Please help! New Cockatoo biting

[cheebamaster]

Well to clarify, we don't live together. I'm more posting on her behalf so they grey would be in a completely separate household with me and no other pets.

It's interesting that you bring up the grey's being very difficult as well. I was under the impression that cockatoo's were the most demanding bird to deal with but I had no idea that grey's were extremely difficult as well...Interesting...I might reconsider getting a grey after all this. I am very dedicated to learning and providing the best possible home to the grey with plenty of stimulation and training and I am fascinated with their intelligence, but if you all honestly believe it's not a good idea for a first time owner I might settle with something like a golden conure instead

[pennyandrocky]

ok i was interupted by my own too so now i'm going to rant. this is why i do not like breeders and petstores. anyone with the cash can walk out with a living thing and damage them.i had 18 years of bird experiance before i adopted mya and i had to go through a 3 week process before i was allowed to take her home. i had to take 2 days to research,and discuss with my family what adding this parrot to my family then i had to speak to the man who was fostering her. then i had to spend supervised time with her.then i had a home visit to make sure i could provide everything she needs to be happy and healthy.i had to sign papers with conditions attached.i would do it all again for the joy i get from her.the reason for all this? the rescue i got her from has taken in 6 cockatoos since i adopted her five of them were at one time 2 weeks ago.one of them has been caged 20 years and cannot be touched a foster home even backed out the day they were supposed to take him because he's so aggressive.i'm just going to say don't add ANY type of pet until you deal with the one you've already commited to.even tough you don't live in the same home one of your birds will be alone when you at eachother's homes, and that's not a good for any bird.

[GlassOnion]

I don't have either birds, but I've met Macaws, Greys, Toos, and know a LOT of people who have them from different forums.

Greys are easier to keep happy than a Macaw or a Cockatoo. The biggest problem with 'toos and macaws is that they get jealous. Most toos and macaws are rehomed because they started attacking the owner's spouse or children. Greys, on the other hand, are a bit more cautious and less likely to divebomb the person they hate. I would feel pretty confident if I acquired a Grey, as long as I kept it flighted (IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORANT lol), gave it lots of chewing and foraging toys, took it outside in a carrier or a harness and socialized it well with many people. Toos and Macaws, you do all of the above, and you could still end up with an aggressive attacking bird, though you would be lessening the chances.

I would give it time with your Galah. The most simple reason for why your bird is biting so much is that it bird doesn't want to be touched by you. Just leave it alone and give it time. Work on giving treats from outside of the cage, start target training using Michaels' taming guide: www.trainedparrot.com/taming .... and do read www.mytoos.com

Flight is very important for a Cockatoo, it's important for all birds mind you (common sense), but with Cockatoos it's pretty much imperative to keep them happy. You don't want to deal with severe behavioural issues associated with boredom and pent up energy.

[Saerphe]

At least you're willing to learn. A lot of people who end up with birds with behavioural problems just end up handing them over to a shelter, or selling them back to the pet store.

I also recommend holding off on the Grey. They're not quite as difficult as a cockatoo, but they can still be incredibly sensitive. They're also some of the most intelligent parrots, which makes them a little more challenging to keep stimulated. Not to mention, if you ever ended up having the cockatoo and the grey in the same house, you'd end up with a SERIOUSLY dusty house. Cockatoos and greys are both powder birds.

What I suggest, is to outline what exactly you're looking for in a companion parrot, and then we can recommend a few species that you can do further research on, and narrow it down from there.

I've been doing research on a variety of species for over year now, and I can't even get a parrot for the next three years or so, until I graduate from university. Do tons of research, and get out and meet as many birds as you can.

[cheebamaster]

Thanks everyone,

While I know the original post seems rather naive and we've probably got ourselves in over our heads please understand that I don't make any decision lightly. More research on my part should have been done before investing in a cockatoo and I can only blame myself for being foolish and listening to the store owner who said everything would be fine in a couple weeks when "she" settled down.

That said, if I were an irresponsible person I would not be on the forums asking for help from others such as yourselves who are much more experienced and knowledgeable. Please understand I have absolutely ZERO intention of giving this bird up. I made a commitment and I plan to stick to it. For now, I will heed everyone's advice and lay low on paying off the grey. I will spend the next couple weeks vigorously researching and applying methods from the links and information everyone has provided.

If after a few more weeks I feel inclined that I personally could handle a grey I will go ahead and get one...it's really difficult for me to put off getting one since I just invested in a BIG stainless steel cage, spend hundreds of dollars in getting a variety of different bird safe toys for the future, purchased a large playstand and a java wood playstand as well as a huge climbing net and various training dvds/cds to prepare myself. However, the future well being of the parrot is more important than my pocketbook so if it's something I'm not 100% positive I can handle I will not complete the purchase.

As it stands I have a couple months left before having to commit to anything so time will tell. The next couple months working with the TOO will be extremely eventful I'm sure and I'll have a better grasp on what I'm in for.

[Saerphe]

It's just important to keep in mind that there are a lot of species out there to choose from that might fit your household better than others. If the grey works out, then great. But that doesn't mean you can't use the cage for another species of parrot that might work out better.

Cape parrots (or Un-Cape, if you prefer), for example, are about the same size, and by my understanding, are more easy-going than greys (if any Cape owners would like to confirm for me, of course). It's just important to consider all the possibilities.

[GlassOnion]

Capes are my dream parrots, fun and cuddly, intelligent and often talkative. They are also known for being one of the least bitey species out there

[Michael]

Yet if they choose to bite, that beak is about 3 times bigger than a Grey's and 4 times bigger than a Galah's. Also they are very bold and hard headed. Not easy to change their mind. I have no idea what hormonal time will be like but not looking forward to it knowing Poicephalus...

Also don't anyone dare clip a Cape. Really messed up.

But back to the original case... raising a Galah is already a huge task. Add the fact that it's a first bird, you don't know what you're doing, etc... you really can't spare any attention on another parrot for at least 2 years. I don't care if it's a budgie. It takes a long time to properly establish suitable companion parrot behavior and it requires a lot of focus and moderated behavior on the part of the owner. Socialization, flight, taming, training, etc will take at least a few years to be established before you could have enough time to be focusing on another parrot.

PS a Grey Parrot's beak is a lot bigger than a Galahs and they are even more willing to use it. If you're having trouble with a Galah (which is generally quite sweet, easy, and not terrible bitey by nature) you would get destroyed by a Grey.

[cheebamaster]

Thanks for the reply Michael,

I was told that the Galah tend to have sweeter temperaments compared to other cockatoo's. I really have no information on this particular one's past, but do know that she lunges for hard bites and is proving to be pretty difficult. Starting tomorrow I will be using the information you posted and begin target-training.

From what I've gathered, it's US not understanding the birds body language and pushing it to step up etc when it doesn't want to which is causing bites. I'll start applying your techniques and post back on how it goes. As mentioned before this is not MY bird which is why I had still considered a grey but if you suggest I just work with this one for quite some time, then I will hold off on getting a grey until a much further date if at all. I was under the impression that Grey's had a sweeter misdemeanor than the Galah and therefore an easier bird to handle but apparently this is not the case!

[Michael]

I was under the impression that Grey's had a sweeter misdemeanor than the Galah and therefore an easier bird to handle but apparently this is not the case!

More like the reverse.

You started the topic with "we" so it gave the impressions that you're raising the bird together. Regardless, it will be a good deal of work and since you get to work with it anyway, this is valuable experience gained for potentially getting your own some time down the line. By not getting tied up with your own bird now you'll be able to be of greater help and learn more. Please don't even consider getting another parrot until that Galah is an angel in terms of step up, flight, taming, training, etc. Better for Galah, better for you, better for owner, better for future bird. They live so damn long, 2 years isn't going to change much in the grand scheme of things.

Check out my interaction with a Galah at a museum. It was already a tame bird and knew how to step up but didn't necessarily want to. It refused to step up for the lady working there cause she was approaching it wrong and yet went on my hand on the very first try. Not all parrots are this tame but when they are, using the right approach is key. Still, performing proper training is necessary for the long run but this helps in the short term when taking parrot in/out of cage.