Cockatoo advice/opinion???

[tlouiselle]

I have decided to come to the experts rather than keep researching We have been doing lots of research on our next bird. I have always been a fan of cockatoos. We had the opportunity to go to a bird rescue and sit with the cockatoos all day and interact with them. We brought a sweet umbrella home. The rescue said that he was quiet compared to the reputation that a cockatoo has earned. We brought him home (mistake because we are in an apartment but going to get a house very soon). Something made him unhappy the first night and he kept letting off an alarming non stop scream. The screams of all of the others at the rescue did not even compare to this one. The lady said she has never heard him make that noise before and something was scaring him. Sadly, with the apartment situation we could not risk his transition period so we had to return him the following morning. He was such a sweetheart. I was in love and cried for the whole drive.

This experience made me fall in love with them even more. However, I still have concerns from everything that I read. It does take a wonderful person to love these beauties I am not concerned about the dedication that they require. My animals are my life. As for cockatoos I love their sweet and comical personalities. No bird seems to compare to them in my heart. Here is my question:

We have been researching the lesser sulfurs. We met a lady at an expo that said hers was so quiet. I have also spoken to breeders, but don't trust them 100% because htey are trying ot sell me a bird. I know it depends on the personality of the individual bird. But, if we were to purchase a baby, encourage self play and not smother it so it gets overloaded with attention(along with one on one attention of course), it grows up in a quieter environment, and we encourage other sounds...could we have a wonderful happy lifelong friend that lets out its excited screams only a few times a day?

I hope my question makes sense I just want to make sure I make the right decision on the next bird and not miss out

 

[HRH Di]

You have to take into account both nature and nurture. I am by no means an expert in parrot behavior, but nature has given them a voice than can carry miles. You may be able to nurture a more "socially" acceptable behavior, but, it's in their nature to make these noises. Personally, I would do what I could to teach the birdie acceptalbe decible levels, but I would expect to get the ones that can be heard in the next county.

 

[tlouiselle]

That is what we have done with out IRN. His voice couldn't compare to a cockatoos. But he can definately be louder than he actually is. We encourage other noises. We know he can make louder noises, he just rarley makes them. He tends to be on the quieter side from what I have read about the species.

 

[MikeyTN]

I have a Lesser Sulphur Crested, she only screams just a few times per day. When the umbrella was screaming, was it during bed time? I always leave a night light on for the new birds until they get used to the surroundings. That's probably why he was screaming because he was out of place. But they're not apartment birds at all! Good thing im far enough from my neighbors to get any complaint from my screaming macaw and too. LoL....I live in a house but I can hear them screaming from outside.

 

[Molcan2]

The 'mistake' you made was to expect a bird to be comfortable in a completely new environment overnight, not that particular bird itself. It takes time for birds to acclimate themselves, especially Toos. If the bird is naturally quiet at the rescue then once it settles into its new environment chances are it will be a quieter bird. They are just like people, they all have different personalities - some are naturally more quiet than others - some enjoy being louder than others (remember true personalities don't come out until after puberty). These are VERY sensitive birds and don't handle change easily. I'm not against getting a baby but I think it would be an unrealistic expectation to expect a quiet bird, no matter what environment it is raised in. If you want a Too, then you have to love their scream (or at least be able to deal with it). It is in their nature to be loud, they are supposed to be. If you are uncomfortable with the possibility that what ever Too you bring home may scream all the time, then I suggest you pick something other than a Too. So many people get them as babies and they end up in rescues because they did not behave as they were EXPECTED to. If you buy a baby, you need to go into it with the mindset that you will own the bird for the rest of its life not matter what, otherwise its unfair to the bird. What happens if you buy a baby and it decides that it wants to scream all the time (not because its unhappy but because it ENJOYS it)? Would you still keep it or would you end up re-homing the bird like everyone else does? You got a taste of what a Too scream is like without the actual commitment- thats what they are. They are beautiful, and have wonderful personalities that make up for that scream but in the end you have to be able to deal with the scream. Its a total package, you cant pick and choose the parts you like. Sometimes you get lucky and get a more quiet one and sometimes you don't. Everyone says that Toos take a special owner - a Too person. This is because a Too person accepts the screaming and deals with it. Which is a ridiculously loud but it is to be EXPECTED when you have a Too that it will scream.

