Future Cockatoo Owner Questions

[gotham]

Hello everyone! I have some questions even though we don't have a cockatoo yet. I don't work so I have time to spend with a 'too and I have done a lot of research about the species, reading forums, reading behavior books, dos and don't. Any of you have your bird before you had kids? We are a few years away from kids but it does worry me. We are thinking of getting a 10 month Goffin we have grown attached to. We have two dogs and live in a house. I think this little "guy" will be good with us...doesn't seem too shy or scared. We have gone to see him and handle him four or five times. I know we have to work hard to facilitate a good relationship and there will be some bumps/hormonal issues in the future, and I will get bit multiple times but what I'm really curious about is how much the bird changes your life for the better and the worse? I know they can be difficult and forums are full of horror stories but I have to ask myself is it just people getting in over their head and not realizing what they're getting themselves into or are there only just a few good birds out there? There's tons of forums about how terrible these birds are but I feel like you just don't hear about the good ones or the good things. I'm also reading about all the chemicals that are toxic to birds because they have delicate respiratory systems. I know there are some people who are fanatical about their birds and shame people for trying to use Yankee candles because they supposedly don't hsve toxic wicks . I understand febreez, candles, powdered carpet cleaner, deodorizer, air fresheners and aerosols, self cleaning ovens, Teflon are harmful the birds. But if I spray lysol on a mattress with the door closed and the bird is in the living room... Am I horrible human being? Is it a crazy high risk? I'm really in need of some middle-of-the-road advice. Is this bird really going to turn my world upside down, never to be the same, kiss vacations goodbye, you are going to hate your life, good luck adding kids to the mix? Or is it more like you put the time in, bond with and train your bird, teach him to be independent, take him out if the cage 3-4 hours a day, stay educated and bear through the rough patches and you have another member of your family? We are opposed to change obviously but we want to make sure the bird not going to take over our life.

Thank you!

 

[Doublete]

I can't speak on the cockatoo question.


But parrots in general are a life changer. They are like having never aging 2-3 year olds. They WANT to be part of everything. A well socialized and well adapted bird wants to be with you, can self entertain, but you involve the bird to stimulate it mentally. Vacations with any animal are tough because you HAVE to find proper care. If your sitter backs out, just like a child... You can't leave them to fend for themselves.

As for the chemicals and candles and such. You really want to be careful.
It's not worth the risk. So I clean with vinegar, water, a few bird safe cleaners... And if I light a candle in my bedroom it is only after the birds have gone to bed in their room.

You do have to change your life a little more so than with a cat or dog...

 

[itchyfeet]

It is crazy high risk...but it can be okay. With the right mindset, the right parrot etc...it helps you have your heart set on a particular bird, not just a particular species. I do have to ask though....why cockatoo?
We're really lucky. Our housesitter is fully capable with the parrots, so we can go away with minimal consequence. Any short term hissy fit on our arrival home is quickly sorted with a raspberry and all is forgiven. If you can find a dedicated and passionate local who you trust completely, train them from day one along with your bird! Then call on that local when you have kids, when there is a berevement, when sh*t hits the fan for whatever reason...they become a stable person for you, and for your parrots.

As for kids - it can work. My 7yr olds handles two too's, 'tiels and an IRN on a regular basis. How? The kid was brought up with animals. She's crazy intuitive and can read them pretty well. She's never been 'protected' as such - she's had age appropriate contact since forever, otherwise, when does one start? But she always asks first and I always assess everyones moods first. Both kids and parrots have kid/fid free areas away from one another if it is required. Only the Galah came in to our family as a babe, the others were all between 1 and 25 yrs.

I don't really understand the point of waiting until the children leave home to bring in the dream bird. By then, adults can be what, 40 odd? If not older? and so many of the big parrots will end up outliving their humans. That being said, Our household AND wider family (parrrot peep's all round) can be quite a juggling act to make sure everyone not only has their needs met, but is engaged and happy. The day starts at 6 and ends at 10, to make sure I can balance it all.

It's not impossible, but health, safety and happiness for everyone is always, always at the front of your mind. If you don't enjoy busy, and multitasking, and daily testing by someone or somebeak, it's probably not for you. Hopefully that wasn't too wordy!

