Eleanora Cockatoo

[njgray21]

So I have always wanted a parrot and want to make sure I am getting the right bird for my family/lifestyle. I visited a pet store with the intent on getting more information on African Greys. They have an Eleanora Cockatoo there that I fell in love with. He/She is incredibly sweet and seemed partial to me as well. But of course the bird is just a baby and it will change as it gets older. So I went home to do my research on Cockatoo's and found the website mytoos.com which scared the Cockatoo right outta me!! Haha. But I couldn't get this bird out of my mind so I visited him/her again and fell more in love. I learned that this particular bird was an Eleanora so I did more research. From what I have read they are the easier keepers of the Cockatoo family. They are not as loud and demanding and can be good for families with children.

So my question is, is the Eleanora really different from its more demanding and potentially problematic larger cousins? I would very much like to get this bird but not at the detriment to the bird or my family. Or should I stick with my original plan to look into African Greys?

I have two children and work so the bird would be in the cage for hours on end by itself. I would give it plenty of toys that it only had access too when no one was home and rotate them out on a regular basis and the bird would get plenty of outside the cage time when the family was home but is this enough for the Eleanora Cockatoo?

I don't want to make an emotional (and very expensive) purchase and find out it was a huge mistake. Its not fair to anyone involved most especially the bird!!

 

[njgray21]

Bump

Any input would be greatly appreciated

 

[wenz2712]

I would say stick to your first choice of a Grey Cockatoos can be very demanding Birds and need constant attention!

A Grey would be a much better choice for a Family and as a first Bird

 

[incognito]

i totally agree with wenz2712

cockatoos are demanding and always need your attention.

where as grey are less demanding

i would like to add couple of more thing you know before making a purchase those are :-
before buying any bird make sure u know the basics of your birds need
do you have the time for him/her everyday.
any bird can be demanding for any period of time

 

[njgray21]

Thank you very much for your input. I think I knew all along that was not the bird for me but I was still hoping! I am also considering if a bird is even something I should get now. My main concern is my youngest child who is about to turn 4. I'm wondering if I should wait until she gets a little older. And of course there is always the consideration if I will have enough time to devote to the bird. I don't want to be selfish and get the bird unless I know the bird will be a happy well adjusted bird in our house.

For now I'm just gonna soak up as much knowledge as I can so when I do finally get one I know what I am doing!!

 

[melissasparrots]

I have a large sulfer crest. I've had her since she was a weaned baby and she is now 11 years old. Sulfers are my favorites. Yes, they are loud. Make sure you come to terms with that. They might not be as vocal as U2s or M2s, but the potential is there. Since you have a family, you need to make sure your whole family is on board with training the bird. No matter how much it hurts your ears, do not respond to screaming unles the bird is in pain or its some kind of emergency where the bird has good reason to scream. It will test you. There will be phases in the first few years where it pushes the limits and decides to see how serious you are about ignoring screaming. It is incredibly loud. My own sulfer lets loose 2-5 ear bleeding squawks in the evening and thats it. Most cockatoos might have a few vocal periods on and off all day with it being more intense for 10-30 minutes in the morning and evening.

Always know that that the bird will not value your child's face or fingers just because you do. Sulfers are awesome birds, but they can have a wicked sense of humor and some individuals (especially males) can have an attitude once in a while. As an adult, you will learn to know their body language and there is a certain look they get in their eye when they are serious about biting vs. just threatening or joking around. Kids tend not to see that so fast. Make sure you are okay with either working the bird's schedule around the kids to keep everyone safe, or come to terms with the fact that this bird will bite you and will bite your kids at some point. My sulfer is not a bad biter. She doens't bite often and when she does, its nothing to get excited over. However, she is not trustworthy with other people and even with me she has her pinchy moments.

I'm a teacher and mine has long hours in her cage. She gets toys, I give her foraging toys. I try to mix up her life a little by taking her for short trips(in a carrier.) Mine can't fly because of a wing injury as a chick, so I take her for walks around the house and we discuss the flowers and local wildlife. She is fine with this. Mine does pluck a little bit, but she has allergies and there isn't much I can do about that. I've discoverd a few things that help with it and she's gorgeous. Most people would not know she was a plucker. She doesn't pluck for behavioral reasons. The mytoos.com site has its place in driving home the point of what can happen and bursting the bubble of those people are in totally oblivious to what it means to have a cockatoo. However, most of the time, you will not have a screaming, biting, self mutilating basket case on your hands. Self mutilating is rare and usually there is some physical cause or someone has totally neglected the bird or made it go sensory deprived for a long period of time.

