COCKATOO??????

[sxedanimalsxe]

So I posted earlier today about me and Nicky (my girlfriends) trip to the pet store. Well every time we go Nicky LOVES the cockatoos. They are cuddly and seem a little more outgoing then greys. Well we have read and heard they are MUCH more needy and get much louder than greys. Anyone here have cockatoos that could give us some advice about them. How much time a day would one need to be out of the cage with us. How loud do they get? We heard they will sometimes just scream for the sake of screaming, sometimes for a long time. We found a website called mytoo.com or something like that. It made it seem like cockatoos couldn't be owned by anyone shy of a cockatoo specialist. So we are thinking this web page might be a little over exaggerated. Any advice? Info?

-Dan

[judygram]

They are very cuddly and people refer to them as being "velcro birds" because that is how they want to be attached to you all the time. Yes they can be very loud especially if they feel they don't get the attention they want.

 

I don't think mytoo is exaggerated, they are telling it like it is, toos are not for everyone and I think the site is just trying to point that out for those who would like to have one but don't know that much about them to realize what they are getting into if they go ahead and purchase a too.

 

Now maybe Nicky loves them enough to take the possible screaming and such that may go along with the cuddliness but she should think long and hard before committing to getting one.

[SchroedersJen]

A too is like having a 2 year old glued to mommy/daddy that never grows up and has deafening temper tantrums. Ask your girl if shes ready to have a baby with you. If she says no, then she isnt ready for a too. If she says yes, have the baby, it will be easier.

 

Mytoos.com is very accurate. Many people believe cockatoos should not be kept as pets, You guys need to ask yourseves if you can really make that kind of commitment. You are young. You have children and jobs and vacations ahead of you. Most people can't comit to a spouse for more than a few years, and you can talk to and reason with a human. Think about it looooooooooooong and hard. Go to some bird shelters and spend time with adult cockatoos, making adult cockatoo sounds. The babies in the store are nice and quiet, grownups are completely different animals.

[Luvparrots]

I looked at getting a cockatoo and believe me they are very needy birds. If you want a bird that needs to be with you constantly then a cockatoo is for you. They are a huge commitment that take a very special kind of person who can give them an abundance of one-on-one time. It is not a commitment that I could make. Please do a lot of research before deciding to purchase one.

[Tycos_mom]

Mytoos.com is a very acurate portral of what owning a Cockatoo s like I had one for a while. He was 25 years old and one of the sweetest cuddliest birds I've ever met To me. If my 13yr old Daughter came into the room when he was out of his cage he would attack her and bite hard drawing blood every time. he didn't like the other birds either. anything that he thought took me away from him became an instant enemy. I could do anything with him he was as sweet as pie and to watch him with me you would think that he didn't have a mean bone in his body. If I didn't spend at least 4 hours of total one on one time daily he would scream and you could hear him clearly down to the end of the block and thats with the windows closed. I love him allot but he needed to be in a home with a single woman with no other pets preferably retired or working from home. If you want a large cuddly bird get a Macaw they can at least entertain themselves for long periods of time and they just love to be cuddled like a Cockatoo.

[sxedanimalsxe]

Thanks for the advice. This is kind of what I was thinking any ways. I remember we had one when I was pretty young, so all I remember was the cuddle time. We had to move and he wasn't getting the attention he needed so my parents got rid of him. I think to a friend, or maybe a rescue. I was thinking a Mccaw from the get go. Blue and Golds I think are just about the best looking birds to me. But they seem a bit to loud, especially if we are in an apartment. We had one of those when I was young too. If I recall we lived in navy town houses at the time and he got to be too loud.

I got to tell you guys, I have been on all kinds of forums before. Drums, paintball, computer, music, guitar, and who knows what else. NEVER have I been on one with such nice, helpful, supportive, and knowledgeable members! Thank you guys so very much.

 

Now since we are on the subject of Mccaws what do you guys think about them for a first time bird owning couple.

I know these birds are among the louder ones (even the smaller guys I saw yesterday had some volume to them) I know they seem to talk pretty well... they can be cuddly, and they seem to be a bit more silly, as far as hanging upside down and acting like colorful clowns. I really like the greys. I think they are just so cute, they are brilliant. They are the best talkers, but they seem a bit more shy, and reserved. I have seen them act out, get noisy but overall they seem more reserved than a cockatoo or a mccaw.

[judygram]

Generally speaking greys are quiet birds and if you are going to be living in apartments then you might want to reconsider getting a too or a macaw for they can be loud. My Josey is very quiet compared to most other birds, even my conure can be louder when she does her scream.

 

I think you need to decide what qualities you are looking for, ability to talk, cuddliness, comical or whatever and go from there but whatever you decide be sure to research it thoroughly so you will know what you are getting into as we hate to see someone get a bird and then decide its not for them and rehome it. A bird is a lifetime committment, once you bring it into your home it becomes a part of your family and most of us here would no sooner part with it than we would a human member.

