Adopted Too's Vs. Babies

[SpaceLion]

In your opinion, if someone had the opportunity to either adopt an older too, or buy a young baby from a breeder etc., which would you recommend more?

I know young babies are often thought of as the better choice because you can raise them and adapt them to your lifestyle and get a fresh start on training them before they become adults. Babies from a breeder seem to give the adopter an advantage of knowing the history of how its life has been thus far and don't seem to come with the same behavioral problems developed by older rehomed birds.

But with the increasing number of Cockatoo's ending up in shelters and needing to be rehomed for whatever mishap they may have encountered when first adopted, is it unfair to consider the toos up for adoption as (how can I say it...) less good pets?

Assuming that someone could meet all the requirements of adopting a cockatoo (because obviously if they can't... it'll probably make the situation worse either way) which option would you recommend?


I'm not asking this because I'm planning on adopting a cockatoo in the very near future, but everytime I think about ever adopting one someday, I can't help but wonder if I would feel guilty later if I didn't adopt a cockatoo that needed a home ... if it would have been equally as rewarding a pet as a baby.

I hope I don't offend anyone because I'm not trying to instigate or anything. But I know that Cockatoos are especially sensitive and complex parrots for sure and I was hoping that someone who has adopted a rehomed bird and/or adopted a baby could give me some advice.

Thanks

[TooLover]

I have recently added to my flock a 17 yo female M2. I had plenty of opportunities to get a baby M2, however, I know that there are so many cockatoos out there who are misunderstood and need loving homes.. prior to adding this one, I had added a male U2, Buck Buck, who was 11 when he came to my home. Again, I could have found a baby but it is my firm belief that there are so many others who are needing good homes, that to buy a baby is taking away from those who really need me. I am owned by 5 cockatoos, and if I had the room, I would have many, many more.

[SpaceLion]

Wow. That was a fast response



"I could have found a baby but it is my firm belief that there are so many others who are needing good homes, that to buy a baby is taking away from those who really need me."

I think I find myself feeling the same way.

And in adopting your two older too's, did you have a hard time adjusting them to living with you? Did they come with behavior problems that you had to work on for some time? The main thing that makes me a little weary about adopting a cockatoo, is that I might not be able to correct their problems and help them learn to live an adjusted life with me (especially if they had many homes before). Do you have any regrets about adopting?

[TooLover]

Buck Buck's history was quite ugly, and I wasn't aware of it until we brought him home and the wife finally came clean. He was cage bound for over 2 years, the hubby would get drunk and shake the cage and yell at him. When we brought Buck home he hated men and bit a huge hole in my hubby's ear. It took us over 2 years to earn Buck's trust and love - would I do it again - yes, in a heartbeat!
As far as my recent addition, Rosebud, she is very shy, very underweight, and a love bug, however, she doesn't know how to act like a cockatoo. She has such potential and I am hoping with TLC she will come out of her shell.

[birdsnthings]

Good question.

Are you a first time Cockatoo owner? Have you researched the breed and searched your heart to be completly honest in whether this would be an ideal pet for you? Toos are loving birds but very demanding and yes, loud. Many people make an impulse buy, did all the wrong things only to end up with a screaming too.

For one thing, never expect to take one home to hand feed yourself. Let me explain this. In the wild a bird fledges by leaving the nest and flying away when he is ready. He grows up and when ready takes on a mate. For a bird to fledge in captivity, they need to leave the hand feeder thus producing a better socialized pet. Birds tend to bond to the hand feeder and if that bond isn't broken at some point then the bird will always be more of a one person bird. A good choice would be one that is fed until they don't want to be fed anymore and weaned onto everything they should be eating once you take him/her home. Hopefully the new owner would continue this. You get to grown in handling your bird as the bird grows up if you are inexperienced thus learning bird behavior and with the proper guidance you will have a good pet too.

As for adopting one that is another choice. If you are a first time Cockatoo owner I would look to adopt one with the least amount of "issues". To explain, I have adopted my "godson" Tiffie who is now my "son". He was abused in his first home and not by the person who gave him to me. Tiffie needed someone experienced as he would have scared a novice out of bird ownership going into attack mode particularly with men. He could have been passed around and became abused again but being here has stopped that cycle. While Tiffie can be a loving bird he still has his "quirks" that I and his former owner understand and know how to handle them. You have to search within yourself to know whether or not you can in fact change the life of a bird like this. Not all of them will have issues.

In the meantime I hope you are researching the behaviors of the Cockatoos to decide whether this is something you want as the bird will live a very long time. You may want to meet some of those Cockatoos that are in need of a homes just to see what they can be like and then see babies. Talk to other people who own Cockatoos. They are not apartment birds for sure.
How much time do you have to devote to the bird daily? Do you travel and can't take the bird with you? Toys, they need them and are you willing to buy those toys they just love to destroy? Can you be creative in making your own as an alternative? Are you single, married and have children already? If not, think twice as somewhere along the line you may have to rehome the bird as the bird may not take to a new significant other or children arriving. They can become quite jealous and the bitting not so nice or fun. Vocalization....have you listened to one vocalize for attention? Could you live with it? Just some things to think about with Cockatoo ownership.

There isn't anything wrong with adopting an older bird in need of a home nor is it wrong to get a young bird. It is a personal choice and you need to follow "your" heart. The question is, "What is best for you?" One last word of advice.....beware of the ones for sale in the paper. Make sure you know the exact reason why the bird is being sold or given away. You may end up with a problem bird that someone is trying to get rid of. If you are a novice then take someone experienced with you to help you decide if a paricular bird is right for you.
Alice

[SpaceLion]

I appreciate the very detailed response.

