family accepting species?

[Parrot1]

im thinking in the future ill be getting another fid too
add to my flock and really want one that will accept the
whole family or at least be tolerant..

im interested in one of these,

Blue and Gold Macaw,
Scarlet Macaw
Umbrella Cockatoo,
Goffin's Cockatoo
Galah Cockatoo.

thanks!

 

[Parrot1]

i believe that any species can become family accepting...
it just has to do with how it was hatched into the world.

if it was hatched too a caring hand feeding/rearer person
and been introduced too a lot of people at that young age
then the parrot will be family accepting.

but then again i think there are some species that are born into
flocks in groups and sleep together and eat together and feed each other
and that way they are already family birds.

 

[Jayyj]

What bird (s) do you already have? What's your family situation? Kids, other pets etc? Large house or small apartment?

There are species that have a particular reputation of being one person birds but it also has a lot to do with what you do to socialise the bird. Adult umbrella cockatoos have a reputation for picking a favorite and behaving agressively towards other people. I'm sure it's not an insurmountable problem but it takes a special type of person to make a success of living with a large cockatoo and I would advise doing a lot of research if a U2 is on your list - they're a handful.

My galah loves visitors and hanging out with family, although I wouldn't trust her with young children - she's pretty nervy and will bite if threatened. There are other forum members who have galahs along with small children, and I suspect if you get a young one and put the work in you won't have too many problems. They're a lot steadier than even the smaller white toos, and they're very sweet, affectionate birds.

 

[Parrot1]

What bird (s) do you already have? What's your family situation? Kids, other pets etc? Large house or small apartment?

There are species that have a particular reputation of being one person birds but it also has a lot to do with what you do to socialise the bird. Adult umbrella cockatoos have a reputation for picking a favorite and behaving agressively towards other people. I'm sure it's not an insurmountable problem but it takes a special type of person to make a success of living with a large cockatoo and I would advise doing a lot of research if a U2 is on your list - they're a handful.

My galah loves visitors and hanging out with family, although I wouldn't trust her with young children - she's pretty nervy and will bite if threatened. There are other forum members who have galahs along with small children, and I suspect if you get a young one and put the work in you won't have too many problems. They're a lot steadier than even the smaller white toos, and they're very sweet, affectionate birds.

large house, 4 kids.youngest being 8yrs old. , 4 adults, 4 rabbits and my Congo African Grey who is only bonded too me.

its a full house

 

[RavensGryf]

That sure does sound like a full household .

Would you consider any other species other than the ones you listed?

 

[Parrot1]

That sure does sound like a full household .

Would you consider any other species other than the ones you listed?

It is! I actually forgot to mention myself and my cat!

And yes sure I would

 

[plumsmum2005]

Just to add a little more on the Rose Breasted Cockatoo, I agree with Jayyj, they are sweet birds and I definitely wouldn't swap mine but saying that they do have their moments. RB2s are strong willed, and can / will fly at you. Dust is still a major concern as with the other 'too's. Some but not all can be noisy, this can be heard some distance away and is pretty shrill. They can be prone to feather plucking the same as other species. I hope this helps with species information gathering and an eyes wide open approach to your search. Good luck in your search.

 

[Parrot1]

Just to add a little more on the Rose Breasted Cockatoo, I agree with Jayyj, they are sweet birds but saying that they do have their moments. RB2s are strong willed, and can / will fly at you. Dust is still a major concern as with the other 'too's. Some but not all can be noisy, this can be heard some distance away and is pretty shrill. They can be prone to feather plucking the same a other other species.

So you suggest Galah or U2? I don't mind noise

 

[plumsmum2005]

Have you considered how accepting your CAG will be to another fid in the family? Have you done any socialisation with him to see how he reacts to other birds.

He definitely needs consideration because if you go all through this and the end result is he is unhappy it will cause problems. I would love another bird but that would come at the expense of upsetting my RB2 and I will not do that.

 

[Parrot1]

Have you considered how accepting your CAG will be to another fid in the family? Have you done any socialisation with him to see how he reacts to other birds.

He definitely needs consideration because if you go all through this and the end result is he is unhappy it will cause problems. I would love another bird but that would come at the expense of upsetting my RB2 and I will not do that.

Even if their going too be in a different cage?
On separate sides of the room?

Or maybe different room all together if needed
So they don't see each other

 

[plumsmum2005]

Yes! For example I have a young RB2 and also a Conure to stay for their hols throughout the year and the Conure is usually in a different room BUT my RB2 gets so upset with me just going into that room, he's listening the whole time. Jealousy big issue. If this had not taken place I could have added to my flock and really had problems ie finding out my baby doesn't like competition. It is also good to socialise our fids too, do you take your CAG out with you. Have you thought of making more of his life first. Harness training etc and really having a go to see if he can become more to the other family members?

Seriously please do some homework on this, if it's worth doing it's worth doing well isnt it?

 

[Jayyj]

Just to add a little more on the Rose Breasted Cockatoo, I agree with Jayyj, they are sweet birds but saying that they do have their moments. RB2s are strong willed, and can / will fly at you. Dust is still a major concern as with the other 'too's. Some but not all can be noisy, this can be heard some distance away and is pretty shrill. They can be prone to feather plucking the same a other other species.

