not be reasonable for me to get a bird. I can appreciate them in the outdoors, in our gum trees and our beautiful blue sky.
Birds are noisy, messy, and basically an all around pain in the arse :D They're extremely needy pets and I genuinely wouldn't recommend them like that to anyone. Like you mentioned they live long too so one has to be dedicated! They need a lot of love and time, and a lot of people liken parrots to having a toddler with a beak. They are flock animals so they need your company, even if you have a mate for it (which is recommended). I like to joke how essentially you're owning a pocket dinosaur. That having said I absolutely love parrots, and macaws in particular; they have huge personalities and definitely have a sense of humour. Mikey is a beautiful boy - give him a tummy rub from me :)
Viatrixa Octavius awww you are so right. And don’t worry we have plans to get Mikey a friend, we just need to move to a place with a bigger back yard so we can have an aviary big enough for both of them. Thanks for watching
i love love love birds, probably more than most animals i've owned aside from dogs.
Same, I've been begging my parents to get me a green cheeked conure because I think birds are so cool, but I have two dogs and one of which would probably eat it, so the only way I could get a bird is if I sold my dog but I just love her so much. :( Also, she was staring very intensely at the macaw on the screen. ;p
Kawaii Llama haha your dog will probably try and eat your bird
RIP Chances of Getting a Bird.
I have definitely changed my mind to owning this bird, thank you for the useful info bout how hard it is to take care of this animal :D
Amazing. They aren’t easy at all but if you have the time and patience they can be very rewarding.
Before you buy a Macaw ask yourself:
Can you take care of a child?
Chris P. Bacon
So true.
Not really. I ageee it takes dedication and tons of effort. But it’s nothing like raising a child.
A child is more expensive
You never have to explain to your parrot that grown men want to fuck them and abduct them
Im so happy that you take EXTRA good care for your macaw. I have the same mind set. I go to my clients house every other day to take care of her 2 elderly parents and they have a military macaw that they “LOVE” but refuse to let her out for 30 years because she is mean most of the time (BC SHES IN A TINY CAGE) i buy her toys and interact with her as much as possible bc the owners don’t. Their good people that are abusing there companion and refuse to give her away. It’s so sad, I wish there was more i can do for that beautiful baby.
This is so sad to hear
same thing with most animals, people get them and don't really do enough, my cats have been free to go outdoor on their own, birds and dogs need lots of time to play and train if you actually care about them, I've seen elderly peoples put donkeys in dark wooden rooms tied up for who knows how long.. too sad pets are not considered enough
You’re such a great owner and friend to this beautiful boy 💓
Aww thanks. We do our best to keep them happy.
I'm gonna be honest, I agree with the no clipping. My mother has raised me to believe that owning birds that can fly is cruel, unless you have a space where they can fly. They were made to fly so why prevent them from doing so? If you don't want your pet to fly then why the hell would you get a flying pet? And I agree with the window thing. People say they clip their bird's wings so they won't fly out the window. Why the hell is their window open? It's all so stupid to me to be honest.I do admit that I have had to clip wings. But it was the wings of a small chicken. I never expected her to fly like she did and we have neighbors with dogs. It broke my heart to have to clip her wings but chickens weren't exactly made for flying in the first place. (And we didn't know how flighty her breed was when we got her.)In the end, if you don't have a place for your bird to fly and it's not safe, don't get a flying bird. Just don't do it! Let someone who can take care of a flying bird do it! It's that simple. If you love them, you'll let them fly. If it's not safe where you are, be caring enough to let them fly elsewhere.
aspen anderson Great comment. We argued with everything. Thank you
We have four budgies as a family pet. We did not realize how much a joy it would be to share our living space with an airborne creature. Not that wing clipping is a guarantee against flying because they still can and remain light enough to be caught up in wind and air drafts.
That is the happiest macaw I have ever seen!!!
