Considering getting a galah

[Nessa]

I'm considering getting a galah, and would like to know the pros and cons from someone with experience. I haven't had a big parrot before, but we had a lovebird for years, and I've played babysitter to a friend's timneh African grey a few times, and another friend's trio of cockatiels, so I'm not without some experience. The main reason I would like a galah is that I've read that they tend to be a bit easier than other toos, and also that they're less likely to bond to one person than some parrots (feel free to correct me on this, this is just based on what I've read, and a very sweet galah I met in a pet shop a while ago). We live in a house where there is almost always someone home, and there are no young children. Our local vet clinic has an avian specialist. Our nearest neighbours are far enough away that a noisy bird is not likely to cause problems.

Any and all advice would be hugely appreciated! Thank you

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Sounds like you've done some research, great! Sounds like you've also crossed off many of the boxes that make it easier to be a great parront. We added a Galah after enjoying our Amazon, and I can honestly say they are both quite different birds. Each have their pros and cons, and I'll lay out mine for the Galah below:

Pros: Good with everyone, not super-bitey, beak is manageable, not adverse to handling and cuddles, smaller in size, only noisy when having temper tantrums, curious and fearless, very soft

Cons: Difficult to read body language, very very very busy, takes no time to be destructive (typical cockatoo, just destructive on a smaller scale), is a ground bird (meaning often underfoot), curious and fearless, has temper tantrums

People often describe parrots like toddlers. Rhubarb is certainly a toddler (a 2-year old in my estimation), and you need to keep a constant eye on him, and keep him busy. He also doesn't recognize danger and is fearless; we'd prefer him to be a bit more leery of the dogs and cats than he is.

If you have your heart set on a cockatoo, they are certainly manageable ones, but truly reflect their larger relatives in a smaller way. The emotional needs and time investment go well beyond what our Amazon has demanded.

 

[Nessa]

I have to say, I haven't considered amazons. The only one I ever met was incredibly aggressive, and it's put me off them a bit. At the moment the other birds I'm considering are conures and senegals. We could well end up with a conure anyway; there's a Sun conure in our local pet shop who's utterly smitten with me and my mum! Keeps trying to sneak out of the shop on our shoulders!

 

[SirEdwin89]

I have to say, I haven't considered amazons. The only one I ever met was incredibly aggressive, and it's put me off them a bit. At the moment the other birds I'm considering are conures and senegals. We could well end up with a conure anyway; there's a Sun conure in our local pet shop who's utterly smitten with me and my mum! Keeps trying to sneak out of the shop on our shoulders!

too cute! And don't be thrown off by one aggressive sample of a bird, as it is rarely anything to do with the breed itself and usually due to its raising (or lack thereof)

 

[Blancaej]

How exciting. I don't know a lot about Galah's but have heard many good things. They are probably one of the easiest cockatoos to own from what I have heard. I have a Blue Crown Conure who I absolutely love! He can be noisy but not all the time. So many choices! It's no wonder we have a hard time choosing!

Good luck and I look forward to finding out with you go with!

 

[Nessa]

I have to say, I haven't considered amazons. The only one I ever met was incredibly aggressive, and it's put me off them a bit. At the moment the other birds I'm considering are conures and senegals. We could well end up with a conure anyway; there's a Sun conure in our local pet shop who's utterly smitten with me and my mum! Keeps trying to sneak out of the shop on our shoulders!

too cute! And don't be thrown off by one aggressive sample of a bird, as it is rarely anything to do with the breed itself and usually due to its raising (or lack thereof)

I shall have to endevour to meet more amazons! To be fair to that particular bird, he'd been rescued from a very inadequate owner, and had then become completely attached to his new owner and was convinced anyone who got too close was a threat.

I have a soft spot for macaws, but they're so big that I think I'd need a bit more experience, and I have heard that they can be much trickier than a lot of other species.

At the moment I'm in no way heartset on any one kind of bird, and it'll be a while before I make up my mind and commit, and then I have to find the right breeder and everything like that. It could well be this time next year before I get a bird.

 

[shesaravenclaw]

So there's a guy who used to be on a forum I was on a long time ago. He has a galah named Professor... Bird is hilarious, however, the owner is home with him all day and, frankly, they have a sweet set up.
[ame="https://youtu.be/_vZ4Y6t_mUY"]Proff Dancing - YouTube[/ame]
He's dancing in this one, if you just go through the channel you'll see ones where he's fighting with the beagle, scaring a trash can be singing along to music, making his own little house... He really is quite the character.

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk

 

[smbrds]

From my experience with a galah, it is true. This is all of course based one one's experience and individual bird. I find the galah to be more manageable than other cockatoos. They are almost cross between a cockatiel but still a cockatoo nonetheless. They are a 2 year old with ADD and busy busy.

