How to Breed Greenwing Macaws

Greenwing macaws are one of the largest parrots kept as pets, growing up to 3 feet in length. Despite their large size, greenwing macaws are consider good family pets, as they tend to have gentle, friendly personalities, and are relatively easy to train. They are also very intelligent. These birds are quite colorful. As their name implies, their wings are green. The rest of their bodies, however, are patterned in reds, blues, and yellows. Breeding these birds can be an enthralling task. Knowing how to go about the breeding process properly helps to ensure healthy baby birds.

Things You'll Need

  • Nest box
  • Wood shavings
  • Wooden toys
  • Wooden blocks
  • Bird vitamin supplements
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the sex of your macaws. You can sometimes find a pair of proven mating birds for sale from breeders. However, if you are looking to start your breeding program from scratch, you'll need to sex your birds. Male and female greenwing macaws look no different from each other physically. Therefore, the only truly accurate ways to sex a macaw is either through surgery or a DNA or chromosome test.

    • 2

      Allow your birds to bond. Place a male and female bird together and allow them to get to know each other. Introduce them slowly, without trying to force them together. This process will allow your birds to bond. Only a bonded pair of parrots will breed. Not all birds will want to bond with each other, so you should be prepared to choose other birds if this happens.

    • 3

      Construct or purchase a nest box for your macaws. This is an enclosed box, usually made of metal or wood, with a small entrance hole in one side. This nest box is where your macaws will lay their eggs. The box should be between 3 and 4 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide, and 1 to 2 feet long, with an entrance hole that is relatively small, only big enough to allow the macaws to enter.

    • 4

      Fill the bottom of the nest box with about 8 inches of bedding material, such as wood shavings. Also, hang some wooden toys or blocks in the box, for the birds to both stand and chew on.

    • 5

      Mount the box in a high, quiet corner of the aviary where the birds will feel safe. Let the birds explore the box. The nest box will encourage them to breed.

    • 6

      Feed the birds a highly nutritious diet as you begin the breeding process. Supplementing their food with fruit and calcium-rich items, such as milk or cuttlebones. This not only allows the birds to produce healthy eggs, but also to keep up their energy as they mate and raise the young. Providing vitamin supplements is also a good idea, before they breed, and after, as the birds raise the babies.

    • 7

      Wait for your parrots to breed. Greenwing macaws tend to breed in the spring, usually around April.