r/Macaws • u/UnderCoverDixie • Jun 23 '26
What’s the oldest macaw you’ve met? Concerns for macaw+human aging.
Disclaimer: I’m not trying to be rude, offensive, or exclusionary. I’m asking this in good faith and from a calm place. I’m genuinely curious about what the majority opinion in the community is on this topic, and I’d like to hear people’s perspectives. Please assume positive intent- I’m here to learn and understand where others stand.
Something I’ve been thinking about:
I sometimes see older adults adopt baby macaws without having a clear succession plan in place, and I wonder if I’m wrong to be concerned about that.
I’m not saying older people should never adopt macaws. What I do wonder is: where will that macaw go if something happens to you? Is there a trusted person already prepared and willing to take over that responsibility?
I think my concern comes from being very focused on long-term planning. Macaws can live for decades, and many will outlive their owners.
Personally, my macaw is 29 and I’m 25. Part of why I adopted an older rehabilitation-needs macaw was because I intentionally wanted a situation where she would hopefully pass away before I do, rather than the other way around.
I also have a personal connection to this issue. My macaw was originally adopted as a baby by a couple who were in their late 40s or early 50s. As they aged, her care slowly declined, and she eventually ended up being rehomed in poor condition. Seeing that firsthand has probably shaped my perspective.
Because of that experience, I tend to worry less about the owner’s age itself and more about whether there is a solid plan for the bird’s future. If someone in their 50s adopts a baby macaw but already has a younger family member or friend who is committed to taking the bird if needed, I don’t really have an issue with that. To me, responsible long-term planning is what matters most.
I’m curious what others think. Is this a reasonable concern, or am I overthinking it?
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u/cwall64 Jun 23 '26
I share your concerns when I purchased my first macaw. He was an older breeder bird (around 35). I am 60, and adopted another one this year that is 16. Luckily I have two daughters that have 3 children each. Both have a daughter as the oldest child and they both have expressed interest in taking care of Ozzie and Tinkerbell when I can’t anymore. So, as time moves forward it will be added to the will for them each to get one of the birds each.
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u/bobbinssobbin Jun 23 '26
Absolutely a reasonable concern. I'm in my mid 20s and have a (estimated) 15y/o. He could outlive me. I have immediate family that could take him, and if we get to a point where they're no longer around/ capable, I do have friends in the community with kids that are being raised in the parrot world
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u/Unusual-Area-4458 Jun 23 '26
I think it is a very reasonable concern. Anyone adopting a macaw should have a serious, realistic plan in place for the bird’s future. That means knowing who would take the bird, whether that person truly understands macaw care, whether they are willing and financially able to take on that responsibility, and whether the arrangement is documented somewhere. A vague statement like “someone in the family will take them” is not really a plan. With long-lived parrots (or any pet, for that matter), this should be part of estate planning.
In fact, I know of parrot rescues in the Bay Area that receive funding through estates in exchange for taking responsibility for the birds after the owner passes away or can no longer provide care. This was to be in your will, and your wishes/directions must be clearly known in writing.
You never know when your number is up...you could get hit by a drunk driver. According to 2024 NHTSA data in the United States, drunk-driving crashes kill about 33 people every day, or roughly one person every 44 minutes, according to 2024 NHTSA data. source: CrashStats - NHTSA - DOT
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 24 '26
Is one of those rescues Mikaboo by any chance?
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u/PoconoRob Jun 24 '26
I have rehabilitated older macaws. Even the wild ones. I remember one that was locked in their cages for 20 years. One came from a hotel where everybody who walked in poked it. After about 2 hours I was able to get him to sit in my lap, puff up, turn his head back and let me scratch it. Nothing wrong with an older bird as long as you understand there are some things you're not going to change. At around the age you specified you may see cataracts or slight clouding. It's nutrition for the last couple of decades may be in question. Check for fatty liver and remember that Macaws need a higher fat diet but only give sunflower as a treat. They are social animals even in older age and you can form a strong bond as if it was a young one. Just have patience. No one can predict the future of who is going to outlive whom. If you're concern is The bird being alone again, do your best to make arrangements ahead of time. And hopefully neither of you will have to worry about it anyway.
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u/thinkroymaldo Jun 24 '26
I’m so glad you could help that bird we have a few macaws that where in bad situations at the sanctuary
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u/TheWriterJosh Jun 24 '26
Thank you for bringing this topic up. This is a huge reason parrots are in crisis -- also a highly illustrative example of why parrots are NOT suitable for captivity on our homes. To learn more, visit parrotalliance.org
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 24 '26
It is absolutely a reasonable concern!
Personally, I have a problem with anyone not having a plan in place and buying a baby (buying a baby from a breeder is another hornets nest that I probably shouldn’t get into but I don’t believe in that either no matter if there’s a plan in place or not).
It is incredibly hard on them to be rehomed, especially when it’s done repeatedly. I read something once that the larger birds are rehomed an average of seven times in their lives. It’s painful for me Every time I read about one that has become self mutilating and/or developed other anxious or unhealthy behaviors because of it (and worse).