They appreciate a head scritch, some cuddles and are a clown, going on their backs kicking their legs in the air, etc. A friend I used to know that I had a galah as well as a moluccan, the galah was more manageable, but while the moluccan could fancy sitting down enjoying bird scritches on her while scritching herself with her foot, I would sit down with the galah on the couch but only enough time for her to rip a small pimple off my face and waddle away into mischief. As a cockatoo they love love to chew, love to explore. Which is great too, because need exercise as they're known to develop fatty tumors. They can also be manipulative.

Some of the pros mentioned above. For me, a 'too. A con? Being a 'too.

There are several here who actually have a galah, and my experience is limited. So they can expand more. But if I were to get a cockatoo, a galah would be at the top of the list. Also, a conure is a great choice as well. I personally love the GCCs. Good luck with your decision - not always easy - and it'll be nice to know what you end up with.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Sounds like you've done some research, great! Sounds like you've also crossed off many of the boxes that make it easier to be a great parront. We added a Galah after enjoying our Amazon, and I can honestly say they are both quite different birds. Each have their pros and cons, and I'll lay out mine for the Galah below:

Pros: Good with everyone, not super-bitey, beak is manageable, not adverse to handling and cuddles, smaller in size, only noisy when having temper tantrums, curious and fearless, very soft

Cons: Difficult to read body language, very very very busy, takes no time to be destructive (typical cockatoo, just destructive on a smaller scale), is a ground bird (meaning often underfoot), curious and fearless, has temper tantrums

People often describe parrots like toddlers. Rhubarb is certainly a toddler (a 2-year old in my estimation), and you need to keep a constant eye on him, and keep him busy. He also doesn't recognize danger and is fearless; we'd prefer him to be a bit more leery of the dogs and cats than he is.

If you have your heart set on a cockatoo, they are certainly manageable ones, but truly reflect their larger relatives in a smaller way. The emotional needs and time investment go well beyond what our Amazon has demanded.

It's there LOL. Beware of the tail flare! Crest doesn't need to be up but if tail flared watch your step.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Re RB2's: From experience of mine and my friends I look after on a regular basis throughout the year they are both males and like chalk and cheese.

Mine is a right cuddle bug, a big nelly/scaredy cat, he can bite if he puts his mind to it or just has the arse with me LOL He is my funny little clown, rather be with us than do stuff on his own unless it is something he isnt supposed to do like chewing the laundry basket. Pops his head round the corner, looks at me like he's grinning!

My friend's is totally different gets through a toy a day, busy busy. Plenty of attitude but still likes his cuddles. Has developed a different relationship with all the people in his wide circle of family and me. Me and his Nana are the ones he will really cuddle with. Cage territorial with his mum but not me or his dad???

They are both a little nervy of unexpected things. They haven't really taken to each other and get jealous of each other receiving some fuss.

Agree with Scooter's points but the temper tantrum could be age related and will grow out. My friends RB2 does this a little now and is lessening as he gets older. Mine isn't noisy but my friends is and does this squeaking all the while. Can and do pluck which is worrying. Mine has mastered a fair amount of words and puts them together and uses them in context. My friends says some things. Just like a two year old they need boundaries.

Although a smaller cockatoo they do produce a fair amount of dust.

Good luck with your choice whatever you choose, parrots are a mega draw on your time so please bear this in mind most of all.

 

[Jayyj]

I have a 12 year old galah. She's very skittish and low on confidence although she has got better in the four years I've had with her. Anything new is bad news and trying to expand her horizons has been slow and frustrating work. I have a theory with galahs that when they're unhappy they internalise more than other toos, so where a white too will scream and become agressive, galahs end up retreating into themselves and becoming perch potatoes. When I first met mine she would sit at the back of a small cage staring into the middle distance and panicking if anyone tried to move her. It was only sustained and consistant affection and attention that got her out of her shell and it wasn't an overnight thing. A galah that is properly looked after from the start always seems to be a totally different bird to those that are rescued and brought back, and to me that speaks volumes as to their sensitivity.

Ok, so that's the negative bit. On the upside, she's cuddlier than a labrador puppy and very affectionate. She's surprisingly good with people and like almost everyone she meets. She's not particularly loud, and she only screams when she gets over excited playing a game. She's very nippy (which is a bit of a problem not so much for me but she's been through a few babysitters) but that little beak definitely doesn't pack the punch of a CAG or white too and she's never drawn blood from me with a bite. She can be very funny in a goofy, clowny sort of way. She's quite clingy but most of the time she's happy hanging out so I don't have to spend too much time thinking if things for her to do when I want to get on with something else.