The purchase price of a Macaw starts at $700 – $18,000. Having a Macaw as a pet is not that cheap! Even the smallest ones like Hahn’s macaw are very expensive. Aside from the fact that they are mostly large and could really be high maintenance.
Macaws are also in high demand due to their distinctively vivid colors and rarity, making them more expensive than other bird species.
Popular Pet Macaws And Their Price Range In 2023
- Blue and Gold Macaw costs around $1200 to $1500
- Green-winged Macaw costs around $2500 to $3500
- Hahn’s Macaw (Red-shouldered Macaw) costs around $700 to $1200
- Hyacinth Macaw costs around $5000 to $12000
- Hybrid Macaw costs around $1000 to $5000
- Spix Macaw Costs around $10000 to $18000
- Military Macaws costs around $1200 to $1600
- Scarlet Macaw costs around $2000 to $3000
- Severe Macaw (Chestnut-fronted macaw) costs around $1800 to $2300
- Harlequin Macaw costs around $1500 to $3500
Initial Costs
The initial expenses associated with keeping macaws as pets include the cost of the bird itself, as well as the cage, cage accessories, toys, and grooming supplies.
Purchase Price
The purchase price of a macaw starts at $700 – $18,000
Mini macaws generally have a starting price of $700 and larger types of macaws like the Green-winged, Military, and Hyacinth Macaws probably cost anywhere from $1500 – $10,000 sometimes even up to $18,000.
The general rules in these birds are the more colorful, rare, and intelligent it is, the more expensive it can be. So you better check your budget to see which macaw is best for you.
Cage
Cages costs from $400- $1000
The bigger the species, the bigger the cage! It’s a general rule of thumb for birds that live in cages where they could have the luxury of space. After all, that’s where they’re going to spend most of their time, right?
So choose the right cage for your macaw, so that it can enjoy life like you!
Accessories
Accessories cost about $100
If you bought a cage, you will definitely need cage accessories such as perches, lights, feeding plates, stands, cage covers, and harnesses for your macaw.
Accessories can be quite expensive depending on the brand, as well as the quality and size of your purchase. Macaws are pretty mischievous birds, they will chew on everything! Watch out!
Toys
Toys cost about $70
Macaws love to chew on things, especially toys! They prefer the bigger ones, which generally means more expensive for your budget because according to bird enthusiasts and macaw owners, macaws are addicted to destroying their toys in the shortest amount of time.
Like other parrots, they need a lot of stimulation to keep their intelligent and curious minds entertained. Keep bird boredom at bay with chew toys for your macaw.
Grooming supplies
Grooming supplies cost about $70
As part of pet hygiene, your pet Macaw should be properly cleaned and groomed. There are many personal grooming items that you can purchase online or at your local pet store. Again, the brand and quality of the product affect the price range to keep your macaws clean and healthy.
Monthly costs
The monthly costs associated with keeping a macaw can be totally high! Some of the things you need to buy monthly, like food supplements, cleaning supplies, toys, and even veterinary care from time to time, will definitely add to your expenses.
Below are the estimated monthly costs involved.
Bird food
Bird food approximately $50 $70 per month
Your Macaws have more expensive bird food than other types of parrots. They need a variety of foods to maintain a healthy diet. There is a massive selection of high-quality seed diets, whole foods, and pelleted foods to choose from both online and at local pet stores, as mentioned above, the cost will depend on the brand, quantity, and nutritional value of the food. . .
Feeding a variety of these foods, along with fruits and vegetables, is the key to a healthy parrot.
Grooming supplies
Grooming supplies at least $10 per month
You don’t need new grooming products every month, but of course, you will eventually run out of bird soap and shampoo. Just include it in your budget.
Veterinary care
Veterinary care costs from $150 – $1,000 or more
As mentioned above, macaws are very prone to plucking, which is why you may end up buying more toys to prevent them from doing so or taking them to an avian vet for a medical checkup every now and then.
Avian veterinarians are specifically trained to work with exotic birds, while a general practice veterinarian may be unfamiliar with their needs and treatments, especially if they are ill. In the event that this happens, it is best and wiser to reserve a portion of your budget for medical needs that arise.
