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MacawCare–Howtokeepyourmacawhealthyandhappy!

MacawsoriginatefromSouthAmerica.Inthewildtheytravel in flocks and are very inquisitive. They are bigspectacularbirdsthatareveryvocalandgenerallytalkwell. Their large beaks are very powerful so it isimportanttotakecarewheninteractingwiththemandnot leave them unattended while free-roaming in thehouse.

SomeofthemacawspeciescommonlyavailableinPerthinclude the Blue and Gold, Green Wing and ScarletMacaws.

Diet Being from the tropics of South America it isbelievedthatthesespeciesneedalotoffruitandwhilefruit isan importantpartof theirdiet it shouldnotbetheirwholediet.Thereasonforthisisthatinthewildtheyoftenwilltravellargedistanceseachday,whichmakesthemburnofftheextracaloriesassociatedwithahighfruitdiet.Incaptivity,theyaregenerallylimitedtoasmallerspacemeaningtheyoftendonotexerciseasmuch.Theyalsohavelessvarietyoffruitavailablethantheywouldinthewild.

Everymacawisdifferentandhasdifferingdietaryrequirementssoforyourowntailoreddietaryplanpleasecontactus.Generalguidelinesformanyofthemacawspeciescanbefoundbelow:

• 40-70%premiumcommercialparrotpelleteddiet• 10-35% vegetables (recommended vegetables include: capsicum, broccoli, chili, corn,

carrot,zucchini,squash,spinach,pumpkin,sweetpotato,beansandpeas)andsproutedseed.

• 10-40% fruits (i.e. melons, strawberries, banana, blue berries, grapes, peaches, pear,apple).Pleaseensurethatallstonefruitsandapplesarefreeoftheirseeds.

• 0-15%qualitycommercialseedmix.• 1-2%snacksfortrainingandastreats(unsaltednuts(i.e.macadamia,cashewandwalnut),

pasta,eggsandbrownrice.)

Housing:

Theirdestructivebeakscangetthemintroubleandtheycanquicklydestroyfurnitureifleftunattended.Pleasekeepthemawayfromforeignobjects.Pleasedonotprovidestringorropetoysastheyoftenwillfrayovertimeandcancauseagastrointestinalobstructionifswallowed.

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Weadviseagoodqualitypowdercoatedorstainlesssteelcageofanappropriatesize.Somepaintedcagescancontainleadelementswhichcanbe

toxictoyourbirdsopleasetakecarewhenselectingyourcage.Cagesthathavebeengalvanizedwithazinccoatingcanalsocauseproblemssopleaseselectcarefully.

Stainlesssteelorceramicbowlsaregenerallyrecommendedasthesematerialsarenotporousmakingcleaningeasierandmoreeffective.Plasticbowlscanbecomeporousafterawhileandcancauseproblemsifbacteriabuildupintheseareas.

Perchesofvarioussizesareimportantforexerciseofthetoesandfeethealth.Theyalsohelptopromotethenaturalwearoftheirtoenails.Naturalperchesfromnativetreesareidealastheygenerallyvaryinsizeanyway.

Environmentalenrichmentishighlyrecommendedandencouraged.Simplethingslikeutilizingcardboardtoiletrollstohidefoodcanprovidehoursofentertainmentformanybirds.

Itisimportantthatyourbirdgetsenoughsleepaslong-daylightexposurecanstimulateexcessivemoultingandincreasedreproductiveactivity.Werecommendyoukeeptothenaturaldaylength.Ifyourbirdiskeptinsideinawell-litarea,thenyoucancoverthecagewhenthesungoesdownandplacetheminadarkroomtoensurethattheirdaylengthisnottoolong.

Commondiseases:Oneofthemostcommondiseasesthatweseeinmacawsisanupsetgastrointestinaltract.Theywilloftenpresentforregurgitation,vomitingordiarrhoea.Ifyouseeanyofthesesignswerecommendaconsultationastherearemanydifferentcausesandifleftuntreatedyoumaybeputtingyourbird’slifeatrisk.

Upperrespiratorytractinfectionischaracterizedbysneezingoroculardischargeandiscommoninyoungbirds.Onceagainitishighlyadvisedtobringtheminforanappointmentastherearearangeofdifferentcausesofupperrespiratorytractdisease.Chlamydiainfectioniscommoninyoungbirds,thisisaseriousdiseasethatcanbetransferredtootherbirdsANDhumans.

Macaws are generally very curious and sometimes get themselves into trouble with foreignobjects.Itisquitecommonforthemtoeatorchewonitemsthattheyshouldn’t(jewelry,plastic

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toys, ropetoys,electricalcordsetc.). Ifyouareconcernedthatyourbirdmayhaveeatenorchewedonsomethingthattheyshouldn’thave,thenpleasegetin

touchwithus.

Reproductivediseasesandbehaviouralproblemsarealsoquitecommoninmacaws.

Ifyoudecidetoclipyourbird’swingsitishighlyadvisablethatitisperformedbysomeonewithexperience. Incorrect wing clips can lead to serious problems. It is common for birds withincorrectwing clips to hurt themselveswhen they fall. See ourwing clip handout formoreinformation.

Ifyouareatallconcernedaboutyourbirdpleasegetintouchwithus.

Veterinarycare:Regularcheck-upsevery6-12monthsareimportant,asbirdsareverygoodathidinganyillnessesthattheyhave.Thesecheck-upsallowproblemstobedetectedearlybeforetheyworsen.

Microchipping is also highly recommended as we see many birds that escape each year.Microchipping allows your contact details tobe easily found if yourbird is handed in to anyveterinaryclinicorgoodrescuefacility.Weuseaspecializedsmallmicrochipthatisinsertedintoyour bird’s pectoral muscle; this is a quick, simple procedure that can be performed in aconsultationtimeslot.

Ifyouhaveanyfurtherquestionsaboutyourmacawpleasedon’thesitatetocontactus.