What a blue-and-gold macaw really costs

$86,600 lifetime$7,960 first year$2,020 a year afterBreakdown

A blue-and-gold macaw costs about $2,000–$6,500 to buy, with hand-fed babies from breeders usually $4,500–$7,500 and rehomed young adults less, and a macaw-strength cage adds roughly $850–$1,500. After that, budget about $1,500 a year for pellets, produce and nuts, the big wooden toys macaws shred, perches, cleaning and an avian-vet exam, plus illness costs. They commonly live 30–50 years, so the running bill can outlast the owner.

Life expectancy: 30–50 years
Size: About 30–35 in long including the tail, 850–1,300 g, wingspan up to 45 in
Care level: High
Price: $2,000–$6,500
Setup: About $1,590
Insurance: Available

Estimate for: One captive-bred blue-and-gold macaw (about 30–35 in long and 850–1,300 g) kept as a house pet. Space needed: A heavy-gauge macaw cage of at least 40 x 30 in footprint with about 1 in bar spacing, room to fully spread the wings, plus several hours a day out of the cage.

Where the money goes each year

A typical year for a blue-and-gold macaw, with typical spending in an average-cost area, no insurance.

Illness and injury (average)$500
Replacement toys (macaws destroy them fast)$470
Fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts and treats$300
Large-bird pellets$246
Cage liners, cleaning supplies and mineral blocks$240
Annual avian-vet wellness exam$150
Replacement perches$60
Nail and beak trims (as needed)$50
Typical year$2,020

Most years land between $1,290 and $3,170. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.

Setup and the first year

Bringing it home

Price: Breeder or bird store (captive-bred)$4,250
Macaw cage (40 x 30 in footprint or bigger, about 1 in bars)$1,200
Large perches in varied diameters and textures (3)$80
Extra food, fresh-food and water dishes$20
Starter toys (4–6 macaw-size wooden toys)$180
Large travel cage (for vet trips)$110
New-bird exam with an avian vet$120
New-bird lab tests (blood panel, psittacosis and PBFD screens)$180
To bring them home$6,140

Running costs in year one

Large-bird pellets$246
Fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts and treats$300
Replacement toys (macaws destroy them fast)$470
Replacement perches$60
Cage liners, cleaning supplies and mineral blocks$240
Illness and injury (average)$500
Year-one running costs$1,820

First-year total: $7,960. Adopting instead brings it to about $4,360.

What to buy

The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to a blue-and-gold macaw. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.

Macaw cage (40 x 30 in footprint or bigger, about 1 in bars)Setup, typically about $1,200
See on Amazon
Large perches in varied diameters and textures (3)Setup, typically about $80
See on Amazon
Extra food, fresh-food and water dishesSetup, typically about $20
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Starter toys (4–6 macaw-size wooden toys)Setup, typically about $180
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Large travel cage (for vet trips)Setup, typically about $110
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Large-bird pelletsOngoing, typically about $246 a year
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Cage liners, cleaning supplies and mineral blocksOngoing, typically about $240 a year
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As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.

Health costs to plan for

Condition	What it is	Typical treatment	Cost
Proventricular dilatation disease (macaw wasting disease)	VCA names macaws among the birds most often affected; it is linked to avian bornavirus and causes regurgitation, weight loss and undigested food in droppings. VCA says there is no proven treatment and the condition 'is often fatal.' Dr. Clubb lists it first among blue-and-gold problems. Source	LOW CONFIDENCE (no published price found): exam ($108–$200), CBC and chemistry ($100+ in lab fees), whole-body X-rays and bornavirus PCR, then supportive care, assisted feeding and anti-inflammatory drugs; affected birds must be kept apart from others	$400–$2,000
Feather picking and self-mutilation	Lafeber says blue-and-golds are 'prone to self-mutilation/feather plucking,' and VCA names macaws among large species that pluck for behavioral reasons; liver, gut and kidney disease, infections and parasites have to be ruled out first. Source	Exams, blood tests, fecal tests and X-rays to rule out medical causes; sometimes feather or skin biopsy; behavior modification, collars only under avian-vet supervision, and anti-anxiety medication as a last resort	$250–$1,200
Papillomatosis (oral and cloacal papillomas)	Dr. Clubb lists oral and cloacal papillomas for blue-and-golds, and PetMD names macaws among the birds affected. Growths can bleed or block the vent and are often mistaken for cloacal prolapse; PetMD says recurrence after surgery is likely. Source	LOW CONFIDENCE (no published price found): exam and biopsy, then surgical removal under anesthesia, often repeated because papillomas recur; no cure	$500–$2,500
Heavy metal (lead and zinc) poisoning	Dr. Clubb lists heavy metal toxicity among blue-and-gold problems and says macaws often run into toxins, so they shouldn't roam unsupervised. VCA warns some toys sold as 'safe for birds' may contain lead, and says early treatment is usually successful. Source	LOW CONFIDENCE (no published price found): exam, X-rays and blood lead test, chelation drugs, hospital supportive care; occasionally surgery to remove metal from the gut	$300–$2,000

