Greetings from Bryan and Maggie in Denver

[BryanH]

Hi all!

My name is Bryan, and I have a wonderful U2. Maggie is a little over 2 years old. We live in Denver, Colorado.

It’s great to discover this site. Especially a forum with just Cockatoo owners!

Maggie’s story starts when she was very young. She was purchased from a breeder, by a local Denver pet store. The pet store clipped her wings WAY too short and placed her on a high cage. Being so young and clumsy with clipped wings is not a good thing for a young ‘too. She took a spill and broke her left leg.

After some rehab with a splint, wrapped up in a towel for a couple of weeks, she started getting better. This is where I come in.

I saw her at the pet store limping around her cage when she was about 7 or 8 months old. Luckily, the pet store staff was very good to her and gave her lots of attention. They were looking for a good home for Maggie and offered me a discount since I was experienced with birds (I trained birds for a pet store while I was in college).

Now Maggie’s story seems a little sad. But the reality is that I think it turned out to be a good thing. Maggie is the most gentle bird I have ever seen. Not only was she hand raised, but she had to rely on human’s more than most birds. She is VERY gentle and loving.

After owning her for over 1.5 years, she has figured out who she can intimidate, and when she can scare others. And she will bite strangers that don’t take their time warming up to her (I always tell people to let her get used to them, but they push their luck anyway). She absolutely WILL NOT bite me, under any circumstance. She has never known a human to hurt her, but only help her. I can swing her around (she loves that), playfully grab her while she is puffed up, and biting her toys, or whatever. She NEVER bites me. And she is great with my wife too.

I work from home 2 or 3 days a week. So Maggie gets to stay near me much of the week, which she loves. I try to let her play by herself as much as possible so she doesn’t depend on me too much for entertainment. But I do give her attention often, don’t be fooled.

She is a complete nut, like all Umbrella’s. She loves to flap, and hang upside down, and swing, etc. She also likes to DESTROY things. I try to keep her supplied with toys, and cardboard boxes, and tree branches.

Her favorite thing is to cuddle of course. Now that she is getting older, I have been trying to limit that activity. She was begining to insist on it and becoming quite loud when she couldn’t cuddle. Now I do not cuddle while on the couch watching TV and she is starting to play well by herself in those instances.

I have also discovered that too’s need to be put outside of their comfort level to avoid getting bored. The more predictable her life gets, the louder and more obnoxious she gets. There is an easy solution though. A walk outside, or a car ride sitting on my shoulder (which she loves), brings her back to the world of the humble. It’s funny, riding in the car for her is like a human bungie jumping. She seems to be nervous, but really gets off on the thrill of doing something on the edge. J

I’ve included a link to a picture of Maggie. I was bored one day, so I put multiple photo’s of her into one on her favorite play pearch. I call it Maggie Multiplicity.

http://www.propertysalessolutions.co...res/Maggie.jpg

Questions:
1) When do Umbrella’s reach the teen years and start to become sexually mature? Is Maggie there already at 2+ years?
2) Maggie pants sometimes when being pet. I’ve read some people say that this is a sign of sexual maturity, and should be avoided. But I’ve also read, and heard from her doctor, that this is nonsense, and just what U2’s do. Even to others in their flock in the wild. Thoughts?

Cheers from Denver,
Bryan...

[Cindy Q]

Hi Bryan welcome here, so glad you found us. I also share my life with a u2 and an m2 also. The u2s are certainly full of life aren't they? Now I don't mean to start a "discussion" but for information on cockatoos I haven't found a better site then mytoos.com . Since the site deals exclusively with cockatoos you really can learn a lot. As with everything though, take whats useful and leave the rest behind and don't ever count on one website as the source for all information as with everything else there are tons of opinions about cockatoos and a lot of things you read there are not gospel just varied opinions and observances others have had with their own cockatoos. I'd recommend that if you happen to find yourself there you read all you can about the sites agenda before posting your own intro because the members there tend to be passionate about their thoughts. Anyways enough about mytoos. As far as your questions go i've noticed with my own birds that at 2 years old they start becoming more self assured and begin testing their boundaries. For some that includes enforcing the own opinions and will, starting to disobey and being a little mischievious. Its happened with all of my birds not just my cockatoos. Like children they begin testing their own independence it doesn't necessarily mean they are reaching maturity but they are certainly on the way to it and by rubbing Maggie in certain spots :eusa_naug you may be helping her grow up too quickly. I'd avoid under the wings, near the tail, and stick mainly to her head. I'd discourage the panting and stop rubbing her until she settles down or redirect her attention to playing until its passed. Along with that i'd avoid snuggling under blankets with her, if you do, because thats also encourages nesting behaviors that she shouldn't be displaying yet. Anyways good luck with Maggie and enjoy her, they are a joy to share our lives with.

[BryanH]

Thanks for the advice Cindy.

Man! That site is a pretty harsh and negative web site! I know that the pet bird trade is controversial and many birds are mis-treated. But so are pets of all kinds: Dogs, Cats, etc., not to mention animals raised for food.

That certainly doesn’t make it right, it’s awful. But many responsible people in this world are perfectly capable of raising a healthy, and happy pet Cockatoo.

I know the owner of that sites intent is to discourage ownership for those that aren’t prepared. But I came away feeling guilty of owning my bird (as she plays happily beside me). After getting over the guilt, I tried to put it into perspective. If people look at the source of their hamburger, or chicken sandwich, I think they would be as shocked, if not more shocked, as to how those animals are treated.

