The truth about owning a Cockatoo, please

Harrybasford

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Oct 8, 2011
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Hey, working for myself successfully and with plans to stay here(Tenerife) I want to expand my flock by 1. I am very interested in either a Senegal Parrot or a Cape Parrot, or Meyers Parrot (Only problem could be that they make my lovebird sound off.) So are cockatoos really that hard to look after? I've seen countless youtube videos with all the owners of cockatoos saying "Don't get one." Where I live here in Tenerife, the animal care is ****e. All birds caged up, all dogs on a leash and left out in the sun for ever. Animals don't have rights here yet, I figure a cockatoo is going to be better with me than anywhere else on the island anyway. But what would I be in for? My birds are currently out almost all of the time. Lovebird away during meal times, and both away when I go out and at night. Non of them make any noise or put up a fuss, when put back in their cage (Lovebird gets covered over if he makes noise and he likes his view, and both birds get their main meals in their cage so subsequently like being in it.) Would this not be the case with a Cockatoo? Do they need to be out ALL the time? Are they excessively noisy? Any special Avian Veterinary needs for the cockatoo? as that also is not great here :(

Thanks,

Harry.

:grey::green1:
 

melinda

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Aug 10, 2011
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TN
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5 year old cockatoo Chloe and 3 year old sun conure Joe Joe
Khloe 15 year old orange wing amazon
Check out Mytoos.com Cockatoos are ear spliting loud. It takes a certian type of peorson to live with one. They require a lot more care than the birds you have now. If you have close neighbers thay may end up hateing you. Cockatoos will got through 2x4 like a hot knife in butter. Your house will suffer damage if they do not have enough to chew. They get board they scream or pluck feathers. If you have any bird rescues it will be well worth your time to spend a day there. I am not going to say don't get one but encourage you to make sure this is what you realy want. If you do want one adopt if you can. Cockatoos are very dusty birds that is hard on anyone that has any kind of breathing problem. You will be dusting your house daily to prevent it from becoming white with the dust.

They are not always loving like pet shop say they are. The beak of a cockatoo has three points that can do a lot of damage to a human. Some talk good and some never say a word their whole life. Do you have a family? 97% of cockatoos should never be trusted with children. They need large cages with a lot of out of cage time. You have to watch how you touch them to prevent them from thinking you are their mate. The list goes on and on. I think you would be better off spending a day with them before deciding to get one.
 

Lacey

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Oct 24, 2011
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South Dakota
Parrots
Reno~Umbrella Cockatoo
I know Melinda is not trying to turn you away from cockatoos as we both love ours very much. I jumped into getting a umbrella after a breeder told me it would be a great 1st time bird. Easy to manage, etc. That is not the case at all. I quickly seen that I was over my head. Cockatoos are the number 1 surrendered bird. Rescues are full of them. They are extremely prone to behavioral issues and are only for a very dedicated parrot parent. Their screams are ear piercing! I invest a lot of time and money into toys for Reno and they last, at the most a hour. Right now, my biggest issue with Reno is he is hormonal. Tis the season! He tries to make me his mate, which I cannot allow. I too would suggest visiting mytoos.com before deciding to get a cockatoo. They have tons of information.

With that being said, cockatoos do have their up sides(in my opinion). Reno is a very affectionate, loving, and curious little man. They (with most parrots) make you feel like a rockstar when you walk into a room. When I walk into a room with Reno, he starts jumping up and down saying "Hello, I Love You"! I fortunately (knock on wood) have not had the issues with screaming as of yet. He never has! We have worked on his "call" from the moment he came home. Instead of screaming and being obnoxious, he knows that when he says Hello or I Love You that momma comes running.

I hope this helps you out a bit!
 

Remy

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Jul 13, 2011
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California
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Darcy (Golden-Collared Macaw), Puck (Caique - RIP)
I'm not a 'too expert, but when I was bird shopping (and playing with the idea of maybe getting one because they can be so cute and cuddly) I went to the local bird rescue. There were more cockatoos there than any other bird. :-(
 

Mare Miller

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May 14, 2011
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sierra foothills of central California
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13yr. old male umbrella cockatoo,
we call him Amigo!