If a Too didn't scream then everyone would have one. They are extremely affectionate, intelligent, and very cute little personalities. Unfortunately they scream - this is why they are in rescues, this is why not everyone has one. Not everyone can deal with the scream. A Too has several different types of screams: I want to be with you scream, I'm unhappy scream, Its morning time scream, Its night time scream, I'm screaming because the dogs are barking and I am proud to also be a watch dog scream, I'm happy scream, I'm calling out to any other Too in the radius of a mile scream, I'm scared scream, I want a different type of food scream, and my favorite I scream because I can scream. Expect that even if you get a baby that it will turn out to be a screamer - if you get a quiet one then congratulations but expect a loud one (to expect any different is unrealistic). If you feel that you can deal with the screaming then by all means get one but if you feel in the slightest bit that you cant handle that noise level then be fair to the bird and get something else other than a Too.

 

[Remy]

The cockatoo could have been unsettled by the move. My caique was pretty loud the first few days I had him, but quieted down a lot after he got used to me.

 

[tlouiselle]

Thank you you guys I did not expect him to be comfortable in the new environment right away. He let out the nervous scream in the car and at home. He was definately scared. I knew it would take time to adjust. But with our situation in the apartment we would not keep him for the time that it would take for him to adjust. We would have some very crabby neighbors. As MikeyTN said they are not an apartment bird. I can promise that if we were in our house he would still be with us. I did NOT want to give him back. He was perfect and exactly what we wanted in a bird. He was a perfect gentlemen the next morning. He said "hi" when I opened his cage and he jumped out and layed his head on my shoulder. He was making his happy cooing noises while talking and laughing with us. I still cry when I think about him. We even considered boarding him at the rescue until we move into our house. I wouldn't be able to visit him though because the rescue is 2.5 hours away. It wouldn't have been fair for him.

I know there are so many in the rescues, that is why I want to ask people with personal experience. I have no problem with their loud screams. However, if the screams were constant ALL DAY that would be a bit much for me. I am asking all of these questions because when I bring an animal home with me, I am responsible for it for the rest of it's life...in this case for the rest of MY life. I will never give them away.

I have heard that birds that grow up in a quietier environment as a single bird tend to be quieter than multiple birds in a household. This has proven true for us thus far. However, we may have just lucked out with our birds. The breeder also told us that the scream of the lesser does not have the same pitch in it as the umbrella. Is this true?

I just want to be ready and know exactly what we want to bring home after we move Everytime I start researching our other favorite species (electus) I keep coming back to the cockatoos.

 

[Remy]

If you've fallen in love with this one, you might just want have them hold onto him/her for you.

 

[MikeyTN]

The Lesser's scream is just as nasty, for such pretty birds, their scream is ugly....lol..... When they don't scream for days, that's when I start worry something is wrong...lol...I guess I just expect it out of them to scream.

 

[JensFlock]

I was thinking what Remy said. Maybe they can hold him for you. I would also check into the eclectuses....or eclecti? heehee.
I have an eclectus, and he has learned to talk rather than scream. He has his moments, but I get him talking and he'll stop his screaming.
I think my cockatoo must be rare, because he is my quietest bird. No screaming at all. I've heard how they can be, but mine doesn't get louder than regular conversation level. I know that's not normal, though. Most of them are ear-bleeding loud.

 

[tlouiselle]

Yeah we were considering asking htem to keep him for us. I didn't feel it would be fair to him though. The lady at the rescue also told us that when we are ready she will help us find the perfect bird. She said we can try one after another until we find "the one". She said she has turned so many people onto cockatoos this way and they are the reason she started the rescue.

For those of you with an eclectus... would you mind telling me about their personalities? I have only read information about them but not had a chance to speak with an owner. I heard that they are quieter and mellow. I also heard that they "daydream" (like me!!!) . Are they be comical and affectionate too?

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

Unless you buy a rosebreasted, don't risk having a cockatoo in an aprtment. 'Toos are known to pick up on owners anxiety, and if you are trying to maintain a quiet cockatoo, then you aren't focussing on other more pressing matters regarding the bird. This will sound harsh (and I apologize in advance) but if you don't have a house yet, then you don't have any business with a 'too.... you wouldn't try to fit a horse in your garage would you? It is self centered to want a cockatoo and force it to try and be different because you live in an aprtment, what about the birds feelings? If he doesn't work out you are just gonna screw him/her up more.