The yearly estimate includes an average of $500 for illness and injury. Insurance is available for this pet; turn it on in the calculator to compare.

What drives the cost

Asking prices depend on age: nine BirdBreeders.com breeder listings (Oct 2026), mostly hand-fed babies, ran $4,500–$7,500 with a median of $6,500, while BirdsNow's first page, mostly rehomed 1–7-year-olds, ran $1,500–$5,000 (median about $3,450).
The macaw cage is the biggest setup cost: LafeberVet gives 0.75–1.5 in bar spacing for macaws, and strong 1 in bar models run $850–$1,500 (Prevue Empire X-Large $849.99 at Chewy; A&E 40 x 30 in dome top $1,199.99 at Tractor Supply).
Toys are a real running cost: Chewy reviewers report a blue-and-gold reducing a $46.99 Beakasaurus toy to its chains within hours to six days, so plan on replacing large wooden toys every month or so.
Lafeber warns blue-and-golds make 'loud, ear-piercing sounds' and are prone to screaming, especially around dusk; that can matter for renters and close neighbors.
Rescue and shelter macaws cost far less up front: a Massachusetts shelter listed a blue-and-gold for $300 in 2025 (no cage included), and The Vet Desk gives $400–$1,000 for adopted macaws.

Is it legal where you live?

No US state ban on keeping blue-and-gold macaws was found. The species is on CITES Appendix II (Dr. Clubb notes this is only because nearly all parrots were listed as a group), and the 1992 Wild Bird Conservation Act bars imports of CITES-listed birds unless a species or facility is approved, so pet blue-and-golds in the US should be domestically captive-bred.

Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.

Breeder or bird store (captive-bred): $2,000–$6,500
Bird rescue or shelter: $300–$1,000
Lifetime: $86,600

How this estimate is built

Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.

