Abstract
In March of 1984 my husband John
and I bought our first pair of red
fronted macaws. We set them up in a
3' x 3' x 6' cage with an 18" x 18" x
24" wooden nest box. This pair had
been in a holding cage for over a year
with about 50 other sexed red fronts.
It was noted by the keeper that they
had pair bonded together on their
own, and he advised us to set them
up as soon as possible. The red fronts
were very compatible. We saw the
birds sitting closely together on the
perch, eating together and preening
each other.
In 1984 we were feeding the birds a
diet of boiled corn, beans and dog
food kibble, with some cut up fruits
and vegetables. Since then we have
changed our diet to 50% cooked
racing pigeon mix, 25% Leach large
hookbill mix and 25% fruits and vegetables.
Our fruit and vegetable mix
consists of carrots, broccoli, celery,
apples, pears, and two or three different
kinds of melons. At varying times
over the last few years we have added
a few changes such as sprouted beans
and seeds.
The birds were set up in an indoor
cage and were placed on the end of a
row to give them a little more privacy.
These birds were a little shyer than
some of our other pairs and seemed
to do better when left alone. Our bird
buildings are not heated but are insulated
and cooled during the summer
with a swamp cooler. The lights in
the buildings are on timers. We
increase the amount of light starting
in January, and towards the end of fall
we decrease the amount of light to
give the birds a natural rest period.