I deal with TONS of rehomed cockatoos and so this is a sensitive subject for me. If you still want a cockatoo after you get a house, at that point I will give youmore specifics. I AM VERY SORRY FOR HOW ALL THIS SOUNDED

Just be patient, there will be a perfect too for you when you're ready.

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

When (rarely) our eclectus screams he is LOUDER than any too or our greenwings.

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

Not to mention what kind shady backwards rescue would adopt a male umbrella out to an apartment home? Seriously? Just makes me soooo mad.... these days in avicultrure rescue = broker.

 

[birdmama61]

Not to mention what kind shady backwards rescue would adopt a male umbrella out to an apartment home? Seriously? Just makes me soooo mad.... these days in avicultrure rescue = broker.

I could not agree more and I can tell you what kind of rescue , one that concentrates on the pocketbook rather than the bird . Yep should not have a too if you are in an apt sorry that is the truth .

 

[tlouiselle]

LOL I know now that they are not for apartments. I am not planning on getting one while we are in the apartment. I am trying to do all of my homework NOW so that when we are moved into the house we will be ready for which bird we will want to get AFTER WE HAVE MOVED INTO THE HOUSE.

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

Perfect

A well adapted 'too can be fairly quiet. When they do scream it's obviously loud, but a non spoiled 'too should scream roughly 3 times a day.

Each bird will be slightly different, but I would honestly go with anythin BUT a U2 or M2 (if you are adopting from a "rescue", then it's likely that the M2 or U2 could be an ex mate killer (a proble that would be best to avoid even for pet purposes)

Sulfur crests, rose breast, or even better a bare eyed or slender bill cockatoo would problably be the best fit. If you decide on a U2 or M2 TRY to get a female, and if you do fall in love with a male, then just be careful and patient.

Cockatoos are wonderful birds in the right situation with the right person.

Avoid most traditional rescues (if you can). I am breeder, and I get a lot of rehomes here and we GIVE them to approved homes, it will help ensure that you get a bird that someone took the time to make sure was a good match, and not just to get the adoption fee to pay next months feed bill. (Just my personal opinion.)

Ask around though, a rescue that sent a male umbrella home with you when you weren't quite ready does raise A lot of red flags. So please be careful. Insist on having a pachecos, polyoma, psittacosis (chlamydiosis), and pbfd negative test set from a vet or the lab. Rescues get a lot of birds through their doors, and they RARELY vet or test any of the birds. (Aside from some obvious problem), and they don't usually practice good quarantine. (In a good quarantine the new birds will be housed in a separate building so there is no risk, and the birds don't share a ventalation system. MAPP certification requires this of it's breeders and rescues.

Good luck and I'm sure a great bird is out there for you somewhere

(On a side note, if you are in the Nebraska or Colorado are I currently have three tame umbrella rescues looking for homes, and unfortunately I'm sure I'll have some when you're ready.)

 

[mtdoramike]

When (rarely) our eclectus screams he is LOUDER than any too or our greenwings.

That is a fact. Mac the 3 year old Eclectus I just adopted has a scream or I like to call it a screech that could raise the dead or pierce your ear drums. Fortunately, it's only a few times a day usually once in the morning and maybe once in the afternoon. He's not what I would call a quiet bird, he will squawk, cackle, sound like a demented old circus monkey. But he is quieter than my Senegal is.

He is one talking bird though. He has this smokers cough down pat from the previous owner and when he gets started with it. I go over to him and ask if he needs oxygen hahahahaha.

 

[MikeyTN]

When (rarely) our eclectus screams he is LOUDER than any too or our greenwings.

That is a fact. Mac the 3 year old Eclectus I just adopted has a scream or I like to call it a screech that could raise the dead or pierce your ear drums. Fortunately, it's only a few times a day usually once in the morning and maybe once in the afternoon. He's not what I would call a quiet bird, he will squawk, cackle, sound like a demented old circus monkey. But he is quieter than my Senegal is.

He is one talking bird though. He has this smokers cough down pat from the previous owner and when he gets started with it. I go over to him and ask if he needs oxygen hahahahaha.

ROFLMAO!!!!!! Mine are so quiet unless they chatter or make weird noises. Recently I finally figured out his first owner must of called him Yoshi cause he say it all the time. The little green dinosaur on marios. My girl whistles pretty good. JoJo cuddles and give me kisses everyday, I think that bird loves me so cause he only does it to me.

 

[tlouiselle]

Awww thank you so much you guys. I love reading abouot your birds