Cassius Humqua Haha we do our best to keep him happy
Man, you are a saint to give this bird the time and attention it needs. I cannot even imagine how hard this is. I have a little budgie and even that little creature almost requires my all day to take care of. She gets depressed and starts to pluck her own feathers when she stays alone for like 1-2 hours. Even though she has ample toys and her cage door is open all the time, she gets bored and stressed when I am not around for couple of hours . Even I do not have to interact with her all the time, she needs to be in the same room with me and kind of watches me and takes naps while I sit and do my own business. So I cannot even imagine how hard should it be with a bird that 10 times larger than a parekeet. And I also absolutely agree that we should adapt a bird instead of buying a new one. This might sound controversial to some, but I think these birds are actually wild at hearth and even if I give like more than 12 hours of attention to my bird, I think she still lacks in some respects and she would actually desire much bigger freedom and be in the wild, flying amidst the trees as part of a flock of budgies etc. So unless it is to save a bird via adaption, I am convinced that we should not really buy these birds in the first place and let them live in the wild where they really belong.
Just buy a second budgie. I don't know where you live, but they usually cheap, you can do thay. And they both will be very happy
Very very beautiful informative video thanks a lot....:-))
Witfrenci Thank you for watching. We are happy you enjoyed it.
I love how you guys actually empathised with the parrot and it’s living condition. Most people who meet unapproachable animals just call them wild and rabid and untrainable and give up on them.
Yea it’s so sad how so many people who have birds that don’t cooperate call them not tame so give them away.
I adopted a starlight macaw from a zoo because she was part of an accidental clutch they were going to kill her and her siblings. So I adopted her. I called her Luna. She has her own room ( it is a huge room ). I have had her for 2 months and she is so friendly. Once I had to go on a trip so I asked my cousin to look after her and she was so good. And when I invited my boyfriend Dylan came over she literally sat on his lap and fell asleep. But not all macaws will be like this I just got very lucky.
This is Becky's boyfriend Dylan and u really shouldn't get a macaw honestly. We just had to save Luna.
Aww that’s amazing that it all worked out.
How is it now?
Man I wish they dotn just kill them off what horrible poeple ehats wrong with them, macaws are such beautiful intelligent creatures how couldt hey foster nothing like that?! The least they could do is find them new homes!!
YOU SAVE THE MACAW GOD BLESS YOU :D
I can’t say thank you enough for this video. Most people are not informed on care and diet of birds before they get them. Thanks again you are amazing!!
"When in doubt, you can do without"
Never impulse buy a living creature of any kind.
Alexandra Su What a great saying.
When the baby macaws showed up
I died
awwwwwww aww🥰🥰😍😍
Haha so cute right.
My uncle has a macaw, he’s kind of terrible and terrorizes my aunt verbally lmao.;-;
BTS ARMY Haha no way, that could be rather entertaining to see lol
Mikey The Macaw & Friends tbh it gets bad. He says things like “pretty bird, Jenny’s bitch” idk what kind of conversations go on in that house but he’s picked up on somethings ig.
Kaetlyn ARMY yeah probably your uncle does too..bc the bird had to hear it from somewhere
Pika Bamboo I lived with them for 10 years he isn’t abusive, he used to yell and curse at my dad, football games and get frustrated when things didn’t work, in those ten years he got the parrot (who recently turned 8:)) Pablo started picking things up from these situations. He called his friend Ron a stupid bitch a lot because it was a weird inside joke I never got, we know for sure that’s where he got that
Our macaw just picked up things he had only heard a few times but he really likes. Like words I only say when something really frustrating happens (mother f****r) and he now says it
I realize this video is over three years old by now, but thank you for making this! It was really informative and I think a good starting point for potential macaw owners. I've been wanting a parrot for a long time and have mostly settled on getting a cockatiel now once I'm able to, but I've been researching larger birds out of curiosity as well (though I don't think I'd ever be able to own one).
