A Guide To The Hyacinth Macaw Price 2023

Known as the gentle giant in the avian world, the hyacinth macaw makes a fantastic feathered companion. Apart from their spectacular appearance, these rare parrots are one of the friendliest birds you can encounter. 

They can form a great bond with their caretaker, making them ideal for bird enthusiasts who seek a cuddly pet to take care of. 

But considering how rare these parrots are, you may wonder, “what is a hyacinth macaw’s price?”

Key Takeaways

This article will discuss the following:

• A hyacinth macaw’s price
• The legal aspects of owning a hyacinth macaw
• The additional expenses apart from the hyacinth macaw’s price. 
• A hyacinth macaw’s talking abilities
• Are hyacinth macaw’s social
• Who should own a hyacinth macaw

A hyacinth macaw’s price can range from $5,000 to $12,000. You also have to pay for a sturdy enclosure to prevent your bird from destroying it. Taking care of a hyacinth macaw also involves a budget for food, vet care, grooming, and toys.

Suppose you are thinking of getting a hyacinth macaw. In that case, this article will discuss all the expenses you need to deal with. We’ll also discuss the legal aspects of getting this bird and the factors you need to consider before getting one.

Hyacinth Macaw Price

Are you a bird enthusiast? If you are, chances are you have already thought of getting a hyacinth macaw at one point.

Known as the largest of all macaws, the hyacinth macaw boasts bright blue feathers, distinct yellow patches around its nose and beak, and an overall striking beauty. 

While these birds are massive, avian enthusiasts often call them gentle giants. Hyacinth macaws also form a strong bond with their caretakers, so many people like to have them as pets.

How Much Is A Hyacinth Macaw?

Hyacinth macaws are endangered in the wild. For this reason, finding one in captivity or from a breeder can be difficult. As these birds are so rare, they are more expensive than other macaws you can have as pets. 

A hyacinth macaw’s price can range from $5,000 to $12,000 or even more. If you want to purchase one, always be wary of breeders offering a hyacinth macaw at a too-good-to-be-true price. A genuine breeder will never sell a hyacinth macaw at a low cost as it is rare and challenging to raise. 

So, an inexpensive hyacinth macaw is likely a scam. 

It is also essential to purchase your pet macaw from a reputable breeder. This way, you can ensure that the bird is raised carefully and has no illness. 

Is It Legal To Own A Hyacinth Macaw?

Hyacinth macaws are native to eastern Bolivia, Brazil, northeastern Paraguay, and eastern South America. But while there are many places where these birds are native, their population is constantly declining due to deforestation, illegal hunting, and predation. Macaw Breeding And Conservation estimate that only 2,500 to 5,000 of these birds are left in the wild.

According to the US Fish And Wildlife Service, hyacinth macaws belong to endangered and threatened wildlife. For this reason, it is illegal to own a hyacinth macaw if you or a seller captured it in the wild. Hunting and trading wild hyacinth macaws are punishable by 2 to 5 years of imprisonment. 

Fortunately, captive-bred hyacinth macaws are legal for trading. You can keep this bird as a pet if you get it from a legal breeder. 

However, it is worth noting that hyacinth macaws are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity. So, you have to expect that you will have difficulty finding a breeder that sells this bird. As mentioned, rarity is the driving factor behind the hyacinth macaw’s price.

Taking Care Of A Hyacinth Macaw

Buying a hyacinth macaw is not the only expense you have to spend. Taking care of this bird is a lifetime commitment. According to the book “Manual Of Exotic Pet Practice,” a hyacinth macaw can live for up to 50 years.

So, before getting a hyacinth macaw as your feathered companion, it is crucial to know the expenses you need to spend for as long as it is with you. 

Enclosure

According to Endangered Species Research, a hyacinth macaw has a wingspan that reaches up to a meter. As this macaw is a large bird, you must prepare a large cage where it can stretch its wings and fly around. 

Ideally, you want to give your feathered companion the largest cage you can provide. The enclosure should not be smaller than 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 12 feet high. 

However, finding a cage this large can be a challenge. So, you may need to have your pet’s cage customized in order to get the right size. 

It is also ideal to use stainless steel when making an enclosure. A hyacinth macaw has a powerful beak, so you must use durable materials to prevent it from destroying the cage. While a durable cage is more expensive, it can last a long time, thus outweighing the cost.

That said, the hyacinth macaw’s price is not the only thing you have to pay upfront. Instead, you have to prepare an enclosure even before getting your pet.

Enclosure Maintenance

Hyacinth macaws are highly active, which makes them relatively messy. For this reason, you need to allocate a budget for maintaining the cleanliness of their living space. 

Keeping a hyacinth macaw’s enclosure free of any dirt is crucial to keeping them healthy. Bacterial pathogens can contaminate your pet’s enclosure if you maintain it, which risks your feathered companion to infection. Exposure to these pathogens can cause loss of appetite, runny nose, and diarrhea in your hyacinth macaw.

Diet

Apart from the hyacinth macaw’s price, the regular expenses include its food.