Looking through past posts, I see this site has been a source of controversy. My intent wasn’t to get another post starting on this. But I think that web site owners site content needs to have some sort of rebuttal.

I started working with birds in 1981 for a pet store. Back then, many birds were imported. Talk about cruel! But many birds, especially Cockatoo’s, tamed nicely. They just want to be loved. I’ve known many more bird owners that have had success with their pets, than not. But maybe because those are the type of people I tend to find for advice.

My pledge as a member of this site is this: This is all about Cockatoo’s in captivity, and the help we can all offer each other in that regard. Not about beating each other up about making the choice to have a pet bird (this wasn’t directed to you Cindy, but rather that web site).

Anyway, thanks again Cindy for the advice. I hear good stories, and horror stories about bird adolescence. It’s always a source of anxiety when I think about it. But somehow, based on Maggie’s personality so far, I’m not as concerned any more.

By the way. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received from another U2 owner was that she gives her bird a rather large tree branch in the morning when she has to work that day. Complete with bark, leaves, etc. Of course you have to be confident that it is non treated. I’ve done this with Maggie (in the summer) with an Aspen branch. She COMPLETELY transforms it into a pile of splinters. Between eating her food, preening after her morning shower, chewing this branch all day, and taking a nap, by the time I get home from work, she is just getting ready to play.

Cheers from Denver,
Bryan…

[Cindy Q]

No offense taken Bryan. My goal in sending you to that site was not to convert you to their beliefs, I only suggested you be aware of them so you don't get jumped on because you didn't know what the sites agenda was if or when you posted. I sent you there because if you can go in there with your own mind and not get offended easily and listen to everything you hear, there is a lot that can be learned. You don't have to believe it all, as I don't myself, but the information is there to sift through and to apply if you agree or to disgard if you don't. They don't sit around day and night rehashing the same agenda, like here people go there with problems, questions and even happy success stories. Its possible to find the same information in books and on a number of other websites but since that site deals exclusively with cockatoos the information gathered there is extensive and from every viewpoint and perspective you can imagine. I barely post because almost anything I could think to ask has already been dealt with and is in the archives. I agree with you that that website in no way represents every cockatoo in captivity, there are tons of success stories but the reality is the stories on that site do happen not only to abused birds but to others that were seemingly well raised and should by all accounts be well adjusted. As far as the group owner needing to add a different perspective or a rebuttal as you put it, he has said in the past that the reason his site is out there was because there were so many out there already with the opposite perspective only telling about the good things and leaving out all of the bad which caused people to run out without realistic expectations and buy the birds that eventually turned into the birds he speaks of and then spend their lives getting rehomed due to misinformation and while he himself doesn't have warm happy stories on the actual website, the message board itself does have a more well rounded perspective from owners dealing with the problems he speaks of as well as owners like yourself that have nothing but good stories to share. There are even people there with cockatoos older then 5 that haven't experienced any negative behaviors yet although for the most part the good stories come from people with babies under 5. The agenda there is not to NOT have cockatoos the agenda is to not buy them from pet stores and breeders but to adopt the ones that are in need of homes.

Anyways Bryan I spent a lot of time there for awhile, like you I was initailly horrified when I first found the site and I fluctuated between guilt, despair and questioned wether or not I should even get a cockatoo. After lots of reading and talking to other cockatoo slaves I made what I believe is an informed decision that I have never regretted and brought one and then 2 years later another one home. Since i've been a part of that group i've spent a lot of time trying to decide exactly what it is that I believe. I've gotten into debates there and been jumped on there and i've gone from disagreeing entirely to understanding completely to questioning their agenda to finally realising that I don't have to subscribe entirely to what the agenda is there to benefit from the compiled information there. I do know that despite the fact that I don't agree with everything there and that I admit wholeheartedly it has flaws and could stand a less in your face approach that I have learned more there then I have anywhere, not including the hands on training I get at home and that going there has opened my mind to so many things. I'm not a delicate flower that ran when I was jumped on though, i kept coming back and I questioned things and I got some good answers, some nasty insults and took what I could use and left the rest behind.

O and about the branches, I do that all the time, all 4 of my guys love them! That and pinecones although what a mess they make with them and as quickly as my u2 dismantles the branches I would almost need to get her an entire tree to occupy her the whole day.

[BryanH]

Great points Cindy. I agree with you 100%!

And, after getting past the ugliness of that site, I did find some great info on food preperation and toy ideas. You are right: The information is there, you just have to dig for it.

Thanks again!

Bryan in Denver...

[mamalovesrico]

Hey guys, I'm a little late on jumping in on your thread but found it very interesting. I too have visited mytoos. Scarey but good in a way. I am new to the bird ownership world. And yes, I've started off with a U2. He's now getting ready to turn 9 months. He's a lover and loves everyone. But I'm telling you the only one he bites is ME! He never bites anyone else and I guess that's a good thing, kinda. When we play especially with balls, he gets so into it and takes a hold of one of my fingers. This is pretty much the only time he does it. What am I doing wrong? He's been doing this more and more lately. My responses to him biting vary. Usually I grab his beak, firmly, and say "don't bite" and walk out of the room to let him know I'm upset with him and that this is not accepted. Any suggestions would help.
I know two other U2 owners personally and to tell you the truth...I wouldn't let them watch my plants let alone ask them for advice.
I read about your question on sexual maturity. I've been reading a book from a parrot behaviorist who writes a lot about Cockatoos. She said the range is from 3-7, she also said this is where you'll see the changes in your bird. Everything she's written used to scare me. We'll your right Cindy, don't believe everything you read. Learn from your own bird.