Hi all! New member with some questons...

A good thing to remember is a over stimulated cockatoo is a biting cockatoo. They get so excited they might bite, but at the same time a cockatoos(and any birds) angry posturing is extremely similar to their excited and happy posturing. For someone that is inexperienced it will take a while to know which is which, once you do you'll be able to tell them apart easily. Body language is very importance and as long as you understand it the risk of being bitten is extremely low but can still happen.

As for sticking things in her fathers, I once read a book where they explain how a cockatoo would carefully place seeds in it's breast feathers, walk across the perch, then drop them all and repeat the process. It may be a form of cleaning their feathers as some birds will do this will ants and other small bugs or objects but they weren't positive.

Popcorn is a treat, and only if it's unsalted and un-buttered. You can buy a popcorn treat from lafeabers. it is inexpensive and you get a lot.
Make sure to never pet your umbrella anywhere on the back, only mates pet another parrot anywhere other then the head or upper breast and petting the back is essentially hitting on them. You'll end up with a sexually frustrated bird. You should read this article about umbrellas on mytoos.com. And although it's expensive, the total parrot transformation is amazing and comes with a 90 day full refund if you don't like it(no questions asked).


Whats your umbrellas diet? You'll want top be sure he is getting fresh foods everyday, as well as a healthy pellet diet like totally organic or harrison's(or both). When you eat well you feel good, eating seeds is like living off McDonald's.

I hope you end up being a good match, but if not don't worry. Parrots are a huge responsibility and not everyone is up for it.

Thanks, Yes the popcorn was unbuttered and unsalted. She is eating zoopreen and a saflower/ sunflower/ seed mix. We just got her friday night. I have tried other things but she doesn't like them. What about petting under her wings? Other owner says she loves it and cuddles alot. Thanks!

I read an article in one of the last issues of Bird Talk about cockatoos putting things in their feathers. I'm not exactly sure why (nor am I sure anyone does!), but I don't think it was a problem. Just something they do. Haha.

Welcome to the forum. I have never owned a Too so I can't help you out with her behavior or care. Good luck & if you decide to keep Zazu, I hope it works out to be a good match for you.

I had lovebirds for a few years. They would bite long strips from newspaper, and tuck these strips into their feathers. They looked very funny with all these newspaper strips sticking out from their feathers. I learned that this is how they would make their nest, they would take all these strips back to the nest. I haven't heard of food being put in the feathers though. But I had a couple of scrubjays living in back of the house that would come and get nuts and food from us - right out of our hand. They would hide each piece of food in various places - a spot on the trunk of a tree, under the eave on the roof, etc. I read up on them, and found they can have up to 100 hiding places for their food, and remember all of the hiding spots.

Any patting bellow the neck may be taken as a sign of sexual advance. I only ever pat my 'too on the head and neck.
It doesn't worry some people, they pat and cuddle their bird in any way they please regardless of what it means to the bird. It does have consequences in some birds though... egg laying or possessive behaviours (like biting). Its up to you whether you do it or not, but I would be very careful about doing so with a large 'too especially around children.

Thanks all for the warm welcome and advice. Thingamagigs~ I will no longer be petting her anywhere but the head and neck to see if this helps calm her down.I can't keep her if she's going to keep biting me. I am sure hoping we can all get along lol. She seems to really not like my dog and he's pretty much ignoring her now, which is good. So we will see.Thanks All!

b3noodles said:

Thanks, Yes the popcorn was unbuttered and unsalted. She is eating zoopreen and a saflower/ sunflower/ seed mix. We just got her friday night. I have tried other things but she doesn't like them. What about petting under her wings? Other owner says she loves it and cuddles alot. Thanks!

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Petting under the wings for a breif moment is fine. but avoid doing it for extended periods of time, especially now because it's breeding season and parrots are more hormonal. There are ways to tell if you are petting too much, but I don't have a umbrella cockatoo. I have a galah cockatoo which is a smaller and more mellow bird.

If you can start weaning out the sun flower and safflower, they should only be given as occasional treats(but nuts make a better treat)

A really great recipe to start him/her on fresh food is a chop mix, this is the recipe I use