Can macaw and eclectus be friends?

[Milly]

A friend has an eclectus pet hen about 1.5 year old, very tame and sweet. He would like to get a macaw cheek, hand raired, and just worries a bit if two bird would be friends. Does anyone know more about friendship between different parrot species like these?

thank you!

[cockatoo16crazy]

My friend can put most of his eclectus parrots in with his macaws. It all depends on if the birds are handrared (which im guessing they are/ will be). I have seen people have there eclectus with there macaws and they got along. So yeah it is possible but not with all of them.

[vankarhi]

I own a female ekkie and I would be very worried about if the macaw decided to bite the ekkie. Macaws have awfully big beaks and could do some serious damage. Are they going to be housed separately, if so then it should not be a problem then, just to have them out of their cages under supervision...............just my honest opinion. I saw a macaw for the first time a few months ago and "man that was one big beak". Mind you if I ever had the opportunity to own a macaw, any macaw, I would jump at it, no doubt about that.......but it would be in it's own cage.

[linda040899]

A lot depends on the individual birds involved. You can't force them to be friends but it can happen if they want to be friends. The strangest pair of companions that I've ever seen was Greenwing Macaw and a Lutino Parrotlet! Not quite sure which one ruled the roost there....

[dail]

linda is right, it is up to the individual birds and if they are introduced young enough, I have a tiny minature bush budgie who likes to rule the roost over a Sulphur.

[courtzrocks]

Depends what sort of macaw too, the blue and golds are more independent, the scarlets are cuddly but also can be possessive and the green wings are usually more laid back...then again if its a mini macaw they usually dont get along with other birds too much depending on which mini it is...but really it depends on the bird and how it is raised.

[robert]

Madaussie, you might be interested in this.
from Robert and Precious

[scots001]

I think socialization is definitely as was said the key to birds getting along.

I spend time introducing the birds to each other and I hold one while saying hello through the cage bars to another. I also let them beak at each other which is normal and certainly if this gesture was to become too serious they are immediately separated.

Next stage for me is introducing them through a patio door. Simply because mine are taken outdoors daily to their flight where they play and interact.
Next step once they get accustomed to that type of meeting then it's the real thing... I stand close by to intervene if things get out of hand but when it comes to the flock trying to intimidate the newbie I have to hold back when they dive bomb or lunge as they will settle down and go back to playing.

I have some strange bedfellows.. Cockatoos hang out with CAG's, or cockatoos hang with amazons and all have a best buddy who preens them, though not their own species necessarily.