[sxedanimalsxe]

I am pretty sold on the grey. I have always loved the macaw though. Nicky likes the greys but she just LOVES the cockatoos. So I am now looking at other birds. I would hate to have a grey and Nicky not like it.

[SchroedersJen]

Most macaws are waaaaaaaaaaay too loud for an apartment, and cost a few hundred dollars a month to maintain.

 

With any bird, but more so with greys than most, there is a good chance it will end up liking one of you and seeing the other as competetion. You need to make sure that if the bird loves you the most, and can't stand Nicky, that it wont get kicked out to be rehomed. My grey is very well socialized, loves kids, plays with and cuddles with strangers, loves going out, staying in, whatever.......Despite all of this, he HATES my husband and mom. They are competetion to him, he wont let them near him unless I'm right there telling him to be nice. Then he will be civil, but you can tell he doesnt like it. Thats not a problem for us. Schroeder is my bird, I care for him, I am responsible for himm and I have no problem maintaining bounderies so that nobody gets hurt and everyone gets my time and attention. If this is going to be a problem for the two of you, you might want to consider/ come up with ways to deal with this that dont involve surrendering the bird BEFORE you get the bird home. Too many birds get kicked out of the flock because they dont like or bond with one of the members of a couple and there are human/bird jealousy issues.

 

When you do settle on the right fid for you, I wish you joy and luck and a lifetime of love and wonder. they really are amazing animals and I am sure, with the curiosity you are showing now, that you will do a lot of research and make an informed decision regarding the right parrot for you.

[rbpittman]

Dan,

 

I'm addressing two of your posts in one here so bear with me a little. First of all on the cockatoo. I have one - Sterling - a 9 year old Umbrella Too who is one of the lights in my life. He is sweet, cuddly, charming, entertaining and a delight to be around. He is also, loud (extremely), high energy, constantly stuck on my shoulder when out of the cage and I'm around. He craves attention to the point of demanding it. He loves my son, my daughter and my mother - he can't stand my husband or my father. When either of them are in the room with me or my son, he throws a temper tantrum, squaking at top volume, stomping around his cage, wings out, tail flared and comb at it's fullest. He's protecting his territory and we are part of that territory.

 

We acquired Sterling after his previous owner died and the family was going to send him to the ASPCA here. The mytoos site is not exaggerated, they are extremely accurate. Too many of these creatures end up with severe plucking problems because they don't get the attention they get used to in the honeymoon stage of ownership. 2's have a tendancy to require more consistency in their routines, and are very time cognitive. All that said - Sterling is perfect in our home, my husband loves him to death and is constantly doing his best to approach this bird and earn his trust.

 

Second - regarding your post about your schedule. Sterling is my son's bird, and he is a 13 year old middle school student in the gifted and talented program at school. He participates in Quest and serves on the yearbook. He is a Star Scout in Boy Scouts working on Life and then will work toward Eagle. LP (my son) is also in his second year of marching band with the local high school. That said you already have a clue on his schedule since your girlfriend is a band director (I already love her for that!). LP works very hard on maintaining consistency in his schedule with Sterling. When LP sits down to do his homework, play video games, or at his computer, he does so with a Sterling on his arm. (We don't allow Sterling on LP's shoulder) or the back of the chair or his playstand very close by. LP gets up 20 minutes earlier than usual to spend time with Sterling in the morning, getting breakfast, cleaning his cage and telling him what the day holds. Believe it or not, Sterling knows that Tuesday and Thursday are marching practice days and that LP won't be home until 6:30. Friday's are killer for us since there's the football game. Sterling has experienced two of these so far, but with continued explanation of what is going on, things are going well.

 

LP's schedule is killer - Monay through Friday - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm he's in school (those are departure and arrival times). Monday nights - Scouts for 1 1/2 hours. Tuesday and Thursday - not home until 6:30 for marching practice. Wednesday - private lessons for 1 1/2 hours. Friday night football games. Saturday - marching competition in the fall (he has one Saturday not used between now and November). Plus the monthly camping weekend with the Scouts. The only way this works is that the entire family steps up to the plate to make time in their day for the birds. Sterling's out of cage time is about 2 hours in the morning with LP, 2 hours in the early afternoon with me, and then from the time LP gets home to bedtime. Sterling even showers with LP on a daily basis now. It can be done, but the committment and time required is exhausting if don't plan it out.

