How to Make Home Made Mating Box for Macaw

Macaws are large, variously colored birds of the parrot family, indigenous to South America and Australia. While some species of macaws are endangered, several have become popular as pets and companions. Breeding these birds takes patience and the correct environment, but building a nesting box to encourage your mated pair of macaws is well worth the effort.

Macaws enjoy chewing on everything in their environment. Because of this, the material you choose to make their nesting box should be thick and sturdy, such as dense wood or a wooden barrel. A metal barrel or PVC tubing at least 14 inches in diameter and 3/16 inches thick also may be used.

Things You'll Need

  • Empty metal or wooden barrel at least 30 inches diameter or wooden box at least 24-by-24-by-36 inches.
  • Cutting or metal saw
  • File or sandpaper
  • Soap
  • Water
  • Scrub brush
  • Pine shavings or soft paper towels for bedding
Show More

Instructions

    • 1
      The macaw's cage must be large enough to accommodate their wide wing-span.

      Measure the inside of the cage in which your macaws live. These large birds require a lot of space, and their nesting box should be approximately 36-by-24-by-24 inch. If you will be mounting the box outside the cage, space will not be an issue, but if you wish to hang the box inside the cage, doing so must leave enough room for the birds to move about and stretch out their wings completely.

    • 2
      A large wooden box or barrel makes a fine nesting box.

      Using soap, water and the scrub brush thoroughly clean the box or barrel. Make sure there is no residue, debris or odor left. Allow it to air dry.

    • 3

      Create an entry opening at least 8 inches tall by 7 inches wide, about halfway up the box or barrel. If the box is made of wood a simple cutting saw may be used, but if you are using metal or PVC piping, a metal-cutting saw is the best choice. Smooth any rough edges around the entry with a file or sandpaper.

    • 4
      Pine shavings make a good bedding material.

      Line the bottom generously with bedding, such as pine shavings or paper towels. The adult birds will chew on either material, which will soften the bedding for the chicks.

    • 5

      Fasten the nesting box to the cage securely so it cannot shift. Be sure it does not get direct sunlight, as this will heat the inside of the box too intensely. The birds may take a few days to get used to the nest box before they explore inside it and prepare it for their eggs.