Cockatoos?

[kaylayuh]

Despite all this, I think I find conures to be the post painful biters overall.

Would have loved if you mentioned this before! My GCC has an insanely painful bite, but bites only when I'm bothering him with the harness or he's trying to get at the phone.

[kaylayuh]

I absolutely love Cockatoos; they're my second favorite bird next to the Toucan. I grew up with a Moluccan Cockatoo and I find them to be absolutely beautiful.

Like an African Grey, Cockatoos tend be really needy. If they don't receive the attention they need, they often turn into chronic pluckers or screamers. If you have a lot of time to dedicate to this bird for the next many decades, then you should have no problem. But it's been said that they don't deal with change very well and it shows in their behavior.

They're a bigger bird with a bigger beak and need a lot of space and things to destroy. Often, you'll come home and find a bird chewing up your favorite armoire or the stair banister. They love to chew and shred wood, so you have to take into account the amount of toys you'll be buying for the duration of the bird's life.

[CheekyandMalolo]

Our first GCC didn't bite at all, never even nippy, were we in for a learning curve when we got our new two GCCs! Worst bite I've ever felt!

[hannahbird]

I think cockatoos are beautiful! And I love their personalities. I want one *sigh*

[pchela]

Okay, Cockatoos have the little points on their lower beaks that make their bites painful! I've been bitten by a few Cockatoos and they've been some of the more painful bites. It's not the size of the beak that matters though. Some of the worst bites seem to come from smaller parrots. Of course, they couldn't break a finger like a larger Cockatoo could, but that hasn't happened to me... Gonna go ahead and guess that that would be worse than my Senegal's bites.

[hannahbird]

Aw man! Yeah I have pretty much changed my mind about cockatoos.
I am going to volunteer at a rescue and see what breed I like the best

[captwest]

have you called her yet ? i forgot she's closed on Mondays, sorry

[hannahbird]

I have not called her yet! But thanks for letting me know! I will call her tomorrow

[captwest]

i would tell her my situation and ask if you can volunteer to help out and meet some different large parrots , she usually has vet students from some of the local colleges working there cleaning cages , feeding babies ,etc so they can gain some expierence with birds.She's pretty cool but has her hands full with all of the different birds.Her place is a real zoo.

[hannahbird]

I will do that, thank you so much for your help!