Galah Cockatoo

[jaimmorr]

Hi, everyone! I am sort of new here. I have been researching birds for about the past year now. I very much want to acquire a bird as my companion, but I feel it is extremely necessary to do all of the research first!

I have never had birds before. I grew up with a friend (friends since 2nd grade, and still friends, I am almost 20) who has birds. She has an Umbrella Cockatoo, had an African Grey, and has Budgies. When we were young, her U2, Ozzy, would ride around on my shoulder all the time. He was what really got me interested in having birds. I have some experience, but I have never actually lived with a bird.

I am 20 years old. Right now, I work from 8-5, but I will be quitting my job to go to college within the next couple of months. If all goes as planned at college, I will be away from home for a maximum of 4-5 hours per day, but more like 3 per day. So, other than that I will be home. I have social anxiety and absolutely do not like going out. If it's not necessary, I won't leave the house. So, I have ample time for a bird as I don't hang out outside my house very often at all. Maybe once every couple weeks or so.

I am willing to do as much research as possible on a bird. I have particularly been doing research on Conures, specifically Blue Crown Conures. But I find myself drawn to Galah Cockatoos, also known as Rose Breasted Cockatoos. I think they are gorgeous birds, and the more I research and read about them, the more I feel that it would be a good match for me.

I have read that you shouldn't get a big bird until you have had experience with smaller birds, but I don't feel that this is accurate. I feel that if you are willing to put in the necessary research, that you can handle a big bird.

I have also read that Galah Cockatoos are much different from the other Cockatoos. I have read/heard that they are much calmer, gentler, quieter, and not as high strung as, say, an Umbrella or a Mollucan Cockatoo.

In the past, I have owned dogs, cats, hamsters, rats, bearded dragons, guinea pigs, and fish. I understand what having a pet means and what care they need. I am also involved in animal rescue and my main motto is "A pet is for life, not just for now." This is another reason why I think getting your "dream" bird right off the bat is good. As long as one is prepared for the commitment, it will work out.

Anyway, I apologize for the long post. I was just wondering if getting a Galah was possible for me. Money is not an issue. I honestly don't have that much space for a cage, but I am sure I can make it work. I believe I have the space for a cage up to 60 inches wide X 30 inches deep X 60 inches tall. Would this be enough space for a Galah? Noise level is not *really* an issue, but I do have close neighbors.

If I were to put in the research, volunteer at a shelter, and hang out around pet stores with birds, would a Galah be a suitable bird for a first time owner?

Thanks to anyone who has the patience to read this!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I wouldn't recommend a cockatoo to anyone, but if you have your heart set on one the galah is a better choice then the white cockatoo in terms of temperament. Their beaks are smaller too, and although it still hurts when they bite hard it shouldn't be sending you to the ER to get stitches. Galahs can be loud, they will usually scream once a day because they are happy unless you have a abnormally quite bird like mine. Mine isn't normal though, she's quite because of her past abusive home. Basically they aren't good apartment birds if you have sensitive neighbors. They are wonderful though. Most will go through a nippy phase when they are young, but if you don't react to the biting they soon get bored of it.

I do agree with getting your dream bird if you're older and are really willing to do a lot of research and talk to other owners or parrot trainers. Some parrots are very long lived, and I feel it is important for the bird to also get as much time with you as possible, it's horrible when their humans die before them

Here's a few good medium sized apartment birds, although keep in mind most parrots can still be loud on occasion.

Pionus.
These are wonderful quite birds, I especially love the bronze winged pionus.
Eclectus
Amazing talking ability in some birds, some people claim they are as good as the amazon and African gray.
African Gray
African grays will often prefer to talk and I don't think I've ever met a loud one. They don't tend to be playful, it helps if you get them young and don't handle them like they're fragile which many people do so the birds expects to be treated that way.

Example of screaming Galah
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcn-Qe-4Tn0"]Loud Galah Screaming - YouTube[/ame]

Pionus

Eclectus

African gray(Congo & Timneh)

 

[jaimmorr]

Thank you for the reply! I am still keeping my options open, but for now I believe I'm down to either a Galah or a Conure, probably a Blue Crown. It's SO difficult trying to decide on a member of the family that is going to be with you for SO many years! I just want to make the right decision!

 

[aliray]

Maybe I am missing something but I just listened to the video of the screaming galah and it wasn't bad at all . Now I want one beside the fact they are so pretty. however i am 66 yrs old so not a good choice for me. I was at disney world or bush gardens many years ago standing by a cage with a few sun conures when they screamed I had to plug my ears and move a way. beautiful but ear ringing loud!!! it took a while for my ears to stop hurting. Now macaw can be very loud but at least the pitch isn't as high. The galah sounds like a peice of cake and no louder than my quaker when he gets excited. I say go for it. Alison and sweetie pie

 

[angiemw]

I am going to tell you my recent experience with an Umbrella Cockatoo. Hope it helps you.

