Should I get a cockatoo?

I have been considering a larger parrot for quite a few years. Despite quite a bit of experience with other species of birds (smaller parrots, geese, ducks, pigeons, doves, songbirds, etc) I have never had a larger parrot. I have always been a lover of these larger, extremely intelligent and interactive birds. I don't really know why, but I love to spend my time with them, learning to understand them and create bonds with them. I have spent some time with pet store parrots (cockatoos, amazons, african greys, etc) and have found that I do rather well with understanding their body language. As compared to a lot of other people who were handling them, I'm really quite patient, quiet and docile when it comes to approaching a bird.

I have a pet house goose that I raised from a baby. She's a bit of a handful but despite this and a few problems (feather shedding, destructiveness, smell) I am not going to give her up. She means a lot to me. However, I would like to add a large parrot to my life. I don't expect to move a lot, or travel a lot, but I might move at some time in the future. I don't want to be completely and utterly rooted to the spot. I would like a species of parrot that can adapt rather well to change... An individual, perhaps, that has been socialized enough to accept a variety of different foods, situations, sights, smells, and people. Having a very anxious parrot would not be ideal. I've heard african greys are susceptible to anxiety when it comes to new things. My goose, named Moody, is quite anxious of change, as an individual, but we're working to overcome this. I know of many people who travel far and wide with their geese, who come to love the new experiences.

So... I think this is a very big choice for me to make.
After looking at www.mytoos.com, I tend to think, well, I'm not going to hate a parrot that has a loud voice. I'm not going to hate a bird because it screams when it's anxious, excited, or in the morning and at dusk. But... I've heard so many horror stories! Some people say, 'never get a hand raised cockatoo, because they're nice when they're young but they inevitably turn against you, scream constantly, pluck themselves and even attack you!" I don't know if this is... normal...? behavior for well-adjusted birds, but if this is the case for all cockatoos (that they're unbearable?) I really don't know if a cockatoo would be suitable for me. Yet, I hear stories of countless people who have great, strong relationships with their 'Toos, who are loving and docile, gentle and sweet and giving, yet, of course, have many playful antics and love to jump around and dance. I love a bird that likes to cuddle and have head scritchies. I don't want a bird that would rather be away from me or avoid me. But then again, like any reasonable person, I don't want a bird that screams constantly, can't have me leave the room to go to the bathroom, or that flies at me to attack me.

In the family, the youngest is an 11 year-old. He is quite gentle, especially compared to others of his age, and has dealt with quite a few birds. The goose doesn't like any kids so tends to hiss and charge at them, but sometimes she's nice to him, as he's much less excitable. We can be loud, however. We like to play music, instruments, and sometimes we are all doing something quite loud. A bird that likes a more active environment would be ideal for us.

I want a bird that has been around children before, if possible, or at least very sociable. While I realize many of them are one-person birds (and I hope to find a bird that chooses me rather than someone else!), I want everyone in the family to be involved, at least in one way, with the care of the bird. Someone can chop up veggies and fruits, someone can change the paper in the cage, someone can give them head scritchies at certain points of the day, someone has a special toy they play with... Just something to make the bird feel that everyone has a part in their life and, yes, a 'purpose'. Just as in a flock, everyone plays together, preens and eats together, everyone will be involved with feeding, playing with, cuddling with and feeding the bird. At least, that is my hope.

The shedding of feather dust is all right. My goose sheds feather dust as it is and we have no allergies. I sleep with the goose and have had no complications. Cooking food for the bird is fine as well. I love to cook fresh meals.

So... Should I get a cockatoo? Which breed should I get? I've heard of umbrellas as being the most docile and gentle. I've heard moluccans are the most trying and loud, yet the most attaching (velcro-birds) and most cuddly. I've heard that bare-eyes are the smartest and most able to talk, and have a very playful personality. I've heard that goffins can be a bit shy and a bit unpredictable (the umbrellas being the most predictable, I've heard) but are overall cuddly and humorous. I really love the idea of an umbrella, from what I've HEARD of their gentle, somewhat predictable, cuddly nature, but I think the moluccan may be a bit too much for us... THOUGH I know many people who have moluccans who are a big, good part of their family and even love kids! So I think anything is possible, if given the right thought, socialization and love.