In the wild, hyacinth macaws mainly feed on greens, nuts, and fruits. While nuts are high in fat, these birds’ diet is high in carbohydrates and fats. So, unlike other domesticated parrots, feeding a pet hyacinth macaw with a lot of nuts will not cause them to become overweight. 

Palm nuts are the favorite nuts of hyacinth macaws in the wild. If you cannot find these nuts, you can feed your pet:

• Brazil nuts
• coconut
• cashews
• almonds
• macadamia
• peanuts
• walnuts

Besides nuts, a captive hyacinth macaw’s diet should include vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens. Pellets should not be a part of your pet’s diet as they are high in protein and can cause kidney problems for your bird.

Vet Care 

The expenses you have to pay do not end after paying for the hyacinth macaw’s price, food, and enclosure. You need to keep it healthy, so you need to prepare to spend on occasional veterinarian visits.

Your feathered companion should undergo regular health checkups to keep it healthy. It is also susceptible to various health issues as it ages. So, a routine checkup is ideal for detecting any health issues early on.

Your pet’s vet may also prescribe vitamins to keep it healthy. 

Grooming 

The list of expenses does not stop after paying a breeder for the hyacinth macaw’s price. Taking care of this bird means living with it throughout its lifetime, so you have to set a budget for grooming and to keep it neat. 

Apart from vet care, grooming is another responsibility you must carry as a hyacinth macaw’s caretaker. You need to bathe your feathered companion regularly. However, it would be best if you never used soap during your pet’s bath, as it could strip off the oil coating on its feathers.

While there are advertisers that market shampoos formulated for birds, clean water is the safest thing you can use to bathe your feathered companion. 

Nail and beak trimming is also a must. Overgrown nails and beaks get caught on your pet’s enclosure or toys, which may cause breakage. A broken nail or beak can result in blood loss and severe pain in your hyacinth macaw. 

Moreover, you can prevent an overgrown beak by giving your bird hard nuts and chew toys. Giving a hyacinth macaw something to chew on will prevent its beaks from overgrowing. If chew toys and nuts do not work, you need a professional groomer to trim your feathered companion’s beak.

Activities And Exercises

Hyacinth macaws can be destructive when they are bored. For this reason, you must provide them with various activities to keep them occupied. It would be best if you gave your pet chew toys, wooden toys, and durable toys that can withstand its strong beak.

However, even toys made of wood have difficulty withstanding this bird’s bite strength. For this reason, you need to prepare yourself to buy toys for your pet frequently. 

Like any other parrot, the hyacinth macaw requires playtime outside its cage. You also need to spend time bonding with it regularly. They become cranky and aggressive and scream when not given time outside their enclosure.

So, apart from the play toys inside its cage, you also need to provide it with things to do as you bond with it. 

Are Hyacinth Macaws Good Talkers?

Hyacinth macaws are highly intelligent. But according to the Scientific Library, a hyacinth macaw is not one of the best-talking parrots. If you are patient and diligent enough in training your feathered companion, it may learn a few words while in your care.

Even better, the Scientific Library added that a hyacinth macaw’s high level of intelligence allows it to contextualize a few words. 

This bird is not an ideal pet for people who live in apartments. Hyacinth macaws are large parrots, so they also make ear-piercing calls and vocalizations. They will usually scream to get your attention or when they are bored. 

But even when these birds are happy and well cared for, it is their nature to scream throughout the day.

Are Hyacinth Macaws Social Birds?

According to a study about hyacinth macaws in South Pantanal, Brazil, these birds are highly social. In the wild, they often live in pairs or a group. 

Ideally, a hyacinth macaw should also live in pairs in captivity. However, the rarity and the captive-bred hyacinth macaw’s price can make keeping them in pairs difficult. 

In addition, taking care of two hyacinth macaws is expensive and time-consuming. It also means that there will be two screaming birds in your home, which can be annoying for you and your neighbors. 

Is A Hyacinth Macaw An Ideal Pet For You?

Taking care of a hyacinth macaw involves a lifetime of expenses and obligations. Apart from the hyacinth macaw’s price, taking care of this bird involves many costs. The highest cost you have to spend on a hyacinth macaw will be on the bird itself, so you cannot cut the expenses to save some costs. 

For this reason, only those who can regularly provide for the needs of a hyacinth macaw should take care of it.

In addition, it may not be a good idea for beginner pet owners to take care of a hyacinth macaw. Apart from the high price and maintenance of a hyacinth macaw, it also requires a lot of time from its caretaker. 

Regularly bond with your feathered companion to keep them from getting bored. It will also require a great deal of taming and supervision, as it will be your companion throughout its lifetime.

Final Thoughts About Owning A Hyacinth Macaw

A hyacinth macaw is a large but gentle bird endangered in the wild. Capturing a hyacinth macaw in the wild is illegal. However, it is legal to own this bird if you purchase from a reputable breeder who breeds them in captivity. But while captive-bred hyacinth macaws are legal for trading, they are rare and costly. 

Do you have questions about hyacinth macaws? If you do, feel free to leave them in the comments section!

Furthermore, a captive-bred hyacinth macaw costs $5,000 to $12,000. You also have to consider the price of its enclosure, food, vet care, grooming, and maintenance. 

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