Blue-and-Gold Macaw Care Guide: Diet, Lifespan, Housing & Health
A vet-informed care guide for the Blue-and-Gold Macaw — a advanced-level companion bird that can live 35-50 years. Housing, diet (and toxic foods to avoid), temperament, health and enrichment.
The Blue-and-Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) is a advanced-level companion bird that can live around 35-50 years — a long commitment. Here is how to care for one properly: housing, diet, health, temperament and enrichment, based on avian-veterinary guidance.
Quick facts
| Care level | Advanced |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 35-50 years |
| Adult size | 80-91 |
| Noise level | Very loud |
| Talking ability | Good |
| Best for | Experienced keepers with space, time, tolerance for loud calls, and a multi-decade commitment; not for apartments or first-timers. |
Housing a Blue-and-Gold Macaw
Minimum recommended cage: Minimum ~91 x 122 x 152 (36 x 48 x 60 in); an aviary or double-width flight is better. Bar spacing 25-38 mm; perch diameter up to ~5 cm.. Bigger is always better — birds fly horizontally, so width matters more than height. Provide varied natural-wood perches of different diameters, and place the cage in a social, draught-free part of the home away from the kitchen (cooking fumes, especially from non-stick cookware, are deadly to birds).
What to feed a Blue-and-Gold Macaw
Staple: High-quality formulated pellets as the staple (~60-70%); a modest portion of nuts/seeds (~10%) for a large macaw's higher fat needs.
Fresh foods: ~30% fresh vegetables, leafy greens and limited fruit (e.g. peppers, carrots, leafy greens, apple, mango, berries).
Foods that are toxic to your Blue-and-Gold Macaw — never feed these
Avocado (persin), chocolate (theobromine), caffeine, alcohol, onion and garlic, fruit pits/stone-fruit seeds (cyanogenic), and salty/sugary/high-fat processed foods.
Temperament & social needs
Outgoing, playful and affectionate but very large, strong-beaked and loud; can be nippy or destructive without adequate enrichment.
Very social flock birds; need several hours (roughly 4-6) of supervised out-of-cage time and daily interaction; suffer and self-mutilate if isolated or under-caged.
Enrichment
Powerful chewers needing durable/destructible foraging toys and wood to chew; large play stands and space to climb and flap.
Common health problems in Blue-and-Gold Macaw
Feather-destructive behavior/self-mutilation, obesity and fatty liver on poor diets, vitamin-A deficiency, psittacosis (chlamydiosis), aspergillosis, proventricular dilatation disease (PDD, avian bornavirus); atherosclerosis with age.
Birds hide illness until they are seriously unwell — a bird that looks "off" is an emergency. Establish care with an avian vet before you need one, and schedule an annual well-bird check.
Setup essentials
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In the wild
The Blue-and-Gold Macaw is also a wild bird — see the Blue-and-Gold Macaw species profile for its natural range, behaviour and conservation status.
Frequently asked questions
How long do Blue-and-Gold Macaw live?
With good care a Blue-and-Gold Macaw typically lives 35-50 years — a long-term commitment.
Is a Blue-and-Gold Macaw a good pet for beginners?
It is rated Advanced-level. Blue-and-Gold Macaws suit experienced keepers with space, time, tolerance for loud calls, and a multi-decade commitment; not for apartments or first-timers.
What can Blue-and-Gold Macaw not eat?
Never feed a Blue-and-Gold Macaw: Avocado (persin), chocolate (theobromine), caffeine, alcohol, onion and garlic, fruit pits/stone-fruit seeds (cyanogenic), and salty/sugary/high-fat processed foods.. These are toxic to birds.
Sources & further reading
- LafeberVet — Basic Information Sheet: Macaw (opens in a new tab)
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Blue-and-Gold Macaw species profile (opens in a new tab)
- Merck/MSD Veterinary Manual — Nutritional Disorders and Viral Diseases of Pet Birds
- Animal Diversity Web — Ara ararauna (opens in a new tab)
- AnAge / senescence.info — Ara ararauna longevity record (max verified 43 yr captive)