But... This is just what I've heard from sites and other owners (even www.mytoos.com has said a few things along these lines...and the people in the forums).

It's so confusing for me! There are so many wonderful species and I can't even decide if adopting one is a fatal or wonderful decision. Am I destined to part with my cockatoo? Is it certain that the bird will come to hate me, scream constantly and be inseparable to me... In a way that I can't leave the room?

I am going to be home all but 3-4 hours a day. In between those hours, someone else should be home at least once. The bird would only be caged during this time and of course, when it slept.

I actually am interested in a career in ornithology or avian medicine. I have always been able to understand and communicate with birds, sometimes better than with other people. I see birds as not just pets, or just even companions, but lifelong friends and family members. I just adore them. I would be shattered to never be able to share my life with one of these wonderful creatures.

Oh, and as a last note... We live in a large house that we own. Being kicked out is not a possibility. Noise is not too high of a concern.

So... I just want to know what all of you think.


Thanks.

Greetings Moodyz,

I actually found your post on a Google Alert I subscribe to.

My reply can be an answer to your question and an introduction to others. I am owned my Tango an almost 11 year old male moluccan cockatoo that shares our home with my wife and myself. We have had Tango since he was 5 months old.

You can see a picture of Tango below

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2218353902_1d5085555e.jpg

You can also see an Animoto video of him http://animoto.com/play/1a86fa19776e5e8b00d542c9d19e307d

You're asking all the right questions and doing your research. Of course I can only speak to Moluccans but I've also handled Goffins, Bare-eyeds and umbrellas.

I think the biggest concern one should have before thinking about a Moluccan (they are often referred to as an M2) is the time commitment. An M2 needs to be challenged with interesting toys, fed a prepared diet of interesting veggies, nuts, and fruit, taken out of the cage 2 to 3 times a day for periods of 30 minutes or more. A 2-3hr chunk of your day needs to be devoted to a healthy M2. I do have him in my office on a combination swing and stand so you can still multi-task as long as you are aware that M2's are the world's greatest escape artists.

We are fortunate in that Tango has bonded with my wife and myself. They like all parrots need to be socialized with the whole family. Yes, M2's are very noisy. Healthy M2's need to exercise their lungs. M2 owners need to carry earplugs with them.

Healthy M2's live 50+ years. They need big cages and lots of wooden toys to chew. We are fortunate that Tango has been a healthy bird for 10 years but last Oct. he developed a foot injury that is just starting to heal. His Vet bills for this foot episode were $1200 USD. A good Avian vet is hard to find.

I would not recommend M2's for families with very young children. If your 11 year old understands that an M2 can be tame but never domesticated then he is old enough to be around M2's. I've only been nailed once really hard in 10+years but that bite bled for an hour.

I'm going to say at least that adopting or rescuing an M2 as your first bird may be a mistake. Of the 2 M2's I've known that were rescued, both had to be given up to the Gabriel Foundation.

I don't want to discourage you from considering an M2. Tango has been a wonderful part of our family for close to 11 years. They do require a big time
allocation 7 days a week and many potential cockatoo owners don't realize that in the searching stage.

Generally M2's are not great talkers. Tango has a vocabulary of about 12 words.

Good luck with your search.

Len

first i hate that sight mytoos, but anyway

a couple things to think about: you wanted everyone in your family to be involved - make sure everyone wants to be invovled and don't force anyone out of his comfort zone to do so.

you said you liked the larger parrot because they were interactivce and such. My jenday and any other conure I've seen is just as interactive as a macaw type bird I know you were looking at larger birds but have you considered conures. caiques, and other smaller parrots. Personally I think these guys make better pets because you can give them a huge cage that they can really play in, and they bight hard,but generally won't break afinger or something. I'm just saying don'texclude aparrot because of it's size.I understand people wanting something more interactive than a cockatiel,budgie, or parrolets. Just reasearch some of the otherrs - i think you would really like a caique. Senegals are another one to look into. It soudns like you are well prepared if a too is what you decide to choose. The sulpher cresteds are my favorties.

