3 month old cockatoo

[ChrisYNA]

I met a guy (in a grocery store I shop at ran by Portuguese people who don't mind birds) with a 3 month old Bare-eyed Cockatoo and got to pet him. Soft and fluffy as cotton. Never petted one of these before, so am I correct the softness is because it's a baby? I had my Amazon with me so we talked a bit, but I was surprised how soft the bird was. I actually never petted a bird this young before, so are they all like this at such age?

 

[LordTriggs]

I don't think I've ever touched a bird who isn't soft!

I recently got to stroke a goffins and that was soft as can be as well

 

[EllenD]

Well yes, all baby parrots/birds have a ton of that "fluff" that sucks you right in, lol...But with a Cockatoo, you get a double-dose of "fluff", because they have the powder/dust feathers, which make them all the more soft and cuddly...It's impossible to resist, lol..

My baby Ringneck Dove is the same way, he's got the baby fluff combined with the ultra-soft, powder/dust feathers, and they're pudgy and round too..He hates it when I rub him against my face to get my fix of cuddling, he looks at me like "Oh crap, here we go again, I'm gonna get snuggled..."...

 

[Scott]

They are extremely soft! I'm gently stroking one of my Goffins right now - he is on my left knee as I type. They are somewhat similar to the Bare-eyed. Cockatoos love to be handled, so their loved ones get many doses of their softness!

 

[Siobhan]

Rocky gets cuddled and kissed and sniffed multiple times a day and while he mostly likes it, sometimes he gets tired of it, and I swear he sighs and rolls his eyes. Probably thinking, "Good grief, Mom, find a HOBBY."

 

[MonicaMc]

Cockatoos are generally always soft, regardless of age!

 

[ChrisYNA]

I asked because I felt a difference between this baby cockatoo and any amazon or macaw I ever petted. I think the word I'd use is "velvety". And as I said, I never felt a baby parrot before.

 

[ChristaNL]

Oh the species as a whole is definitely more fluffy.
Never had the honour of petting a baby, but the adults are amazing to the touch.


Glad you enjoyed the experience

 

[Scott]

Sometimes their skin is soft! One of mine has a naturally bare patch at the back of his abdomen; incredibly smooth like a baby!

 

[TiredOldMan]

Oh the species as a whole is definitely more fluffy.
Never had the honour of petting a baby, but the adults are amazing to the touch.


Glad you enjoyed the experience

Absolutely agree as long as they are not pluckers or barberers. When that is the case(unfortunately all to often) they are understandably ROUGH.

 

[noodles123]

Very soft an cuddly. Just remember, they hit a hormonal stage and tend to become slightly different. If you already know this, then ignore me, but if not, stick to petting on the head only (older birds get the wrong idea from other touching) and and don't create a cuddle bug out of novelty unless you can commit to giving the bird that that level of attention FOREVER...if not, screaming and feather pulling are likely. Just a friendly warning from a cockatoo owner (u2).

 

[EllenD]

I had to go snuggle with my Cockatiel after reading this thread...she enjoyed it for about 2 minutes, then turned her head around and looked at me like "What the hell has gotten into you?"...poor things, the way they have to put up with us...