Originally Posted by birdsnthings

Are you a first time Cockatoo owner? Have you researched the breed and searched your heart to be completly honest in whether this would be an ideal pet for you? Toos are loving birds but very demanding and yes, loud. Many people make an impulse buy, did all the wrong things only to end up with a screaming too.

Well, first off, I'm certainly not interested in adopting a cockatoo just yet, so I hope you can settle any worries about finding another impulsive cockatoo buyer forcing more too's to shelters. I live with my parents right now, but someday when I grow up (lol) I think adopting one may be something I'd like to consider. I do a lot of reading though and cockatoos fascinate me especially. I always like to learn and understand more about birds (in fact there's a part of me that is dreaming of a career in that department but the rest of me is resisting adulthood with a passion lol). So I hope you don't feel like you wasted your time responding because I appreciate your input

[birdsnthings]

If I have given you things to ponder then that is what I intended to do. It was a detailed response and you would have received the same had you walked into this store.
Maybe one day you will have the Cockatoo but at least you will be ready for the task and the love you do receive back from them. Ah, but that can be with any bird not just a too.
Alice

[Dayna]

I think Alice and Laurie both gave great responses! I would like to say that I have a baby Citron Crested Cockatoo. I have gotten 3 of my parrots as babies, and 1 as an adult. I love all 4 of my parrots, but I have a stronger bond with my babies. That is not to say that someday I will have just as strong as a bond with my adopted bird. We are just not there yet. I own a store and sell parrots. I have sold babies, and adopted out older birds. Everyone is happy, and everyone must meet the same criteria.

A couple of situations to ponder though:

A: a client called me about her cockatoo. She has had her cockatoo for 16 years. She LOVES her baby. Her son is very very sick. The only medication that is working for him is experimental and not covered by insurance and she must go back to work after being home for 17 years. She fears her cockatoo will not be able to adjust. She fears that she needs to re-home her cockatoo.

This cockatoo is perfect. There is not one behavioural problem. Just a concerned parront that wants what is best for her beloved bird. She has not made up her mind what to do yet, but if she does need to find a good home, this bird has not been abused and does not need to be resuced. Just another cockatoo that is great in need of a home.

B: A client came into me. Her husband is going to build a seperate building for HIMSELF because he cannot stand the cockatoo screaming. The wife has had the bird for over 10 years and the husband would never ever think of asking her to part with her bird. however, he is slowly loosing his mind. He is not a pet person. She is looking at sharing custody with her friend who also has the same type of cockatoo as her. To give her husband respite from the noise. She feels like she is in a no win situation. She loves her bird, and loves her husbands peice of mind. (the cockatoo just does not shut up!)

Both situations are great birds. Both have loving owners. One has a problem that might need tending to, the other does not. Neither one was abused or neglected. Neither one has been mistreated.

Just one more thing to mull over. Not all re-homes are rescues.

[The Outlaw]

You really are getting excellent feedback. I especially liked Dayna's 2 cases. We often think that the first homes must have been bad homes In fact, when folks first purchase their young toos, often spending $15,000 for the bird alone, they are full of hope and love. Its only after trying to LIVE with these birds who are, after all, more wild than tame, that the light goes off and it becomes apparent that they have made a mistake. Be it noise, dust, biting, whatever, they simply are in over their heads. So, this usually results in a heartbroken pet owner having to find a new home for their bird. Crushed and embarrassed, they often go back to the very store that sold the bird to them in the first place. Breeders usually don't take their own birds back, because they can't keep too many closely-related birds together. However, breeders will often help find new homes for these same birds.

Since the bird is totally confused, it usually starts wondering whether these humans are good guys or bad guys. Depending on how well the second home works out will often determine whether or not every one lives happily ever after or it the whole deal goes to hell.

This can happen with ANY parrot. Unfortunately, it happens a lot more often with toos. Toos are extreme pets: extremely loving, needy and noisy. JMHO

[Irish]

"Toos are extreme pets: extremely loving, needy and noisy."

Exactly. And as much as someone THINKS they know what they're getting into when they bring their first 'Too home, I'm fairly convinced that they are ALWAYS surprised by the reality! I know I was :-).

My FIRST BIRD EVER was an adult male M2. He'd been through many homes prior to mine because of his noise. For me, he was THE perfect bird. It was love at first sight for both of us, and for all the years he shared my life (he died), I could never have asked for a more loving, gentle bird--with me. Not with others, although anyone could hold him if I handed him to them. But I will say, that boy had a voice on him! Second day he was home with me, the police arrived--the neighbors thought someone was being beaten or killed! Luckily, his screaming only happened in the mornings :-).

My current U2 female is 4-ish years old. We are her 6th and final home! She is a typical U2 lady--fun, athletic, vocal, intelligent, sensitive (especially to unexpected fast movements), headstrong, and unpredictable--she sometimes bites without known provocation. I love her to death, although I'm terribly allergic to her. She doesn't seem to have a chosen person in this house, and although she often wants to be on my spouse, I'm the only one she seems to trust totally and has never bitten.

Both were/are typical cockatoos. They require/d more work and effort to meet their needs than all the other pets (furred or feathered) combined. Luckily, neither of them were/are prone to plucking, screaming incessantly, or mutilating themselves, so we must be doing ok by them. I firmly believe that adopting a needy cockatoo is far preferable than purchasing one from a breeder. Why? Because, with their sensitivity, intelligence, and their susceptibility to extreme misery if their needs aren't met, I'm really not sure that M2s and U2s should be bred for the pet trade. I wouldn't want to encourage bringing more of them into a world they're really not well adapted to by purchasing babies from a breeder.

Just my opinion, and I'm stickin' to it :-).