How to Keep Blue & Gold Macaws

With their striking colors, blue and gold macaws (Ara ararauna) make charming pets. They have ultramarine blue backs, gold bellies and black throats. Black feather covers their naked facial skin and their tail feathers extend almost as long as their bodies. With proper socialization, blue and gold macaws learn to be friendly toward humans. Some of them can even mimic human speech. They need boundaries because they can otherwise become loud and destructive.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage
  • Pelleted or extruded bird food
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Nuts
  • Water
  • Concrete or abrasive perches
  • Emery board
  • Chewing toys
  • Garden hose or shower sprayer
  • Blow dryer
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      House your macaws in the largest cage possible, as these big birds need plenty of space. At the very least, blue and gold macaws have to be able to spread their wings without touching the sides of their cage. They also need enough space to freely move from perch to perch. Because of their strong beaks, their cage needs to be sturdy. Most blue and gold macaws do well with cages made from 12-gauge welded wire, 1 inch by 1 inch. Their average wingspan is about 3 feet, so a size of 5 by 5 by 8 feet is usually appropriate for a large macaw.

    • 2

      Hang the cages 3 to 4 feet above the ground. Ideally, you'll have at least one indoor cage, hung at about 3 to 4 feet above the ground in a sunny area with little wind drafts.

    • 3

      Install concrete or abrasive perches in the cages to help file away the sharp points in the nails of your blue and gold macaws. If the nails start to hurt you when your macaws perch on your body, bring them to a professional groomer to trim their nails. Keep the ends blunt by filing them with an emery board every week between professional grooming sessions.

    • 4

      Provide blue and gold macaws with about 1/2 cup of pelleted or extruded bird food and 1/2 cup of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. Fruits and vegetables that these macaws like include mangoes, oranges, grapes, cucumbers, carrots and sweet potatoes. Add two to three nuts, such as walnuts, macadamias, almonds or pecans, every day as treats. Change the water in the cages every day.

    • 5

      Place chewing toys in the cages, because otherwise blue and gold macaws can become noisy, restless and destructive. Some playthings they enjoy include climbing ropes, chains, bells and parrot swings.

    • 6

      Place your macaws in outdoor cages every two weeks and sprinkle them with the fine spray head of a garden hose or shower sprayer to bathe them. Use lukewarm water and let them dry in the sun, in a warm room or with the help of a blow dryer. This maintains good skin and feather conditions.

    • 7

      Use a pair of sharp scissors to clip the 10 feathers that are nearest the tip of each wing to prevent your blue and gold macaws from flying away. They will still be able to glide to the floor. Cut at the base from the underside of the wings.