Military or Great Green Macaw
Characteristics
Length: 65 cm (about 25 1/2 inches). Olive-green with red forehead. Uppertail coverts and rump blue; bluish-red primary feathers. Cheek patches with small rose of small violet-brown feathers. Eyes yellow, beak dark gray, legs light gray. The female is slightly smaller. Young resemble the parents, but they are duller with a brownish tinge. An easily tamed, friendly bird with moderate talking ability.
Social Behavior Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies.
Diet
All parakeets and parrots, including macaws, need a large variety of fresh, healthy foods, whether on a pellet or a seed diet. Beneficial foods include dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, dandelions, and chard, as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. Healthy table foods like cooked eggs, corn, beans, pasta, and rice can also be offered. Remove perishable foods after a few hours and at bedtime. Grit, gravel, and oyster shells should never be given. A seed-only diet will result in malnutrition. Eventually, a macaw should become acclimated to a diet containing specially formulated pellets. An AVIAN vet can help with more information.
Cleaning
Tray liners should be replaced every day and the cage bottom, fittings and dishes regularly washed with hot water and soap. Once a month, disinfect the cage with diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly. Line the tray with black and white newspaper or paper towels. It is unsafe to use pine/cedar shavings, corn cob or walnut bedding. Fertility
Difficult to breed. The female lays 2-3 eggs. Incubation time about 28 days. The young leave the nest after about 3 months. Pairs like to use barrels or drums as nesting places.
Health
All parakeets and parrots, including macaws, should be examined by a qualified AVIAN vet at least once a year or ASAP if any bleeding, injuries, or other signs are noted. It can be hard to tell when a bird is ill, and by the time you notice a problem, the sickness is usually well-advanced. Delaying a visit with an AVIAN vet or using over-the-counter or human medicines may be fatal.
Warnings
All parrakeets and parrots, including macaws, have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes
