Any cockatoo owners around here?

[hannahbird]

Whats it like living with a cockatoo?? Ive been considering one for months, but I want to know what a day in the life of a cockatoo owner is like and if I would be able to care for one.

[kaylayuh]

I've lived with a Moluccan Cockatoo before, so I'll try to describe it for you. I know there's at least one Cockatoo owner on here, so hopefully she'll answer, too.

I find Cockatoos to be extremely beautiful. When kept well and provided enough attention, I think they could make wonderful pets. However, it's too often when people buy the bird and smother it with attention for the first few months and lose interest after. A Cockatoo wouldn't be able to handle this.

Cockatoos can be extremely messy and destructive. They often enjoy shredding apart various wood objects, including ones they shouldn't have. If you have the money to have a constant supply of these toys, great. It should certainly be a factor in whether you consider to get a Cockatoo or not.

Cockatoos are also extremely loud. Some people find their calls awful, but I don't particularly think they're that bad. I'm much more sensitive to the Aratinga family of conures than I am to a Cockatoo. If not given the proper amount of attention, Cockatoos often develop a bad screaming problem. They also are some of the most common feather pluckers, that I've seen.

Overall, I think the relationship with a Cockatoo can be a happy one if you take into consideration the amount of attention, toys, and time it needs. I don't think a Cockatoo would make a good bird for someone who will be gone for many hours of the day and leave the bird in the cage constantly.



Off topic, but I've noticed you're looking at really big birds. Is there a particular reason you're looking at these birds? If you list a bunch of qualities you're looking for in a parrot, I'm sure we'll be able to suggest some birds that could be a fit for you.

Aside from that, it seems that Cockatoos are often in a lot of rescues. If you have one near to you, perhaps you could find time to volunteer and see which bird you like best. If you haven't had the opportunity to spend time around a lot of different birds, I find this is often the best way to gauge which bird is the best fit for you.

[patdbunny]

"Too" much bird for most people.

Everyone in the household needs to be on board with owning one. Unlike some of the "less demanding" parrots where not everyone needs to have a relationship with the bird, the toos pretty much need to have a relationship with everyone.

Don't over bond with it. A large too can take a finger off someone it doesn't like.

Please don't get one unless you and the entire family can make the commitment to keep it for the next 50+ years through good and bad. It's a lot harder to make that type of commitment to a too.

[hannahbird]

Off topic, but I've noticed you're looking at really big birds. Is there a particular reason you're looking at these birds? If you list a bunch of qualities you're looking for in a parrot, I'm sure we'll be able to suggest some birds that could be a fit for you.

Aside from that, it seems that Cockatoos are often in a lot of rescues. If you have one near to you, perhaps you could find time to volunteer and see which bird you like best. If you haven't had the opportunity to spend time around a lot of different birds, I find this is often the best way to gauge which bird is the best fit for you.

No particular reason really, I've always had small birds and I am just looking into getting something larger for a change. I just want a cuddly, friendly bird, something with a big personality, something that wont be extremely sensitive to its environment and isn't easily stressed, playful, good talking is not important, active, and a good companion.

And I have been trying to find some rescues but so far, no luck.

[kaylayuh]

I just want a cuddly, friendly bird, something with a big personality, something that wont be extremely sensitive to its environment and isn't easily stressed, playful, good talking is not important, active, and a good companion.

And I have been trying to find some rescues but so far, no luck.

That is definitely not a Cockatoo; at least, not in my opinion. Cockatoos tend to be extremely needy and have gotten the reputation of the "velcro bird". Often without enough attention or time, they will become chronic pluckers or screamers. Even if you think you're giving them enough attention, they can develop the plucking or screaming problems. And it's heartbreaking to have a bird that's going to pluck himself featherless or make you miserable by screaming all the time.

I tend to be a really big fan of the small to medium sized birds. I've found, in my personal experience, that they tend to be better able to adjust to their surroundings and adapt to changes more readily than a larger bird can. I have a GCC currently, and I absolutely adore him. He's a cuddler, can be left alone for a few hours, is incredibly playful, active, and an overall good companion bird.

I've been doing a little bit of research on other birds, and I've also become intriqued by Quakers and Pionus. Unfortunately, Quakers are illegal in Pennsylvania, where I currently live, and California, where I will be moving. So a Quaker is out for me. From what I've read, both Quakers and Pionus are friendly, active birds with playful personalities. Quakers tend to be loud, so if noise isn't something you like, they're probably not for you. Pionus are fairly quiet, though, and tend to make good apartment birds.

If you tell me where you're located, I may be able to find you some rescues. I saw in another thread that you're going to be moving to North Carolina, but that doesn't really help if you'd like to hang out with some birds now.

[hannahbird]

I guess a cockatoo is just a pipe dream haha.
I am moving Burlington, its right outside of Charlotte.

[kaylayuh]

I guess a cockatoo is just a pipe dream haha.
I am moving Burlington, its right outside of Charlotte.

http://www.companionparrots.org/ services the Greater Charlotte area.

[hannahbird]

Thanks so much!

[kaylayuh]

Thanks so much!

No problem. They seem to have four cockatoos you could hang out with and maybe adopt if you find one that's a fit.

[hannahbird]

I am emailing them at the moment