Any good books about parrot care?

[erlabella]

Just wondering if anyone here has any book recommendations on parrot care? Well, more specifically books about Large Macaw care and Black Cockatoo care. Feel free to send me a link Thank you

 

[noodles123]

Thanks for reaching out---I don't know of any books off the top of my head, but I have to ask, have you had a bird before? Cockatoos are very near and dear to my heart and they are the most re-homed bird species of all (there are many professional bird trainers/keepers who flat out say that they would never recommend cockatoos as pets for anyone). There is a reason for this...I would venture to say that they are the birds least suited for life in captivity and they are an extreme challenge even for the most experienced of bird owners.
I only say this because no book can ever prepare you for the reality of owning a cockatoo....I have an Umbrella Cockatoo and I am her 4th home. She is only 11. The videos you see online of them being cuddlers are terrible examples of how to create a monster. Cockatoos are extremely hormonal and they are velcro-birds....They should never be cuddled or allowed to play in bedding or blankets...they should only ever be petted on their heads and necks. Baby cockatoos are sweet and clingy--most videos show babies. They do not stay this way and it is unhealthy for people to sexually stimulate them by encouraging these hormonal/cuddle behaviors. They are very prone to self-mutilation, screaming and aggression because they are flock animals and they are as smart as a 4-5 year old child. Cockatoos are special because, while they do have 1 mate in the wild, they will still hang out with and socialize with the rest of the flock. This means that it is almost impossible for a person to meet their needs, as they want to be with you at all times (even when trained to be more independent).

While there are no beginner birds, a cockatoo would be a very poor choice for most people and definitely not for a first-time owner. Yes, there are some people who successfully keep cockatoos as pets (but even among those with bird experience, they are re-homed often). Unless you have a ton of experience with large parrots (particularly cockatoos), do not get a cockatoo....Even if you do have experience, know that cockatoos are unique from other large parrot experiences. That is just the larger varieties of cockatoos in general....Black cockatoos are even more complicated due to their unique dietary needs and rarity.

Also, keep in mind that a bird in a shop/store who seems content is going to change a ton in a home environment where there is less stimulation. There are many pet stores that have cockatoos as mascots (but refuse to sell them) because they can't handle life in a home without constant people coming/going and have been returned so many times.


I know this sounds negative, but you have to almost expect the worst-case-scenario when going into cockatoo ownership. There is a lot of good stuff that I could say, but in order to take the good, you have to be able to handle and deal with the bad.

 

[Laurasea]

If you are talking about black palm Cockatoos I've worked with them in conservation, and they are very difficult to keep in captivity. Even zoos struggle, they need a lot of those palm nuts in their diet.

 

[ParrotGenie]

There is reason professional bird trainers/keepers who flat out say that they would never recommend cockatoos as pets for anyone? They are very demanding and requires hours of being out of the cage time and attention. Like noodles123 stated they can be extremely hormonal and people mistake this all the time as being cute and cuddly. Always pet at head only and never below. If they lift wing and you pet under wing, it is consider foreplay to them. Then in time they will become very aggression to others and even you, once they realize you can't preform as a mate. The other issues with Cockatoos is they are highly intelligent, they need to be mentally stimulated and need new different toys, need to solve puzzles and etc. You can easily spend $600 to a $1000 on toys a year for them. They do love to destroy stuff as wood especially, so a majority of that budget will be in wood shredding toys. If you don't provide them this then it be your favorite stuff and wood trim they will destroy. Then Cockatoo put out a lot of dander and dust and you will require a large HEPA purifier like the IQAir. No ionized based one.

Now if you can meet their needs, they are quite rewarding and will be your a good companion. They do take a lot of work, vet care and supplies, plus time to keep one happy.

Don't try to keep a black palm Cockatoos, zoos even have a hard time meeting their needs

 

[noodles123]

There is reason professional bird trainers/keepers who flat out say that they would never recommend cockatoos as pets for anyone? They are very demanding and requires hours of being out of the cage time and attention. Like noodles123 stated they can be extremely hormonal and people mistake this all the time as being cute and cuddly. Always pet at head only and never below. If they lift wing and you pet under wing, it is consider foreplay to them. Then in time they will become very aggression to others and even you, once they realize you can't preform as a mate. The other issues with Cockatoos is they are highly intelligent, they need to be mentally stimulated and need new different toys, need to solve puzzles and etc. You can easily spend $600 to a $1000 on toys a year for them. They do love to destroy stuff as wood especially, so a majority of that budget will be in wood shredding toys. If you don't provide them this then it be your favorite stuff and wood trim they will destroy. Then Cockatoo put out a lot of dander and dust and you will require a large HEPA purifier like the IQAir. No ionized based one.

Now if you can meet their needs, they are quite rewarding and will be your a good companion. They do take a lot of work, vet care and supplies, plus time to keep one happy.

Don't try to keep a black palm Cockatoos, zoos even have a hard time meeting their needs

I agree. I would like to add that just providing toys, stimulation and attention is not enough alone. They are behaviorally complicated, so it also requires a solid understanding of bird behavior and behavior analysis in general. Without this, you won't know how/when to react, when to ignore, or how to respond in potentially high-stress situations...not to mention how to teach independence and all that jazz. You must be extremely patient, as well..While ignoring a behavior seems easy enough in theory, "winning" a battle of wills with an attention-seeking cockatoo can take hours and hours of deafening screaming (comparable to the volume of a jet engine up close...not even joking). And those beaks are very very powerful....They can and have broken fingers (Moloccuns, and Umbrellas especially...and Palm, based on beak size). It can be extremely frustrating to watch a bird scream and pluck because it simply doesn't understand why you can't be with it constantly...and they can/will if they lack the skills to handle separation. Remember, closeness is their instinct, so it is a constant struggle, but they can be taught. Even then you are going to have ups and downs, as cockatoos are notoriously moody and sensitive.

If you really want a large parrot and haven't had one before, you should volunteer for a year or so at a rescue organization before making the commitment. This will be more valuable than any book. Just keep in mind that a bird like a cockatoo will often do better in a high-stimulation environment (like a rescue or pet shop) than they will in a less stimulating environment....So the transition from constant noise/other birds/people coming and going, to someone's home (especially if you work) can be very hard on them.

 

[erlabella]

I understand your concerns guys. I’m not thinking about getting a cockatoo at all. Atleast not now. Just looking for some books that’s all

 

[noodles123]

If you want to learn more about these birds, I would honestly rely more heavily on forums like this, in conjunction with volunteer experience, and a bird book (if you really want a hard-copy). Bird books (in my experience) over-simplify while creating the illusion of confidence/knowledge (as in, well, they didn't mention that in the book, so it must not be important). Plus, bird books often are overly rose-colored (as they are usually sold next to the very birds they discuss). That is not to say that good ones aren't out there...I just don't know of any. Do not rely on generic pet websites (such as The Spruce) because a lot of that information is totally incorrect and/or written by people without bird experience...too many generalities etc. In terms of cockatoos, this forum has some good information (Macaws, cockatoos/other), as does mytoos.com (which does tend to focus on the problematic behaviors that cockatoo owners face). Yes, it is fairly negative, but it still reflects people's honest experiences.