Considering a cockatoo

[songbird1992]

Hey Guys, i hope you all are having a good day. i am considering getting a bare eyed cockatoo. i talked to a breeder today and he said there shouldn't be any problems, but he said to get owners opinions about cockatoos. i work and go to school. i go to school from 8-12:30. that leaves me about and hour and a half before i go to work. i get back home at about 12. then of course on weekends i can have it out all day. is an hour and half enough for monday- friday to keep my bird satisfied? would it be too hard on the cockatoo? because if it will be stressed out or unhappy without my presence i won't purchase one. i also have worries about behavioral problems. i have heard a lot them end up in rescues because they are hard to live with. any of you all have bad times with cockatoos? any of you have any ideas to keep cockatoos from getting unruly?
also, what is complete price of a cockatoo and its needs? i have a budget of about $1300 that i can spend for total cost(cage, bird, food, toys.)

Thanks for reading guys i will appreciate any advice.
Thanks, songbird

 

[Allee]

Hello, I'm so glad you're doing research before taking the step to bring home a Too. Your breeder did you a favor by suggesting you find out more.

Most of us put all the Toos in their own category, they're a bit different from other species. I think all Toos were hatched to be unruly, they are so good at it. You should read through our cockatoo section, I think it will interest you.

Personally, I don't think an hour and a half for five days a week is adequate for any Too, especially if they are alone for the rest of the day. Left alone for long periods on a regular basis, Toos can become screamers, pluckers, or both. I would say a minimum of four hours out of the cage would be good, more would be better.

I'm not sure where you are located, I've seen bare eyed Toos from 650. to 1200. You'll need a large sturdy cage with special locks, Toos are escape artists. An adequate new cage could cost anywhere from 300. to 500. or more. You can do better by finding a good used cage or buying from a bird show. You have to be careful with used cages, look for rust, lost trays, grates and broken locks. If you look, you can usually find a good deal.

You can cut costs on your food and toys by wise shopping and making some toys yourself, but the cost can still be pretty high. There are a lot of good pellets and seed mixes on the market, in addition cockatoos need lots of fresh vegetables and a little fruit every day to keep them healthy.

Good luck with your decision. Please let us know what you decide.

 

[MikeyTN]

I want to add one more thing, they have powder dust. Make sure you can tolerate that part.

 

[aether-drifter]

Seconding what Allee said. An hour and a half is not enough; they are simply too social and intelligent to be in a cage alone for that long, even with toys and things to do. I'd say a minimum of three hours per day is a good rule of thumb for a cockatoo, especially if it's the only bird in the house.

Also, if you're going to be leaving the bird alone for long stretches of time, you'll need a fairly massive cage. Unless you score really amazing deals on something second-hand, you'll be hard-pressed to find all your supplies under $1300, let alone supplies AND the bird.

I don't mean to be a party pooper, just being honest. I have a galah cockatoo -- similar size and temperament to a corella/bare-eyed, but maybe a little less needy -- and I feel that I provide her the bare minimum of her needs with a 64" x 32" cage (retails around $900) and three to four hours out of the cage on days where I work. If I didn't work full time and was able to have her out more, I could get away with a smaller cage, but given the circumstances I wish I could go bigger. She destroys expensive toys so quickly that it's a struggle providing her with consistent enrichment to keep her from getting bored. They are a very big time and money commitment and things need to be done right from the start, or they can develop behavior issues. There is a reason so many cockatoos are surrendered to rescues; they are not easy pets at all.

 

[songbird1992]

Well I'm disappointed, but I decided not to purchase a bird. I don't want the bird to be unsatisfied and miserable. I'm disappointed, but such is life.

 

[songbird1992]

I guess I won't be seeing you guys anymore. I wish all your birds health and prosperity.

 

[aether-drifter]

Have you ever considered a different kind of bird? I think a pair of hand-raised or tame cockatiels would be wonderful for you! I honestly think cockatiels are the perfect pet bird. They are actually a type of cockatoo, but much less challenging than their larger cousins, and less expensive. Two can also share a cage and provide company for each other when you're gone. If they're socialized with people, they'll still be friendly with you and consider you part of the flock.

No reason to give up entirely on birds just because a bare-eyed too might not be right for you at this time.

 

[Allee]

I wholeheartedly agree with everything aether-drifter said. A pair of cockatiels could be perfect for your situation and they are fantastic little birds. As MikeyTN mentioned though, tiels are powder birds.

 

[m0b00st]

I just want to thank you for being mature enough to ask questions from people that have experience in this arena. Everything said so far is very sound advice. Cockatiels are very neat little birds with lots of personality. A pair can keep each other company while you're away, while costing much less money. The birds are cheaper, the smaller cage will be MUCH cheaper, and the cost of food and toys will be significantly lower. Don't give up on bird ownership just yet, keep doing your research and you will be light-years ahead of most people when you get your bird/birds home.

 

[4dugnlee]

Oh I hope you don't give up on birds altogether! They are such rewarding pets! As everyone stated above, cockatoos are just "different" and more complex with their needs. I also think cockatiels would be a wonderful parrot for you, and they are really a shrunken cockatoo but more laid back and less "needy" than a big too.

 

[Kiwibird]

Better to be disappointed than to take on something you are not able to handle at this time in life. THANK YOU for making the RIGHT CHOICE even if it was a hard one. There are way too many parrots who are all but unadoptable in avian shelters because they rip out their feathers and chew holes in themselves because they are lonely, bored and severely depressed.

On a more positive note, remember, there will be a time in the future you won't have such a grueling schedule and perhaps then you can look into getting a cockatoo when you have the time to dedicate to one Truly, the best advice I ever heard about parrots is you are essentially bringing home a winged toddler with a wood chipper on their face who will never grow out of the terrible twos. They are a huge and lifelong commitment, and in general, if you wouldn't be able to raise a baby, you aren't able to raise a parrot either. They have the intelligence of a 2-3 year old and live 65+ years, so they aren't your 'average' pet! And I hope you do stick around on the forum to larn more about cockatoos so you are prepared for the future when you do have the ability to welcome on of these amazing animals into your home. We have plenty of "birdless" members who are just here to learn, hope you join them!