 

[Anansi]

First, I applaud you for doing your research first instead of diving headfirst into cockatoo parronting.

Cockatoos are not "bad" birds. But they do tend to be more challenging. And their mood swings can be a little more... dramatic. The truth is, I think it takes a special person with a particular mindset to be a good parront. And within that subset of people, it takes something above and beyond to make a good cockatoo parront. Some get lucky with 'toos who never act up a day in their lives. But one can't count on such fortune.

A 'too parront should have tons of patience and a spirit of perseverance. Strong empathy and not prone to grudges. Slow to anger and quick to forgive. And quite adaptable. If this doesn't quite describe you, then a 'too is probably not for you.

Don't get me wrong. A cockatoo isn't all negatives. Not by a long shot. There's a reason good 'too parronts become so attached to their fids. They can be the goofiest of comedians, and so very affectionate. Brilliantly intelligent. And anyone who has ever held a cockatoo knows how addictive that soft plumage is to the touch! They're like freaking winged pillows! (Yes, that is my manly assessment. Haha!)

As for the more general questions, no, using Lysol under those specific conditions does not make you a horrible human being. Haha! But you do need to be about that careful. When using cleansers, you have to use your judgement. The birds should always be in an entirely different room and beyond the smell. They have VERY delicate respiratory systems, and a smell that may only strike you as inconveniently strong could very well be deleterious to the health of your bird.

I've personally done away with scented candles or aerosol air fresheners in any room frequented by my birds, as well as teflon pans. Those dangers are very real.

And Itchyfeet is right. It can become quite the juggling act, especially once children come into the picture. If that sounds doable to you, the rewards are more than worth it.

 

[ToMang07]

Itchyfeet and Anansi pretty much have this covered... I have no more to add than be 100% sure this will be a lifetime commitment!

 

[Iholm5]

Make sure you are fully prepared before bringing home a 'too. While they are extremely rewarding birds they are a huge challenge. Adopting our U2 is no different to me than adopting a toddler, with the exception of the huge beak and constant need for attention and affection. If you want to spray Febreze, you can, but not any time the bird is around, or even in an area it frequents. Maybe if it's rooms away and you can shut the door and open the windows. I don't personally use candles or sprays with the exception of a vet-recommended cleaning spray for Tiki's cage.

Also remember that just like a child, as a good parrot owner your social life is limited. My wife and I are fortunate to know a trusted pet sitter who can handle our cockatoo, and if you don't have one, vacations and even nights out just don't happen. If you do decide to leave your bird alone for too long you run the risk of having a neurotic bird, and in some cases one that decides to self-harm just so it can feel something.

Cockatoos are also very complex animals in their emotions and attitudes, which fluctuate by the minute. Our U2 goes from calm to nuclear with seemingly no catalyst. Don't, however, get me wrong. I love my cockatoo like he's my own child, and his moods and fits are far outweighed by his companionship, his antics, and his bombastic personality. When I'm home without my wife he follows me everywhere and as long as I show him the proper respect as a large, powerful bird and as a family member, I couldn't imagine a day without him. All I ask is that you are prepared.

 

[itchyfeet]

Ooohhh I forgot the good bits! They have an amazing sense of humour, are very expressive with their crests, are incredible dancers (the kids and toos ' love a good dance party), and are so so snuggly. They are thinkers, and it can be such a treat to watch them work. Have you heard about big bird dust?

There is a quite the difference between species too I understand. Mum's Galah, who is soon moving into our place is quite a bit calmer than the inlaws Sulfur crested - who's a darling but also rather manipulative when he wants something....

 

[Scott]

I must echo all of the preceding concerns and observations of cockatoos! They are among the most challenging and rewarding parrots.

That said, I love my Toos, Goffins in particular! I live with five Goffins; two wild-caught parents and three of their hand-raised offspring. They are amazingly personable and loving, and have proven very hardy. That said, their individual moods can swing 3 times in the span of minutes and I've learned to read them exquisitely.

Each species of Too has a generalized set of characteristics with Goffins notably being the "clowns" of the type. I would encourage you to research in depth before choosing* ANY parrot, and spend much time with them before committing to what can be a VERY long relationship!!

*Very often they will choose you!

 

[gotham]

Hello all! Thank you for so many responses, suggestions and things to think about! I don't have to time to respond to all right now but I wanted to let you know I appreciate every response and I will be thinking about everything. I will be back later tonight!

 

[gotham]

To itchy feet...why a too? To be honest I can't give you a straight answer. No one pushed us in that direction, we just kind of fell in love with this little guy. Then we decided to do some research. We went to multiple bird stores in the area to see if we could find another goffin and see how they compare to the one that we liked. Unfortunately we only found one at a horrible horrible pet store that apparently is known for selling birds older then they say but they told us the bird is 18 months. Of course wanted to take the bird regardless of its personality because I wanted to save it but I also didn't want to support such deplorable practices. We look to other species of birds as well as other cockatoos and we did find a very sweet five-month-old umbrella cockatoo love to cuddle on our shoulder. While we love the cuddling and it melted our hearts we also want to bird to be a bird and be independent and play with toys and make noise ( to certain extent, you should meet our dogs lol) but still be able to have a relationship with us. We filled out an application at a bird rescue for Goffin cockatoo and after speaking with the rescue woman I think our situation for the bird would've been entirely too frightening and it seems as though the foster parent was hesitant to give up the bird. So throughout this journey the Goffin cockatoo have captured our hearts especially this little one we are considering . I used to be a bird keeper of the zoo. We only had macaws and lorikeets as far as parrots go. So I know how to take care of parrots in the general sense and use enrichment but they were also in an environment where they are rewarded and wanted to act instinctually... They were around other birds. If they were aggressive because of breeding that was OK. If they didn't like you I was also OK. We didn't have the time to try and facilitate a personal relationship with just one bird when you're taking care of 60. I'm well aware that living with one and accepting him into your family, asking him to accept you as a flock member is completely different. I was shocked when I was reading all of these toxic things in the house for a bird but honestly it makes sense just didn't think about it all before . Ok gotta run but I'll be back later! Thank you all again!

 

[itchyfeet]

Gotham if you're used to woking with Macaws in a zoo you'll be steps ahead intuitively!
We often say to go and visit birds, not just 'species' - If this Goffin's has warmed to you and you've got the head on you to be proactive moving forward, I reckon it could be a match made in heaven....

 

[Iholm5]

I do want to also comment on the good parts, since I know a lot of sites are all negative about cockatoos. Tiki is literally my pride and joy. I look forward to seeing him after work every day, we have about an hour of 'loud time' with him where he's encouraged to talk and scream as much as he wants. I love his antics, some times he decides he wants to climb something and gets stuck, so he offers me a foot like 'help me dad'

 

[Scott]

To itchy feet...why a too? To be honest I can't give you a straight answer. No one pushed us in that direction, we just kind of fell in love with this little guy. Then we decided to do some research. We went to multiple bird stores in the area to see if we could find another goffin and see how they compare to the one that we liked. Unfortunately we only found one at a horrible horrible pet store that apparently is known for selling birds older then they say but they told us the bird is 18 months. Of course wanted to take the bird regardless of its personality because I wanted to save it but I also didn't want to support such deplorable practices. We look to other species of birds as well as other cockatoos and we did find a very sweet five-month-old umbrella cockatoo love to cuddle on our shoulder. While we love the cuddling and it melted our hearts we also want to bird to be a bird and be independent and play with toys and make noise ( to certain extent, you should meet our dogs lol) but still be able to have a relationship with us. We filled out an application at a bird rescue for Goffin cockatoo and after speaking with the rescue woman I think our situation for the bird would've been entirely too frightening and it seems as though the foster parent was hesitant to give up the bird. So throughout this journey the Goffin cockatoo have captured our hearts especially this little one we are considering . I used to be a bird keeper of the zoo. We only had macaws and lorikeets as far as parrots go. So I know how to take care of parrots in the general sense and use enrichment but they were also in an environment where they are rewarded and wanted to act instinctually... They were around other birds. If they were aggressive because of breeding that was OK. If they didn't like you I was also OK. We didn't have the time to try and facilitate a personal relationship with just one bird when you're taking care of 60. I'm well aware that living with one and accepting him into your family, asking him to accept you as a flock member is completely different. I was shocked when I was reading all of these toxic things in the house for a bird but honestly it makes sense just didn't think about it all before . Ok gotta run but I'll be back later! Thank you all again!

