How hard is it to care for a cockatoo?

On a scale of 1 - 10 + Explanation

I mentioned in the favorite bird thread that there is a cockatoo at the pet store I go to who would charm the socks off you. The owner of the store was very quick to tell me, however, that he screams (very loud) at times, and sometimes for hours and he is extremely dusty and messy. He's like a dust mop that screams and poops and talks very well.

So I don't know, but from what I've heard they're probably one of the most difficult birds to handle which would make them a 10.

http://www.parrotforums.com/cockatoos/69308-hormonal-screaming.html

does this explain some?

It is not the looking after that proves a problem it is the cockatoo.
Please go get some experience of Cockatoos as despite being given honest input you are still asking/hankering. I dont think there are any questions left are there?

have you read this yet? https://www.mytoos.com/articles.shtml

11 - Noise, dust, mess, bite, noise, expense, noise, time, behavior, noise.

How come you keep posting questions but not replying to the numerous answers you receive on them, some of them very detailed and well thought out? Starting thread after thread about how difficult and sensitive cockatoos are isn't going to get you new people answering about how they are actually such easy going and simple to care for birds that anyone is capable of owning one. You really aren't going to find the answer you seem to be looking for here.

They are, arguably, the most difficult and most prone species to behavioral problems of all parrots in the pet trade. Cockatoos should have never been taken out of the wild and stuck in cages. They have not adapted well as a species to being pets and their natural, normal behaviors simply do not mesh with what most people look for and expect out of pets. And yes, they can be extremely cute and cuddly as babies. What people don't think about is in 4-6 years that baby will hit puberty and begin experiencing sex hormones. That is when the problems with biting and screaming and feather pulling and other neurotic behaviors begins (and often continues for the rest of the birds life).

About an 8 or so out of 10. I have long believed cockatoos are generally best kept in small flocks. Sounds bizarre, but they are extremely social and bond very well with humans and their own species. This duality helps ensure they nearly always have *some* sort of companionship.

I have combined Goffins with other Goffins, a Citron, and Moluccan. They've always managed well together, in fact the only squabbles have been among the Goffins. Pretty amazing to watch a Moluccan groom a Goffin, Citron hanging out with both types. I strongly believe having them within visual sight makes a huge difference.

How hard is it to care for a 2 year old child? On a scale of 1-10 + explanation.

Not being sassy, that is honestly how difficult it is to keep a U2 or an M2. People are always comparing parrots to small children, but I would say that the large cockatoos are a TRUE comparison. If you do not have as much time to care for and spend with that bird as you would for a 2 year old child--as much patience as you would need--then let the idea go.

If you are hooked on birdies in the cockatoo realm, I suggest an RB2 or a Goffins. These smaller cockatoos are generally much more chill than the big toos. They still require a LOT of attention, though, they are just SLIGHTLY less likely to go into full mutilation if they don't get it and don't scream quite as loud as the biggies! But still please understand what you are getting into!!!