My parrot is like a personal living alarm clock
captainredbond Haha, we are lucky that Mikey stays very very quiet until we open his room door in the morning. I can’t imagine waking up to him haha
Lol so are mine 😂
Mikey The Macaw & Friends yea my Catalina just waits for him to hear me wake up before screaming until i let him out even if I wasn't planning on waking and some days il just move a little in my bed and he will flip
Same mine wakes me up at sunrise everyday 😂😂😂
My birds don't make any noise unless you entice them
Yep! I actually got my girl free, because the person who had her was having problems with her causing all of her other birds to get into trouble and then sitting back and chilling. Billy had the run of my house, and was actually pretty quiet. And at my house, you'd see the bird chasing the cats, not the cats chasing the bird. BUT....I will say that the small cage has it's use in an emergency. When i had been up north for a bit, and took Billy with me, we had a power outage and ice storm. The house dropped to 20 degrees f at night. We kept her warm at night by putting her in the the small emergency cage in front of the fireplace, put plastic gallons of hot water around it then threw quilts over it. Kept her warm all night, which I couldn't have done otherwise.
Billy wasn't that destructive either. Even when no one was home (and she still had full run of the house). But she had the cats and a dog to play with and I always left a radio on or TV, so there was always someone around for her. And I agree about the wings. Don't clip.. she came with clipped wings and when she'd try to fly, she'd end up hitting a wall or door. Letting her have her wings back ended that issue. And, towards the end of her life, she became "mommy" to 3 orphaned kittens and an orphaned newborn goat (it was dead winter and I had her in the house so she'd survive). She'd preen them, discipline them, curl up and sleep with them...Basically did everything a mom would do but feed them and was their "mom" for the rest of her life. She ended up dying from a series of strokes. As she was already an adult when I got her, and she was an adult when the other person had gotten her, I had no clue as to her age. She was burried with my dog and potbellied pig, who were her 2 best buddies for a good part of her life!
kim p awww what a lovely story. So sad for your loss but billy seemed like he had a great life with you.
this is so sweet. sorry for you loss. thank you for sharing
kim p awww. Thats sad and sweet
Me before the video: I wanna macaw
Me after the video: I still want a macaw.
Haha noooo
Me too
No you really don't
NO GET A COCKATOO
Same but I’ve decided to get a conure or maybe a cockatiel as their both cheaper
I been wanting to adopt a macaw later in the future I had smaller birds and I know macaws are a HUGE difference but I love them. I’m waiting till I move into a larger place, and make enough money. The goal is to adopt a rescue. I’ve lost count how much research I’ve done, from food, vets, cage care and accessories, free flight and more. Their not just some pet that you have for two years and die off. But they are life companions who need a lot of attention and care.
Great to hear you are taking it seriously.
Beautiful dinosaur you got there. It's good to show people the life long commitment. It's like having a kid basically.
Ma kak
Thanks so much for this video, it upsets me too that some people just impulse buy and lock them in a cage until they pluck then re-home them. I see it on TH-cam videos, I see impulse-buying comments on cute videos, and you're right it is animal cruelty to do that.
I hope this video reaches a lot of people :) Also check out Harley The Cockatoo and Adventures of Roku, they talk about the responsibilities of parrot ownership as well in the description of their videos.
Adopt don't shop!
Also hi from New Zealand!
An Evil Stripper Yes this is so true. Yup have checked out both channels. Very good. And yay NZ represent.
i saw someone who complained that their bird started plucking after clipping the wings. Or said "bUt I HaVe OthEr PeTs"... like UGH
Soooo annoying.
He’s so handsome. And you are an amazing bird owner. I’ll just enjoy them from watching your videos!
If I could I'd adopt one. Ive studied them and I'm super committed to all my pets. Their basically my children. ❤️ I am a chilled person and mainly enjoy staying home anyways. Plus I work at a health pet store and I would be able to bring my bird to work all day. So much room to chill at the store and get free treats lol. But I live in a apartment and I know my neighbors would complain from the noise ugh. Maybe when we get a home with a huge backyard to fly around. ❤️
My cousin has one super loud and scary
Haha yea macaws in apartments don’t really work
@@emilysliano4385 one annoying thing about cockatiels is that they're loud but not that loud
*they’re basically my children
You have no idea what you are in for. If you are willing to change yourself lifestyle for the next 50 years. No Holiday's, cant work more then 6 hours away from home, more then at parrot's will start screaming for you. Its Nature and you cant stop it. Bored or sad parrot is a horrible parrot. You will have to dedicate 3 hours of solid one on one time. Bird out cage is not one on one time. It's like serious work. This is the tip of the iceberg. BE WARNED. They are highly intelligent and are not toys.
