gold&blue macaws

Question
I am 13 years old and have had some experience in caring for animals, i deeply want a gold & macaw and i think i can handle one. Do you think now would be a good time to get a macaw??

Answer
Hmm, let me try to discourage you first and then encourage you right afterwards ok?

A macaw of this type needs a very big cage, no less than about $500 and up for the right one.  The amount of wood and 'toys' that are required for beak exercise and shredding (they MUST have destructable wood 'toys') runs up to $80 for just one toy. Even if you can make your own it will run about $50 a month.  A quality pelleted food is required (they cannot eat a predominantly seed diet), plus nuts and fresh foods every single day - about another $50-100 per month for these things.  Then there's the regular wing and nail trimming.  
 Before anyone even thinks about an exotic bird like this, they must-must-must have an avian vet that they see right away to establish the bird and to have the bird DNA tested and disease screened.  Plan about $200+ for this first check up.  We have $1,000 per bird set aside for emergency care - which will probably happen in the middle of the night, on a weekend or holiday when you need an emergency clinic that's two hours away during the worst storm of the season.  

 That's all just the expense part.

You have to consider that these birds will live to be about 65 years old.  That means this pet will be with you until you're very, very old.  Your own children will grow up and move out, your grandchildren will likely be getting married - and this bird will still be in your life.
 Will all of your friends, boyfriends and your own little kids be ok around this bird?  
 
Macaws need to be out of cage every single day - for no less than two hours and preferably much more than that. Ours are out for 7 hours or more a day, every day.  That means you can't go out all day on Saturday or Sunday or ANY day - without having to be home to tend to the bird at a certain time. No vacations without a bird sitter (experienced only, believe me, these birds can BITE). Can you invest the next 60 or so years like this? Macaws don't grow up and leave home. They are always dependent on you.

They get moody and sometimes they get 'bite happy'. They have one of the most powerful beaks in the bird kingdom.

Oh - and their scream can sometimes be heard up to 5 miles away.
 You can't yell at them, ever - because it only makes them worse.
 You can't leave them in their cage or ignore them because this causes behavior problems that get bad really fast - and you'll quickly become afraid of them.

That's how we end up with them. Screaming, biting, self-plucking, fearful, aggressive macaws.  They were all someone's 'baby' at one time, but it's so easy to get overwhelmed. Having to cook for them every day, buy expensive fresh greens, fruits, nuts, pellets, wood, toys, cages, and the time - it's just not easy.

BUT - the good part of a bird like this?

They are with you for up to 65 years. They don't grow up and move out. When they get the appropriate amount of attention and interaction they are great company (though they aren't the 'best talkers' of the bird world, they nevertheless let you know how they feel about things by their noises and actions).
 They are beautiful and smart - they are curious and interested.

 Take a look at more of what's involved and see some of our birds  www.4AnimalCare.org (click on 'birds')