Additional costs
Additional costs at least $10 per month
In addition to all these monthly costs, you need to plan for occasional additional costs like repairs to your macaw cage, replacement toys, food supplements, medications, etc. You won’t have to cover these costs every month, but you should budget them to be safe.
Pros And Cons Of Keeping Macaws As Pets
The information listed below are the pros and cons of owning macaws:
Pros
- Personality: they are highly interactive, intelligent, resourceful, and easy to get along with ·
- Appearance: vibrant and vividly colorful
- Ability to speak: can be taught to speak and also learns fast
- Impact on humans: These birds are a force to be reckoned with; They will definitely bring out the best in you!
Cons
- Damage to your home: They love to chew and destroy your wooden furniture if they leave it out of the cage.
- Behavior. They are prone to destructive feathering behaviors or plucking due to boredom.
- Cost: They can easily destroy toys; you may need to constantly buy new ones for them to play.
- Noise: they scream loudly and have deafening screeches. Not recommended if you live in an apartment
Do Macaws Get Along With Other Pets?
There is really no general rule of thumb when introducing your pet Macaw to other types or species of birds, sometimes they will get along, sometimes not.
When it comes to macaws, it is ideal to introduce your parrot to its own species.
Macaws tend to get along well with other macaws, however, experts recommend that great supervision is needed at introduction, especially for smaller macaws to avoid harassment. Otherwise, it is advisable to separate them.
It is also best done if the macaws are still young because they are still vulnerable and can be very accepting of other members once they get used to it. Since they are quite large compared to other birds, it is also ideal to have one for a while and then gradually buy more if you already know how to handle them.
You can also introduce other types of birds but do so with caution so they can easily warm up to their new feathered friend.
Macaws love to travel and fly in flocks when in the wild, but in captivity, like other birds, they are very individual. Experts also suggest that the best-behaving macaws are those that were exposed to many changes in the environment and those that were trained to socialize with people because they adapt more.
Tips In Purchasing Macaws
If you’re still interested in reading this chapter, that only means one thing – you’ve already decided to buy a macaw! Good choice, they are really cool and funny birds!
Here you will learn tips and tricks on how to select a healthy macaw, where to find the right breeder, as well as the laws, and let you know before you buy.
Restrictions and regulations in the United States
If you plan to keep a macaw as a pet, you need to think beyond the cage. There are certain restrictions and regulations that you should know because it will not only serve as protection for your bird but also for you.
Here are some things to know about acquiring macaws in both the United States and Great Britain.
CITES
CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Protect macaws by regulating their import, export, and re-export through an international convention authorized through a licensing system.
It is also an international agreement, drawn up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which aims to ensure that trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Different species are assigned in different appendix states, such as Appendix I, II or III, etc. These appendices indicate the level of threat to the current population of the bird taking into account its probable ability to recover in the wild with legal trade.
Appendix I and II of CITES
Some Macaws are considered potentially endangered or highly threatened, as listed in CITES Appendix I, while others are not (Appendix II).
In this section, you will learn what the differences are between the two appendices and how to obtain the necessary permissions.
Appendix I simply means that the particular birds or macaws on this list mean they are endangered species and may require an import or export permit to prevent illegal trade.
If your Macaw is in Appendix II, that means they are not necessarily now endangered, but they are still vulnerable. International trade may receive an export permit or certificate, and an import permit is not required for species included in Appendix II, although some countries require such permits for security reasons.
The Division Management Authority processes CITES permit applications for the United States. You must allow at least 60 days for the review of your permit requests.
For more information visit their website: https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/
Permit in Great Britain and Australia
In Great Britain and Australia, you may need a permit to import, export, or travel with your macaw. This permit is called an Animal Movement License.
Aside from the CITES permit, a pet bird import license and veterinary health certificate are sometimes required before bringing your bird to Britain.
As in the United States, knowing the regulations and obtaining a license is an important thing to consider before purchasing, importing, or exporting a bird. This not only protects animals but can also prevent the confiscation of your pet.