Cockatoos?

[sundial]

Does anyone own one of these wonderful birds? I'm really fascinated by them. Some days I dream about expanding our pack to include a feathered friend.

[bambu101]

Here is a link to a well-known cockatoo web-site:

http://www.mytoos.com/forum/ubbthreads.php

I have had birds for over 15 years, including a large macaw,and Cockatoos are not for the inexperienced parrot person. I have no interest whatsoever in adding one to our flock!

[sundial]

[sundial]

Bambu, what birds do you have? What is the personality of an African gray?

[tulip]

I agree with Bambu. Cockatoos are difficult creatures with the most experienced bird people. Not for a beginner.

The big thing with parrots is to realize that they live A LONG TIME. It's not like a dog or a cat--you in it for at least 25 years and much, much longer for many birds. I liken it to having a 2-year old--delightful, cute, jealous, prone to tantrums, and very demanding. They are also very social. You can't fairly leave them in a cage while you are at work all day.

I would suggest finding a reputable bird group or club so that you can get to know different species and get to know the intricacies of life with a parrot. You may decide that hanging out with other people's birds is enough. Or you might find that bird people are a strange lot and change your mind .

I had a Senegal parrot for 10 years. Their life expectancy is about 25 years. When I got him, I wasn't planning on getting divorced, but life throws these things at you. I couldn't keep him, the ex did. It wasn't fair to the bird because we were his flock--all he knew and all he had. This happens to too many birds in my opinion. Families break up, people get tired of the demands of the parrot, children come along, etc.

Adopting other people's cast-off parrots is not a good idea for beginners. Many of these birds have serious psychological problems, bite, self-mutilate, and are more than most people can handle. Again, they are not like dogs and cats, which are generally much more adaptable.

I have chosen not to have another pet bird. I have gotten very interested in watching wild birds. They are allowed to fly.

[mimitabby]

oh brother, my cousin has a cockatoo. Her daughter bought it, acquired a boyfriend, and promptly dumped the bird on mom and dad. the bird bonded to my cousin, but it is hysterical and jealous of ANYONE that gets near her, including her kind gentle husband.
This bird shrieks and carries on even when she's on the phone.
They can put its cover on and tell it it's bedtime, but you can't fool that bird.

I am not sure why anyone would want to take this bird out of its natural environment.

[sundial]

Tulip, I knew these birds live a long time so I won't be making any hasty decisions. Actually, I don't think I'll be owning one after reading the threads on the too forum. The only reason I was thinking about it was a local pet store is about to close it's doors and I was afraid I'd have to rescue the too and the African gray parrot and foster them until I got them into a rescue. Fortunately they found a home.

Mimi, here's a clip for your delight:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JRnLPDcLGHs

[mimitabby]

Mimi, here's a clip for your delight:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JRnLPDcLGHs

oh, thanks now I can skip visiting my cousin for another year.

[sundial]

Lol!

[bambu101]

Sundial,

A lot of people in the bird world feel that cockatoos should not be kept in captivity, and consequently suffer a lot of behavioral problems such as plucking, screaming, biting, etc.

I had little birds for years, like finches, parakeets, and canaries. Our first parrot (Bambu, a Senegal parrot), was purchased as a baby a little over 10 years ago, and he can be unpredictable, and bites hard without warning. He usually loves me, but bites my DH at every opportunity. His bites are far more painful than our Blue & Gold macaw, BeeGee! She was adopted from a rescue in Philadelphia last summer, and was turned into them after being confiscated from a police raid on a crack house. She had been kept in a dark basement, and fed a crappy diet of peanuts and sunflower seeds. Now she is a beautiful girl in perfect health, and a sweet, loving, goofy character. We also have a moustached parakeet (Moe Green) that we adopted from a friend's family where the couple both died of cancer in their 40s. There is also a canary and one parakeet in our current flock.

As you can tell, I am pretty passionate about birds and avian rescue and adoption. There are just far too many people who buy a baby bird on impulse, and then don't want to deal with it after the first few months. It is indeed like having a perpetual 3-year-old in your house that never grows up. But there is also a strong bond of unconditional love, constant entertainment (and messes), and I cannot imagine a life without birds!

I don't know where you are located, but there are number of bird rescue and adoption facilities throughout the country, and most are full to capacity with birds that have lost their homes for various reasons like family illness or changing financial circumstances. If you contact them, and go to visit with an open mind and heart, you might just fall in love with a new, feathered family member. If you want some recommendations, please PM me, and I'll try to point you to a rescue in your area.

