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Hey everyone! My husband & I are currently researching the Severe Macaws. We have always wanted a Macaw. Our local pet store has had a Scarlet Macaw there for about 13 years and she is such a sweety. We go in just to visit her. We are wanting a Severe Macaw because they are smaller and so beautiful and we are really wanting a larger bird. (We have a parrotlet now). I'm currently in process of locating a breeder in my area.
Can anyone give me any advice on the Severe Macaws? What has been your experience? I'm reading pretty everything I can find on the internet & books but I know first hand experience is always better!

Thanks!
Jessica

I have a Severe female. I and i have worked with other Severes. i will tell you/warn you that although they are very sweet, they can also be nasty. Dont get me wrong, I would not trade mine for anything, but there are large periods of time that NO ONE can handle her at ALL, and other times, she rolls on her back in your arms wanting to be babied.

So in closing I guess I am just saying, be carefull and make sure that you are prepared for the mood swings and for long periods of just nasty behavior.

Thanks for your reply!
We are prepared for the moods. It's to be expected I guess with larger birds. Even though I'm not sure anything could be more moody than my itty bitty parrotlet ...

oh they can be severe alright but ours is very loving 90 % of the time.
They can be nippy or beekie and they are nervous too. Bt the breeder and the way they are raised makes all the difference. If you can find a baby and visit him 2-3 times a week before you bring himo rher home, that will make a big difference. Our severe was purchased from a nice lady who was recentlty widowed and she had little time for Chico when he was young. As a matter of fact when we first saw him he showed interest right away. The breeder said he was fearful or shy and it would take a while for him to warm up to us. 15 minutes later my wife walked into the room with Chico on her hand. The breeder almost fell over. He loved my wife at first glance and she is his favorite to this day 3 years later. He loves me but adores my wife. We are thinking of getting a hahns or a caigue now but worruy about the size difference. Any way do your research and do wat your hat tells you to do, Reasearch research research and all the best. Rich

We have found our adult male Severe to be a strictly one-person bird (my husband's). Eddie was purchased for me, but he chose Z, instead. I hear that this species is especially prone to being a one-person bird once they mature, despite efforts to socialize them to all comers when they're young.

They have the most obnoxious call I've ever heard. I swear, when Eddie starts calling for Z, my first thought is to grab and wring his neck. Only his sharp beak has saved his life so far! LOL! J/K. But his voice grates on my ears and nerves like no other bird I've ever listened to. Worse than a U2 calling for attention....

I agree that they are lovely, lively, intelligent and fun birds. I would be less than inclined to recommend them as a family pet, though, unless the rest of the family is willing to live with one person eventually becoming the "Chosen One" (and not always the one you THINK the bird is going to choose), and everyone else being merely feeders or a bridge to their beloved, at best, and potential dinner for a feathered green vampire, at worst.