parrot abuse

[sweetie&meli]

This site made me tear up ,i cant belive ppl do this stuff:

http://www.mytoos.com/chained.html

[sweetie&meli]

dont get me worng i dont like the site much ..as u said the info on it is not right at all..i just couldnt lookmat those pics without feeling sad and angry ..on how ppl can get these beautiful creatures and make them sad and end up looking like that:(

[TooLover]

Here we go again...........................................wa s hoping I could pass this thread without a comment but alas, I can't. I am the owner of 3 toos. My male U2 is 10 and bites, viciously, however, after being here for over 6 months we have learned his moods and he is the sweetest baby ever. My LSC is also a wonderful sweetie, who is going on 3 and going through the horomonal stage, which has brought on a little biting. My new addition is a female U2 who is a wonderful talker and sweetie. Mytoos.com is a site that, though they try to pass on good info and discourage the wrong owners, shows nothing but the dramatic, ugly side of owning 'toos. I love the 'toos and would adopt them all if I could afford them, both money-wise and time-wise.
Just my opinion.......not trying to step on any toes here..............but I DO SPEAK from experience.

[MelissaW01]

I am nowhere near being ready for a bird as needy or large as a 'too - but I have met quite a few 'too owners through a breeder locally here. They all tell me they love their 'too but their hormonal aggression and demanding nature is more than they bargained for. Not one didn't say that - and they offered, I didn't ask. One gentlemen showed me how his LSC took the top half of his thumb off after playing and cuddling and suddenly turning on him. Do you disagree with these owners' experiences? Not questioning your statement - just curious as to your opinion. I can say after these conversations with these owners I tend to look at 'toos a little differently.

[Cindy Q]

Ah geez the mytoos debate. I too tried to skip over this one and keep my mouth shut couldn't do it!
Before I bought my first cockatoo about 3 years ago I did a lot of research. Tons of reading books, websites, joined lists and talked to cockatoo lovers that shared their homes with them. I was really worried and thought long and hard about wether I could deal with a hormonal cockatoo. I finally decided after a lot of soul searching that I was committed and hopefully if I was knowledgable enough I could prevent a few of the problems unprepared 'too people face. So with that in mind I took the plunge. Its been a good 3 years, so good I went out and added another. I adore cockatoos and don't ever regret a day that I decided to add them to our home. But they are not easy and certainly not for everyone and for that I am greatful that mytoos is out there to weed out the weak and to help those that bought cockatoos impulsively without knowing all there is to them stick it out and to offer tried and true advice that helps.
I have 2 cockatoos and mine are both fairly young but I do notice in my oldest that she has changed the older she's gotten. I worry and know what the future may hold for us but I entered knowing what the possibilities are and I am committed to making it work and being there for them. I'm here for the long haul and if anyone who reads mytoos gets scared off by the realities of a hormonal too then its a good thing for them and the 'too they may have not been able to handle. Obviously there are a lot of cockatoos that don't have those problems when the reach maturity, i'm hopeful that mine will skate through maturity but the possibility is out there and all you can do is prepare for the worst but remain hopeful and optimistic for the best.
I think the thought process behind mytoos is to not dwell on the positives of too ownership and to not make it look too enjoyable because sometimes thats all the affirmation someone who is on the brink of adding a cockatoo needs, sometimes its all that gets through. Mainly they are against buying and breeding cockatoos, they prefer that if you want to add a cockatoo that primarily you are educated and prepared but also that you adopt because there are so many unwanted cockatoos in shelters due to impulse buyers that didn't know what they were getting into and that with shelters, papers overrun with cockatoos for adoption breeding more is only adding to the overpopulation. The fact is pet stores and sometimes breeders are only out to make a buck and may not tell you the real deal concerning cockatoos and the cockatoo you buy uninformed my be added to the problem they are fighting against. I think some cockatoos never have any problems and are completyely and totally well adjusted but if theres any possibility that you could get a bird like the ones described on Mytoos wouldn't you rather be warned that its a possibility and make an informed decision? I think that about sums it up. Sorry for the novel guys I just love my 2 cockatoos and think that anything that makes a person really think long and hard about bringing one home is a good thing and cockatoos deserve an informed "owner",(for lack of a better word) it gives them a better shot at a forever home. I know I am guilty of quickly pointing out the negatives to anyone who admires any of my birds. I want to make sure that noone impulsivley buys any bird because they saw how cute and sweet mine are. I want them to know that having birds is a lot of work and its pretty dog gone expensive and a huge commitment also. So I can relate to why mytoos is so negative because i'm guilty of doing it too becuase I worry about the birds someone could buy without having the downside presented becuase I know when they go to the pet store they won't hear it there.