You will probably have phases where screaming issues need to be addressed. You might have phases where he or she gets a little pinchy or bitey and you have to re-pattern the bird out of that. It may or may not pluck its feathers. If its a physical thing you may or may not be able to fix it. Cockatoos are quirky, but they aren't just inherently all pre-set to self destruct when they mature. Keeping them in toys they like can be more of a challenge. As babies they'll play with everything, but as adults, they have a seen that, played with that, so bored now attitude. They make you think a little more than most pets to keep them occupied safely. Its not enough to just go buy a bunch of toys. You have to look at your bird's play behavior and make sure you cater the toys to that.n The path to a happy cockatoo is mental stimulation. You can get away with a lot in terms of having a busy lifestyle if you can keep their brain engaged while your otherwise occupied. Mine needs about 20 minutes most days of snuggle time. I try to give her an hour, but so long as she gets her 20, plus some foraging and easy to destroy toys, she's good.

 

[kc_y0]

In regards to your child, as long as they are supervised together, it should be okay. I got my bird when my daughter was 4, and she is good with her. Though I dont let them be together when unsupervised as my daughter gets a bit excited and wants to actually HUG her lol.

 

[Molcan2]

I would go with the Grey, however they are very intelligent and are prone to plucking problems as well if they are not mentally stimulated enough. I would suggest visiting several different REPUTABLE rescues first and meeting both Toos and Greys, listen to them when they are at their worst and see if its something you can stand to listen to. Example, I can listen to my M2 scream all day and it doesn't phase me, five seconds of a conure scream and I swear my ears bleed. Question: do you own your own home? Here is my personal opinion: I think that you make the time for what you want to make the time for. Understand that a parrot is like having another child, except they are a permanent two year old - for the rest of your life. My birds are on their own until around 5-6 and then we spend time with them and then they go to bed around 8:30-9 (depends on the time of year - birds are up with sun and go to bed with the sun).

If you do go with the Too (or even if you do get the grey), here is my suggestion (a very strong suggestion), why keep it in a cage all day? Birds by nature aren't designed to be in cages - thats something that humans have done to protect our precious stuff. Build an aviary in the backyard so the bird can get the benefits of being outside and it will be able to be more mentally stimulated outside. Fill the aviary with all kinds of stuff for it to do and it can spend its day flying and playing until you get home (I would never clip a Toos wings - doing that can encourage plucking/shredding behavior). Then 1-3 hours of you and family time would more than likely be plenty for the bird. Keep a separate cage inside used just for sleeping in (doesn't need much, just a perch and a water bowel and doesnt have to be very large). If you set your Too up like that from the beginning then you will be more likely to prevent a lot of behavioral problems. The Toos that you see on MyToos are Toos that don't have their needs met. It takes A LOT to meet a Toos needs. If a Toos needs are being met you will have a lovely bird. I would not get a Too if your intentions are caging it during the day, if you cant have an aviary outside then dont get the Too - it wouldn't be fair to the bird to be caged all day.

 

[luccasmom]

Hi there! I have 3 "children" an M2 a bluefront amazon and a congo grey. NONE of them are any easier,better,fussier etc. they are ALL equally demanding and different in personality.While a cockatoo is a louder bird I truly believe mine is no more demanding than my CAG. They all have their moods.I am assuming you have no birds as of now? Be prepared lol! It is a 24/7 job as is parenting.Birds get cranky,bored,meloncholy just like little people.And like a person they WILL express themselves. In time you will come to know them as you would your own child/husband etc. THIS IS NOT A PET!! It is a life choice.Before you aquire a bird here are just a few things to ask yourself... 1) Do I have plenty of time? larger birds are smart, demanding members of the family who will most likely outlive you. If you work 40 hrs. a week,probably not. 2) Can I afford it? Nails and wings aside (and vet visits too) They need puzzles ,toys and PLENTY of stimulation. Being creative and making your own "safe"toys will help. A proper cage can set you back 600.00 or more.Plus for a "too" you may also want an outdoor aviary.3) Are you willing to do PLENTY of research and devote HOURS a day w/ the newest member of your family? I am not trying to discourage you,just letting you know they need a whole bunch of love and attention (even when you are sick) just like a child. Forget vacations,restful"lazy"days you cannot just drop food in the cage and go about your business. That being said, they will become your life and fill you with much love and happiness (frustration and anger too lol just like a child!) Good luck