I think I’m getting a lovebird instead.Theres no way I’m gonna be able to get an entire room for a macaw.And the destruction is also going to be impossible to deal with.
Haha yea that could be safer. Macaws are a lot of work, but also very rewarding.
Iustin Oprea but get atleast two
Hellgirl lives In spotlight u don't have to, it is better to get one unless they were paired in the store.
Iustin Oprea I have 2 lovebirds. I love them dearly, but honestly wish I hadn’t gotten a 2nd. The strong bond I had with my first went out the window. She still trusts me, but now only wants to spend time with her mate and not me. (Side note: my personal remedy to this lack of a bird bond is adopting a conure. Lol)
Be careful!! Lovebirds are super mischievous and get bored lmao my mom had one. He was a hellian.
Nice. Very informative... although I think you should've mentioned the "poop & clean-up" factor.
PussyLicker Haha yea. I missed so much, I could’ve gone on a rant for double this amount of time but figured 10min was long enough haha
Wait, they poop? Really? 🍄
They sometimes take a (short)break. But usually they do it continously.The breaks are just for the pressure to build up :-)
MrNickelbrille 🙏😂😂😂 loud ,shits alot and breaks stuff oke . Best new family member to keep inlaws away
@@MikeyTheMacaw I sit in school 8 hours a day to learn information I'll probably never use. 20 minutes of someting so important? Pleasure
About the "Adopt,don't shop" i kinda agree..my first ever parrot was a full grown cockatiel i got from a pet shop. i literally could never touch him because he would bite hard,so he always remained in his cage..after he died(and a few years later) i got a very small budgie from a breeder(he was hatched and saved for me so i took him home as soon as it was possible) and he was the sweetest thing. He sat on my finger and fly around in the living room but always allowed me to put him back in his cage without fuss..that is why it's better to get a young bird because they will be nicer and will only be used to you.
Only thing, what happens to these birds in need of homes. Right now they are being euthanised because there are so many of them, and with macaws, no one can keep them for a lifetime anyway.
Moja sestra je naučila aru da lupa zdjelom i viče jesti i žao mi je što nemam tehnologije na koju bi spojila video papagaj je nastradao za vrijeme rata u hrvatskoj 26 godina je bio s nama naveče bi mu uzeli zdjelu jer bi dobili buđenje s vrlo glasnim alarmom
I love these birds, they’re my dream bird.. I used to work with parrots so I understand all that goes into them and that is exactly why I do not own one currently. I live in the suburbs and I just don’t think it’s fair to subject to my neighbors to their screaming, you can literally hear them blocks away from your home so if you live around people be sure to check with your neighbors if they’re up for the screaming otherwise you may end up with noise complaints. Not only will your neighbors know you have a parrot but I’m not kidding your ENTIRE neighborhood will hear this bird.
I plan to get one when we move in a few years out to the country where there won’t be people nearby to hear the screaming and where I can build a big aviary. They can be wonderful pets but they’re also a lifestyle not just an animal you give attention to from time to time, it’s like having a toddler for 50 years. If you’re unsure go smaller, right now I own a Senegal and green cheek conure.. they are also fabulous pets without the huge commitment and noise levels.
50 years? Try 70+
I wish it was required to take lessons about the bird you want to adopt or buy before you are allowed to own one. People should learn about the needs of their future companion and also get exposed to the noise and judge if they can handle it. And it should be included in those lessons what a naked bird looks like. One that has plucked itself to the point where it can't grow its feathers back and has to stay naked for the rest of his considerably long life.
I've been living with one or more pets for almost all my life which is nearly 60 years now. And I got all my animals first and started to read books upon books afterwards. You'd think that I got wise after it happened once or twice, but it happened over and over. The reason is simple. There was a pet in need that the owner wanted to get rid of and I felt I had the space, the time and the level of commitment to take it in.