Do you have the impression the Goffin in question "chose" you? Many folks have report an almost immediate connection or chemistry with a specific bird.

You will find a range of individual personalities with Goffins as with other intelligent species. Each of my three young adults possess slightly different temperament characteristics of playfulness, neediness, cuddliness, and interdependence. All five thankfully require "alone" time to socialize with their mates or self-entertain. None will viciously bite, while some will depress the skin to show displeasure. Interestingly, the most docile is the wild-caught female who became quite tame once her mate of 30+ years became aggressive, requiring separation. She won't willingly perch, but enjoys cuddling and never uses her beak in anger!

Regardless of what species you choose, recognize that household items we take for granted can be lethal to parrots. This forum is an incredible reference for deciphering how to safeguard your parrot.

 

[ToMang07]

I do want to also comment on the good parts, since I know a lot of sites are all negative about cockatoos. Tiki is literally my pride and joy. I look forward to seeing him after work every day, we have about an hour of 'loud time' with him where he's encouraged to talk and scream as much as he wants. I love his antics, some times he decides he wants to climb something and gets stuck, so he offers me a foot like 'help me dad'

LOL, Willow does the same thing....always attempting to escape from the couch to go visit somebody else.... I usually let her hang for a couple minutes before I come rescue her, lol

 

[Siobhan]

Obviously, we all love our cockatoos, but if I may be frank, I think a 'too might be too much for your household. You don't have children but are planning to, correct? Imagine if a parrot who can break a finger -- and a 'too can! -- should bite a small child who was curious and poked a finger at the bird. You can't possibly watch a child every single second.

Cockatoos are not for someone without extensive parrot experience. I have six other parrots and I have had parrots for years, before I got a cockatoo, and even with all that, Rocky was a huge adjustment for my husband and me. The noise level. The mess level -- and mind you, we had nine birds at one time (before Rocky) and I thought I knew all about parrot mess and noise. The destruction! Rocky has all but destroyed the woodwork on one window and made great inroads into another. He takes up so much time and effort that I can't imagine having children or even one child in a home with a cockatoo, unless the child in question was old enough to be fairly independent.

Now, all parrots require attention and time. All parrots are noisy and messy. All parrots can and do bite if the spirit moves them. All parrots deserve a family who is willing to make the commitment of time and love to offer them the best life -- in captivity! -- that's possible. I wouldn't give up a single one of my babies for anything, and that emphatically includes Rocky, as challenging as he can be. Because the other side of that coin is that he is a dear, sweet, affectionate clown and I adore him.

However -- we acquired our first parrot in 2008 and we have not been away from home, even overnight, since then. No one, even my most fervent animal-loving friends, is willing to babysit a parrot. No boarding facilities will take them. And I would be afraid to do that, anyway. With six parrots and a starling, going away even overnight is absolutely out of the question. And that was the case even back when all we had was one Quaker parrot.

If you really, really want a parrot, and have no parrot experience, I would suggest a cockatiel. Most of them are friendly, easy to get along with, not terribly loud, and while they can bite as all parrots can, they're less likely to do so and if they do, it's not going to maim you. I have two and they're darling birds, who entertain each other when I'm at work, and are happy to see me when I get home. They can learn to talk, but prefer to whistle. Freddie can whistle several songs, and Johnny makes up songs of his own.

