Why Are Macaws So Expensive? Reasons Explained

Last Updated on February 8, 2022

Macaws are good pets because of their beauty and intelligence. If you are a pet lover and wish to purchase a macaw, be aware of its high price. Why are they expensive? Which is the most costly maca in the world.

Because of their popularity as pets, rare species, and the initial purchase price, macaws are quite expensive. Some running expenses include price and other maintenance costs for feed, care, and mental stimulation. The price of an average macaw is $1000-  $18000. You can be less expensive if you buy it from a pet shelter rather than a breeder.

After buying a macaw, you need to know its maintenance cost. Is it costly to raise? Is it one time cost? What other expenses are included in raising macaws? What is the most expensive macaw in the world?

Additionally, you will learn what factors affect macaw prices.

Are Macaws Expensive?

Macaws are very expensive. The cost of an average macaw is $1000 to $18000, which is very high than other pet birds.  The reasons behind this high cost are;

Species

All macaws are beautiful, highly interactive, and very social. Some macaws are largely sized like Hyacinth macaws, while others are small in size, like Hahn’s macaw. Larger macaws cost more than smaller macaws.

Macaws are long-lived parrots. A macaw will spend more than 50 years with you because of its natural behavior of making bonds with the owner. The more socialized pet will be high in price.

Popular As Pets 

Macaws are very popular among all pet birds because of their attractive colors, plumage, and different traits. Most of the macaws can talk well after training and can be adjusted well in a new place. 

Macaws are very interactive and intelligent and tamed well to speak words or even sentences. Depending upon the skills, its prices vary. A well-trained, talking macaw costs much than an un-trained macaw.

Macaws are captured illegally for the pet trade. The macaws decreasing in their numbers are most expensive as they are challenging to find.

Require More Care And Attention

Macaws are very interactive and social parrots and need more care and attention from their owner in captivity. They freely move in flocks of 15- 20 around their natural rainforest areas where they feed, rest and breed together. They are usually seen in pairs. 

But in captivity, they develop a strong association with their owner. They need some time and attention from the owners. If not, they become aggressive and tend to bite other birds. Spending time with your pet, talking to them, and playing is essential for healthy interaction and good bonding between macaws and their owners.

Moreover, the macaws are noisy and vocalized and require proper care and attention. Spend the same amount of time daily with your macaw. Any change in time may cause your macaw to undergo stress.

Macaws are routine-oriented, so follow the same routine of feeding, playing, and training your macaw. Any disruption in a way makes your bird angry. Only an experienced owner who does not bother with money and time can safely manage the macaw’s pet. Based on the above facts. The most expensive pet will need more care and attention.

High Maintenance Pets

The cost of an average macaw is $800 to $5000, which is very high, depending upon the breed, general appearance, age, how much it is trained, and rarity.

The initial cost is very high if you select Hyacinth macaw because of its more feed, care, and attention requirement. Its price is 40,000 that is very expensive because;

• It is rare due to habitat loss, illegal trapping of birds, deforestation, and pet trade.
• It is beautiful with brightly colored plumage.
• Need high-energy food like pellets which are also expensive.
• Require more care and attention
• Become a companion bird as it is highly socialized.

Once you take a macaw into your home, the expenses do not stop here. There are some running expenses like feeding a macaw, cage cost, toys, perches and feeding bowl or dishes, and veterinary costs.

Macaws feed on a healthy and nutritious diet like pellets and other fruits and vegetables as a portion diet. A proper feed of a macaw will cost $100-$150 per month. That is also very high.

The proper cage size is required for the healthy growth of macaws. The cost of a cage with enough space is $1000- $2000. Macaws are playful and enjoy playing with toys made of leather or any non-toxic chewable material.  Other than the expenses of toys, you can face the destruction of your furniture caused by angry macaws in the absence of toys.

The cage must be strong, durable, and with enough space. The perches inside the enclosure will cost $200-$400. Stainless steel cages are available in the market at a high cost.

Other costs include cleaning of cages, new toys for entertainment, and vaccination of macaws. Expenses of veterinary services are $50- $400 per month.

The Place From Where You Buy It 

You can buy a macaw from local breeders or sellers. Breeders know the safe handling of macaws, so select a well-socialized young macaw because it is easy to train and bond quickly with the owner.

Sometimes illegal trapping of birds leads to decreases in their numbers, thereby increasing its cost. Be sure about the seller, whether it is authentic or not.

Age of Macaws

Age is contributed towards the high cost of macaws. A young macaw who is near to breeding is more costly than an adult. The baby chicks of macaws need more care and attention than any other parrot. That is the main reason they are expensive.

Also Read About: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? Price Breakdown of Every Macaw Breed.

Conclusion

Hence, the young macaws are expensive because of their high maintenance cost, including initial buying cost, feeding cost,  cage cost, toys cost, perches cost,  feeding dishes cost, and vaccination cost. They need more care and attention. Their popularity as a pet makes them expensive in the pet market. Rare and highly endangered species are also costly because their numbers are decreasing in the world.