[MelissaW01]

I appreciate your candidness. I have been to the site in question here and took it with a grain of salt, as I'd heard the negatives of people who had been there. Like I said, I'm nowhere in the market for a 'too (I know I can't take care of them right now like they need). I just wanted to see what the flip side of the argument was. Like I said, I have no doubt that any bird can be vicious - I had 2 lovebirds who were little Rottweilers - MAN did those beaks hurt for being so small!!! I just, I guess, was playing a bit of devil's advocate because I have interacted with many local breeders and 'too owners who say very similar things to what that site says. Yet I hear others saying they're completely out of line. I'm NOT trying to stir the pot, really I'm not. Like Cindy, I have to say I want to know the good and bad of ANY animal I may bring into my house as another member of our family. And it really isn't even the behavior of a 'too that turns me off - I think the dander alone would drive my husband and daughter's allergies nuts.

Thanks for the candid, honest novel (in your words - lol) Cindy - I appreciate your honesty.

[Lynjupiter]

I agree with others about the fact Mytoos.com has some value. I always tell people if you go there, read everything and STILL really want one then you might just be a person who can handle a cockatoo. At least you know the worst case scenario on what can happen.

The more people it turns away from toos the better. You have to be a special person to be able to keep a too as a pet.

I have a five year old female. At least everything says she is female but I have not had her DNAed. She is the sweetest thing in the world with the family but will attack strangers. She plucks and she has mutilated before.
There is nothing more disheartening and sickening then having your bird chew a hole in it's self. I was crushed wondering where I have gone wrong. We did everything, consistent time with owner from baby to adulthood, toys , a large cage, vet visits. Yet she turned out a classic plucker mutilator. What makes me angry is people assuming that my bird has some how been neglected or mistreated just because she harms herself.

Lynda

[SavvyMoon]

aah cockatoos... THE most 'controversial' large parrot out there.
The amazon being no. 2 - in my opinion.

I love cockatoos. I don't have one now, never had one, and
most likely never will. But I think they are gorgeous, incredible birds.
Oh believe me, I want one, (a goffins, or ducorps or lsc)
but I manage to talk myself out of it every time.
My wanting one is mostly an emotional want.
Intellectually, I'm very much on the fence about cockatoos
even being included on the "companion bird" list.

I completely understand both sides of the issue that Mytoos puts forth,
and others disagree with. What IS the right answer?
Maybe there isn't one? I don't know.

But one thing I find myself wondering about often is maybe
there are some birds that are indeed better off left in the
wild and not bred for companion birds. Some wild animals shouldn't
BE domesticated, in my opinion. And among that list of wild animals
that we should not attempt to (or no longer attempt to)
domesticate is the cockatoo.

Generally speaking -as a whole species of birds- cockatoos just don't seem
to adapt well or remain happy and healthy as captive/domestic pets.
Imagine for a moment being able to capture or domestically breed dolphins: beautiful creature, intelligent, loving towards humans, gentle, so many good qualities, (probably a few more than cockatoos!) and yet keeping them in captivity, no matter how BIG the salt water pool, or how many toys and interaction they get daily.... would not make for a happy healthy dolphin in the average household, would it?

bottom line is some creatures aren't meant for domestication; lions, tigers, otters, beavers, gophers, deer, etc. It's not all about size or species either...it's about how they fair in captivity as a PET.
Maybe cockatoos and amazons - just like the bald eagle and falcon-
and many other birds, shouldn't BE expected to make that transition to domesticated pet....???

Well it's something to think about, no?

[Lynjupiter]

I agree Savy.

I have used the dolphin-cockatoo comparsion many times in my debate with fellow too lovers on domesticating cockatoos.

[SavvyMoon]

Originally Posted by Lynjupiter

I agree Savy.

I have used the dolphin-cockatoo comparsion many times in my debate with fellow too lovers on domesticating cockatoos.

Wow, that is so weird! Seriously??
I randomly chose the dolphin only because I'm a dolphin "freak"
from way back! Ever since I was a little kid I fantasized not only about
having a dolphin as a "pet"... but that I WAS a dolphin in another
prior life and spiritually guided by one in this life. (Hey I never said I wasn't odd! )

Well ^5 on dolphins, Lyn!

Savvy*