Umbrella Cockatoo

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Wings

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Jun 14, 2013
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Budgie, "Julie"
Well, I have a chance of getting a u2, as a re home, but i'm slightly nervous about taking up on the offer. I doubt I will do it, maybe next year, but how would YOU feel about this? U2's are on my "dream bird" list, so I will definitely go to a rescue to check some out :) What would you do? Thanks for your input :)
 

BirdSquawk

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Aug 21, 2012
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Jack- 5 year old pacific parrotlet
Well, if I was your age, I would wait. Your life is bound to change drastically throughout the years, and I'm sure you know birds like routine. I personally wouldn't get a cockatoo, they are cuddly but I really don't like their voices; it sounds creepy and human like, no offense to cockatoo owners!
 

U2gal

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May 20, 2013
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I agree with the poster above on waiting.

They require a HUGE cage, and several huge playstands and tons of toys to be happy. They need an experienced handler, even for babies, to raise them correctly.

And umbies tend to hate little birds. My guys hate my small birds. Makes for a difficult/tricky situation.

However if you are set on a cockatoo, why not start off researching behavioral techniques and comprehension?

I recommend Barbara Heidenreichs Parrot Problem Solver. It talks indepth on behavior. GREAT stuff! Great for a cockatoo slave! :)
 

MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
After having Java the U2 and dealt with him for a year and a half I would not advice on getting one. He's in his new home now in a large flight aviary outside. IF they sent him back to me I would still take him in of course cause I still worry about him.

Java was not trust worthy! He became quite dangerous for everyone in the household so he must go. It was a hard decision but at least I've done my part as he came to me with bad diet, plucking, poor weight condition, etc. He was healthy this time before he left.

BUT IF someone ask me to take in a U2 will I do it again, I have to think about it even though I would take Java back in, he's in a different circumstance. After Java left, my ekkies are happier! They did not like Java! JoJo haven't said much for a very very long time and within days after Java was gone JoJo started talking again. Plus the dust galore issue, everything is covered with dust.....You can clean all you want, it still gets covered....
 

MarciaLove

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Jan 4, 2012
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USA Georgia
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Sugar the Blue Crown Conure♂, Merlin the Camelot Macaw♂
I agree with U2gal I love my U2 but he is a handfull! I go through so many toys every weeks and he is demanding and loud! He is one of my fave birds though i love him he is super sweet very cuddly and amusing to watch play but its not a bird to get withought lots of research and time on hand.
 

Mare Miller

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May 14, 2011
1,260
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2
3
sierra foothills of central California
Parrots
13yr. old male umbrella cockatoo,
we call him Amigo!

7yr. old Goffin cockatoo, she IS Sassy!!
I would take this bird in ONLY if I knew they would accept him back if you couldn't handle it, it, as in his personality. I can only speak of mine but he is strong in his beliefs and you better be open to his thoughts, not to say that he is always right but he will always test me. A U2 was my first bird and it was a humbling christening! I wouldn't trade him for the world, (now) :)!
 

fishstick600

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Dec 8, 2012
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I agree with everyone here. U2s are a handful and require a lot of attention. I live my umbrella but he can be so loud and temperamental. Mine is still an adolescent and I've heard once they go through puberty they can have huge mood swings. If you have the time and money you won't ever find a more loving bird and imo a more intelligent bird. I'm greeted every time I walk in the room with "hi baby" and when I pick him up he will get as close as he can to my body and bury his head in my arms.
 

Nocturnal

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May 15, 2013
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A secret place
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||Mika, 23 yo senegal parrot||Cayenne, 5 yo sun conure||Katana, 6 yo cockatiel||Monk, 4 yo peachfaced lovie||Onyx, 8 yo BH caique||Pluto & Neptune, 4 yo budgies||Tauntaun, 17 yo U2||
Well, if I was your age, I would wait. Your life is bound to change drastically throughout the years, and I'm sure you know birds like routine. I personally wouldn't get a cockatoo, they are cuddly but I really don't like their voices; it sounds creepy and human like, no offense to cockatoo owners!


