I'm a total newbie and have joined to gather up all the information. I have no parrots and can't get one(s) until I'm 18 because my mom is allergic to birds. Ill be 14 in 2 months so it will be about 4 years lol. I want to get a umbrella cockatoo. I absolutely love how they look, that they can learn to talk, and have heard there quite sassy. I also like cockatiels, I've Sean them sing different song tunes, I especially think its adorable when they sing the Adams family song lol. In 4 years I will get them from a rescue in the twin cities or something. But I don't know anything about birds, I will be reading forums to gather up information lol. I have already decided to build a tiny house as I don't want to pay rent, so I will be able to custom make my house to sute the birds.: rolleyes:

Welcome to the forums! Glad you found us. Good on you for doing your research way in advance. The cute YouTube videos are only a small part of the whole picture of life with parrots. You'll soon learn much more of the story as you continue your quest for knowledge. Likely you'll get information you don't want to hear about the level of commitment of time, patience, and finances, among other things, but the brutal truth is a good thing, and necessary.

Enjoy, look around, and don't be afraid to ask questions. That's what we're here for!

Admirable set of objectives Hannah.

Welcome Hannah, deep respect for admirable goals and vision. Now is the time to begin researching and learning all you can about feathered companions.

Though you cannot yet have a bird, are local rescues or sanctuaries available to begin working with parrots?

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I'm in bemidji Minnesota. I think the only rescue in bemidji is great river rescue and I think they only do cats and dogs but I will check into it.

There is also a humane society. I assume they don't do birds though. My mom isn't exited about the idea of volunteering if they do have birds because I'm really allergic to cats and dogs. I've been around quail, turkeys, chickens, ducks, maskovies, geese as i live on a farm so I'm definitely should be good with these. I've also been at my friends house. She and her sister have canaries.

Welcome to the forum! I have loved animals and birds since I was tiny, and dedicated my life to working with them. I read everything I could. That was pretty internet times...

Cockatoos require more attention than most, and dont do well left alone all day when you start working. But I will defer to the Cockatoos owners we have. And this is not to sway your dream, just something to plan on.

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" A Smooth Sea,
Never Made A Skillfull Sailor "
Franklin B. Roosevelt
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Hello and welcome!
This forum is a super helpful and awesome place!

I would STRONGLY advise that you wait to get any parrot at all until you are out of college and settled with a steady career (and not in an apartment-- especially with an Umbrella). Some people make smaller parrots work in apartments, but there are so many other factors to consider. They can be amazing and hilarious companions, but when I say they are more work than a human toddler and more high-strung/crazy, that would be an understatement. Take time to research and also read all about U2s -- they are the most re-homed parrot species of all, so as much as I love them, I would say that for many people, they make poor pets...Plus, they are very expensive long-term and they place severe restrictions on your cook-ware, home products/ cleaners, candles, perfumes etc. Not to mention the complications of traveling with one or never really sleeping in again lol. They need way more conscious time/effort and patience than any other pet I can think of (dogs/cats= nothing at all like birds). "Quite sassy" is to a U2, as a rainstorm is to a tsunami lol (and probably like 50% of the time, not in a fun way, bc they are STUBBORN and motivated)....A U2, which is often somewhat like a "tsunami" can easily send you to the ER and break fingers if conditions are favorable...but you can't run from this "tsunami" (my bird has never broken a finger, but they have a brutal, brutal bite). There is nothing like a parrot bite to make someone nervous for a long, long time..and U2s are not an easy read until you have spent a lot of time with them (because they use the same types of posturing for opposite emotions in many cases, and can appear very "hot and cold/ yes then no" to many people. Again, this is also why volunteer experience etc etc is suuuuper important.

If, at 18, you wouldn't be able to handle a child with extreme energy and special needs (without parental support), wait until you can because U2s are very very needy and sensitive, and it will all fall on your shoulders. There are lots of tic-toc and youtube videos of them that are super cute (and they are) but its important to remember that they don't go through puberty and reach adult personality until they are between 6 and 8, and a lot of the birds in videos are not that old (hence, baby personalities). They can still be cute and sweet but there is a lot to learn about their hormones and how "cuddles" make things complicated in an adult..Their personalities change at adulthood (just like you aren't the same as when you were 1 or 2, and never will be again).

Volunteer at as many shelters as you can (long-term) so that you gain that experience and get accustomed to the mess/routine requirements/bed times/screaming etc.

Just read, read, read for as many years as you can, and get as much experience as you can. Even parakeets are as smart as larger parrots, but having a bird for the first time is super tricky, let alone one with a larger beak, and a U2 at that.. U2's are also the most allergy inducing bird out there (other than m2s) and they can scream as loud as a jet engine up close (that is not hyperbole), so do think about holidays and visits with an allergic mother with the extreme level of dust and attention/noise. When I tell you they produce A TON of fine, oily, powder that gets into everything, it's a fact..and they can live over 80 years.

This is an article I share with people new to parrots, has so much good stuff in it.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress...ot-companions/

__________________
" A Smooth Sea,
Never Made A Skillfull Sailor "
Franklin B. Roosevelt
[

So, are cockatoos not great for smaller houses? I am trying to learn as much as possible before getting one and am aware they are "sassy" or "monstrous" at times. I am not going to collage and am lerning a trade instead. My parents own a business so I will probably be a secretary there. I am getting a job this year at my local green house. I am OK with expenses of owning a bird. I have spent like probably around $2000 on my pets since I was 9. I have a 40 gallon live planted freshwater community aquarium, a 10 gallon betta aquarium, a leopard gecko, and a 3 gallon betta aquarium. I am very dedicated to my animals. Could my possible future cockatoo go to work with me if my employer allowed? I have heard they need TONS of attention. I want to have a " tiny home" around 9' wide 25' long and 14'-15' high. I could custom make it for the bird. Is it not ok to be in that space? I wouldn't want to get a bird if it would stress it out in anyway or not right conditions or anything like that. Just planning in advance here lol! Oh, and I am very sensitive to smells as well as my leopard gecko so no candles, oils, perfume, smoke, scented detergent etc.