7yr. old Goffin cockatoo, she IS Sassy!!
I also, am not a 'too expert but I do live with an umbrella cockatoo and he was very challenging at first, my family and I felt like we had been broadsided by train! Luckily, we have no close neighbors. I knew nothing of these kind of parrots. We are 3 going on 4 years with him now and to say the least, it's been a wild ride! He demands lots of attention when in the house, loves to be outside and comes in for cuddles and dinner in the evening, also, I put him into his indoor cage at night. I free flight him but wouldn't recommend this for a cockatoo that hasn't bonded with you. If I were you, I would do a lot of research before taking the plunge!
 
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Harrybasford

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Sadly there are no parrot rescues on the island, only dog and cat. So if I were to choose a cockatoo, I'd have to get it through a pet store :(. although we do have 1 big reputable comercial breeder on the island (Loro Parque.) They would still be expensive.

Thanks for the helps guys, I'll have a look at mytoos.com.

If there were a bird found or rescued in Tenerife (there is an island wide forum) I'd happily take one in.
I didnt know cockatoos were so much more demanding than other birds, and also my house is made out of wood :/
I'll see how it goes... some poicephalus really appeal to me.

Thanks again for everyones feedback,

Harry
 

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
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Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
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11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
You haven't seen the Youtube videos that I have seen if after watching them you still have to ask the questions about how noisy and destructive cockatoo's can be. You need to go back to Youtube and type in noisy birds or noisy cockatoo's and then turn the speakers on your computer AL THE WAY UP to give you an idea of how loud they are.

There is also a video on Youtube showing where a loving sweet cockatoo was on the owners shoulder and decided to turn and bite the living crap out of the owners eye brow. He required several stitches and almost lost his eye. It was nasty.
 
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Harrybasford

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Well, I've seen a video of a pair tearing apart a windowsill, but my babies are out all day, would this still be under-stimulation for a cockatoo?
Yeah their screech is a loud one. Which is the worst thing for me really, is there no way to keep a quiet one? Like, females are quieter or something? Or lots and lots of stimulation? I imagine they could at least reduce the noise. What I guess I'm asking really is, are there any quiet cockatoos?
 
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Harrybasford

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Mtdoramike - Hows your Senegal with the noise levels? And how do you think a senegal would be with a cockatiel and lovebird under supervision?
 

Lacey

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Oct 24, 2011
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South Dakota
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Reno~Umbrella Cockatoo
From what I have heard, the smaller Too's are a bit quieter. However, if noise isn't for you, I don't think I would recommend a Too. That is just my opinion, but I haven't been around the smaller Toos very much. I am so glad you are doing your research to ensure your new birdie friend will have the best life possible! Good work!!!!
 

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
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Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
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11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
Mtdoramike - Hows your Senegal with the noise levels? And how do you think a senegal would be with a cockatiel and lovebird under supervision?

I'm sure there are quiet cockatoo's as there are noisy one's. But you can't count on getting a quiet one. All birds make noise especially in the morning and the evenings. This is normal behavior. But there are birds that are noisy quite a bit during the day as well. I think it has a lot to do with how they are raised. It's very easy to raise a spoiled needy bird that demands your attention 24 hours a day. It's a lot harder to raise an independant bird.

Now as far as my Senegal. She is a second hand bird that I got from the original owner when she was 11 months old. She is a NOISY bird. She has this squawk that she has picked up from someplace that sounds like a high pitched goose. She uses it quite often. So, my Senegal is not an apartment bird, if I lived in an apartment, I would have been given my eviction notice several months ago.

Now, from what I understand, this is not the norm for Senegals. The research that I did said that they were quiet birds and great for apartments. They never met Tiki. There are also several Senegal owners on here that claim to have quiet senegals. I guess if I weren't at home with them 24 hours a day and only interacted with them when I got home from work at 5:00 I would think she was pretty quiet as well hahahahaha.

I refer to Senegal's as the Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde of the parrot world because the few that I have been around will at one moment be sweet and loving and giving kisses to being pinchy and acting like they want to rip your hand off. Don't get me wrong, I love Tiki to death and wouldn't take a dollar and a quarter for her on most days. But just from what I have found Green Cheek Conures are more affectionate. They are clowns like Senegals with all kinds of antics, but with a more mellow personality and not as high strung.

Now my Eclectus has a screech that can break crystal given the right situation. But fortunately he will only use it once or twice ever couple of days. He's a huge talker, but a lot quieter than Tiki is.
 
