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MACAW WITH CHILDREN ?

jess bowen

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Hi every one , I'm new on here and have been doing a lot of research on macaws and how they are with children , i can't get much positive feedback on the internet!
i own a RBC a GCC and my kids are fine with them , 4 years and 3 year old boys , i have taught them to be respectfull of the birds and they have boundaries and i watch them always when they are interacting with them .
i really would like to get a B&G macaw , and have found a very good breader who hand rears and also does basic flight training from fledging , toilet training and some basic training to the bird before we would pick the bird up , i have been out to se the birds and they are very calm and very well trained even at this young age .
i have a 8 meter x 3 x3 aviary being built for when i am at work and the birds are in the house when i am home supervised .

does anyone have any positive stories of macaws and children ?
i know that i will need to train the children and the bird but all i keep getting told is DONT DO IT!
thank you
jess
 

cassiesdad

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To preface this...I have neither kids or macaws.

To me, if your kids are taught to be respectful and shown how to interact with macaws, half the battle is won. The other half is with the bird, obviously. If the bird is shown that the child respects its boundaries and is not a threat, and that the interaction is closely supervised, then what's the problem?

A few years ago, I took Milton our U2, out to get his nails done at the pet store. We go there all the time for nail trimming, and the owners are excellent with our birds. Anyway, after Milty had his nails done, I was surprised to see one of the owner's grandchildren with Milty on their arm getting scritches. I'd never really seen Milt interact with kids before, so naturally I became concerned...but the child knew how to handle large birds and the whole situation was obviously being monitored...
 

Karen

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Does anyone have any positive stories of macaws and children ?
i know that i will need to train the children and the bird but all i keep getting told is DONT DO IT!
thank you
jess
Hi Jess,

My experience is limited to my adult 2 Green Winged Macaws. My birds are one person birds and can and will do damage to anyone other than myself offering flesh.

If someone were to work with them on a daily basis who was experienced and could read their body language there may be a possibility of some type of respectful arrangement, but it would be a very delicate balance. One that I don't believe children could discern. Myself and most other Macaw owners will tell you that if the birds chosen person is nearby the outsider better stand clear of a Macaw.

That said, my grandchildren and adult children can talk to my birds, that's it. No touching
allowed.

EDITED TO ADD: Your children are very young. There's so much they would not be aware of regarding a Macaws body language and severe damage could be done very quickly if a Macaw were to bite.
 
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DQTimnehs

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I don't have macaws or kids either so...

I think there would have to be a lot of monitoring but who can watch kids 24/7? I don't know about you but we did lots of things we knew we weren't supposed to when our parents weren't around so you can never fully trust your kids. Lots of people do it so it can be done. But I know of at least 1 Macaw who lost his home after biting a toddler. :( Of course it wasn't the bird's fault.
 

WallyLoopey

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I have birds and kids (one is a macaw and I've had another in the past).
They are fine if they respect each other's space. My kids simply do not touch at all- they may look at and talk to the birds by interacting that way. They aren't allowed to touch cages, open/close cage doors, feed, offer treats...totally hands off.
My daughter is allowed to offer my smaller birds a treat but only if I'm present and I'm right there with her, never the macaw.
My kids are 6 and almost 8.

My kids have been around larger parrots ever since they were babies and this has always been the rule, they know I'm pretty strict on it and know what could happen to them. They also know if a bird flies down or gets on the ground to never go try to get that bird to step up, just come quickly to tell me or their dad.
 
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JLcribber

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It's all about the kids. Not the bird. They have to know the rules and show the required respect. Sounds like you've done that.
 

Holiday

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It's all about the kids. Not the bird. They have to know the rules and show the required respect. Sounds like you've done that.

Agreed. My stepson is older, 12, but even when he was younger he knew what to avoid.
 

aooratrix

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As a teacher, I know you can teach children to interact with birds safely. My nieces and nephews know the rules, follow them, and have been safe around my birds. My only concern about your situation is the potential risk of the B&G developing pulmonary hypersensitivity to the RB2's dust. There's no way to know if a bird is susceptible or not. If a bird develops PH, it will die from it.

There are people who keep both, but to me, it's a gamble...with a life at stake.
 

melissasparrots

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I think a lot of it has to do with your expectations. The bird can do serious damage to little fingers as you know. If what you really dream about is a big bird that can be easily and safely handled by children, then I would not being home a macaw. If you are more thinking of having the macaw in the house with the kids but little to no physical interaction with the children, then that might actually work very well.

I'd also make sure that the kids are old enough to know that when you tell them to keep fingers out of the cage and don't touch, that they actually follow instructions and not just when you are there to yell at them either. Make sure you can handle it yourself if your child fails to follow instructions and gets bit. Its been my experience that parents can be like "well, you stuck your fingers in the cage when I told you not to and you got nailed, some lessons you learn the hard way kid." Other parents are more "my bird bit my baby, I can't have something like this in my house, the bird has got to go." If you think you might fall into the latter category, then don't get a macaw.

