What sorts of things do macaws need to be happy

It depends on the species. Macaws nedd large cages with room to move around. Lots of toys to keep them stimulated and their minds sharp. A bored bird will scream, pluck, bite and destroy in an attempt to get attention.

They need attention on a regular basis, and a schedule helps if you work and the bird must be alone for part of the day. High quality foods are a must, including fresh fruits and veggies, some nuts, pellets and yes a little seed.

You must be prepared to deal with behavior problems eventually, even the best bird has them sometimes. Macaws are very loud and very vocal, especially in the morning and evening, so they are not suited to apartment life. Full spectrum lights are a very good idea, but not necessary if you can place a playgym near a sunny window where the bird can spend a few hours a day.

Macaws are great companion birds, but not for the inexperienced owner. These birds are large and strong, and if you cannot properly train them they will become dangerous.

If you are thinking about getting a macaw, take a good look at your house and your lifestyle. Macaws are high maintenence birds as far as mess and room goes. If you have young kids running from room to room screaming half the day, or dogs barking at everything that passes, cats prowling and jumping on the furniture and you are gone more than at home, a macaw is probably going to be a poor choice for you. True some can and do adapt to such things, but most do not. That means in 6 months to a year when the novelty of owning a macaw wears off and the reality sets in, chances are that bird will end up confined to a cage and a miserable existance, or worse end up passed from owner to owner picking up new bad habits no one wants to deal with.