LOL!!!! NO KIDDING!

My cousins were over last night and we had just covered our U2 for the night and he heard everyone moving around and goes. "Hiiii!!" in his creepiest, most sugary sing-song voice. "Hellooooo".... followed by a psychotic maniacal laugh.

My cousin was like "man, if someone breaks into your house again and hears that they are gonna FREAK!!"




But aside from all that. I am 22 and this cockatoo is my dad's. When I move out I will not be taking him with me. The only way I will end up with him is if I am settled in my own home and family and my parents are unable to or don't want to care for him anymore. If you want to get one be sure your parents are completely and 200% on board with it, that it's THEIR bird too, because you cannot cannot cannot, never ever ever ever, keep a U2 in an apartment. There's just no way, they just make too much noise.
 

brianlinkles

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Aug 17, 2011
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Oakwood, Ohio
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i am the mom of three parrots:
Dorothy- African grey (cag)
Bowie- blue and gold macaw
Nellie- hyacinth macaw
Reggie- hyacinth macaw
Marnie- white bellied caique
I firmly believe that U2s are for very experienced bird owners. The same goes for M2s. They are beautiful, and can be VERY sweet! If you are lucky and get one that is psychologically healthy (and let's face it, not many parrots are 100%, they live in a very unnatural environment) then at best they are LOUD! I mean very LOUD! However there is a reason that they are one of the birds that rehomed or sent to rescues the most. That said, I think when they are good there is nothing like them. However when they are difficult there is also nothing like them. They can be so, so unpredictable! Again, if you are looking at 2's I have to recommend the rb2!
 

MarciaLove

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Jan 4, 2012
1,274
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USA Georgia
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Sugar the Blue Crown Conure♂, Merlin the Camelot Macaw♂
my U2 actually doesnt speak creepy but he does the MOST CREPPY evil laugh ever!!! Ive got to video it one day!
 
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Wings

Wings

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Budgie, "Julie"
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Well, if I was your age, I would wait. Your life is bound to change drastically throughout the years, and I'm sure you know birds like routine. I personally wouldn't get a cockatoo, they are cuddly but I really don't like their voices; it sounds creepy and human like, no offense to cockatoo owners!

I would like to know how you know my age ;) Anyway, I have a house...NOT having kids, for personal reasons.
 
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Wings

Wings

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I"m not going to get a rb2 sadly, it is just too unrealistic. I know everyone is saying i shouldn't get a u2 at this moment, which i won't. If i were it wouldn't be until next year or the year after. Mytoos.com is a great site, and while I was checking it out, I wondered if the stories also applied to smaller 'toos like goffins and corellas?
 

fishstick600

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Dec 8, 2012
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I've heard goffins are a little more relaxed but are just as loud as umbrellas. I'm not saying don't buy one if you want one hut make sure you are ready for having a toddler in your house because that's about what they amount up to
 
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Wings

Wings

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Budgie, "Julie"
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Cockatoos seem like such terrors....0_o But if you look at it that way, all birds are "terrors" in their own way...we still love them :)
 
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Wings

Wings

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Dang it i'm in that loop again... I am so close to deciding...then...I see a cockatoo for adoption, consider it, and then think "what about a macaw", i decide they are too large and expensive, so I start considering a 'zon. The 'zon turns out to be too aggressive so i move onto an African Grey...remember how nervous they get, and then we go to caiques. I like the size of the caique, so I look at poi's...and the cycle starts again...*sigh*
 
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Wings

Wings

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Budgie, "Julie"
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Tryed that... most bonded really well with me with the exception of the amazons and greys...they both hate me lol. Anyway I was thinking a goffin or a lsc...I need to do some more research :)
 

U2gal

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Your posts are not making sense. You have "tons" of experience through fostering and you won't consider adoption through the rescue you foster for? And yet don't have a clue on behavior? Amazon's are not super aggressive unless you do one of the hot three MALES. Macaws aren't super expensive if you adopt. If you've fostered an M2 in the past, what's so bad about an Umbrella?

Hmmm....
 
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