I got a Cockatoo!!

I have been on here for about a year now with my Yellow Naped Amazon. I have been here before checking out the big birds. My Bill is a one person bird, only me. After a year my wife and son r have just come to the conclusion that he's an ass and they stay away. It upsets me that they have never been able to experience the love that Bill gives. There still are times when I think he hates me, but I know that he is moody and I give him his space when needed. We thought about getting another bird but with how Bill acts my wife wasn't real quick to get another. We found out a lady the next town over has a bird rescue. We went over and my wife fell for a Salmon Cockattoo. Her name is Banker and she is 50. She is the sweetest loving animal ever. We've had her for a week and the whole family can do anything with her. I will say she is loud! I don't really mind it it her way of talking. Going from one extreme to the exact opposite has been a joy. Bill has not changed at all and that's ok we understand one another.
Banker has a couple things that he does that I haven't been able to pick up on yet. I will get to understand her more as time goes on, and I'm excited to be able to do it. She will climb down off her home and come up on the couch to lay with me. Her breath smells like cookies!
I know I'm getting long here but I wanted to ask if anyone ever had a too and a zon hang out together. Today was the first time that Banker went down the back of the couch next to Bills cage. The Too seems super cool and just wanted to check it out. The Zon gets puffed up and angry looking. I didn't let them get closer then 2 feet just in case. Now Banker is trying to climb up Bills cage. I don't mind keeping them apart and doing what needs to be done but I just wondered if in time maybe they would be nice to each other. They haven't been mean but Bill looked a bit pissed she was on his house?
I looked at so much info on here for my Bill, I guess I'm doing a bunch more for Banker too. While I visited her 4 times and had her over my house for a couple hours I found out a bunch of info. Look forward to hearing what you guys have to say. Thanks

I love to put pictures up but I don't know how on here?

A while ago I had Jonesy,a Goffin 'too I adopted from a friend after Smokey (TAG) passed away. Amy loved Jonesy and they often hung out together. One night I was playing cards with my-then girlfriend at the kitchen table. Jonesy was on my shoulder and Amy was on Arleen's. Jonesy climbed down my are,hopped across the cribbage board,climbed Arleen's arm and went right to Amy. They made kissy-kiss sounds,then Jones went back down Arleens arm across the table and up my arm to my shoulder Arleen and I just stared at each other! Jonesy went over to Amy to introduce himself lol.



Jim









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My boys occasionally get along, but most of the time Yoda doesn't want anything to do with Trigger. Yoda always hates it when Trigger lands on his cage, it's a territory thing. Granted, my boys are a CAG and GCC.

I have a friend with a 'too and a 'zon and they are the best of friends. They hang out all the time, snuggle and preen each other. They scream if they are apart.

So maybe in time they will be buddies, or maybe not. Take it slow, at Bill's pace. Try to keep Banker away from Bill's cage, let that be Bill's territory.

Good luck!

I have no answer for you, because I don't have an Amazon. Juggling birds who don't get along isn't easy, but necessary. Just watch very closely for any sign of aggression from either of them and go at their own pace.

Thanks for adopting a senior bird! I hope Banker remains this sweet, but a bird of 50 years likely carries a lot of baggage. You are in a honeymoon period, perhaps you have an unusually well adjusted too!

Easiest method to posting pics is via free imaging site such as Imgur.
Procedure: http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures-6.html#post718293 (post #51 of that thread if permalink is not correct.

Congrats on getting Banker, great name!

Be carefull whenshe cimbs on Bills cage, as it presents toes idealy for nipping them off ! Zons are so mercurial in temperment, especially if they feel their cage/home is being violated.

Hope Banker is around for a long time in a loving forever home.

Congratulations to you and Banker! Thank you so much for giving this sweet girl a home. I don't have Too experience but I do have two that are very different from each other. Tucker, a 4 year old very active Ekkie boy, and Baxter, a 17 year old YNA girl perch potato. Just like you, my YNA adores me... Just me. Sweetest, snuggliest girl ever, but she came after Tucker, who is super social, loves me, but is great with just about everyone, but jealous of my affection. Unfortunately, Tucker is a bit pushy in trying to visit with Baxter, which doesn't sit well with her. It has annoyed her enough that she now pretty much hates him. As Al said, landing on the other's cage is a good way to lose toes. Tucker was lucky. He once again flew to Baxter's cage in attempts woo her. In a split second before I got to them, Baxter got one of his toes and ripped the skin open. Could have been an instant amputation, in spite of vigilant watching.