Wendy

[TsPoet]

Sundial,
I had little birds for years, like finches, parakeets, and canaries. Our first parrot (Bambu, a Senegal parrot), was purchased as a baby a little over 10 years ago, and he can be unpredictable, and bites hard without warning. He usually loves me, but bites my DH at every opportunity. His bites are far more painful than our Blue & Gold macaw, BeeGee! She was adopted from a rescue in Philadelphia last summer, and was turned into them after being confiscated from a police raid on a crack house. She had been kept in a dark basement, and fed a crappy diet of peanuts and sunflower seeds. Now she is a beautiful girl in perfect health, and a sweet, loving, goofy character. We also have a moustached parakeet (Moe Green) that we adopted from a friend's family where the couple both died of cancer in their 40s. There is also a canary and one parakeet in our current flock.
Wendy

I, too, have a number of birds and have for years. One thing to point out, is that even though different birds have different personality reputations, you never know. I have a Meyer's Parrot (close relative of a senegal) and she's an opinionated pushy pest, but she'd never bite anyone. If she get's mad at you, she poops on you. I have a cockatiel that has been mistreated, passed around to several owners for various reasons and is frankly insane. I'm just giving her the best (caged) life I can. I have several budgies (parakeets).
My best pet of my entire life was a budgie! He knew 50 words and what many of them meant (he'd land on your shoulder and say 'hello' and say 'goodbye' right before he left, he'd ask for kisses...). So, don't discount the little "cheap" guys. (But budgies have been overbred and have lots of health issues and I'd like people to stop buying them until they aren't "disposable" cheep things anymore)
Birds are wonderful pets, but they are much much more intelligent than dogs and cats (I love my dogs), so they need a lot of attention, imagine locking a 2 year old child in a closet and expecting it not to go insane. That's what happens to so many birds. A minimum of 1 hr/day of attention is what every bird needs - and that can be a lot of work.
I was going to recommend that you consider a bird like a Senegal, but then I saw Sundial's post! Still, there are lots of nice small parrots out there - Quakers, Poisephelous (like Senegal’s and Meyer's Parrots), Conures...

[Drtgirl]

I have a wonderful Triton Cockatoo. We were cockatiel owners and wanted to expand our flock. She is a great bird (other too owners tell me this all the time) but she can be a royal PAIN! She screams a lot but we just deal with it. Whenever we go overnight somewhere we have to take Daisy to the "bird sitter"...she can't be left alone for more than a day. No one told me about all the issues birds have- illness (and vet bills!), egg laying, raging hormones, plucking, etc. Despite all this I can't imagine life without one!

I agree with the above posts- they are not for the unexperienced! I would recommend a smaller bird to start- maybe a little Senegal or Conure.

I can't resist posting a pic of Daisy!

[sundial]

Drtgirl, your Daisy is so pretty. I don't know why I'm drawn to these birds but I am. Every one that I've encountered was very social and did not display the temper tantrums that they are known for. I guess that's why I didn't think they would be as high maintenance.

When they have the hormonal episodes......can birds be altered like cats and dogs if you don't plan on breeding them? Would it help their mood swings? I am only familiar with furry pets and birds are new territory for me. I didn't know how very structured they are and how they will raise holy heck if you are late with their meals, the blanket, and social hour.

Bambu, I like your suggestion of the rescue. Interestingly enough, I am active in gsd rescue and adopted my youngest gsd through a rescue. I live in Arkansas and I don't know of any bird rescues off hand. I don't even know if there's a vet that specializes in aviary medicine in my neck of the woods. Maybe in Memphis....

I'd love to see more pics of birds if you care to share. And thanks for the information and stories of your feathered friends.

[Boise Birder]

a parrot/cockatoo by this video, but I had to post it. Remember, the person who now has Snowball does rescue, and knows these birds. If you go to her website, you can see getting Snowball to where he is now takes lots of work, time, patience, and effort.

Ok, I still had to post. This was the rage of internet for a while.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j_fxs8mUcQ

I laughed, and danced along!

[Drtgirl]

Most cockatoos that go out in public are very gentle and well-behaved. I take Daisy to work and she sits on the back of my chair all day. She is very sweet and quiet, and my co-workers don't believe me when I say she is a nut job at home. I call Daisy a "squawkatoo".

You can't spay/neuter birds, but sometimes their hormonal outbursts can be controlled with injections administered at the vet's office. I would only do that as an absolute last resort.

I think that a lot of 'toos live in several homes throughout their lifetime. They are very sweet for maybe 5 years then they mature and their personalities can be radically different, thus ending up on craigslist or in a rescue facility. They are very social by nature and will resort to pulling out their feathers or worse if they are left alone all day every day.

There are many breeds of 'toos and all of them have unique personality traits. Some are louder than others, some demand more attention, and some are more affectionate. Definitely do your research...somehow we ended up with the loudest and most needy breed!

One more unique 'Too thing that wasn't mentioned- they have a type of dust that covers and protects their feathers. If you have asthma or allergies then this could be a real problem- I don't think it's good to breathe this stuff in constantly. Our one bird generates enough fluff that I end up dusting the entire house once a week. You have to buy at least one really good air filter and give the bird regular showers to keep the dust at bay.

PM me if you need any more info!

Here's a link to more photos of Fuzz Beak.