Thank you for your replies. I have considered other parrots, and have interacted with quite a few conures, caiques and senegals. Of course, I've found them to be very charming, but I guess I find them to be a little harder to read. I always approach a cockatoo or an african grey in the store like I would a very large, wise human. For some reason, on first sight, cockatoos remind me of large, wise elephants, but of course they have more of the intelligence of a young human. I'm not sure why, but from what I have experienced (and this is pretty limited), the understanding between the cockatoos, the greys, the macaws, the amazons, and yes some of the smaller birds is so deep. I don't know why, but when you've talked to them for hours, reading their body language, looking into their eyes and trying to understand how and what they're thinking and they finally begin to trust you, it feels amazing. They're so... So wild that it's like learning how to handle fire or catch wind, but you can never really do so perfectly. I really like that idea. I guess that's a dangerous thing to be attracted to, but I really do like it.

In my perfect world, (which is a pretty strange one) I would live in a huge forest on some warm, tropical island in a huge tree with a bunch of birds. I really do like interacting with birds... Hmm... Perhaps I should look more into ornithology. In any case, I really love the careful bond between these very wild creatures and humans. They're so wild in comparison with all the animals we have these days.

Everyone in the house hold is, for a better word, 'bird-crazy'. We have a diapered pet goose, who not only makes it impossible for us to travel, but scares off our guests (but whatever) and tears up our wooden furniture. But that's okay. Moody is a part of the family, just like a 'Too would be.

I think I like a lot of things about mytoos.com. My opinion is... That it's right about how intelligent and demanding the birds are, and it has a great purpose: to discourage ignorant rich people from buying a bird that they think will look good in their house that will end up like a full-time child and eventually be thrown away to a rescue. (or worse, a basement). They also speak of how the birds are truly wild by nature and have not been 'domesticated'. Birds learn from humans. They are so vastly intelligent that they benefit, in a way, from being around us, but in a way require their space and the simple understanding that they are birds. But what I don't think they understand is that birds are beyond instinct in many ways, much like we are (in some ways, of course, haha) and are born like blank slates. That's why imprinting is so powerful. I've witnessed it first hand from my goose. Honestly, if they have not tasted flight they cannot truly know it. But every bird needs a good mixture of freedom, dedication, love and appreciation. These birds not only require our respect... I think they demand it.

In any case... Woo... It's probably going to be a year before I adopt a 'Too. I think a year is enough to really think things over, prepare, basically try to ask myself if there is any reason to be having second thoughts.

Thank you so much for your advice.
Moluccanman, your M2 is absolutely gorgeous. He looks happy. I'm so glad. Moluccans to me, are little tiny feathered humans. But, they're so much more fun than humans. And... Quite a bit more loud. Last night I sat in my room and thought, "Oh, it is so quiet... I hate it. I wish there was something going on." The goose is relatively quiet. She is constantly communicating in little honks and trills, but she's not very... Crazy. And I hate being bored and doing nothing, honestly. Setting myself up for danger? I sincerely hope not.


Kind thanks.

Lots of great opinions in this thread, so I am going to add my own.

Personally, yes, 'toos are cuddlebugs and I think that is what gets a lot of them into trouble, and even rehomed. When a 'too first comes home (as a baby) it's cute, it's soft, it wants to cuddle and the new naive owner cuddles with it all the time and continues to do that so much so that the 'too comes to expect it (this is where the trouble begins). Then, for some reason or another, the cuddletime stops, the 'too gets left in its cage for too long, starts to scream and all goes down hill from there.

