Severe MacawChestnut-fronted Macaw

Severe Macaw - "Phillip" Adult Male Breeder

Size - Weight:      Severe's can grow to lengths of 40 cm (16 inches)

Care and feeding:    A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.

     See About Macaws: Housing and About Macaws: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:     The Severe Macaw is a social and friendly mini macaw, and a great choice if you want a smaller macaw.. These mini macaws are intelligent and eager for attention and play. They have a good disposition and respond well to handling and training. But they are a typical macaw and can be cranky at times and may prefer only one person or only one gender.

     See About Macaws: Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded friendly macaw. (Also information on handling and activities).

Severe Macaw - juvenile

Breeding/Reproduction:      The usual clutch consists of two or three eggs which incubate for about 26 days. The babies will fledge after about 3 months in the nest. Feed the parents plenty of greenstuffs, corn-on-the-cob, carrots, and fruit laced with food supplement while they are rearing the youngsters.

    The juvenile Severe Macaw seen here is one of two very sweet hand fed babies. The father (Phillip seen in the picture above) and mother are about 14 years old. They had three eggs, two of which hatched. The third egg was cracked and never hatched. We pulled the babies from the nest when they were four weeks old, and hand fed them from there.

     The babies are about 12 weeks old and are still taking one feeding per day. They both are very affectionate and love to cuddle into your lap or chest wherever you hold them. They can be noisy but with a little attention they will calm down and be very good companions. Usually they make noise in the morning because they are so excited to have the cover removed from their cage, and they like to be fed.

     See About Macaws: Breeding/Reproduction for information on breeding.

Sexual differences:      No visible differences.

Potential Problems:     Can be noisy (as can all macaws).   See About Macaws: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

Availability:      There are not as many Severe Macaws in captivity as there are other types of mini macaws. But they are a delight to own, and have proven to be ready breeders. More are being bred today, and occasionally you can find these macaws for sale.

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My Lucy is a severe and I love her. She can be very loving and then the next minute very protective. She loves to say Hi to our Timneh and blue and gold. She actually taught the Blue and Gold how to wave hello. Lucy turned 9 this month and had her own "Birdie Bread cake" to celebrate her day. Lucy also loves to get down and walk on the floor and play with her toys in the toy box I made for her. Happy Birthday Lucy Aug 1. COLLEEN HOWARD 2009-08-07
I have a little severe. My mother and I volunteered to help a lady with her at-home animal shelter, which one day involved taking in several parrots from a bird horder. We got 4 birds from her, an Umbrella Cockatoo( formerly and presently named "Precious"), a Red-Lored Amazon(formerly named "Spice", presently named "Boo"), a Sun Conure (formerly and previously named "Phoenix"), and the Severe Macaw (formerly named "Fang", presently named "Grinchi", "Grinch" for short). Grinch came to us with a few problems. His beak was way too long, and his nails were vicious. He's amazingly resilient. From volunteering, I already knew I wanted a macaw, and was relieved to find that Grinchi loved me back. Grinch is incredibly smart. He always works his cage open, but due to a small factor, my mom has no problems with him running about on top of his cage. He only has one wing. In the rescue, I had seen another bird with one wing, and man was he DEPRESSED, so I was glad to find Grinch had a high self-esteem. He's quite the little monkey. Always hanging off of things and running around. Enjoys the simplist of toys. He's absolutely adorable and loves to talk. He says "Hello" when he's happy, confused, or nervous. He says "Come here" to be a little brat, cuz he's either already on you, or running away from you across his cage, but if you say "Grinch, come here" back to him, he'll come running yelling "step-up!!" He says "no bite" when he knows he's been bad, "thank-you" when you give him food he likes, and "peek-a-boo" when he's feeling playful. He says "Hiiiii" to be a flirt, and barks to terrorize our dogs. I'm actually glad the horder didn't want the birds back, cuz if she had, we would have had to give my little Grinchi back to her. He'll eat anything you put infront of him-- even if it was unintentional, and licks plates when there's nothing on them. He's a riot. Hates baths, having his nails or beak done (which is why they're still WAY long), and having his tail touched. Deanna 2008-12-20
Abby, 11 months, lives the life! Travels to work with me everyday. I carry her in a small cat carrier for the 20 mile trip. At the shop she has a very large playpen. I began this at 8 months of age. As a result, I have a very socialized Severe. Never bites, and is very happy. Living is a cold climate, and the office where she is kept during the day can become drafty, I purchased a Termal perch(heated). This is ideal in keeping her feet warm. Warm feet, warm bird. Not a talker as of yet. Some basic stuff. A real whistler though. Really enjoying the Severe. Thanks for a great site. Bob, Upstate New York Anonymous 2008-11-22
My Severe is named "Sasha" and is a rescued 20-year old. Although it was my wife's idea to get him, he is completely smitten with me and will have nothing to with her, except raised feathers and an open beak! He still has vestiges of phrases from his last owners, who were apparently a deaf old man and his wife. His vocabulary includes: - "What? Whaaaat?" - "Come here" when he sees me and "Go away" when he sees my wife and others - He screams and then says "Be quiet" - ...or sometimes "Please be quiet!" -...or sometimes "oh my God be quiet!" - When he stepped onto my hand he once said "Thank you sweetheart" - "Sasha" or "Saaashaaaaaa..." "Good Night" at night - "Good Bye" said in a very mournful voice when I go out the front door. - "Heeerrrre, Kitty Kitty Kitty Kitty" said at night, apparently because prev. owners had cats they called in - "Pretty Bird" - Various sound effects, like dog growls and coughs, and "OW!" when he bites something He was a holy terror when we got him, but has calmed down and I can now scritch him, carry him around and have him do tricks, like doing a 360 flip around his perch, giving him a "high 4" (instead of "high 5") and turn on command. Good bird that one. Christian 2008-07-07
I have a beautiful Severe macaw named Kahlua. She is so funny but is very posessive of me when it comes to other people. I also have a blue and gold named Simba and a Hyacinth named Caesar. She is best friends with Simba and they are so close that I have let them share the same cage. I never thought they'd get along because of the size difference but they do, and Kahlua is definately the boss. I think a Severe macaw is a great bird for anyone who wants to have a big macaw but either doesn't have the room or is scared to take one on. The Severes have all the personality, charm, and style that the larger macaws have but are a little bit more managable. I love my Severe to death, she is so darn cute and cuddly, and sharp as a tack too. Tiffany 2008-03-26

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