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dna

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Feb 27, 2011
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Willow ~ Sun Conure (female)/
I have a Citron Cockatoo...which tend to be on the medium side (cockatoo standards). They are supposed to be one of the "quieter" cockatoos, but even he has an ear piercing yell when left in a room alone for even 5 seconds. I have done all of the tricks like calling out to him whe leaving the room to let him know I am there ...to rewarding when actually quiet. Doesn't work! He HATES being alone! Thank goodness we have a big family and he is rarely alone.

They are very needy from my experience, BUT also a very loving companion. I don't want to leave out how rewarding their trust and love is...they will love you unconditionally if treated with respect and love!

If deciding to adopt/purchase one, expect it to be a challenge. They aren't for the average bird owner by any means.

And also be ready to provide TONS of wood based toys among other types. I have been making his toys because I could never afford to keep him in stock with the way he shreds his toys lol!
 

Pedro

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Dec 15, 2010
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Australia
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2 Budgies, 3 Cockatiels, 6 GCC'S, 2 Crimson Bellie Conures, 9 Sun Conures, 2 Major Mitchells, 12 Eclectus parrots of various ages, 2 BF Amazons, 2 Hahn's Macaw's, 1 Red Tail Black Too
My SC Too is the exception, he is a very well behaved bird. He sometimes makes a stupid screech but not loud. He doesn't even call back to the wild ones flying over head. Actually he is scared of them. He isn't destructive at all but i do watch him when he is out of his cage wandering around. For the most part no one would know i even have a cockatoo at all. I adore him & am so greatful he came into my life as i would never have bought one because of all the reasons posted here. Sometimes we get lucky i guess.

Personally & from the experience i have had over the last 5 years with Frosty (he is 11 years old now) all it takes is positive reinforcement & knowing how to handle & train a large too. I also believe that it isn't the birds fault, it's the inexperienced owner that teaches their bird to bite & scream.

It is 7am here right now & i have approx 50 parrots from budgies to Red Tail Black Toos & all i can hear is them talking to each other, it's really the part of the day i most enjoy.

Before you get any bird you have to set yourself up for success first, birds have minds of their own, you need to get into their minds think the way they think, respect that they will always have that wild spirit. IMO we will never be able to domesticate Parrots to the extent we have done with dogs & cats. However if we understood parrots more we can & do for the most part live in harmony with them.

It is a sad fact of life that people in this day & age class animals as throw away if it doesn't live up to their standards.
 

Molcan2

New member
Jul 19, 2011
783
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Lake Co., Florida
Parrots
Princess Rome- Moluccan Cockatoo (18yrs old), Rosie - Galah/Rose Breasted Cockatoo (2yr old)
Owning Toos..... Hmmm, well they are different but completely rewarding if in the right household. Never get a Too and expect it to be quiet (this is not a realistic expectation) be prepared for one that screams all the time and be happy if you get one that doesn't. They are very sensitive birds, I like to refer to them as emotional basket cases - as well are the people who share their lives with them - thats right we are crazy. They sometimes require more time to transition into a new house hold. Give your new Too 1 FULL YEAR before making the determination whether to keep it or not (no matter how hard the transition may be to make) it can take that long to adjust.

Also I've copied and pasted the following from another post I responded to about Toos: They are loud (this is what def sets them apart). Usually they scream only when they aren't getting what they want (each is different, mine doesnt do any screaming regularly in am or pm. What people refer to the normal sounding off). When Rome first came home she went through a period where she wasn't happy anywhere - wasn't happy on my arm, she wasn't happy on her stand and she wasn't happy in her cage - no matter what we did she screamed. I waited for her to get over herself and shes come a long way since then but it was really really difficult in the beggining.

