New to board, new owner of Greater Sulfur Crested..

[Luvmyparrots]

Hi all, I'm new to the board, and have a couple questions? First let me say that I am owned by an African Grey, a B&G macaw, a parrotlet, and now a Greater Sulfur Crested Cockatoo. I just bought the TOO two days ago. Wow what a big bird! lol And gorgous! The lady I got him from had only had him about 6mo. She didn't know much of his background except that an older man and woman had him and the lady had died and the man didn't want him anymore. She told me he was not tame. When visiting him at her home, he stayed in the corner of the cage he was in, and didnt do anything but hiss. She did clip his wings for me before we left after I told her I would purchase him. I brought him home (2hour drive) in a pet taxi. He is really scared of my husband, and will about break his neck to get to the back of his cage when my husband approaches the cage, and of course hisses. I haven't tried to handle him, I know I'm gonna get bit and I know these birds bite hard!! lol NOT looking forward to it. So far he's bee pretty good. He really likes for me to cluck my tongue at him, he mocks me doing it. I will go up to his cage and say I love you, over and over. Sometimes he will crouch down and pop back up very quickly with his topnot up, and usually he ends up making that clucking noise, although seems to be a noise he's making with his beak. He will cock his head all different directions making this noise. Yesterday, I had forgottent to put one of the large toys in his cage before I had put him in it the night before...I figured I was really going to get bit when I went to hang the toy. But he did great! He sat there watching me just a few inches from my arm. He has said a couple words, and has tried to say a few things I can't understand. Alot of times when I approach the cage he will hiss and up comes the topnot(crest? LOL), but if I start talking to him softly or cluck my tongue, he stops the hissing. He seems to like to chew one of his perches over the toys lol. Any advice anyone can give me on this wonderful TOO would be appreciated. He does strike at me through the cage, but not very often. If I move my hand, he seems frightened, so I try not to make any sudden noises. When we have been cooing back and forth through the cage, he sometimes will put his head right up to the bars, and I have a few times had my hand right there on the cage (outside) to get him used to my hands, and once in awhile, he will gently put his beak through the bar and stick his tongue out and try to lick (touch) my fingers, but I don't have them close enough lol. The lady that had him the past six months has a umbrella cockatoo that she hand fed, so I don't think it's that she's afraid of toos...maybe I just remind him somehow of his previous owner?? I don't know. How long should I wait before I try to handle him? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated from this new too mommie!

[ljhassell]

When bringging in a new bird a "quarentine"30-45 days should always be done, it's not known if your new birds caught something, you do not want your birds exposed if it was. Also a well/new bird check should be preformed by your avian vet asap.

[donnakris]

I have a U2 that I adopted. She's 8 years old. When I got her she was very shy and seemed very afraid of falling. I left her in her cage for a couple of days and just sat and talked to her. She would reach through the bars to grab my finger but then she wanted to bite it. After a few days, I opened the door and she would go on top of the cage and just sit. I would walk by and stop and talk to her. She would go back into her cage and I'd leave her there. After about a week of this, she would let me very gently and only for a few minutes touch her head. Then she would let me touch her wings. After about 2 weeks, she finally stepped up on my arm, but I couldn't move. She seemed terrified. For about 2-3 weeks, I would hold her on my arm in one spot and just talk to her. She finally let me walk across the floor with her and stand in front of my chair. She wouldn't have me trying to sit down. I think she was afraid of falling since someone clipped all her wings off. It has taken about 2 1/2 months but now I can walk with her, sit and get up, walk to another room and she loves to cuddle under the blanket.
I am in no way an expert, just my story. It just takes time and patience it seems with these birds. Best of luck

[Luvmyparrots]

I have alot of patience, so that isn't a problem. I've raised 5 children of my own...well two still at home, but two more years they will both be 18. lol Sad thing is, I don't know if he's ever been handled. The lady I got him from used a thick blanket doubled over to get him out of the cage she had him in, and I don't think she even asked the previous owner if they handled him. It doesn't matter, if I don't ever get to touch or hold him, I won't love him any less. He's an amazing fella. I just have never owned a 2 and know they are much different from the other parrots I do have. Thanks, and still welcoming any ideas, suggestions, etc

[GlendaNS]

The tongue click noise means they like you and want to be friends. We call them kisses. ;o)

Sounds like you are doing really well with him. I would just let him dictate what he is ready for. The great thing about Too's, is that they are such love sponges and want contact.