I'm glad it never was a parrot because I'm not sure I could have handled that without being the one being unhappy in the relationship. Because once I commit I stick with it especially if the pet bonded with me and relied on me to take proper care. I like birds and I enjoyed living with a "flock" of 6 budgies that spent most of the day on a bird tree in the living room outside their cage. But that's worlds apart from living with a parrot. So I'm gonna stick watching parrots on TH-cam enjoy other people loving their birds.
CologneCarter Haha we actually agree with you, people should need some sort of licence or have to pass a test of some sort. There wouldn’t be so many birds getting re homed. And yea, it’s much easier watching bird on TH-cam than owning them haha
Fun fact: budgies actually are parrots. They're just small ones. :D They're a lot less of a nightmare in terms of not having the same destructive capabilities, and eat much less (although they still need variety in their diet), and if you have 6, they take care of each other's social needs, but otherwise they're just as much work as the larger parrots with rotating toys and space needed (scaled down because they're smaller) and bathtime and socialization if you only have the one (or if you want them to be hand-friendly) to keep properly happy.
I'm gonna have to disagree, if the law was changed and you required a licence or special training to own a bird people would complain. People would argue why do you need a licence or training to own a bird but not if you want a dog,cat,hamster etc. Some may argue changing the law so that you require a licence or training for all pets instead of just birds. The problem with that is people already own pets, would they be required a licence or training? Or would they get to keep their pets and anyone in the future getting a pet would require the licence or training? In my opinion it would cause more issues in the pet community then solve. However if your going to get any kind of pet I highly recommend doing your research and figure what kind of pet is right for you and what interest you the most, not something you thought was cool but now that you have one its not a cool as you thought.
@@MajikkaniHand their bites hurt though my budgie Star he was abused by his old family and he bite my mum after we got him he had a whole room to himself no cage because we didn't want him to feel trapped i went in there everyday and sat in the centre of the room and like within a week star was as tame as Mikey he came when called he let you pick him up and put him on his back and once i went to school he was hiding under my blazer on my shirt we kept hearing him so my teacher shut the windows we heard him again i reached into my phone pocket to ask if star was at home he stepped on my hand but i thought the blazer rubbed my hand i went to finish my work and star appeared where everyone could see him then i went on my shoulder up to my head and feel asleep i gently moved him and watched him the teacher knew he was my bird because he wasn't aggressive he woke up 10 minutes later he picked up my pen and tried to write my teacher told me to get my stuff and go to the office with star so i said to star , we gotta go star so he flew onto my shoulder and we went to the office i was suspended for a month but i didn't really care
I researched for over a month before I got my green cheek conure. And when I went to buy a green cheek conure for my younger cousin. The bird shop made sure that my cousin knew how to take care of a bird before they would sell him to us. Basically gave us a verbal parrot quiz. Little did they know that she baby sits my Green Cheek and studied bird care for over a year! It was fun to see both of us spouting off basic bird care cause we weren't bird noobs or bird boobs!
My parrot removed the tv controlls buttons and bruh
josef ahmed gt LMAO! They probably had a hell of a time! Cheeky bird had a party! Those buttons must’ve been delicious.
same. i ended up buying a cheap one from the dollar store for him to tear apart.
Eye opening video, especialy that house destructin part.
I literally had no idea how big of a commitment these birds are. Not just financially either!
Yes haha. They aren’t ideal pets.
@@MikeyTheMacaw Yeah, macaws are for people who actually understand the birds.
Im so content with my cockatiel/budgie friendly lifestyle. Macaws are beautiful and I wish I could plan my retirement around one but how the hell do you find someone to take them after you die??? Its just not practical unless you manage to adopt an older rescue AND happen to outlive it.... Just not confident about those odds....
Angela Boss This is very true, in Mikeys situation after we saw him stuck in that cage we just had to save him, we will probably have kids one day who we hope love him too haha, or I’m sure if we get too old to care for him, there is some lovely person out there that will take him
Mikey The Macaw & Friends you guys are still young! Lol
Im sure your kids will love him!
