Hi Everyone

[garys mum]

Hello from New Zealand.
I am pleased to have found this site, I am getting a baby next week and although I have kept birds before, and have thoroughly researched the pros and cons of owning a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo am still a bit nervous I may do something wrong, so it is reassuring to know there is help out there.
I ventured to MYTOOS once, bad move need I say more ?
I am not a god therefore I am not worthy
look forward to talking with you all in the future and benefit from your experience.

[stepht25]

Welcome! I've never owned a 'too - but we have several members here that do. Congrats on your new baby!

[CJ*]

Welcome! I'm sure everyone will here will answer any questions you may have =)

[jimpierce7]

glad to have ya!!!

[fatma]

Hi....WELCOME to the board & CONGRATULATIONS on your new baby!

[garys mum]

Thank-you all. I can't wait to get her, bit concerned though. I have been told she is only 8 weeks old. I have handreared alot of birds in the past and competant in syringe, crop and spoon feeding, and have all the equipment to do so safely. It just seems a bit young for such a large bird.
The breeder has be handrearing for a long time but does this sound right to you?? I have no doubt that I can overcome any feeding difficulty I may encounter and he has said that she is picking at weaning foods now.
Whats your opinion??

[krissyg1989]

doesn't it take about 4 months from hatching to be COMPLETELY weaned? sometimes more? atleast that's what i've heard, and i know our babies at the store are about 6 months or so and are just getting done being weaned completely. that's good that you have the right equipment to wean him/her, but sheesh.

on that website ordeal. i think its a fantastic site. it doesn't sugar-coat what its like to have a cockatoo. have you ever been in a rescue facility? it's horrid, some of the birds look horrible and its all due to irresponsible owners. nothing against you or anything and i hope everything goes well. but its a life long thing, and you'll have to be ready to write him/her up into your will...

[garys mum]

Yes I agree it does not sugar coat anything , but it makes you too scared to ask questions and I have found they are quick to jump on the band wagon in attack mode. I agree there are some sad cases out here and some people should be not allowed to have birds, but some of us out there are very good and caring birdkeepers. We don't have bird rescue centres in NZ for parrots, but then again there are not a huge amount of Too's either due to them being so expensive, so you have to really think about it before you committ.
I do realise that it is a life long commiment and have researched carefully (which is what lead me to MYTOOS) I have read the good, bad and ugly and have spoke to cockatoo owners and owners of other large parrots to get their views. I feel they have all be honest and with me and I have made an informed decision. I have recently lost my companion parrot whom I handreared from a day old chick (due to mum rejecting him)and the void is tremendous. He showered with me, went camping with us etc, he was a fourth child in our family and though we can never replace him we can love again.

[Monica]

Many people are referred to "MT", to see if after reading all that, if they would STILL wish to purchase a cockatoo... and in most cases, if they can, they are quite likely to be able to care for a too in the long run... however, it's also been known to turn away good, caring, bird people too who were interested in toos... What I have learned, from reading and from others about "MT", is that indeed they don't suger coat it... but they also make it sound like it's impossible to care for a too properly, thus we have a lot of negativity on the site...

Gary, it's great to see you here! What part of NZ are you from? North or South Island? And am curious, if you don't mind me asking, could you tell us about your other parrot that recently past? He sure sounds like he was well loved!

[garys mum]

Hi Monica
Yes you are so right about MT's.
My lost companion was named Gary (hence: Garys mum)
He was a Moustache Parrot. I had owned his parents for 4 years before they sucessfully produced a baby, but once he hatched they wanted nothing to do with him . I took him from the nestbox at one day old, his legs were bruised from bites and he was cold. I gave him to my daughter, who shoved him down her top while I heated up the brooder. Once warmed up he thrived with his 2 hourly feeds and lots of love
Gary learnt to wear a flight suit with pride and as it was a purple glittery one we nicknamed him Gary Gary Glitter. (before Gary Glitter was a BAD boy!!)
He learnt his name and when you walked in the room he would chant "Gary Gary Glitter"
He aslo said "thankyou, hello, and called me mum"
Gary was only 15months old when he passed and the only thing I can put it down to is our last camping trip, we used citronela candles for the mozzies. Within a day Gary became ill and died hours later in my arms
His death has been very hard and he still resides in the freezer awaitng cremation when I am ready to let go.
This has been a huge wake up call and we no longer own any Teflon , don't even use air freshener and I live with the bugs!!
I never want to go through that pain again, my children still get him out for a cuddle and chat, he will always be with us. He was a small bird but left a BIG mark.