Cockatoo or Macaw?

[Jtbirds]

Honestly, perhaps PERHAPS its best if you got a macaw. Cockatoos in general all of them require a massive amount of experience, all cockatoos are very prone to behavioral problems, you hear and see many stories of ex cockatoo owners who had bitten off more then they could chew. Thats why there are so many cockatoos in rescues. I have no experience with macaw but I do have a cockatoo so I know what I'm talking about. And definitely, they scream so loud it's not even funny. Keep us posted. I've always wanted a macaw

We usually have about 20 cockatoos at the resue compared to 5-10 macaws so yea the odds are pretty bad when you get people that don't prepare themselves that is for sure. Cockatoos don't have to be loud they truly aren't nearly as loud in the wild as they are in captivity we have created most of the cockatoos issues, by our constant snuggling and so on we do making them go insane, and then honestly it's hard to fix a spoiled cockatoo one of the hardest things to fix.


When I first started rescue I didnt mess with cockatoos nearly as much as I do now, but now they seem to be what I spend the most time working behavior on is cockatoos...

 

[psychocircus91]

Pyscho I do not mean to intrude but I would highly suggest to never spend 6 hours with a cockatoo this kind of action is the stuff that makes cockatoos so bad, I give my cockatoos a max of 30 minutes and the rest they must entertain themselves this has made for quieter, happier, not sexually flustraited, etc... Cockatoos I know it sounds lack luster but if you were to spend so much time that is when a cockatoo would create an issue big time. I'd also like to add none of my birds even the cockatoos get lonely ever, I am directing is more towards the cockatoos, they play on gyms and content themselves for 6 hours a night my birds are out constantly unless I am not home. So it doesn't matter how much time out so much as to much on you is when the issues happen.

I do agree That you must be expirence, i did not get a cockatoo that was normal until 7 years of strong research and 3 years in the rescue business, I did have a umbrella wild caught that had a seizure disorder, but he didn't count as the norm as he was off sadly, the other issues are cockatoos hormones really suck compared to macaws and this again is we're to much time can become a huge issue.


I never want to push away from certain species, but cockatoos defiantly require some thought before you decide to invest your life with them.

JT- I did not mean that the bird should be handled for 6 hours. I meant that the owner needs to be available for this amount of time. This way the cockatoo can be out of it's cage, or at least view activities going on in the house. I could have never kept my cockatoo caged for 22+ hours a day.

 

[MikeyTN]

I'm actually with Jtbirds there! By over handling Cockatoos can cause more harm then good. I do limited handling with my Cockatoos as I find they do better that way. Less screaming and no plucking issues. But I do one on one visit with each multiple times per day.

With the two birds I pick a macaw over a Cockatoo even though I LOVE LOVE LOVE Cockatoos. First of all, the dust issue, it is a MAJOR issue. If you think you have a large room and not have to worry about dust, think again. You'd be amazed how much dust a Cockatoo puts out. I can handle my macaw without worrying about him acting crazy unlike my U2, he's unpredictable. Now our Lesser Sulphur Crested, she's a sweet heart and both my partner and I can handle her without any issues. But she's been with us for 8+ years. But at last, the choice is yours. Go visit them and see who picks you. We always let the birds choose us instead of us choosing them unless we feel they needed to be taken away from the owner so we can provide them with better life.

 

[Jtbirds]

Ok pyscho I thought you meant handling it for 6 hours I was like oooooo no...., I do agree my birds are out 6 hours a night on stands and so on so yes they need plenty of time to be out and interact.

Mikey I have the same view point as you with the fact I don't have to worry about my macaws being bad, but that dang m2 gets into a mood and you better watch it, the sulphur crested and galah I don't have to worry about but him he can be an issue quickly, he has calmed down some in the past year but nothing like I want him to...