I had my mind set I wanted a cockatoo. I chose to go threw a rescue because this one is known for really working hard with their birds to get them social. Parrot Hope Rescue in Ohio is who they are. And I do think they are wonderful with their birds. They did tell me that I can try a cockatoo as a trial basis. I was use to smaller birds like conures and amazons. So I took in an umbrella. Her name is Angel. She was wonderful for about a week. Then next thing I knew, she started puffing up and jumped on my back while I was cleaning her cage. She attacked my head. Put huge gashes in me. I was lucky I didn't get stitches but she cut my head open. Then after she was threw with me, she took it out on my dogs. I have two cocker spaniels. She tore the one's ear. My poor dog has a piece of her ear gone now. And she took a chunk out of my other one's back. My 11 year old son came in and Angel went right to him and he put her in her cage. She is a young parrot also. Just a couple years old. I do believe it was a territorial thing with her. But I took her back the next day to PHR. I knew that I wasn't even going to try to work with her. All the research in the world did not prepare me for that. I truly thought I knew what I was doing. But I only read it in books and I only knew from my friends birds.

I just wanted you to know that a bird like that can really get defensive. And you have to prepare yourself. I read every book I could think of, and I even was trusting Angel. That one week with us she would snuggle with me and play with me and talk with me. I didn't expect her to turn like that. I know it's cause I was in her space.

Also, I knew cockatoo's were loud. I have even heard them. But Angel took the trophy. I live in a ranch style house. Angel we in the living room. As soon as you leave the room. She started screaming. When I had to go to work, it would be so loud my neighbor would come over and talk to her to keep her quiet. My husband is on nights and our bedroom is down stairs and on the other side of the house. She was so loud it kept him awake. I've heard cockatoo's be so loud it hurt my ears, but Angel was so loud my ears would ring and so would my head. I've heard fire drills less piercing.

Not all birds are like that. I just happened to get the one that had to be. LOL

I refuse to ever adopt a large parrot again. I'm now afraid of them at that size. But that's not going to stop me from adopting the newly hatched conure. I had a green cheeked years ago and I'm sticking with what I know. LOL

Good luck and keep me up to date.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

It is difficult, I plan to get another bird after I get my bachelors in fine arts and I'm already deciding on what it should be lol I have a big list and #1 often changes XD

Without considering the apartment I would have to say galah, but I'm also biased because I have one XD They also live longer the conures which is important to me, I want to share my life with the as long as possible.

Most web sites will say the Galah has a life span of 30-40 years, but this is because pet galahs are often not given proper exercise and diet. They usually die of liver disease and get fatty tumors. It's not always the right choice for the person but galahs really need to be fully flighted. Without flight they do not receive the proper amount of exercise which leads to health problems. With proper exercise and a excellent they can live to be 65 and maybe even older.

Galah diet
They shouldn't receive any seeds in their diet at all unless they are sprouted. Instead they should be on a high quality pellet diet, preferably a organic pellet.(I recently started giving mine totally organic and she loves it) Supplement this with fresh fruits and vegetables, and some grains. The diet is more complex then that for any bird, but that's the basic outline

@aliray
It is high pitch and has a bit of a metallic sound to it, but nothing compared to the larger cockatoos and macaws. They are still pretty loud though. When I said for a apartment I mentioned it wouldn't be a good choice if he/she had sensitive neighbors. If they are tolerant and don't mind a little screaming each day and and the galahs chirping don't think there will be a problem unless new neighbors move in who complain. Sorry for the confusion XD

 

[ann]

i think your doing great so far and really understand the research and commitment, input = output. however, while i LOVE eclectus to death, they can be very loud (bird talk gave them a 6 out of 7 on noise level), but like copperarabian said, birds are mostly loud once or twice a day, not constantly. and on a side note, i also have high anxiety, not social anxiety but im very quiet and get anxious easily. i really think birds help with that, having a boisterous parrot around is bound to help you open up a bit

 

[RescueMe]

If yu have done the research, its now time to get your hands on some. You may find that one is more comfortable for you than others. I personally am not comfortable with the smaller birds. I have always been a cockatoo person, i have had everything from a goffin to a mollucan, but i was drawn to a b and g rescue this time. Before you decide, spend as much time with the different breeds as you can. Good luck.

 

[jaimmorr]

Thanks, guys! I am still not sure. I'm sure I'll decide one of these days... How would you say a Galah scream/noises compare to a Blue Crowned Conure scream/noises? How about BCCs vs Sun Conures?

Sorry for all the questions...

 

[Mare Miller]

Galahs sure are beautiful, they look to be about the same size as a goffins? I personally, have only one cockatoo to compare with any others and he is an umbrella. He's brutally loud, at times, obnoxious, most times, beautiful, brave, caring and fills your space with his presence at all times. I love this bird.

 

[Sulphiria]

I think noise depends on who you ask. I absolutely cannot handle the sun conures noise. I feel like my ears are going to bleed. My grey gets loud, but 99% of the time hes talking loudly or screaming "pew pew"

 

[Molcan2]

I personnally love galahs. I recently went to a pet store that had a conure and it was screaming, i cannot handle that noise. I really think there are way worse than my M2, on a scale 1 being most tolerable noise level and 10 being compeletly undoable I give Rome a 3/4 that conure 9. Point is each type of bird is going to have a 'reputation.' What you need to do is meet them in person and see what you think, listen to them as individuals and see what YOU personnally think. Rome maybe loud at times but she doesnt have that high pitch that the little conure has. Galahs are different from the big toos and are usually on the quieter side. Meet them in person and see what you think, good luck with whatever you choose. Just get what you truley want, it will more than likley spend the of your life with you.

 

[lene1949]

The thing with pet birds, you have to move slowly, as with most pets, really...

Positive reinforcement only with birds. They cannot be punished..

The smaller cockatoos, such as Galahs and Corellas will make great pets... They can be loud, but I think they're more quiet than a Sun Conure... They may need a confident owner...