Cockatoo problem

Ping

New member
Apr 5, 2016
9
0
Despite all the warnings we read we got an umbrella Cockatoo anyway, and we love him. Very affectionate and loving as long as we don't try to pick him up. We handled him about an hour before buying and he would step up fairly good. Now we are home with him about a week and he has only stepped up twice. He wants to hang out on top of his cage. I used a towel once to remove him to put him in his large well stocked with toys and food cage. He hung on for dear life until I finally got him loose. Since that episode I couldn't make myself do it again and just let him spend his days and nights out. He seems very happy to stay where he is but I'm worried he'll come down when we are not around and do who knows what. He shows no interest in enticements with treats. I don't want to force him in, but should I? What to do?
Thanks a lot
 

Pinkbirdy

New member
Feb 26, 2013
2,203
1
Clifton Springs Newyork
Parrots
macaw,LS2,congo grey,2Blk Hd caiques,Hawkhead,yellowstrk lory,Blue frnt amazon,sun conure ,Yellow sided greencheek ,Goffin ,Rosebreasted Cockatoo,Greenwing Macaw,Blue and Gold Macaw,Nanday conure,Ecle
Get him to step up on a stick .Maneuver him around that way.
 

gracebowen

Active member
Jan 14, 2015
1,439
3
San Antonio
Parrots
Cora lovebird
Sky parakeet
I dont have a too. Ive never had a too. Heres my opinion anyway. Several members here have cage free birds. I am am currently only caging mine at night but may have to change that.

Is the room birdsafe? Can he escape the room? Can you create a bird safe room?
 

appu1489

Member
Mar 27, 2016
30
7
Maldives
Parrots
2 Moluccan cockatoos.
1 Umbrella cockatoo
1 Blue fronted amazon
When i had to tame my u2 i always used a thick glove and i always let him bite. and even though they bite hard it takes a few days and he'd stop it since he knew that i didn't anticipate with what he was doing. later he would just press my fingers sometimes between his beaks just to see my reaction and i didn't give him a reaction at all. now he doesn't bite at all. even if i do anything with him. sometimes cockatoos are scared of metal stuff like keys and chains. so please dont point keys or other stuff at the bird just get him to know your hands are safe :)
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Welcome to the wonderful world of cockatoos. They are amazingly intelligent and challenging companions. Do you know much of your Umbrella's history? They can be quite stubborn when faced with a new home, and require much love and patience. There may be one or more items in the cage that are scary or uncomfortable. Your Umbrella may have had little mandatory cage-time.

Cockatoos are very curious and love to chew. Bird-proofing the room may be possible and allow more freedom, but safety is most critical. You might have to enforce cage-time until your bird's habits are understood.

Please be careful with your face and fingers until you know your bird well. They love to climb to the shoulder where much harm is possible.

There are others on the forum with much Umbrella expertise. Wishing you a lifetime of bonding and happiness!
 
OP
P

Ping

New member
Apr 5, 2016
9
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Thanks guys, tried a stick and you'd think I was going to beat him with it the second he saw me pick it up. Guess I'll let him stay out for now and see if he will step up after being with us a little longer
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Thanks guys, tried a stick and you'd think I was going to beat him with it the second he saw me pick it up. Guess I'll let him stay out for now and see if he will step up after being with us a little longer

Do you know much about his previous home situation? It is possible he has a bad association with a stick. Might want to get a new stick or perch you intend to use, but first place it near where he hangs out on the cage. He might see it as a toy and non-threatening after a few days.
 

OOwl

New member
Oct 12, 2010
723
3
Texas
Parrots
Rosebreasted Cockatoo, Congo Grey, MRH Amazon, Lovebird
I just have to ask. . . how is getting his food and water if not going inside the cage? Couldn't you just wait for him to go inside and then shut the door, then maybe at that point give a high-value treat and say (good, go-home!). Soon, you could just say, "go home!" and show him the treat and drop in the bowl in the cage. That's what I do with mine, especially when they're out way up high on their play top toy staff where I can't reach and I need to leave quickly. My guys will do anything for a pistachio.
 
OP
P

Ping

New member
Apr 5, 2016
9
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
The cage has a perch with food and water on top. If I walk near he will come as close as he can then lean towards me. He will snuggle up against me for as long as I'll stay there sweet as can be but I better not even act like I want him to step up or he looks like a snake ready to strike. No, I have no idea of his past. We went to an exotic bird show in Atlanta with no intentions of buying a bird but I liked him and my wife fell in love with him. I'm surprised how loud he isn't , a lot of babbling, hello Winston, pretty pretty pretty bird, and I love you, but almost no screaming. I guess it will just take some time for all of us to get to know each other. He's funny, I'll try for an hour to get him to say anything with not a word out of him, but if he thinks we are about to leave him he starts going through every thing he knows. No regrets, it does bother me that he will come to me every time but takes a step away from my wife. He seems to just barely tolerate her, and she was the one that wanted him. After bragging on him I will say he has bitten me out of the blue three times in the week weve had him, but I don't think nearly as hard as he could, got bitten by an African grey at the rescue center that hurt the next day, sucker felt like he almost broke my finger. As for now I'll just leave him out where he wants to be. He shows no interest in getting down in the floor so not really hurting anything I guess. We will work on the stepping up problem. Thanks guys
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
You'll probably have to be patient and work consistently while giving rewards for good behavior. Cockatoos are curious, so even though he doesn't show interest in exploring, that can change!
 

Tfloto

New member
May 1, 2016
4
2
Parrots
23 y/o Umbrella Cockatoo
We've had our too since 2 months old, now 23 years.he's an amazing and loud bird. One thing we always seen is that when we introduce him to a new toy or. colored perch, really anything new he starts out terrified an will hide or back away. So any thing new like stick for instance we just leave in his sight for a few days and keep moving it closer till he's used to it. We always tell him it's scary but won't hurt him. So he knows this phrase and will start accepting things. BTW, most cockatoos love to be stroked. We stroke his beak, his claws under his jaw and the bald spot on the top of his all the time. Under the wings, he loves, too but this can arouse him and his behavior becomes way unpredictable.:white1:
 

sarai7

New member
May 1, 2016
33
0
Michigan
Parrots
Ace - RB2
Thanks for the post. I just brought home a Galah. It's only day 2. But same issue - he loves being scratched but does not want to step up. I'm afraid to let him out of the cage because he doesn't want to be handled and getting him in the carge was a challenge. Hoping he will warm up to us soon. I've been touching his toes and tummy ever so slightly ever time I scratch his head to see if he will get used to it.
 

sarai7

New member
May 1, 2016
33
0
Michigan
Parrots
Ace - RB2
You sound like me.... I went to a show and bought my Galah a little unexpectedly (although I had been looking) and he too likes pets but doesn't like to be picke up. Just started clicker training tonight.
 

drveunutz

New member
Dec 13, 2015
38
2
Richmond Hill, NY
Parrots
african grey (Gizmo)..umbrella cockatoo (Wacko RIP)...military macaw (Rowdy)...blue fronted amazon (cookie RIP)
I also have a u2 mine refuses to leave the cage it is big enough and i so want her to come in livingroom i made a really big perch Rowdy comes in the military macaw and my african grey but I cant get wacko to come in which is OK my cage is huge. BUT my problem now with her is she has started to be vocal and does not stop she continues through the night sometime this started about a week ago wacko is about 12 years old.
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top