I just know my lifestyle won't be good for one until much later in my life and by then it'll be too late for me.. Lol
+Angela Boss you could always adopt an elderly one. There will always be parrots that need homes because they live such long lives. Ours came to us because of that very situation you describe. Owner had died and no one wanted him. We have adult kids and it's already been decided that our youngest will have 'the raptor' if we die first or become unable to care for him - we took him on not knowing how old he is or anything else about him.
Lesson I learned: im gonna be a birdsitter! 🥳
Haha
I want a Macaw so bad!! However with 2 kids a dog and our lifestyle and busy schedule I know I can’t have one. So I rely on good folks like you who do have one so I get to live vicariously through good Macaw stewards on here! Thanks for the vids!
Much easier to watch them on yt haha
Kavez u kući sloboda velikog stana i vrt devedeset metara obrok u kući desert u vrtu to je raj za papagaja tako je živio moj zvali smo ga miško na engleskom nešto kao little mike
100% percent agree with all the points..me and my wife were looking to get a pet bird and were in love with a Macaw near my house and we were planning to adopt one but then we did our research and dropped the idea. instead we got 2 budgies and absolutely love and adore them.
100% agree on not clipping the wings. Had my birds for around an year now and the thought of not having them flying around the house just is not for me.
thank you for educating people....
Vitória Nunes Aww thanks for watching.
One thing I want to say: he said he got mikey as an impulse buy and I've got to say DON'T DO THIS, Do A LOT of research before buying one. Make sure you find the right type of bird, macaws aren't for everyone.
Very true.
I'm so pleased that you made a video like this. It's so important for people to understand All of these things. I've seen many miserable birds and you're absolutely right it is animal abuse. I think probably parrots are some of the most abused quote unquote pets on the planet. You guys do a great job and it's so responsible that you made this video. I really respect you. I just came across your channel today I know you made this video quite a while ago but I couldn't help myself because I was impressed with your integrity and making this video. Thanks! As one animal rescue worker to responsible pet owners, thank you thank you thank you.
Thank you so much.
Macaws are beautiful but I would never get one.
I prefer the smaller/medium breeds like indian ringneck parakeets and budgies.
Smaller birds still have so much personality. We love all birds
@@MikeyTheMacaw I do love all birds, but I know my limits. 😁
I stick to smaller breeds because of the shorter life span. It sound so cruel. But what I mean by that is, many of the bigger species are a life long comitment, like 50+ years or so.
Come to Thailand there cheap af the budgie is so cute but so cheap
Boi
@@romanjester Sun Conures too! Also, Hahn's Macaws
My uncles friend buyed a Macaw
The mistake was that his friend didnt know that thoose parrots live up to 80 years
They really do
Longer than 80 years !
Ur investing 1000 dollars on a bird but the 80 years is worth it
What kind of macaw was it?
Wonderful video on how to be a great friend to these awesome birds. I am a board member for Exotic Bird Rescue of Oregon (USA) and am blessed with a loving Catalina Macaw myself. People, please listen very closely to this message. It is wonderfully put. On average, exotic birds are re-homed, more than 5 times before finally finding a 'forever' home. and the effects on them can be horrendous. Everything from self-mutilation (feather plucking and even tearing holes in their own flesh) to nearly un-controllable screaming and aggression. (Nearly... a lot of work and love can remedy a lot of problems). Also, find a bird club in your area and get some experience with them. Learning to read body language can save the bird and YOU a lot of blood and tears. I only have one... small... disagreement, and that is with clipping wings and free flighting. I agree that clipping wings seem a travesty but there are situations where, for the safety of the bird, I would recommend it. Also being part of a rescue I can assure you that even well-trained birds get scared and fly away on occasion... sometimes never to be seen (alive at least) again. We get several calls a week regarding birds that 'have never flown off before' having been scared and are gone....it is heartbreaking. If you do take your bird outside....please PLEASE think about an appropriate flight harness.
My grandparents have had birds since I was a kid. My grandma has been wanting to give me a macaw since I met her first one. She now has the one that I will get from her eventually. I'll learn as much as I can before he becomes mine. He's a rescue from a circus and I will do my best to make the rest of his life amazing.