Does Your Blue And Gold Macaw Love Kids

By: Ryleigh Cantrell Click author's name for more of his/her articles

How do you make your blue and gold macaw parrot good with your kids? A good question but it can be done.

I know my bird shadow a 31 year old blue and gold macaw, is and has always been since day one very good and affectionate with kids and people in general.

Shadow was a mature 10 - 11 year old when we had our daughter. Today they are loving and affectionate family members. I didn't force a relationship. I allowed it to naturally develop with some help over the years.

The first time she ever touched shadow I held and guided her hand to a stroking of his beak. The girl was I believe two years old. She giggled and shadow seemed to like it. We went slowly forward from that point.

Introducing a large bird of any kind to a young child should be done slowly. No one wants the child or parrot either to be scared or frustrated by the other. By the age of 7 she and he were like best buds.

It was nothing unusual to come home from work and find the two of them napping on the couch, with shadows head tucked affectionately up under the girls chin.

She and he grew close, they established a loving and affectionate bond with one another. Would I have left them unsupervised early on? No! I just believe a stable foundation first is an adults responsibility.

Those macaws never socialized or mistreated are not and may never be good with people. There are also people who are frightened of macaws. They see only the potential of a serious bite. So discretion is vital.

I believe a well socialized blue and gold macaw will be, with the proper precautions and guidance easily introduced to any child. The key seems to be to do it slowly. Slowly enough the child has an opportunity to learn what, how, when, where and the why's about the bird as she goes along. Hopefully having some real knowledge of the bird will spark an interest to become buddies.

I don't ever remember shadow nipping the daughter. But then he has never nipped me either or anyone else I am able to remember. Shadow has always been a very loving, social and affectionate parrot. He is as affectionate today as when I got him. I trust he would respond graciously with anyone I trust enough to hand him off too.

Still an unsupervised 1, 2 or three year old excitedly waving their hands or moving to quickly, while screaming and crying could have unwanted results. There has to be some common sense used. Properly done a well socialized blue and gold or any parrot for that matter should be easily socialized to and with a child.

So are macaws loving and affectionate with kids?

Generally I have to answer that yes.

Yes, they certainly can be. Much of that answer is predicated on exactly who and how is the birds primary owner. I think you must take the same precautions maybe more with a macaw parrot that you would take with a large dog or any animal that could do harm. I don't believe that macaw parrots can be considered domesticated yet as you may a dog, cat and etc.

So much depends on the manner of introduction, the bird, the child, and the birds owner. For some number of years you cannot just assume the bird and child will have the same affectionate union as do you and your bird. I feel that is earned through a learning process.

But begun early on and done with the proper socialization and supervision my prodigy and my blue and gold macaw are proof of an affectionate and loving capability. If done correctly a probability.

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About The Author: Ryleigh Cantrell has owned his blue and gold Macaw (Shadow) since 1978. There are two guesses as to why the birds name.The two are inseperable. To learn more about blue and gold macaws.