Best Cockatoo for a family pet

[AndreaSctlnd]

I was just curious, what kind of cockatoo makes the best family pet? I have a friend who is thinking about getting one and I told her she had best do a lot of research, I know they like to be around people a LOT...any info would be great.

[MissileMe]

would be a too that

1. Hasn't been gavage fed. This is said to cause food phobias and psychological problems in the future. Even if it were not true, I wouldn't do it to my too and many would agree to that it is inhumane.

2. That has been socialized to humans. At the very least your too will adapt to the new human environment quickly.

3. Breeder knows a great deal about socializing baby toos. You'd be amazed at how little knowledge most owners are.

4. That has been given 1 on 1 attention at birth. You don't need a screamer or a slasher that's spiteful and knows nothing else.

5. That hasn't been abused or mistreated. Same reason as above.

6. That has been feed all sorts of food including pellets.

7. That has been tested for chlamydia, PBFD, etc.

I could go on and on but the most important is that if one is acquireing a baby too or baby parrot, you need to make sure the breeder knows exactly how to raise the bird correctly. This include feeding, attention, physical care and contact.

It's worth it to spend the extra time and money to acquire a bird from the right person. The little you skimp here could lead to a disaster in the future.

In essence, it all depends upon the human. Will he/she do his/her homework and check out all the necessary criterias and locate the correct bird.

BTW. As to the type of too, well M2 and U2 are supposedly the most difficult. Others all come in about the same. Galahs are supposedly more quiet but that doesnt always have to be the case. Goffins will scream in total darkness and that alone could spell disaster for many. The point here is that the way your too grows up depends upon the way you raise the too. The best too is the too that isn't a picky eater, well socialized, doesnt scream excessively, bite hard, knows right from wrong and isn't spiteful. But all that depends upon the way you raise it. Hope that helps.

[Xen]

Don't toos tend to be one person birds? I know that nothing is set in stone... but as a general 'rule'?

[ljhassell]

Our RBC's are not 1 person TOO's they will go to anyone.

[AndreaSctlnd]

Thanks for all the info.

I am hoping that she really does her research before jumping in. I know that I have always wanted an African Grey and I did tons of research before deciding to go ahead with putting a deposit on one. I told her to come in here and talk to other owners and get there ideas, but I don't think she has. I just don't want the bird to suffer because she gets it on a whim.

[Icednova625]

too's are probably the farthest thing away from a one person bird. Every one of them I've experienced, including the 2 we own would go to anyone and be just as friendly as they would a total stranger as they are the owner.

[Fransheska101]

my friends cokatoo hates her but with any1 else is the friendliest bird ever, its really weird. but then again she used to spend all day with her but now shes in college and the bird is prob mad that shes not getting much attention

[garenburkus]

We have a umbrela as a family pet. What you said about certin toos screaming at certin times? Whats with that? No cockatoo has a mold to which is screms, they all screm natually for a bit each day, and most cockatoos(besides gahahs and majors) are birds for everyone. Our umbrella is quit ebcause he was trained never to screm for attention, we ignored when he did and gave it to him when quiet.

I would say what is she looking for ? Is louness a major issure cuz some screms are louder then others, can she handle mess, space, time, money, and sexual maturiity? A cuddle bug is a umbrella, or moluccan for sure.

[ndeben]

Is this the familys first bird???

[AndreaSctlnd]

No she has two cockatiels and a rescued blue cap conure. The rescuse was very loud when she got him but in the past year he has really calmed down. We guessed his age to be around 19 years. He was dropped off at a vets office and left there. They kept him for a really long time but his screaming was getting to be too much. He never really got handled so he doesn't like to be touched but he is learning to do some tricks and he loves to talk.