So you suggest Galah or U2? I don't mind noise

I definitely wouldn't recommend a U2. All cockatoos, galahs included, can be hard work but the large whites, specifically the Umbrella and Mullocan, have a whole range of issues once they hit maturity. Bipolar personalities, jealousy, bites that require stitches, screaming that can go on for hours day and night (you say you don't mind noise but a U2 at full pelt for hours would only be bearable if you're completely deaf and live a few miles from the nearest neighbour), plucking and mutilating themselves... There are people who make a success of caring for these birds, including half a dozen here, but there's a statistic that more then half of those two species purchased in the US get rehomed within two years, and you only have to browse the pages of any bird rescue centre website to see bird after bird plucked naked.

If you get a young bird you can have a few years of adorable cuddle bug that is no harder to care for than any other bird - but make mistakes bringing up the baby, let it get used to getting it's own way and having all the attention it wants, and all hell will break lose when it hits puberty and you say no to something it expected.

If you're serious about getting a U2 spend some time googling terms such as U2 behaviour, U2 screaming, U2 plucking, U2 bite (don't type that one into Google Images at work though!) etc. There are some websites that lay out very specifically what can go wrong when you bring home a U2 without doing your homework.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Cockatoo or not even if the birds are housed in different rooms they'll hear each other. They will know they are there. They would even likely talk to each other through the house.

 

[OOwl]

I have both a Congo Grey and a RB2, both males, both raised properly from great breeders, brought up properly, housed, fed, and cared for properly, and I've had them since they were weaned, almost 12 and 13 years ago this year. For all this time, their cages have been in the same area. While they're not "friends" per se, they consider themselves "neighbors" and, I believe, they derive comfort from being near each other. They eat, preen, nap, play, and talk at the same time.

The RB2 grew up with kids just a bit older than your own are now, and I think it made him the social butterfly he is today. He will go to ANYONE and is a complete little showoff. He at one point had a favorite, my daughter when she was a teenager, but now he just likes anyone that pays attention to him. He's been a complete delight to this family. Now he's entertaining a new generation of the family (grandma is grooming the grandkids to love and care for the birds that will be theirs someday). I don't know if all Galahs are like this, because he's the only one I've been around but he's an absolute gem of a parrot. Yes, he squeals sometimes but it's usually short lived. He chews a wood toy the size of himself into a pile of splinters every day. But he's just so wonderful. He is one that talks really, really well. And he has a wicked funny sense of humor and fantastic timing. I love sharing him with others. He goes to rehab hospitals to do his little "show" and he has been to a couple of church and school talent shows and show and tells. So, based on my Galah experience, I vote Galah. Good luck on your choice.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Cockatoo or not even if the birds are housed in different rooms they'll hear each other. They will know they are there. They would even likely talk to each other through the house.

Yes, one would think that, it's natural, it's a bird it should communicate with other birds? No! My RB2 thinks all birds should and can yell "hello" back at him, even the garden pigeons. Two RB2's sited opposite each other cannot communicate to each other only me.

They may I grant you that, it's not impossible but it cannot be taken as a given they will.

 

[Birdman666]

Well this is more a product of how the bird is socialized, and interacted with, than some inborn propensity.

If the bird doesn't get handled by everybody all the time, and forms a strong bond with one person, then he's only gonna wanna go to the people that handle him all the time, primarily the person he's bonded to.

I think the RB2 would be a very, very wise choice. That's probably the number one on your list, with a B&G being second.

U2's can be extremely difficult.

Scarlet's are one of the beakiest macaws out there... so that's not particularly good if children are going to be handling them. You're better off going with a greenwing in a family setting.

My advice would be RB2, and that is not a bird that is likely to intimidate your CAG. (A macaw generally will.)

 

[plumsmum2005]

Well Parrot1 you certainly have your money's worth here today. Hopefully it has been informative, given you things to think about, going past the rose tinted specs stage. Obviously we will all want to know what you have chosen in due course.

Encl link fyi that I found whilst mooching

http://www.parrotforums.com/cockatoos/52333-mixing-galah-cockatoos-other-birds.html

 

[2greenconurestostart]

Yes! For example I have a young RB2 and also a Conure to stay for their hols throughout the year and the Conure is usually in a different room BUT my RB2 gets so upset with me just going into that room, he's listening the whole time. Jealousy big issue. If this had not taken place I could have added to my flock and really had problems ie finding out my baby doesn't like competition. It is also good to socialise our fids too, do you take your CAG out with you. Have you thought of making more of his life first. Harness training etc and really having a go to see if he can become more to the other family members?

Seriously please do some homework on this, if it's worth doing it's worth doing well isnt it?

just curious, which bird did you have first? Does someone else handle the conure?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Yes! For example I have a young RB2 and also a Conure to stay for their hols throughout the year and the Conure is usually in a different room BUT my RB2 gets so upset with me just going into that room, he's listening the whole time. Jealousy big issue. If this had not taken place I could have added to my flock and really had problems ie finding out my baby doesn't like competition. It is also good to socialise our fids too, do you take your CAG out with you. Have you thought of making more of his life first. Harness training etc and really having a go to see if he can become more to the other family members?

Seriously please do some homework on this, if it's worth doing it's worth doing well isnt it?

just curious, which bird did you have first? Does someone else handle the conure?

@ 2greenconurestostart : Please re read my posts as I think they are clear?