[Luvmyparrots]

Well that is good to know about the clicking noise. lol I let him out of the cage today for a little bit...it was ok until he decided to try to fly, which although his wings were clipped, he managed to do quite well. I don't think he knows "step up" at all. It took forever to get him back to his cage lol, then he got back up on top and was hard to get him down. I finally decided to take a break, and he went in lol figures. I'm hoping that bopping he does going down and springing back up quickly with his crest up is a good thing...he acts all excited when he does it. If he's not ever actually been ''handled'', will I ever be able to tame him down? or is it a lost cause to try?

Has anyone used the Chet Womach training tapes? $47.77 seems like an awful good price if his training techniques work??? I'd be interested on everyone's opinion and if anyone has ever used it? He says he's taken birds from the wild and trained them easily and quickly??? Thanks for the responses and advice.

edited to say, someone told me on another board I would be wasting my time with a Greater Sulfur because if he's not tamed now, he won't tame down much and I won't ever be able to handle him. I'm just wondering. Thanks

[Luvmyparrots]

Here is a picture of "Grumpy". This isn't his cage though, this is what he was in when I went to look at him. I noticed today when he put his wings up, he's has plucked I guess ?just the very tops underneath all the way across under his wings. He didn't have any toys in his cage when I went to look at him, she said she had some in there but he destroyed them very quickly. Hoepfully he will stop doing that? any advice on that? None of my parrots have ever plucked?

[Muchi]

I don't think he's a lost cause. I think with time, he'll come around, especially if he's giving you kisses already. I'd try reading a 'fun' book to him, especially with a lot of 'exciting' voices and sound effects. He may even join in with his own I have my own rescue 'too (rose-breasted or galah) and I've found he loves children's books... To the point he'll chirp along with some of the more exciting noises.

On another note, it sounds like you're very afraid of being bit. While I do understand this, it's important to note that all birds bite sooner or later, and acting afraid will only make him feel the need to assert himself. You may end up being bullied by him if you don't make sure he knows he's an equal, or you're boss. Yes, he can bite, but he's more likely to do so as a means of telling you he's boss, which he will do if he knows you're hesitant/afraid.

[Gary&Chloe]

In my opinion, your 'too wants some attention but isn't sure about you yet. I rehomed a female U2 that was locked in a garage for five years with two Rottwiellers.

It took about two weeks of talking and showing her that she was safe and secure. Now she is daddy's Precious Princess.

I'm not one for training. I let her go where she wants to go, do what she wants to do. She picks at the baseboard, but so what. She's a bird. She uses the pantry as her "nest" and picks at the labels on Cola bottles. Big whoopy. She mainly likes to be with her daddy. And her daddy likes her with me.

There are a lot of people that say I shouldn't let her run loose in the house. Well, she is never out of my sight and she doesn't get into things she shouldn't. I think if I were constantly trying to stop her, it would make her more curious.

I've had her almost six years and she has yet to chew an electric cord, or go near anything that would harm her.

Give your 'too a little time and like others on here have said, let him dictate what and where he comes out and does. Cockatoo's LOVE attention, so it won't be long and he will be looking for you to snuggle with.

As for the biting. I agree with others here too. Chloe has never bit BIT me. She will take my hand in her beak and move it or will kinda nip me to let me know I hit a bad spot or she wants down and wants me to let her go. But she could take my finger off if she wanted and yet she has never even drawn blood. Sometimes she will take my finger in her beak and go up and down it with her closed beak but just "tasting", not really biting. I have no discomfort whats so ever. I think it is a show of affection from her to me. Don't be too worried about being bit. Like everyone said, he will pick up on it.

A 'too is easy to read by their body language and feathers. You have other birds and you have done well with them. Take it slow and you will be fine. Just remember, a 'too will do everything in the book to train you to do their liking. I have a hundred stories about mine. Little stinker.

Congratulations on your new addition. You will never be sorry you got this bird. They are great great birds.

[Jannabellsmom]

He sounds like he's got great potential. My theory is to let him set the pace. My cockatiel and I have a good feeling about the relationship you are developing. Have you investigated clicker training? I like that the theory behind it is to reward positive behavior. Good luck to you and the fids. Also, there were a few people on here talking about some kind of anti bite sleeve you an put on under your regular clothes while you are still learning boundaries with your Too. Sounded like a good idea to me.