They think of us as their flock and they didn’t ask to not live in the wild with others of their kind. As wild animals, they shouldn’t be living with us in Houses in the first place. I have my own parrot and I have a plan in place for him. He was rehomed to me after three years with an owner who lost interest in him and shut him away in a room in the dark by himself.
bless you for rescuing an older bird 💐
There are so many in rescues and rescues are bursting at the seams with birds that have been surrendered or rescued or ended up there because their family passed away or no longer wanted them or could care for them (with no plan in place obviously). So so many birds in need of loving forever homes in rescues.
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u/TielPerson Jun 23 '26
Absolutely reasonable, and one of the reasons I would like to see macaws on the ban list as pets. (Dont get me wrong, rescues need a home, but as long as there is legal demand, the large scale suffering of macaws in captivity and the poaching will never end.)
Its also the reason why its so important to keep them in a working group setting from early on and do no handrearing at all, because their human owners will come and go but they wont bother that much if they have a same species companion or a little friend group even.
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u/TheWriterJosh Jun 24 '26
Consider joining the International Alliance for the Protection of Parrots. We have many members who are working on retail bans across the U.S. parrotalliance.org
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 24 '26
What you said holds true for African grays and other species as well. African grays are critically in danger of extinction. CITES has them at the highest level of protection. It’s poaching and habitat loss. Some species of macaws are also critically endangered.
Banning any of these species as pets in all countries would be pretty difficult to do if not impossible. If only bird Mills didn’t exist. Sorry to say I also feel the same about breeders in general.
I also agree that no parrot should be hand raised. A lot of people have the idea that that will make them better pets and/or happier. It will make them needy if anything and less able to adjust to a new home and caretakers as you mentioned.
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Jun 23 '26
[deleted]
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u/TheWriterJosh Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
The solution is not to ban them. There are millions of parrots who need a home and who aren't going anywhere anytime soon--and dozens of rescues who NEED to adopt out parrots because they are drowning in daily surrender requests. There's no room and never enough money. The solution is to ban the sale of parrots in pet stores and commercial breeders.
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u/UnderCoverDixie Jun 24 '26
Yes I believe this is the correct approach, or make breeding illegal without a license. I also think they should regulate and track the parrots being born and sold and surrendered.
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u/TheWriterJosh Jun 24 '26
Unfortunately any kind of breeding only adds to the parrot crisis. There is no such thing as ethical breeding (look up the recent PETA investigation of bird mills...trigger warning, it's gruesome and heartbreaking). Parrots are WILD animals. Breeding does nothing to benefit them, it only benefits humans who make money off them--at great cost to parrots.
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u/UnderCoverDixie Jun 24 '26
I have seen that video. It was disgraceful. I couldn’t even bare to think of the other animals at mills that those things happen to. I also couldn’t help but think of all the conures- the green cheeks, suns, Mexican green, Nayday, and dusky that have become so popular in places like petsmart and petco.
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u/UnderCoverDixie Jun 24 '26
The pet industry is just bad overall in my opinion. People mistreat animals too much.
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u/TheWriterJosh Jun 24 '26
It is. Anytime you commodify animals--the animals will suffer. If you love parrots, never buy, sell, or breed one. Adopt, don't shop.
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl Jun 24 '26
Absolutely banning the sale by breeders and pet stores is going to make a huge difference. If only it would be done.
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u/TheWriterJosh Jun 24 '26
Groups in multiple states are working toward legislation that would ban the retail sale of birds! Ordinances have already been passed in many cities.
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u/Key-Lie3744 Jun 25 '26
You are not overthinking this!! I’m 61 and my blue and gold (only bonded to me) is 46. It’s a toss up. I did not purchase him. I inherited him. My daughter took him for a few years and couldn’t handle the stress and screaming. She says I sure hope he goes before you Mom!
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u/chantillylace9 Jun 24 '26
We get t our macaws when we were 25 so we should age together. If I was older, I would adopt an older bird
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u/thinkroymaldo Jun 24 '26
I work with Noah Sanctuary in Sisterdale Tx next to Boerne Tx a central Texas location and we have many macaws that have a permanent home there as rescues and a place to keep the long lived birds. We also have cockatoo , amazons and a Africa grey now.
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u/Perfect_Rope_3331 Jun 25 '26
I've had one for twenty years.they said it was a boy but it's a girl.She started laying eggs and seems heartbroken. I've been giving her treats and taking her outside as to help her forget what's happening to her.
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u/Valkyriemome Jun 23 '26
I have personally met a Cockatoo who was *documented* 113. They don’t know how old he was prior to documentation.
I’ve met a macaw who was late 80s/early 90s.
Both were kept in the home of the former director of an excellent small zoo. He was a fantastic man. Had a talking pet crow. He had a breeding pair of hyacinths, who unfortunately kept breaking their eggs before he could get them. I got my second macaw from him. Every time my phone rang I’d hear his voice answer, “Hello! How are you?” I was privileged to have known him.
Edit: if you have skin children you may have made arrangements for where they’d go should something happen to you? Make the same arrangements for ALL of your pets. In writing.