 

[gotham]

To itchy feet...why a too? To be honest I can't give you a straight answer. No one pushed us in that direction, we just kind of fell in love with this little guy. Then we decided to do some research. We went to multiple bird stores in the area to see if we could find another goffin and see how they compare to the one that we liked. Unfortunately we only found one at a horrible horrible pet store that apparently is known for selling birds older then they say but they told us the bird is 18 months. Of course wanted to take the bird regardless of its personality because I wanted to save it but I also didn't want to support such deplorable practices. We look to other species of birds as well as other cockatoos and we did find a very sweet five-month-old umbrella cockatoo love to cuddle on our shoulder. While we love the cuddling and it melted our hearts we also want to bird to be a bird and be independent and play with toys and make noise ( to certain extent, you should meet our dogs lol) but still be able to have a relationship with us. We filled out an application at a bird rescue for Goffin cockatoo and after speaking with the rescue woman I think our situation for the bird would've been entirely too frightening and it seems as though the foster parent was hesitant to give up the bird. So throughout this journey the Goffin cockatoo have captured our hearts especially this little one we are considering . I used to be a bird keeper of the zoo. We only had macaws and lorikeets as far as parrots go. So I know how to take care of parrots in the general sense and use enrichment but they were also in an environment where they are rewarded and wanted to act instinctually... They were around other birds. If they were aggressive because of breeding that was OK. If they didn't like you I was also OK. We didn't have the time to try and facilitate a personal relationship with just one bird when you're taking care of 60. I'm well aware that living with one and accepting him into your family, asking him to accept you as a flock member is completely different. I was shocked when I was reading all of these toxic things in the house for a bird but honestly it makes sense just didn't think about it all before . Ok gotta run but I'll be back later! Thank you all again!

Do you have the impression the Goffin in question "chose" you? Many folks have report an almost immediate connection or chemistry with a specific bird.

You will find a range of individual personalities with Goffins as with other intelligent species. Each of my three young adults possess slightly different temperament characteristics of playfulness, neediness, cuddliness, and interdependence. All five thankfully require "alone" time to socialize with their mates or self-entertain. None will viciously bite, while some will depress the skin to show displeasure. Interestingly, the most docile is the wild-caught female who became quite tame once her mate of 30+ years became aggressive, requiring separation. She won't willingly perch, but enjoys cuddling and never uses her beak in anger!

Regardless of what species you choose, recognize that household items we take for granted can be lethal to parrots. This forum is an incredible reference for deciphering how to safeguard your parrot.

I wouldn't say it was an automatic connection and he came over and loved us but he did stand out from all the other birds we looked at which included amazons, umbrellas, African grays, and a bunch others. He wasn't super cuddly like some others but I actually prefer that he isn't. When we took him out to play with him he would let us pet him and give us kisses but was also interested in other things going on. Initially my husband was interested in African grays but even he prefered this Goffin. There is just something about him...
I'm a firm believer that animals pick you so if for some reason this bird got sold to somebody else I'm not sure we would continue looking for a Goffin as opposed to just looking for a bird we have a connection with.

 

[gotham]

Obviously, we all love our cockatoos, but if I may be frank, I think a 'too might be too much for your household. You don't have children but are planning to, correct? Imagine if a parrot who can break a finger -- and a 'too can! -- should bite a small child who was curious and poked a finger at the bird. You can't possibly watch a child every single second.

Cockatoos are not for someone without extensive parrot experience. I have six other parrots and I have had parrots for years, before I got a cockatoo, and even with all that, Rocky was a huge adjustment for my husband and me. The noise level. The mess level -- and mind you, we had nine birds at one time (before Rocky) and I thought I knew all about parrot mess and noise. The destruction! Rocky has all but destroyed the woodwork on one window and made great inroads into another. He takes up so much time and effort that I can't imagine having children or even one child in a home with a cockatoo, unless the child in question was old enough to be fairly independent.

Now, all parrots require attention and time. All parrots are noisy and messy. All parrots can and do bite if the spirit moves them. All parrots deserve a family who is willing to make the commitment of time and love to offer them the best life -- in captivity! -- that's possible. I wouldn't give up a single one of my babies for anything, and that emphatically includes Rocky, as challenging as he can be. Because the other side of that coin is that he is a dear, sweet, affectionate clown and I adore him.

However -- we acquired our first parrot in 2008 and we have not been away from home, even overnight, since then. No one, even my most fervent animal-loving friends, is willing to babysit a parrot. No boarding facilities will take them. And I would be afraid to do that, anyway. With six parrots and a starling, going away even overnight is absolutely out of the question. And that was the case even back when all we had was one Quaker parrot.

