Just rescued my first cockatoo

[Toosmom]

I'm Lisa, we live in PA and I just got my first cockatoo. I've had him since Saturday night. How long before I can let him out of his cage? I wanted to give him some time to adapt

 

[psychocircus91]

I'm Lisa, we live in PA and I just got my first cockatoo. I've had him since Saturday night. How long before I can let him out of his cage? I wanted to give him some time to adapt

Can I ask where you rescued him from?
You can try to let him out now. Just make sure to do things on his terms. Don't try to force him out, or force any kind of interaction if he seems resistant.

 

[Toosmom]

These people were bird sitting and decided not to come back to this area. Thankfully they have him up because he had not one toy in his cage and jag been plucking. He's very friendly and loves to be touched

 

[Allee]

Welcome, Lisa! Congratulations to our newest Too owner! Thank you for offering your heart and home to a needy too.

As psychocircus91 mentioned, it's usually better to move at the bird's pace. All birds are different and all adult birds have a past, most complete with baggage, some birds bounce back quickly and readily adapt to change, others are suspicious of everything and need time to build trust with a new human. If you have a shy, reluctant Too, try sitting in a chair near the cage and read aloud, sing or simply talk to your new friend, great way to bond.

Do you have experience with parrots? If so, carry on, if not, please do some reading about diet, cage set ups, toys and especially Toos, they can be a huge challenge for anyone. After the ordeal your Too has been through it would be helpful to have him checked by a certified Avian Vet, once he's been assessed, the vet can help by suggesting a healthy diet. Best of luck, please feel free to ask lots of questions.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, Lisa! Do you know what species of cockatoo? Able to post a pic?

That he is friendly and likes touching is great. I'd open the cage door and allow him to come out under supervision. Parrots are very keen observers of the environment and wish to progress at their own speed. Ensure the surrounding area is safe from other animals and obvious hazards. Do

Have you had prior experience with birds - helps to tailor the advice!

Many find this thread helpful: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[Toosmom]

So what do I do about his screaming. If he doesn't get enough attention it seems that's when it's the worst

 

[Scott]

So what do I do about his screaming. If he doesn't get enough attention it seems that's when it's the worst

Cockatoos are legendary for screaming! They do so for several reasons, but you are indeed correct by assessing the primary cause.

You've had your bird for about three days, and he is still in the discovery phase. What do you know of his history? From a rescue, but did he have several homes? Parrots bring their "baggage" from their pasts to every new home. We cannot clinically unravel the issues, but your consistent efforts can help reduce the intensity and frequency of screaming.

Please ensure your bird has a large cage with a variety of toys. Some prefer chew items such as wood and hard plastics, others enjoy foraging. A goal is to teach your cockatoo to "self entertain" in your absence. This will take time, and the starting points are consistency of diet, health, and security. Ensure plenty of sleep, a good diet (more fresh vegetables and fruits and some pellets rather than all seed) and freedom from anxiety. Screaming can be initiated by other pets or a view to outdoor predators. It is also helpful to have an initial "well check" by a certified avian vet to rule out underlying health issues.

A helpful way to manage screaming is positive reinforcement. One method familiar to dog parronts is "target training." http://www.parrotforums.com/training/60435-clicker-target-training.html

 

[GaleriaGila]

Thank you for rescuing AND sharing!
You're a hero, you know.
I'm glad you're here.

 

[Toosmom]

I'd post a pic if I could figure out how to do it from my phone

 

[Scott]

Posting photos has become more problematic with Photobucket's new policy of high service fees. Posting from a phone is possible, but AFAIK proper orientation (at least with iPhones) is horizontal with home button to the right. I've heard great things about Smugmug.

Procedure: http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html