How to Put the Blue Parrot Into Pairing Mode

The hyacinth macaw, sometimes referred to as the blue macaw or the blue parrot, is the largest breed of parrot in the world, usually growing to 3 feet in length. These birds can be identified by their overall blue coloration, and the yellow ring around each eye and yellow cheek patches. The hyacinth is currently endangered in its native habitat, meaning that breeding programs in captivity now play an important role in the maintenance of the species. Wild hyacinth macaws native to South America usually nest during the rainy season although these parrots generally do not reproduce every year.

Things You'll Need

  • Nest box
  • Blocks
  • Wood shavings
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find out the macaw's sex either through the process of endescopy, which should be undertaken by a professional veterinarian, or by sending a feather sample away to a lab to be analyzed.

    • 2

      Allow the parrots to choose their own mates from the colony during the winter. This gives a pair time to develop a strong bond in the months before the breeding season begins.

    • 3

      Place a large nest box in the enclosure. The box should be three times the height of the bird and at least 40 inches wide and deep, with an entrance hole just large enough for the bird to enter. When the parrots are in pairing mode, they will chew at the wood around the hole to enlarge the entrance as they would when building a nest together in the wild. The box should have blocks positioned on the inside to allow the parrot to climb out easily. The floor of the box should be lined with wood shavings.