lesser sulfur crested cockatoo

hello, I was wondering if lesser suffer crested cockatoos were suitable for a first bird. thanks

No sir. Not even close.

chris-md said:

No sir. Not even close.

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how loud are ekkies?

well when an Ekkie is quiet they're near silent

when they want to scream an Ekkie can easily cause ringing in the ears. How often they scream is up to them.

You seem to be jumping around different parrots trying to find a perfect bird. Evaluate your current living situation and narrow down the list of parrots that would work in that, for example if you live in an apartment then most parrots are ruled out. Once you have narrowed down what would work go out and meet as many of the "approved" species as you can, go to rescues if you can, pet stores, breeders, then very simply let one pick you out

Some people are prepared to jump right in with a large parrot (others aren't) but you've given no indication either way if a large and potentially difficult species should be even a remote consideration.

Things that may significantly impact whether or not a bird (of any kind) is right for you and what species might be worth looking into further are-

-Age: Are you a teenager, college student, adult who still lives with your parents/roommates or a fully functioning adult living on your own? Unless you fall into "fully functioning adult without roommates" category (a S/O or spouse who is on board with the decision is different than roommates/parents, obviously), you are likely NOT a suitable home for a large parrot YET (but may be in the future if you prepare for a time in life you are independent).

-Income and financial stability: Parrots are expensive pets, even a budgies upkeep will far exceed the price you pay for the bird within the first year and climb from there. They get more expensive to keep the larger they get. An avian specialized vet isn't cheap, toys aren't cheap, proper diet isn't cheap... The cost of the bird and initial cage setup is just the tip of the expense iceberg! As big chewers, cockatoos monthly toy costs can easily exceed $100 just to keep them entertained (that or a large time dedication making your own toys for some savings). These are continuous expenses that you'll be forking out money for for the rest of your life. Can you realistically afford that and have a reasonable amount of confidence you will most likely always be in a financial situation to afford the upkeep of a large parrot?

-Living situation: Do you rent a tiny studio/one bedroom apartment with paper thin walls and irritable neighbors? Or do you own your own home with a big yard and neighbors a good distance away? Parrots are loud, parrots are destructive. Many landlords won't allow them because they can cause serious and costly damages to baseboards, doors, wood trim etc... and if you happen to get a loud individual, your neighbors may complain if your a renter. My dads small goffins cockatoo can be heard by the WHOLE neighborhood (blocks away) and when he goes on a screaming bender, it can make you want to put your head through a wall. When I call my parents, he just typically screams the whole time we're on the phone and can be heard over the phone no matter where my parents are in the house. It was even worse growing up with him and being around the constant noise he makes.

-Time considerations: Are you a busy person who's out of the house from 7am to 7pm and have a full social calendar? Or can you realistically set aside 4-6 hours a day minimum, every day for the rest of your life to give to a bird? Parrots need hours and hours of attention every day. They are social, flock animals and develop serious mental disorders (plucking, chewing their own flesh, behavioral screaming, biting and other abnormal neurotic behaviors) when they do not receive the attention they deserve. Many parrot owners never take vacations, rarely go out to dinner, find weekend activities their birds can be included in etc... because of their bird(s) attention needs. They are like children, only they never grow older and find their own friends/move out. Beyond the actual time a bird needs to hang out with you, they also require a diet heavy in fresh produce, which means daily prep work chopping up fresh fruit and veg (and removing that from the cage before it goes bad). As rather messy creatures, they also need daily cleaning as well. Plus if you need to save money by making toys, thats time consuming as well.

-Dedication level: These are animals who live 65+ years. Would you be willing to put your foot down and break up if a future partner hated the bird? What about if you had a child and the bird bit the kid (birds bite, it's something you have to live with)? Large parrots are a LIFELONG commitment (or a life sentence, depending), they aren't domesticated (even captive bred, they are only a few generations out of the wild and not instinctually driven to please humans like dogs) and are not just a pretty "decorative"pet. If you cannot dedicate the rest of your life to one, good and bad, they are not the right animal for you.

Completely second the advice given above by Kiwibird...instead of looking at the bird, consider your lifestyle, your age, the time you have to give, and money. Most larger birds require a larger income of some sort, and expect to spend around $200-400 a month for toys and food for the larger bids.....for 40+ years straight. That's a lot of moolah!