If you really, really want a parrot, and have no parrot experience, I would suggest a cockatiel. Most of them are friendly, easy to get along with, not terribly loud, and while they can bite as all parrots can, they're less likely to do so and if they do, it's not going to maim you. I have two and they're darling birds, who entertain each other when I'm at work, and are happy to see me when I get home. They can learn to talk, but prefer to whistle. Freddie can whistle several songs, and Johnny makes up songs of his own.

Siobhan, thank you for your honesty! I wouldn't say that I don't have any parrot experience. I used to work at a zoo with macaws and lorikeets and hundreds of other birds. So I am pretty aware of their messes and the noise. We aren't quiet people ourselves and We do you understand cockatoos are vocal...I actually think it's part of their charm lol. I do understand though that working with them and living with them are completely different. We will definitely consider your advice.

The children thing is really what concerns me the most. We are very vigilant about watching and appropriate contact even with our dogs now. And small child will never be 100% watchable and there is risk involved... I'm a firm believer in setting things up for success, not failure and also believer in behavior modification. Animals are also not 100% trustworthy. I wouldn't leave my baby on the floor with my dogs even if they've never given me reason not to trust them. Anyone out there have a bird before they had kids?

Onto the traveling...ideally, and I know it will take some time, we would like to bring our bird with us if we are driving somewhere say for the weekend. If we were going somewhere where we couldn't bring the bird there are at least three bird boarding facilities around where we live one of which is where we would potentially get our bird from (he's been there for 10 months). But it is a very good point that you Make! What is everyone's opinion on boarding your bird?

 

[Anansi]

The thought of boarding my birds honestly scares me to death. People do it all the time and their birds don't seem to suffer for it, but I know how terrifyingly easy it is for some bird diseases to spread.

And so many have no cure.

Every time you board a bird, it's a bit of a roll of the dice. All it takes is some errant dander from a compromised parrot to turn your world upside down. The afflicted bird need not even be present! All that's needed is a carrier. Some person completely heedless of the deadly payload of floofies he's carrying on his shirt or in his hair as he visits the boarding facility.

Scary.

So I lean instead toward finding a trustworthy sitter. And the bar is set quite high in that regard, as last time none other than our lovely Wendy (JerseyWendy) welcomed my beloved bird into her home. (Talk about putting my mind at ease! Doesn't get any better than that!)

I reckon there are places that have procedures in place to dramatically reduce the risk... I've just never found one. So thank God for Wendy. Hahaha!

 

[gotham]

It is very alarming and a completely different Side of the coin! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We haven't made a decision on the cockatoo but have been researching other birds. sorry no cockatiels!

 

[itchyfeet]

Fair enough too. Back to the holidays thing - you need to find your 'person'. A dedicated high school kid willing to learn will gets heaps out of the hands on experience with your parrot, and then when you are away you have a house sitter. Then eventually - they can babysit the human kid too We have a couple of local responsible teen girls who are confident with the animals and they all know the girls well.

When you have a babe, routines will go out of the window, but having the 'person' come in for an hour a day will allow the bird a familiar face, time out, clean cage etc or what not. That will help stabilise that period. We've just started having much younger children in the house again. I dedicated the office to a bird room. There are stands and gyms in various places. When it's just too much, the birds are in their room, with their foraging/engagement/sometimes just in the cage with door shut! But the little ones get exposure by having the birds on their gyms, and the kids on my knee/in my arms/ right 100% attentive. A bit of room organisation and strategising can help that work. It's the strategising you need to work though in terms of children and holidays - I think, given you're used to macaws and enrichment theories, you'll be okay in terms of ability and skill. Don't get yourself into the whole 'analysis paralysis' thing....a cockatoo would be lucky to have you!

Exposure exposure exposure. Invite anyone over with kids and babies. Harness train young, and take the fid out about about with you. Again the more they know, the more flexible they'll be. Marley (Galah's) biggest thing is change. Henry doesn't care about change....Henry's cage is changes around often, and he's on my shoulder loads. Species and personalities obviously come into it but I do think if you don't want it to be an issue - don't let it be a habit.

Don't board. Get a person. It'll put you at ease, knowing they know your animals, the animals can stay in their own environment and keep their routines.

As they say in NZ, 'you'll be right!'.