Show all 16 line items and their sources

Item	Typical	Range	Basis and sources
Setup
Macaw cage (40 x 30 in footprint or bigger, about 1 in bars)	$1,200	$850–$1,500	LafeberVet gives 0.75–1.5 in bar spacing for macaws; Susan Clubb, DVM, says macaws 'MUST be allowed space to fully extend their wings' and that strong wire and locks are needed. Low: Prevue Empire X-Large (46 x 36 x 78 in), which Chewy says is made for macaws, $849.99; the Walmart-listed 64 x 32 in Double Macaw Cage with 1 in bars is $879.95. Typical: A&E 40 x 30 x 75 in Dome Top with 1 in bars, $1,199.99 at Tractor Supply. High: Prevue Imperial Stainless (1 in, 8-gauge bars), $1,499.99 at Chewy. Cheaper 'large bird' flight cages with 1/2 in bars are rated only for small birds. LafeberVet: Basic Information Sheet: Macaw (weights, bar spacing, perch diameter, common diseases); Susan Clubb, DVM: Blue and Gold Macaw species profile; Chewy: Prevue Empire Bird Cage, X-Large ($849.99; 46 x 36 x 78 in; for macaws); Walmart: 64 x 32 in Double Macaw Cage with Removable Divider ($879.95; 1 in bars); Tractor Supply: A&E Cage 40 x 30 in Dome Top Bird Cage, 1 in bar space ($1,199.99; 40 x 30 x 75 in); Chewy: Prevue Imperial Stainless Bird Cage ($1,499.99; 1 in, 8-gauge bars)
Large perches in varied diameters and textures (3)	$80	$56–$100	LafeberVet gives macaw perch diameters up to 2 in. Chewy large/X-large perches: JW Pet Comfy 36 in $17.22, Happy Beaks sand perch Large $15.62, Polly's Hardwood X-Large $23.44, Super Bird Creations rope bungee Large $35.99, Polly's Sandwalk Large $38.40. Low = the three cheapest ($56); high = the three dearest (about $98); typical sits between. Chewy: Bird Perches (large and X-large perch prices); LafeberVet: Basic Information Sheet: Macaw (weights, bar spacing, perch diameter, common diseases)
Extra food, fresh-food and water dishes	$20	$5–$30	The Vet Desk gives $5–$30 for feeding and water dishes for a macaw; A-Z Animals says bowls can cost 'as little as $30'. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026); A-Z Animals: Macaw Prices in 2024 (blue-and-gold $700–$2,500; Aug 2024)
Starter toys (4–6 macaw-size wooden toys)	$180	$90–$280	Super Bird Creations Beakasaurus Large/X-Large, listed for macaws, is $46.99 at Chewy; 4 Way Play X-Large is $42.99. Typical = four toys at about $45; low = two; high = six at $46.99. The Vet Desk gives $25–$100 for starter toys, but macaw-size toys cost more than that range implies. Chewy: Super Bird Creations Beakasaurus Bird Toy, Large/X-Large ($46.99; for macaws); Chewy: Super Bird Creations 4 Way Play Bird Toy, X-Large ($42.99); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026)
Large travel cage (for vet trips)	$110	$90–$424	Chewy's carrier page: Yaheetech 26 in iron travel cage $89.99 (low), Prevue Bird Travel Carrier $112.99 (typical) and Caitec Perch 'N Go Large $423.87 (high). Small travel cages such as Prevue's 20 in model ($64.99) are meant for small parrots and are too small for a macaw. Chewy: Bird Carriers (Yaheetech 26 in $89.99; Prevue travel carrier $112.99; Caitec Perch 'N Go Large $423.87); Chewy: Prevue Travel Bird Cage ($64.99; 20 x 12.5 x 15.5 in, for small parrots)
First year
New-bird exam with an avian vet	$120	$108–$200	The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI; Feb 2026) lists bird wellness exams from $107.62 and consultations from $118.39; The Vet Desk gives $50–$200 for a macaw vet exam. Typical = a consultation-level first visit. The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, consultation $118.39, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026)
New-bird lab tests (blood panel, psittacosis and PBFD screens)	$180	$100–$244	Lab list prices at the University of Miami Avian & Wildlife Laboratory: Well Bird Panel (CBC, chemistry, bile acids, electrophoresis) $100, Advanced Well Bird $124, Chlamydia, PBFD and polyomavirus DNA probes $40 each. Low = Well Bird Panel only; typical = panel plus Chlamydia and PBFD ($180); high = Advanced panel plus all three probes ($244). These are lab fees; clinics add sample collection and handling, so actual bills run higher. University of Miami Avian & Wildlife Laboratory: Test offerings and prices
Every year
Large-bird pellets	$246	$164–$328	Limited data: on quantity: ZuPreem FruitBlend Large Bird is $81.99 for 17.5 lb at PetSmart, and its feeding guide gives 1/2–1 cup a day for macaws (Dr. Clubb also suggests about 1/2 cup of pellets daily). No cups-per-pound figure was found, so typical = three bags (52.5 lb) a year, low = two, high = four. PetSmart: ZuPreem FruitBlend Large Bird Food, 17.5 lb ($81.99; macaws 1/2–1 cup a day); Susan Clubb, DVM: Blue and Gold Macaw species profile
Fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts and treats	$300	$150–$600	Dr. Clubb suggests about 1/2 cup of fresh fruit and vegetables a day plus 2–3 nuts as treats. The Vet Desk gives macaw food at $50–$100 a month in total and A-Z Animals $30–$100; subtracting pellets leaves roughly $12–$70 a month. Typical = about $25 a month. Susan Clubb, DVM: Blue and Gold Macaw species profile; The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026); A-Z Animals: Macaw Prices in 2024 (blue-and-gold $700–$2,500; Aug 2024)
Replacement toys (macaws destroy them fast)	$470	$240–$600	The Vet Desk budgets $20–$50 a month for macaw entertainment ($240–$600 a year). Typical = ten macaw-size toys a year at $46.99 (Beakasaurus at Chewy), whose reviewers report a blue-and-gold destroying one within hours and another large macaw in six days. Heavy chewers can exceed the high figure. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026); Chewy: Super Bird Creations Beakasaurus Bird Toy, Large/X-Large ($46.99; for macaws)
Replacement perches	$60	$25–$100	Wooden and rope perches get chewed. Typical = a Polly's Hardwood X-Large ($23.44) and a rope bungee Large ($35.99) a year at Chewy; low = one hardwood perch; high = about three perches. Chewy: Bird Perches (large and X-large perch prices)
Cage liners, cleaning supplies and mineral blocks	$240	$120–$600	The Vet Desk gives $10–$50 a month for macaw environment upkeep (cage liners $5–$25, mineral blocks $3–$10, cleaning supplies $10–$20), or $120–$600 a year. Typical = $20 a month; A-Z Animals puts liners at about $10 a pack. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026); A-Z Animals: Macaw Prices in 2024 (blue-and-gold $700–$2,500; Aug 2024)
Annual avian-vet wellness exam	$150	$108–$324	Dr. Clubb says yearly vet exams prevent many macaw problems. The Gentle Vets lists bird wellness exams from $107.62; The Vet Desk gives up to $200 for an exam. High = a $200 exam plus the Miami lab's $124 Advanced Well Bird panel each year. The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, consultation $118.39, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026); University of Miami Avian & Wildlife Laboratory: Test offerings and prices; Susan Clubb, DVM: Blue and Gold Macaw species profile
Nail and beak trims (as needed)	$50	$0–$190	Lafeber lists overgrown beaks for blue-and-golds and LafeberVet lists beak malocclusion in macaws. The Gentle Vets charges $93.53 for a beak trim (exam required). Many birds keep nails and beak in shape on varied perches. Typical = one trim every other year; high = two a year. The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, consultation $118.39, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); Lafeber: Blue-and-Gold Macaw species profile
Illness and injury, per year
Illness and injury (yearly average)	$500	$100–$2,000	No survey reports average illness spending per macaw. The Vet Desk gives $0–$200 a month for medications and vet visits and $250–$2,000+ for an emergency. A sick visit starts at $118 at The Gentle Vets before tests; a CBC plus chemistry runs $100 in lab fees alone (Miami lab). Typical $500 assumes about one sick visit with tests and medication a year; the high end is one emergency. The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026); The Gentle Vets: Exotics pricing (bird wellness exam from $107.62, consultation $118.39, beak trim $93.53; Feb 2026); University of Miami Avian & Wildlife Laboratory: Test offerings and prices
Insurance, per month
Nationwide Avian & Exotic accident & illness premium	$25	$10–$50	Nationwide lists macaws among the birds it covers and says premiums 'generally start at less than $21/month'. The Vet Desk gives $10–$100 a month for macaw insurance. Typical sits a little above Nationwide's starting point because macaws are high-value birds; high = $50, within The Vet Desk's range. Nationwide (petinsurance.com): Pet insurance plans for birds (macaws listed; premiums generally under $21/month); The Vet Desk: How Much Does a Macaw Cost? (Jan 2026)

More pet birds by yearly cost

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Cockatoo$1,800 a year
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Common questions

How much does a blue-and-gold macaw cost?

Breeder or bird store (captive-bred): $2,000–$6,500; bird rescue or shelter: $300–$1,000. The bigger costs come after: about $1,590 to set up, about $7,960 for the whole first year, then about $2,020 a year.

How much does a blue-and-gold macaw cost per year?

About $2,020 a year ($168 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $1,290 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $3,170 for a generous owner in a big city with insurance.

How much does a blue-and-gold macaw cost over its lifetime?

About $86,600 over a 40-year life, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 17, 2026. Spot a wrong figure?