Note this may be a long story but I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing for this bird and myself.
I’ve been looking into getting a Macaw for awhile now. My best friend of 10 years got her blue and gold macaw 3 years ago. I’ve been with her from the very start with her bird. Even watched the macaw for over a week while my friend had to go out of the country.
My experience with a macaw is only through my friend. I have never owned one myself. However I do have a Sun Conure.
But I have fallen in love with the breed and have saved up my money over the past couple years to get one.
I’ve just recently had the opportunity to meet with a breeder and see one of his macaws he has for sale. However the experience didn’t go as expected.
From the first phone call to set up an appointment to meet he seemed very off. He lectured me the first phone call about macaws. Which I understand he may get a lot of phone calls from people inquiring about his birds. However whenever I shared the experience I had he sounded like I was beneath him and his knowledge. Almost anything I said he seemed to correct me on. Which then made me question myself. But for some reason he decided to have me come over and meet his 1 year old blue and gold macaw. When I first got there he informed me this blue and gold macaw is named Bennie. He also informed me that he was not looking into actually selling this one but due to certain circumstances he has to.
Bennie is very sweet but he sometimes seems like he’s afraid of hands. The man said he hasn’t had much to do with him over the past couple months due to unknown reasons.
Whenever I or the breeder would go to pet Bennie he would snap at our hands (not hard though)
The breeder said to not back down and to continue to pet him and just to let him bite me. I felt uncomfortable because it seemed like I was doing something Bennie did not want me doing. I want my bird to trust me and not be scared.
The breeder let me have some alone time with the bird and I didn’t continue to force anything. I just sat and talked to him.
Bennie also does not know how to step up. The breeder said he’s working with him but each time you try Bennie with snap at your hand.
Another troubling thing is Bennie does not want to come out of his cage once he’s there.
The breeder showed me where he has to forcefully pick him up and bring him out of the cage.
To me it seemed like everything about the situation was forceful and hard on the bird.
After I left and got home the breeder called and gave me pros and cons about our visit. He didn’t like the way that I didn’t continue to pet Bennie or that I would shy away when he would go to bite me.
He also told me the cage must go with Bennie even though it’s small. He also wants the name to stay Bennie.
He wants me to come back and visit with the macaw but I’m unsure.
My heart really breaks for the macaw but I’m unsure if I should go through with getting it. I’m worried this macaw will never truly be mine. It sounds like the breeder plans on keeping in touch.
Is this normal behavior for a breeder? Is this normal for macaw? Would the situation change if it was in a more loving home? I really need some good advice on where I should go from here and what I should expect.
I’ve been looking into getting a Macaw for awhile now. My best friend of 10 years got her blue and gold macaw 3 years ago. I’ve been with her from the very start with her bird. Even watched the macaw for over a week while my friend had to go out of the country.
My experience with a macaw is only through my friend. I have never owned one myself. However I do have a Sun Conure.
But I have fallen in love with the breed and have saved up my money over the past couple years to get one.
I’ve just recently had the opportunity to meet with a breeder and see one of his macaws he has for sale. However the experience didn’t go as expected.
From the first phone call to set up an appointment to meet he seemed very off. He lectured me the first phone call about macaws. Which I understand he may get a lot of phone calls from people inquiring about his birds. However whenever I shared the experience I had he sounded like I was beneath him and his knowledge. Almost anything I said he seemed to correct me on. Which then made me question myself. But for some reason he decided to have me come over and meet his 1 year old blue and gold macaw. When I first got there he informed me this blue and gold macaw is named Bennie. He also informed me that he was not looking into actually selling this one but due to certain circumstances he has to.
Bennie is very sweet but he sometimes seems like he’s afraid of hands. The man said he hasn’t had much to do with him over the past couple months due to unknown reasons.
Whenever I or the breeder would go to pet Bennie he would snap at our hands (not hard though)
The breeder said to not back down and to continue to pet him and just to let him bite me. I felt uncomfortable because it seemed like I was doing something Bennie did not want me doing. I want my bird to trust me and not be scared.
The breeder let me have some alone time with the bird and I didn’t continue to force anything. I just sat and talked to him.
Bennie also does not know how to step up. The breeder said he’s working with him but each time you try Bennie with snap at your hand.
Another troubling thing is Bennie does not want to come out of his cage once he’s there.
The breeder showed me where he has to forcefully pick him up and bring him out of the cage.
To me it seemed like everything about the situation was forceful and hard on the bird.
After I left and got home the breeder called and gave me pros and cons about our visit. He didn’t like the way that I didn’t continue to pet Bennie or that I would shy away when he would go to bite me.
He also told me the cage must go with Bennie even though it’s small. He also wants the name to stay Bennie.
He wants me to come back and visit with the macaw but I’m unsure.
My heart really breaks for the macaw but I’m unsure if I should go through with getting it. I’m worried this macaw will never truly be mine. It sounds like the breeder plans on keeping in touch.
Is this normal behavior for a breeder? Is this normal for macaw? Would the situation change if it was in a more loving home? I really need some good advice on where I should go from here and what I should expect.