Looking to Get a Cockatoo... Need advice!

[missylynn]

I've been looking into getting a cockatoo, but I am not sure which one would be the best fit. Maybe those of you who are familiar with them could offer some advice? What are the personality differences between different cockatoos? (i.e. Outgoing/reserved, mischievousness, noise levels, tolerance of kids, playfulness, etc.) I've mostly been looking into the Galah (Rose Breasted Cockatoo), Goffins, and Major Mitchell, but I'm open to other 'too species. It's just hard to pick a favorite having never lived with any of them!

 

[missylynn]

Oh sad, doesn't anyone have anything to say about their 'toos? I've read that Goffins are typically more energetic and high-strung than other cockatoos, and that Rose-Breasted 'toos are quite different from other cockatoos (whatever that means), but specific personality info is quite hard to find. I've only been finding things about all cockatoos in general, but that doesn't help selections much. Please, anything would be helpful!!!

 

[suebee]

the too owners may not be on yet!

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

Ok... here goes. Lol

Galahs make EXCELLENT pets. Fairly quiet, rather playful, they're considered the quietest of all 'toos, not terribly needy or troublesome (not near as cuddly as other 'toos though)

Major Mitchels (leadbeaters) are a lot like Galahs slightly more noisy, and tend to be a little more difficult to tame. Some people say they make terrible pets, but in reality they're not bad. Although our friends aviary has 3 for sale now and one male throws his crest up and hisses every time he sees me... no idea why, I've never touched him or anything. Her other two run up to me for attention, so I recomend you MEET a major mitchels in person.

Goffins are really fun and cuddly, but incredibly active and loves to find trouble! They almost always have to have all cage doors padlocked shut.... (Statistically the most common Goffin name is Houdini)

Big 'too (U2 and M2) require their owners to be nearly as insane as they are.... I LOVE big 'toos, but they have BIG voices, and our maile umbrella had to have a cage special ordered because. He could pop welds and remove bars on the best of cages lol!

The sulfer crest family can almost be lumped together, (yes they differ from eachother, but not enough for me to type it all out on my phone). This includes, Greater, medium, and lesser sulfur cresteds, citrons, and galerita galeritas.... they are a playful and independant bunch. The Galerita Galerita is a prissy bird and VERY rare and hard to find. I had never even seen one in person until a few months ago. (Most people here won't even know what it is, and google isn't gonna help...lol. Anyway Citrons being the most playful and fun of the bunch, but they do well aas pets because they play well by themselves for the most part and are easy to keep happy.

Now, I personally recomend one of the following...

Bare eyed cockatoo (less nuts than a Goffin, and just as fun, plus cuddly)

Slender bill cockatoo (clownish and sweet)

The bare eyed and slender bill 'toos are in my opinion the most stable minded, with a wonderful balance of playfullness and cuddling. They are also a quieter 'too like the Galah.

These are just my opinions.... I own 10 'toos and rehab lots of them, so 'toos are my specialty

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

On a side note, I am going to buy that little leadbeaters that hates me.... I'm gonna take him home for a couple weeks and see if he will learn to like me (they always do).... I think he'll fall hard (learn to love me).

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

NEVER trust a 'too (or any parrot) with a child.... always exorcise caution with parrots and children!

 

[Molcan2]

ShreddedOakAviary pretty much summed it up. You'll have to figure out which bests suites you personally, you didn't give much to go on as far as lifestyle. Expect a U2 and a M2(especially) to be a part of you as they would love it if it were physically possible to permanently attach themselves to you body. Major Mitchells have always been a favorite. I really really like the Goffins as well, they are a ball of endless energy - quite the characters. I am owned by an M2 :11:, yes I said owned. But just as misery loves company, Crazy likes to surround itself with other things that are also crazy (this makes life seem normal somehow). I LOVE my M2 but the U2s and the M2s are not for everyone. My M2 came to me through fate (apparently the higher ups :21: saw that I needed a life altering experience - and what do you know it was the perfect fit). Maybe if you let us know what it is that draws you to a Too we could better find one that suits you.

Which one happens to be your favorite? In the end you have to make you happy (if your going to spend the rest of your life with something - you might as well like it). If its something that feels right then go for it, but defiantly suggest meeting some of the types that you are contemplating in person first. Whether this means going to a few rescues or to a few breeders. Also one plus to meeting them in person would be to find out whether or not your allergic (on occasion some people are allergic to their powder that they produce), would be a good idea before you get your heart dead set on one.

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

I agree with Molcan2.... somewhere on these forums I described M2's and U2's like this "if they could crawl into your skin and live there, they'd be in heaven".
Big 'toos are intense, their love and attachment is intense and it takes a special kind of person to deal with that type of birdie relationship. (Someone actually wrote a book for people who are trying to date people and own one of the big 'toos specifically!)
And yes, make sure you aren't alergic!

 

[JensFlock]

My sulphur crested is the quietest of my birds, and he's independent, but I have a feeling that's not the way they usually are. A friend rescued him from a bad situation where he was completely ignored, so he was used to just sitting there quietly day after day. There was no one to scream to.
He can get a little crazy, though. If he decides he doesn't like you or want you in the house, he will attack. I would be careful around children with any too, like ShreddedOak said.

 

[missylynn]

Thanks so much for the input everyone! I'm leaning towards a galah, but as suggested, I think I'll go out "meeting" a few different ones. As for the question about my lifestyle, I am a stay at home mom with 3 kids. The oldest does very well handling the birds (under supervision), the middle one talks to them and giggles incessantly when they approach, and the youngest just observes. I don't think I'm cut out for a very large bird due to their size (and cage size), extra extra time, and noise. I guess I don't know what more to mention about lifestyle.. We don't have dogs or cats, but we have 3 excitable children running around. I know that some birds (such as conures) thrive off of the activity while others get very nervous and phobic. Since cockatoos are typically high energy birds, I imagine that high activity is fine, right?

 

[melinda]

I have a U2 that i wouldn't give up for anything. she is sweet and very loving and will let me do anything with her. She enjoys spending time with my daughter( 4 years old) but does not like my son because me teases her (7 years old). She was raised in a home with no kids. She enjoys her time on the playstand and does not demand that i am with her every second of the day. Now my sister has a goffins and she likes my sister and her hubby. They have kids and she hates them. She does pluck when the kids come on the weekends. She was almost bald when they got her but she grows feathers and just about anything will set her off to plucking. She is a biter but usely will give the warning signs before she does it. But remember each bird is different. So just spend time with as many as you can with the whole family. You will know when you meet the right one.