Its a misconception that Toos need 'more' time than other parrots because they don't. They act like they need more (when in actuality they really don't) so people give them more than whant they need and they get spoild (they spoil easily, I guess thats a better way to put it). Its not so much that they aren't independent (because they really are if thats the behavior that you encourage, but you have to provide them with the means to be independent, ex: they love to forage for food, so create an environment where thats what they do all day), its that they want more. You give them all the attention possible and they want double that (you give them an inch and they don't want a mile they want the entire country). Thats what we mean by demanding. This is why everyone throws the experience part out there. Toos are like a child, let them run the house and they will, however they thrive off of structure, routine, and disipline (with these in place you will have a wonderful Too). Look at it like the parents who give in when their child cries for a toy (these people should never own a Too, because the Too will end up owning them), a Too's scream is so loud that most 'give in' to what they want in stead of sticking to the rules. This only reinforces the screaming and makes the bird more in charge. The 'experience' that everyone talks about is the ability to not only reinforce positive behaviors but to also lay down strict rules and abide by them (i.e. a person who can be firm and strict makes a good Too owner). The fact is, that no matter what bird you choose to get your 'experience' from, may not set you up for a Too (I got my 'experience' from training horses - the concepts transend into Too behavior). A Too constantly asks for attention, you cant give in to what they want. Attention time (when, what kind, and the length) needs to be set by you and not the bird (has to be on your terms - ALWAYS). They will beg and beg for attention, then they demand it, and you have to wait until they forget that they even wanted you in ther first place, then you give them attention. They have to know that you set the rules and they have to know that these rules are firm. In the begging they will test the rules constantly. If you stay consistent then eventually the bird will learn and become better rounded.

Hope this helped, good luck in making a decision. :white1:
 

wenz2712

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Nov 16, 2011
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If you want a quieter and more mellow Cockatoo then defo go for the Galah. I have one and she is adorable. The only time she squawks is for about 10mins in the morning and sometimes when she gets over excited playing, but the noise level is certainly not deafening as with the bigger species. I have a Jenday Conure whos noise level is much greater than my Galah!! Hopes this helps a bit :D
 

beckybird

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Nov 16, 2011
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Southern California
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Lola (green cheek conure)
Connor (yellow sided green cheek conure)
Dorian "Buzzy" (senegal)
Hi:)
11 years ago I had a moluccan cockatoo. He was a 7 year old male that I fell in love with at Pet Luv. We hit it off instantly. I cuddled and pet him at the store before deciding to adopt him. Everything went downhill from there. He shrieked like the dickens if I did not give him undivided attention. I could not talk on the phone because of his constant screams. My neighbors complained, but even worse than the noise was the sheer violence. He tried to attack everyone who came near me: my other birds, my family, my friends, landlord, and even an electrician who came to my place to make repairs. And the damage to my place was really bad. He chewed everything he could get his beak on, even though I provided him with lots of toys. But the deal-breaker came when my neighbor visited. The cockatoo was acting very friendly, and had hung out with my neighbor a couple of times before- he seemed to be the only person other than me that the bird was friendly with. The bird climbed up his arm and hung out for a few minutes before grabbing and ripping my friend's ear- my friend had to have his ear stitched back together again. Having a cockatoo is an experience that I will Never repeat!
 

lene1949

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Sep 26, 2011
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Brisbane, Australia
Parrots
Cory: Short billed Corella -
Echo: Galah -
Max: Alexandrine -
Skye: Yellow Sided conure -
Luka: Green Cheek Conure -
RIP Shrek: Quaker
My corella and galah alert my dog, so he can bark... They hear 'it' first... and if they're just talking, Ben starts barking, because he thinks there's something out there...
 

melinda

New member
Aug 10, 2011
220
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TN
Parrots
5 year old cockatoo Chloe and 3 year old sun conure Joe Joe
Khloe 15 year old orange wing amazon
Any other than petting on the head
 

Molcan2

New member
Jul 19, 2011
783
1
Lake Co., Florida
Parrots
Princess Rome- Moluccan Cockatoo (18yrs old), Rosie - Galah/Rose Breasted Cockatoo (2yr old)
To answer your question Neravas, any kind of touch - even on the head could trigger breeding behavior. Even changing different tones in your voice can trigger breeding behavior (depends on what season it is and the individual bird). Usually though as long as you only pet their heads your okay, try not to pet them down their backs.

beckybird: I'm sorry that happened to you. My M2 is the opposite, super loving and I have to peel her off of any visitor that comes over (she thinks that they are here to see her). Most M2 males are really aggressive and tend to be one person only birds. If you look at breeding pairs in captivity usually the female M2 ends up either getting her beak, foot, leg, or wing torn off by the males and the males are notorious for killing the females (this is something not seen in the wild but common in captivity). The male M2s don't tend to handle captivity as well and are usually more aggressive of all the Toos.
 

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