A macaw can live in a house with children but appropriate interaction might be very questionable. Also, know that baby macaws are often super sweet and mushy. Then at somewhere between 6 months and a year old, they start testing their limits. Those tests can be painful for us, but much harder on little fingers. So if you do decide to bring home a freshly weaned bird, don't think that the pure sweetness you see for the first several days is the way its likely to be in even the near future.
 

jess bowen

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Thank you every one for the great replys they all need serious consideration ,
If my child did get bit i wouldn't blame the bird but a lack of education on the children with boundrys and not seeing a dangerous situation coming with the birds body language so it would be my fault .
a lot of my interacting with the macaw would be in the evenings when my kids are asleep and on the 3 days a week i don't have my children , but i still think to be susses full they need to be part of the family and be around the whole family ,
it is great to hear everyones advice
THANK YOU
 

Debbie

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I would vote no on the Macaw. I had birds when my kids were young (brought home a Caique when my youngest was 7) but really young kids sometimes don't understand the entire picture. I wouldn't have a pool either when my kids were infants and toddlers because it only take a couple of seconds for something to happen. Yes they were in pools, but it was not something I had to watch 24/7. When they were in a pool before they had swim lessons I never let my eyes off of them. It's one thing for an adult, they know what risk they take, they can read the body language, ect. Plus the time and attention involved. I would wait..or...have you ever considered a Caique? You need a good size Amazon size cage, but not as big as for a Macaw...they are extremely playful, loud, but not as loud as a Macaw. And that beak while it can take a chunk, not as big as that Macaw. Oh, the Caique which was good with everyone, bonded to my 7 yr. old really fast...Caique passed at 15 yrs of age a couple of years back...we were talking about him today actually, no bird will ever replace him in our hearts. Got a Conure 2 years ago...cute playful bird, a bit flighty, but sweet. As a parent most of the time you have to put the kids first, our needs second. Also your boys are young...when they get older they will take even more of your time and attention to do things like plays sports, help with homework ect...you also have to think of the big picture also...It's hard I know...I love animals...if I could I would have 2 of everything...ok maybe not everything but close...Just be sure you look at the big picture before you take that leap...I don't know a lot about Macaws, but I'm thinking there are a lot of different animals that are a bit more forgiving when it comes to giving less attention to them than a Macaw would be...
 

Pipsqueak

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I decided against any big bird for now, my kids are older than yours but still small. It doesn't matter who is to blame when something happens, to me it is about safety for everybody in the family including the bird.
 

EllaMay

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I think it might different when you have any kind of parrot before you have children which was my circumstance. I had my Whitney U2 before i had my 2 children and they grew up knowing the rules per see. Whitney was a mother hen to my two boys I never had to worry. Btw she never bit anyone ever, not even myself but she was pretty special... :)

Would I say no, nope I would not because you can still accamilate both to the what should happen and set rules.
 

melissasparrots

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.I don't know a lot about Macaws, but I'm thinking there are a lot of different animals that are a bit more forgiving when it comes to giving less attention to them than a Macaw would be...
On the other hand, macaws are on the easier side to harness train. One could harness the macaw and take it with to soccer and T ball practice for growing kids. A lot of those outdoor sporting events, a well socialized macaw would just love those. Lots of noise and possible attention and activity. Well socialized being the key. You just have to treat the macaw like a family member and find ways to include it in your busy life while not assuming that the bird will be civil to everyone. I've seen a fair number of older children(late grade school or middle school age) that are very good at handling big birds because they were raised with them. However, most of those kids learned macaw body language the same way their parents did. Getting bit and learning to recognize the signs.
 

jess bowen

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That is true , i have seen very well socialised macaws who just love company and being around people esp free flighted birds who are getting their needs meet , and probably energy out in a positive way .
I guess it comes down to TRAINING OF CHILDREN ,, SOCIALISING AND POSITIVE REENFORCEMENT OF THE BIRD , VIGILANCE AND COMMON SENSE ,
and most important the genetics and disposition of the macaw could be a factor as well and a bit of good old fashioned good luck !
 

Macaw Lover

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You need to wait a few more years before considering adding a Macaw. You kids are too small to really grasp the ramifications of their actions AND things will happen, not intentionally but something will happen and you as the parent WILL be upset with the bird because it did damage to your human children and YOU will then take actions to keep your kids safer all the while feeling guilty that you did not listen to the people that said no, don't do it but were selfish because it is YOU that wanted to bring that large of a bird into your home.

The other issue that I have is your believing you will interact with the bird after asleep. That tells me right there that you have not done enough homework about life with a Macaw. Macaws are very social and want to be included in everything. They want to be a part of things, not sitting on the side lines waiting for the kids to go to sleep. That is not going to work smoothly as you imagine. Screaming can be a reaction along with jealously because the kids get all the attention and that baby is being ignored (in their eyes).

Add to that, what aooratrix said, mixing dusty birds with Macaws have killed birds. Their respiratory systems cannot handle the dust and they can have a slow death from the symptoms or as one member here, the bird died before getting to the appointment when she first started seeing symptoms. Either be a 'dusty' bird owner or a Macaw owner but never mix the two.

 

macawpower58

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I've raised my Green Wing with my kids. Mine though were older than yours, probably closer to 8 or 9.

Even at that age it was pretty much hand's off with my macaw. My Goffin was their playmate, and my Amazon they did handle some.

The Macaw though was just too big, too strong, and too capable of doing real damage, even accidentally.

IMO a large macaw is not the bird for small children.

This is not to say YOU shouldn't have a macaw. But your young children need to be hands off and protected.

Macaws bite. So of course does every bird at times. Macaws though can do tremendous damage to a small child. That little face is too precious to allow a macaw to be near.

And Children (toddlers especially) just don't realize you know more than them. They will try to hug, kiss, and love on the bird, even if they know they shouldn't.

Supervise? Not good enough in my opinion if that means you allow hands on handling.

3 and 4 years old should be taught respect from a distance. NO TOUCHING.

As they grow and learn, then someday you can bring handling into the picture.

Your macaw, will be around for 40+ years. Your children can grow up with it, and someday bird and child may bond for life.

But be patient and allow that to happen over the years.
 
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