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My Blue And Gold Macaw Loves Kids

By Ryleigh Cantrell

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Published: 26Oct2009
Word count: 640
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Are blue and gold macaws good with kids? That is a tough question I believe.

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 let it develop naturally with my 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. Shadow liked it and she giggled so slowly over time we went on from there.

Introducing a large bird of any kind to a young child should be done slowly. No one wants either the parrot or child to become frustrated or worse scared of 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.

There are those macaws that are not good with people of any age and for a variety of reasons. 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. That knowledge should breed, hopefully some interest in the child wanting to be buddies with the bird.

As far as I am able to remember shadow never nipped 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 was affectionate when I got him and still is today. I can and would hand him off to anyone I trust and I trust he would respond accordingly.

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 to answer the question are macaws affectionate and loving with kids?

In general I would answer that as being a 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 owner, the bird, and the child and includes the manner of introduction. 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.

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

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