 

When we brought Sterling home, LP was out of school for the summer, had just returned from summer camp, and didn't have the hectic schedule. That was the time for bonding and learning about each other. When the schedules changed, life was very different and the obvious honeymoon was over. Much more vocalization and lots more learning on our parts about the needs of a U2. What we have now is a very happy boy and a very happy bird. Sterling has learned ambient attention from me, contact attention from LP, and tolerance of my husband, sorta. It took a few weeks of getting into this happy place - lots of screaming from Sterling because he didn't understand the changes, and lots of patience on the parts of all of the family members involved.

 

To make this story even longer - I'm a full time law student (5 classes this semester), committee member for the Scouts, band booster webmaster and public relations officer who works concessions on Friday nights, chief cook and bottle washer of the household and full time taxie driver for the 13 year old son. Our household includes Sterling the U2, Dixie Bird Grey (18 month old CAG), three pug dogs (Chow, Sushi & Mooshu), George (lovebird) and of course my hubby, son and daughter (20). I'm absolutly insane.

 

Hope this helps you in deciding on which bird to be owned by.

[judygram]

Thanks so much Robin for that information on how you make your too a part of your family, it does take a committment that a lot of us do not have to own one of these gorgeous creatures and they are not for just anyone including me.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write this for Dan's benefit and any one else who is thinking of purchasing one of these birds, karma for you Robin. B)

[Jingles]

Hey! I just had to say that I've been at a place where they had a cockatoo...and that siren you heard on mytoos site...is accurate...but it needs to be louder!!! When they said to press your ear to the speaker and turn it up all the way, they weren't joking.

 

I have a grey and a lorikeet. I really love them both! But lorikeet's...their poo is really messy to deal with! (like liquid almost) so that might be something to think about too!

[Luvparrots]

Robin what a great and informative post. Thank you for sharing Sterling with us. What a supportive and loving family you have. Bravo!!!!

[sxedanimalsxe]

WOW... I thought I was busy! Well I am sold on a grey. For our life style, time issues, living space.. I think its a good fit. Nicky LOVES the cuddle factor. She keeps looking up cockatoo stuff. She has found sites saying the smaller cockatoos are less needy, and not AS loud. Also many sites said as long as you start off spending the same time with the bird that you plan on spending years from now, the fits tend to not happen or not be as bad. I LOVE cockatoos as well. Every time we go to the pet store, I find my self holding them and cuddling with them. They are sooooo sweet, also one likes to spaz out and he is a blast to watch (probably not as fun if he was in my house) I would like to think we could pull of having a cockatoo but I don't see it. My Nicky on the other hand is TOO crazy and just keeps looking what she wants to hear. IF we did get a cockatoo, and things didn't work out, I think my parents would love to have a cockatoo again. My Mom would be pretty deep in "empty nest syndrome" so maybe a bird would work well. Who knows... I am still pretty set on a grey.

What does your son play in band? You guys have a crazy life! Also that sounds like one responsible kid you have there. I am not sure I am that responsible!

[rbpittman]

My son is a bizzare kid if you ask me, absolutely not normal. He plays - french horn, trombone and timpani for concert band; trumpet and mellophone for marching band; tenor sax and drums in the jazz band; and fills in occassionally on the break drum, snare and vibes. He's a weird kid and catch this - when he grows up - he wants to fly fighter jets. Don't have a clue where he came from - my other three aren't at all like him.

 

Oh and did I say he's 13 - he turned 13 in July.<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2009/09/09 15:17

[JillyBeanz]

Robin - he could be out stealing cars, taking drugs and bashing up old ladies! He's obviously a great kid and clearly organised and in control (because I know you're not!!!):laugh:

 

Good on him - the kids of today are given far too much bad press - you don't hear about the good ones (and now I can fully see why you're a member of FART)! :laugh:

[Greywings]

I have 2 Toos they are both rehomes and came with baggage. With work and the ability to ignore hissy fits and the patience to teach them to entertain them selves they can be wonderful. My Grey is friend with the Elanora and no one but people interact with our Umbie male as he is jealous and can be aggressive. With any Too the secret is to give no more time than you wish to invest in them daily, lots of toys and things to do to keep them selves busy.

[rbpittman]

Excellent advice on the time - Sterling is a rehome and we too ignore his fits, fortuntely, his only agression is to my Grey Dixie. Other than that - he's a peach, cuddly to the max. As with all birds, they require the same one thing and that is a true demand - patience - without it you have an unhappy bird and an unhappy owner.

[sxedanimalsxe]

Thanks for the info. I have been so busy with school and running my rescue shifts I haven't had time to drool over any birds lately. Nicky keeps reading about some of the smaller toos being less needy but it doesn't seem that they are much better if any. I still love the idea of having a pet bird. I am pretty set on a grey. But those cockatoos are really sweet and fun to cuddle. I love this forum! Everyone is so helpful and supportive. If only I could find an EMS forum like this! Maybe I could figure out an easier way to do this med math!

Thanks everyone!