Hello to all!

[Trishgal]

Hi! My sister just brought me a big surprise 3 days ago. A 12 year old Sulphur Crested Cockatoo! I live alone with my Maine Coon cat and have recently become crippled from back issues, and my sister thought I would enjoy the stimulation and company of this lovely bird. I owned a Double Yellow Head for many years, so am not brand new to parrots, but I see many differences already and am trying to learn as much as I can about her and her needs as fast as possible. So far, I've read an awful lot of negative info on Toos and would appreciate advice from any of you. She seems extremely sweet and loves to be scratched all over. I talk to her often and regularly. Apparently, she was pretty isolated out on a porch until now, where she is with me in my room. I haven't let her out yet, but hope to soon. She has the screech, but only does it a couple of times at night. The only annoying behavior she has exhibited so far is a kind of "plucking" she does....way too often, on the bars of her cage. Sounds like she's banging on it. Otherwise, this situation looks very promising. I'm curious about food. My yellowhead lived for years solely on sunflower seeds with occasional people food (he loved fried chicken!). I have a mix of seeds and raw peanuts right now and have given her some grapes and a piece of potato from my dinner...and a noodle from my lasagna. I'm wondering why people spend so much on fruity parrot food rather than just giving them fruit?

[Wolf]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I am not certain whether to congratulate you on your new friend of not. I don't ever gift someone with a live animal at least until I have talked it over with them to be sure that they know how to care for it and want it or not, otherwise even though they may mean well it is rather rude to give an animal to someone. While I am sure your sister meant well and it does sound as if you might want this bird, I am not really for gifting people with animals.

Any way the first thing that I think that you need to know is what is safe or not for your new bird as the diet that you described was fairly common 2o to 25 years ago, but was really not good for them, so here is a link to foods and things that are safe and toxic to parrots, the actual list is on page two of the topic. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12521

Like with many parrots that like to be touched, one of our biggest mistakes with them is to pet and scratch their entire bodies. This is not a good thing to do with them as every where on a bird except for the feet, beak, head and neck is an erogeneous zone and although they love it, it causes them to produce sexual hormones and then you end up with an aggressive, overly hormonal and sexually frustrated bird. While this is bad and with a smaller bird can be rather painful to you, with a bird of the size of a cockatoo armed with the very large and strong beak it can be quite dangerous. This is not the birds fault, but one needs to be aware of this and conduct their interactions with the bird accordingly.

Just as with many other parrot species, cockatoos bond deeply with their chosen human and just like the other parrots they can be quite jealous and protective of their human as they see them as their mates and not just any flock member. If cared for properly and treated respectfully Cockatoos can be extremely wonderful companions.

I don't have any cockatoos and think that other than just general information, we are better to allow those with more experience than I have to take this from here.

[Pajarita]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new friend! Do you know for a fact it's a female? And, what's her name?

I'll give you the 'short' list first and, if you want me to elaborate, let me know and I will (I have two lesser sulfurs and had two umbrellas and one citron in the past). Cockatoos can be the best companion birds or the worst pain in the neck bird ever! It is all up to their human's husbandry because, in order for them to be happy and healthy they need:

- 24/7/365 company (they are, by far, the neediest birds a human can have and nobody with a 'normal' life can satisfy them - that's why they are the number one given-up bird)

- a good, varied, fresh food diet (lots of produce, no animal protein AT ALL, except insects)

- lots of entertainment and things to chew (they could be called a 'one bird demolition team')

- strict solar schedule and good full spectrum light during the day (they are considered 'hormonal' birds -they have two breeding seasons a year- and they not only have BIG beaks, they are also very prone to plucking and self-mutilating)

[Pajarita]

I got an email letting me know that I had a pm with the title "Joey the cockatoo" but, when I went to my inbox here, there was nothing - did you, Trish, send me a pm and, for some reason, it did not get into my inbox?