Free Cockatoos

NO, this is not an ad.

I just wanted to vent about something here.

Throughout ALL my bird research, there were always TWO species of bird I absolutely would NOT consider. An Umbrella Cockatoo and a Moluccan Cockatoo. I'm sure you understand why, especially with me being a first time owner.

I posted on my facebook at the beginning of this year and simply said, "I want a bird!" Just stating a fact. I got an e-mail from an acquaintance (she is an old friend's ex-girlfriend) asking if I wanted her bird. Said she'd give him to me for free, cage and all, she didn't have time for him anymore. I figured it was a Budgie or Cockatiel, Sun Conure, or something. I asked what species she had. A Moluccan Cockatoo. I said no, that was too big of a bird for me, sorry.

Then, just last month, I was at my good friend's house. She is the one with the U2 that I grew up with and still go hang out with fairly often. We had Ozzy (U2) out on the couch and were playing with him, cuddling him, etc. And she says, "My mom says you can have him for free if you want. He doesn't get enough attention here anymore."

Why is it that I get offered big, male, free Cockatoos so often?!

Ozzy LOVES my partner. LOVES her. If she has him, he will not step up for anyone else and if you try to get him to step up while he's on her arm he will dig his claws into her arm so he doesn't have to leave her. She wants Ozzy sooo bad, but I say NO way.

Just wanted to vent to you guys. It's frustrating because as much as I would love to take these guys, I know that I cannot handle them. I know Ozzy doesn't get very much attention at all. And I can only assume that the M2 doesn't get much either. So I feel bad not taking them, but I just can't.

It is a good thing that you know your limits. Over and over again people say free bird and people jump at it thinking what a bargin it is. As we know there is another side to this coin.

I'm also glad you know your limits. There must be another reason why they are re-homing them?

We don't get this problem. Where I live large too's cost thousands. There was a M2 baby for $8000. We have like no birds(parrots) in our rescues (usually just wild/native ones). So I guess that's a good thing.

That I do. I do not want to get in over my head.

The one with the M2, I'm not positive of her reasoning. All I know is what she told me, which is that she didn't have time for him anymore.

But with the U2, I grew up with him and still visit him often (at least twice a month) and play with him. Really the only reason they would offer him to me is because they know I know about birds, know I've been wanting one, and they honestly just don't pay enough attention to him anymore.

have you tho about trying to find them a really good home

Yeah, the large cockatoos can be a handful. Once you have them in your home, you're responsible for their happiness and that is quite a commitment, HUGE!!

When Amigo came to us, I had no idea what would be involved, never owned a parrot before, knew nothing about parrotforum, (wish I did, but didn't), and then my friend who asked me to help her out, by taking Amigo till she got settled, wouldn't take him back!! Anyways, we love him for what he is. A pain in the butt at times, a loving companion, beautiful to look at, a terrorist and wood chipping machine!

Can I have contact info? I want a free cockatoo!

M2's tend to be the neediest of the needy, and 7 out of every 10 end up Scream N Plucks because their needs are not met... AND as an added bonus they are jet engine noise loud...

U2's are next on the list...

Macaws are a distant 3rd.

absolutebirdlover said:

Can I have contact info? I want a free cockatoo!

Click to expand...

You might have better luck in a thread that isn't 4 years old.

SirEdwin89 said:

absolutebirdlover said:

Can I have contact info? I want a free cockatoo!

Click to expand...

You might have better luck in a thread that isn't 4 years old.

Click to expand...

LMAO! I just looked at that! :52:


Jim

Though always interesting when old threads resurface - likely as someone is looking for info (or a free cockatoo).

We have our hands full with an RB2, and had a bad experience with a rescue GSC2. From my limited cockatoo experience, I agree with Mark - you don't know how needy they are until you have one, and by then, well you have one. And our GSC2 was also jet engine, ear bleeding loud.

That dolphin song comes to mind.

:25:

ScooterMcTavish said:

Though always interesting when old threads resurface - likely as someone is looking for info (or a free cockatoo).

We have our hands full with an RB2, and had a bad experience with a rescue GSC2. From my limited cockatoo experience, I agree with Mark - you don't know how needy they are until you have one, and by then, well you have one. And our GSC2 was also jet engine, ear bleeding loud.

Click to expand...

So very true. We actually just rescued two SC2's last month after having fallen for birds so much with confetti, and I don't think any amount of education or reading about how loud they can be, really sinks in until you are listening to it at 4 o-clock in the morning for an hour and a half straight.

Even the "little" Goffins can be ear shattering loud! That little so-and-so Jonesy.."Little Beady-Eyed Monster" is how I referred him as,many times..sighhhh..I will admit tho...I miss The Cockatoo Man..


Jim