A 'too needs a handler that can establish, and maintain firm boundaries ... "No, it's not cuddle-time, entertain yourself with your toys" etc. ... a handler that understands that what you "imprint" on the 'too during the honeymoon period is what your 'too will come to expect. There is a lot of hard work when it comes to a 'too ...

But, with a lot of hard work comes a great reward ~ 'toos for the right person will make wonderful pets. I have a coworker who used to have a U2 that her father got as a young man. Cocoa lived a great life with
her dad, and when her dad passed away, Cocoa came to live with her ~ Cocoa passed away a year or so ago at the age of 62 ... now that's a life long companion. My coworker has a picture of Cocoa poking his eye out of a hole in his cage cover that she carries with her all the time, and she cries when she shows that picture, because she really misses Cocoa - what a profound animal/human relationship that is.

'Toos are a lot of hard work, take a lot of understanding and knowledge, and take the right environment to flourish, which is something I know I can not give to one ... so for me, a 'too is like a grandchild, "play with them for a few hours a week and when they start crying you send them home with their mommy and daddy (who can deal with it there) and you have peace and quite in your house again."

Do not let the horror stories turn you off, but do take them seriously. What I mean by that is that the horror stories are mostly told by people who get birds for the wrong reasons - some people get large parrots because they "look pretty" or "match the furniture" ... my stomach turns when I read that crap. So often the owners contribute to the issues. I do say take them seriously though in that being raised by a parrot (yes thats what I said) is not all sunshine and roses no matter how perfectly you do things.

No let me preface this by saying my only experience is with my conure Auggie. Taking him in was the best decision I've ever made, but yet there have been many nights where I drive myself crazy unable to sleep thinking "what the hell did I do, I dont know if I can handle this". They WILL bite you, they WILL make a mess of anything, they WILL attack you for reasons you will never figure out (not for NO reason, they have a reason, but we may never get it.) So, DO take the horror stories seriously, but take them with a grain of salt at the same time.

Some parts of your original post stand out a bit, such as "interested in a career in ornithology or avian medicine." Are you currently in school, or what are you doing now? You say you have all but a few hours out of the day to spend with the bird, but if you pursue an education in ornithology or avian medicine I can guarantee that you wont have nearly that much time with any pets for many years. Having most of the day to spend with a bird today is great, but many large parrots can live as long or longer than their owners, so you have to think of what you will be able to give/do tomorrow.

Dont get me wrong, I'm neck deep in acadamia and I dont get as much time with Auggie as I'd like - Birds CAN do well without CONSTANT contact. My point though is that the time you have today for a parrot may not represent the time you will have in the future.

It's disgusting that anyone would buy any animal because it 'matches the furniture.' I guess they get a pretty big shock when the bird decides this furniture it should be matching is a good chew toy.

Anyway, as for the fact that I'm looking into ornithology or avian medicine, it's true that I won't have as much time when I get more submersed in academics. Any degree in science or medicine is difficult, long work. However, I have discussed with my professors the possibility of night classes (even when the birds are asleep, hahaha!) or even taking a good amount of the work from home, which is entirely possible, they say, though I will need, for sure, to be in for a certain amount of time. This is part of my consideration of course.

Hi, I have owned a cockatoo and regret the desion, I'm sure that they are great birds if you know how to handle them but I didnt and as a result my bird became very aggressive and mean =( I know the horror stories and thought I could handle it- I was seriously wrong. My Avain vet suggested finding a bird rehabilitor to give him to, so I did. I keep in touch on his progress and hope him all the best. My vet suggested as a first big parrot to get a blue and gold macaw. They tend to do better captive, and are more predictable than a cockatoo. My vet put it this way- a cockatoo will let you pet it but is clever enough to trick you in petting it just so it can bite you and get a reaction- if a macaw doesnt like you, it never will, end of story- if it doesnt want to be held you will know it! So hust some thoughts! Good luck!

I am a juniour ornithologist and ( don't be shocked ) I'm not out of primary school yet. I've been studying wilds birds since I was 4 or 5. I can recognise most species of birds. My Grandad is an ornithologist as well and so is my Uncle.