“Scarlet Macaws are snippy and flighty … That male Scarlet is real mean. He beats up his mate and he’ll come after you …Breeding Scarlets? They’re tough to get rid of…”

Makes you want to run the other way, right? Scarlet Macaws are not the only exotic pets that you occasionally hear bad stories about. But are the reputations of the maligned animals deserved? I recently visited a bird breeder going out of business and got a first hand look at their set up. The birds were housed in cages just large enough to flap their wings. There was food, water, perch, nestbox and filtered sunlight. Imagine spending 20-30 years in a “just big enough” cage with your spouse (who you did not get to choose) having nothing but a bed (substituted for the bird perch), water, and food. Also, do not expect to sit your eggs or feed your young; eggs are incubated and chicks hand-reared for the exotic pet trade.

Not all breeders raise their animals this way (there are some really good breeding setups), but many of them do. Humane is still subjective – especially in the bird trade. There was no stimulation (toys) to relieve the boredom (Macaws are very intelligent) and if they received baths it had to be from the hose that washed down the floors (a far cry from tropical downpours, dew, or waterfalls). The young were not exposed in any sort of natural setting to other birds and they could not learn flock behavior. This lack of socialization causes many of the problems when a bird becomes mature. Is it still the bird (or animal) that deserves the bad reputation?

I purchased the oldest pair of breeding Scarlet Macaws (over 20 years old) even after hearing all the warnings from the breeder regarding their behavior. After ensuring they were in good health I introduced them to the others in my “bird room”. My juvenile Greenwing Macaw, Amador, has been showing them what life is like in their new home. They watch him in rapt fascination (especially when I hold and preen him) and tentatively mimic what he does (playing with toys and taking spritz baths since I cannot entice them to shower with me yet). The door is left open to their cage during the day and they have not been aggressive towards any of the other birds during free flight time -- except for a too inquisitive Nanday Conure that thought their nestbox was better than hers. Both the male and female Scarlet eat delicately out my hand; they have not made a single aggressive move towards me since I introduced them to the rest of the flock.

I have no doubt we will have our ups and downs as we learn together how to co-exist. My only hope is that they are happy and thrive in their new home. It’s not the tropics, but it’s as close as I can make it to a natural setting for them with flock, fauna, and sound. Babies? Well, it is too soon for that since they are still settling in, but if or when it happens it will merit its own page because I will be leaving the egg (and chick) with them as long as they want to raise it unless it gets into dire physical danger. (Scarlet Macaws keep their young with them upwards of 2 years in the wild.)

Always take what you hear with a grain of salt when it comes to a particular animal’s reputation. One article, website, or book does not make someone an expert. Even long time breeders are not necessarily “the experts” - especially if they breed simply for the money. If you truly love a particular animal do your homework thoroughly, and provide them with a life as close to their natural inclinations (and habitat) as possible. Through time, understanding, commitment and love you may be successful where others have not in raising animals that do not have “bad reputations”.