Looking for the hard truth on Cockatoos

[darkmage3]

So I promised a friend of mine that I would post this for him. He has had a few birds in the past, conures, tiels, but i dont think anything bigger. Anyway, he has fell in love with a Goffin Cockatoo from a local store.

Now I have noticed lately alot of folks coming out against 'too ownership for various reasons, dangers of sexual maturity, plucking, constand needing of attention. Some all-bird shops in my area are stating that they just wont carry them anymore. But, I really don't understand what the situation is with 'toos that is causing this outcry. Is it because they are a problem? is it because folks view 'too ownership as unfair to the bird?

Can someone please educate my friend of the possible dangers here, or if this is all just a bunch of whooey, please let us know that too.

Thanks much.

P.S. The goffin in question is very very nice, but it is also only 9mos old. I thought that might be relevant.

[mymacaw]

I owned 2 toos both of them very loving playful, but one of them wouldnt have anything to do with noone but me, but loved to paly a lot they do require a lot of attention I guess It depends on the bird they all seem to have diffferent personalities.

[Eliza]

Visit mytoos.com - It does give a good deal of insight regarding the care and keeping of a cockatoo.

[mmr]

I own a blue and gold macaw and an Umbrella cockatoo. I am also a active member of mytoos.com. These are what I can tell you from personal experience
1 Cockatoo's are much more needier meaning they need a lot of time and attention
2. hormonal periods are pure hell. Comparing the 2 I can rarely tell the mood swings on my B&G (he is just a little grumpy). Now my Ellie (U2) who NEVER bites EVER in the past 3 weeks has bitten me 3 times out of the blue. She screams during hormonal season, Their moods change like dr Jeckyle and Mr. Hyde.
3 Need a lot of stimulation (but so does my macaw)
4 have terrible dust, you have to bath or mist daily and if you have asthma or any kind of allergy you need a few hepa filters
5 they are soo loud compared to a budgie or cockatiel
6. they 9 times out of 10 only bond to one person and are very protective of them
(what would a new girlfriend be up against, or even if her were to have a kid)!!!!

Go on this link and show him this and make sure your speakers are turned up!
All About Cockatoos - MyToos.com

Don't get me wrong I love her to death and I would have done it again know what I know now, but she is soooo much more work that my B&G Macaw. She is also much more destructive than him. I suggest he goes and volunteers first to see what he is getting into. They aren't all so loving and cuddly! and if they (take my ellie for example) we were "tight" and now that it is her season she bites and attacks the animals in the house. Once the season is over she goes back to her baby self but Hormaonal season's last for up to 3 months!!!! So it is 3 months of a demon!

[loyallyroyal]

I myself looked at ducorps cockatoos before settling on my ekkie, but when I did my research I was a little shocked.

What I got from talking to other too owners and looking around the forum of mytoos.com was that people sincerely didnt enjoy having the birds.
Dont get me wrong they loved them dearly, but they didnt like nor enjoy having them and many said if they could do it all over again they would of never gotten a too.

I dont know about your friend, but I wanted to have a companion that I enjoyed and am very glad I got my Ekkie.

I wish your friend luck, and advise him to take a good hard look at mytoos.com

[Nazir's]

THEY ARE, WELL RATHER, CAN BE VERY LOUD!!!

I am a fairly new cockatoo mother. I have a lesser sulphur crested. She's a sweet heart. She's very lovable, just loves attention, and loves to show out.

However, when you walk away from her and she's not ready for you to, she has a piercing pitch (something that we are now working on). I've always wanted a cockatoo and was always advised against one. Now that I have one, it's really not all that bad. But then again, she's a LSC and not a U2 or a Mocculan. Perhaps it's not that bad because I was prepared for and expecting the worse or maybe just because I respect and understand that a bird will be a bird.

[donnakris]

First, let me say I love Morgan to death. I don't for a second regret adopting her. She makes my life more wonderful.
That being said---she is very loud, very demanding, she has started screaming when I leave the room, she steps up when she wants to, there is white too dust everywhere, she goes into mating behavior every time she hears my voice, she is bonded only to me and really doesn't care for my husband, she hates new things, toys, noises, people, perches, anything else that moves from where it's supposed to be and will act like she's going to have a heart attack if you try to show her something new or heaven forbid, move a piece of furniture. The first night Casey was at UGA, Morgan screamed for 2 hours, non stop. Just know what you're getting into before you do it and decide it won't work out. They are very sensitive birds and don't take to change well. After having said all that, I would adopt her again in a heart beat. She is the most loveable, snuggly, sweet (to me), adorable little spoiled girl in the world.

[Sashagirl]

MMR pretty much covered it.

I owned 5 Cockatoos at one time some were rehomed and the rest rescued.I had no idea what I was getting into.Yes if you get them as a baby they are sweet and cuddly but nothing lasts forever.I had all adults 2-U2,2-Goffins and
1-5 years old Mollucan that had been in more than 5-6 home.She was the sweetest of them all.But she was very demanding and wanted a lot of attention.There were times I wouldn't leave my house because of the full blown tantrums she would throw.The rest I had no background on.One day one of the U2's bit me so bad that I should of went to the hospital.They were unpredictable we didn't know whether they were ex-breeders or what but I wanted to help them.They stayed with me about 3-4 years until my asthma was affected by them and so I had to rehome them over 8 years ago.We now have another U2 that we are fostering short term that my husband does all the care for but he has been with us 1 week.Anyone thinking of getting a Cockatoo really needs to give it some serious thought there is a lot involved in owning them.Some say that they are the most rehomed parrot.I don't know not many have crossed my path 6 so far.

Marcia

[Az Full Moon]

Please do have your friend spend time reading information found at mytoos.com. This is just one of the best places to learn about these wonderful, complex creatures.
I live with a Goffin and she does not scream------ever, does not bite---------ever. I also live with a second Too, an Umbrella who has never screamed or taken a bite out of me. I must add that I just might have gotten bite once, if I had not been educated as to some of their behavior/issues, by the wonderful U2 who shares my home.
I love them both very much and most days I am so pleased to share space with them. I do not live around their needs. I try to live a balanced life. There is no perfect life for a Too but the two living with me are safe, enjoy healthcare, great nutrition, pretty nice Condos when I am not home, toys, (packages arrive almost daily), adventure, a fine TV and plenty of physical activity and a pretty fine social life.

[mmr]

Originally Posted by donnakris

First, let me say I love Morgan to death. I don't for a second regret adopting her. She makes my life more wonderful.

That is exactly what I was trying to say as well. The most challenging so far is Hormone season, as her sweet loving no bitting baby has been possessed by a bitting lunging demon. Almost 99% of toos personality changes during this period. and there isn't one owner that hates this time period. They can be unpredictable.

Oh did I also mention that they have 500 lb bitting pressure and could bite through you finger without even really trying!!!