New Galah owner!

[Bluemoonlvr]

Hey guys!
Ofcourse I am new here, but I am also new to the world of owning a large parrot. Today I just made my deposit on a rose breasted cockatoo or a galah. I'm so excited for the baby to just be ready! I am doing even more research now and saving up so when my beautiful bird is ready(which will be in the middle of august) he/she will have the best home and be well taken care of. I do own a parakeet named allomere though

cute little guy huh? anyways I came on here to get some advice and to learn all I can before my baby comes home

 

[PortaPerch]

Welcome. You have some serious decisions ahead:

To clip?

To keep caged?

Ours quickly earned her name, Chewbaca, because she chews the most expensive things in reach. One nip on a shirt will result in a dime sized hole after going through the laundry. We now have lots of Sunday (holy) shirts and blouses.

Here's one thing you can do with a clipped bird:

 

[god61021]

The only thing I know about cockatoos are that they are very needy birds, almost like having a human child in your home. deffinately not something that can live in a cage and be forgotten but needs to be one of the family. they are supposedly very very lovable and affectionate. my only too experience comes from a goffins I rescued. He assigned a ranking to everyone and the highest ranked person in the house at the time would be showered with love and anyone of lower ranking in the house was in danger of being attacked. never drew blood but it was enuff to scare me and we ended up haveing to send him to a more experienced bird person. ( not blaming the bird. That is completely normal bird behavior and I failed at working through it because I was afraid of the bird.) but for some one more patient and braver then me cockatoo's are amazing birds.

 

[wenz2712]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your soon to be new arrival!

 

[Bluemoonlvr]

Welcome. You have some serious decisions ahead:

To clip?

To keep caged?

Ours quickly earned her name, Chewbaca, because she chews the most expensive things in reach. One nip on a shirt will result in a dime sized hole after going through the laundry. We now have lots of Sunday (holy) shirts and blouses.

Here's one thing you can do with a clipped bird:

I deffinately dont want him to be cagged. I plan on taking him out with a harness. What is your opinion on clipping?

 

[PortaPerch]

I believe there are two other threads going right now about clipping. I believe one is on the Conure forum. We clip, and give our birds pretty much the run of our upstairs. We never close a cage, except to forestall damage.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Unfortunately you picked the bird that should never be clipped. Galahs are prone to obesity and fatty tumors, they need to be able to fly. Also with flight and a good diet it will double their life. They should have no seeds at all in their diet and be fed a high quality pellet diet(Harrison's and Totally organic are great, I use totally organic) supplemented with healthy foods like vegetables, some fruits and grains, and many other healthy foods.

I'm excited for you to get your Galah, they are a big commitment and like all cockatoos are sensitive emotionally. Remember to never get angry and if your ever bit it's always your own fault lol. Also just so you know, your budgie has too many wooden dowels, if used in cage you should only have one(if any) and all the others should be natural perches. Wooden dowels destroy a birds feet.

I'm excited about seeing your galah once he/she comes home Here's some pics of mine to tide you over lol She's the dark moprh and gorgeous.

 

[RescueMe]

Wow copperarabian, great pics!!! Good information too, hehehe no pun included. I miss my toos, and live vicariously through the forum, my macaw is awesome, but not a too.

 

[Mozzie]

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on getting your new baby! I'll bet you can't wait! Your parakeet Allomere is adorable.

 

[PortaPerch]

"Wooden dowels destroy a birds feet."

Please explain that.