We did have glimmers of hope at the beginning, since they were introduced in neutral territory, but as time went on, Tucker's relentless invasion of her space put an end to it. It's sad, he really just wants to play with her (and feed her- male Ekkie you know)

So... Give them time, and stick to neutral territory for your best chances. I hope it goes well for you guys, it's much easier that way, but if not, still totally worth it! Congrats again, and can't wait to see pictures ;-)

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Welcome! I am so glad you adopted your new "baby". These birds live so long and they deserve to be with people who care about them!!!! They are amazing but they are also very challenging. With avian rescues overflowing with cockatoos, I want to give you 10 high-fives for adopting.

I will second the possibility of a honeymoon period idea, as stated by Scott. It took me over a year to see all of the different moods/quirks of my re-homed Umbrella (11 years old currently).

General advice that you probably already know: be very cautious about over-cuddling your bird and allowing him to get too obsessed with one family member (don't provide any hormonal triggers or boxes either and keep his bedtime on-track---12 hours sleep minimum and predictable bed-time/wake-up for healthy hormones and immunity). Pet on the head and neck only and do not allow access to any dark places or nests, like blankets or pillows. Although cockatoos do love to cuddle, it is often their downfall.

They can are pretty moody and the best way that I can describe it is as a subtle energy shift that lots of people have trouble identifying. That's usually when people get bitten etc and cockatoos love a big reaction. They can also sometimes bite when a favorite person enters the room (if they want access and don't get it right away) or if over-stimulated (AKA having a grand-old-time/dancing and the POW). In my experience, it is fairly easy to identify over-stimulation once you get to know your bird, but it probably will take a few months before he/she starts to really settle in/be himself/herself.

In terms of screaming, even if you don't mind the noise, you probably haven't heard your bird at its loudest capacity yet LOL--- I think it took me about 2 years before Noodles made a sound so loud that I stopped in my tracks---mind you prior to this, there were times when I would go outside and shut the door and I could still hear her about 400 feet away....
My point is, try not to react to any of the screaming if it is done to get attention etc, because IF your bird gets anxious or something in the future and already knows that screaming works, it may decide to kick that behavior up a notch.

In terms of the other bird, be very careful with both. I would just supervise all of the time because even birds who have lived together for a long time have become hormonal or aggressive to the other (seemingly out of the blue).

Ah, yes, the over-excited bite. I have a spot on one arm that is Rocky's target for such bites and I get one just about every day, so that spot is always sore and bruised and he never fails to hit it EXACTLY. He'll be happy, dancing, seemingly having a cheerful time and CHOMP. I have examined my behavior and the environment and tried to find a trigger and I can't. It's just what he does when he's being Silly 'Too. Whoo! Let's have some fun! Let's chomp MOM! Fortunately, he usually doesn't break the skin. The brat knows exactly how hard to bite down so it hurts but doesn't bleed. That sort of thing comes with the Too Territory, so you'll have to deal with it eventually.

We have had Banker for a week now, and have visited with her for a month before we brought her home. She has not even once even hinted at any thing close to a bite. We are so happy to have a bird that is touchable by everyone.
Some of the behaviour I'm trying to understand is she spins around a couple of times clock wise then she will scream.
She has little feathers around her beak that she moves forward sometimes? She has not shown any meanness or Agressive behavior so I'm not sure what this means?
She also sometimes lifts up her foot and pats it up and down a couple of times.
I love having Banker just sitting on or with me all the time, but I hear that that is not good.

It's really good to be able to get on here and have all you bird lovers here to help us newbies out.
I'm going to get set up on the photo site so I can put up some pictures! She is so pretty, with her crown feathers of to the side being Salomon colored.

Seems obvious Banker is a rare gem, appears very well adjusted! You describe some behaviors and traits common to most species of cockatoo.

1- The pirouette: Cockatoos love to twirl, often reversing direction and gyrating their heads. Sometimes it is more of a constant hop while twirling. Seems to represent happiness or excitement.

2- Forward motion of small beak feathers a sign of relaxation and contentment.

3- Haven't experienced foot movement, guess it is either apprehension or request for attention?