help

[mwade38]

First of i am new to this forum My name is lLinda and we live in the midwest We have three birds a cockatoo a quaker and a cockateil. We are new to the cockatoo a friend had to get rid of her after having her for 12 years. I have read and study and she passed tips along. We only had her about a month she is beautifull and has a small vocabualry. My problems is her screaming and biting especially my husband. How do i discourage that. She was handle more by the lady friend and not so much the male. Can she still be taught to do and say new things.

 

[LovebirdLover]

Hi welcome to this forum. I to just got a cockatoo but from researching screaming is normal. Does he scream when you guys are away? If so maybe you should relocate the cage that you walk past a lot like in the kitchen or something. I did that and it worked for biting issue just tell your husband don't be afraid. Take the bite straight on even though it hurts. I never been bit yet and I'm scared to death as I got mine today. I'm sure it hurts a lot but your cockatoo will soon learn that biting wont get him anywhere. Whenever he bites shake the hand he's on slightly so it's like a mini earthquake and he loses balance. He will learn that biting means unbalanced and birds hate that. Good luck. I just got mine today and he's scared to get on my hand. I'm scared to hold him. We both are scared but I can make him dance talk and touch his head cockatoos are great

 

[Tropicalwings]

Screaming is common and very normal for Cockatoos. These particular birds, however, have probably learned to scream will get you to come back into the room and talk to them. The best thing to do is shut the lights off and leave the room until they stop, then use any word they know.."pretty baby" and use it when you come back and try to get them to talk instead of scream. Eventually they will learn, "pretty baby" gets you to come back! This article will give you some ideas hopefully, How to Stop Your Cockatoo from Screaming for Attention | eHow.

 

[MikeyTN]

Actually letting them bite you isn't the answer! Their bite can be very vicious and dangerous!!! My worst bite was from a Cockatoo that bit me to my bones where I had a huge gash. I don't think anyone can just sit there and allow their cockatoo to just bite them and be able to take it....I know I wasn't able to and I've been raising and training birds for over 16 years. The only way I stopped the screaming was having to relocate the cage into a bird room where there's other birds around. He did sooooo much better when I did that but he likes it when I just sit there and talk to him and he talk back like a baby. But he was super dangerous if someone else is near by me, he sees me as his mate and he will fly attack anyone that gets too close. I try clicker training on him, but it doesn't work as he wants to kill the clicker instead. He won't even accept his favorite treat either. More and more I feel they should be left out in the wild as they really don't do well in captivity! That's more towards the bigger toos such as U2, M2, etc. My other too, LSC, she's a super sweetheart. The crazy Java the U2 have been re-homed due to everyone's safety since he tried to kill my other birds, attack my partner, eat up my house, attacked me if he don't get his way, etc. He was too smart for his own good. He was a very loving bird to me though when he's not acting crazy, the sweet things he does, soft sweet voice to speak to me, laying his head in my lap, he can be super adorable. But at the same time I do believe some of it is because how they were raised in the first place and hormone have to do with it as well....

 

[LovebirdLover]

Wow, I did not know it hurt that much... I'm scared to death of holding my cockatoo... He's new got him today but was able to touch him and that was all . Took me forever to get him back in his cage. He hates sticks... And he's scared to step up on my hand. Siigh let's hope the best and hope he doesn't bite me to the bone ._.'

 

[mwade38]

Thank you. Yes he does scream when we are outside. He is in the living room with us and our other birds. she can be perfectly content then start screm. I ignore her when she starts the screaming. I thinking it becuase she has been up rooted and has not been here long. although she did scream sometimes at the previouse owner She has nit ,y hysband several times enofe to bring blood he brave and still goes back to her if she out of the cage he will put her back in.