Galah info?

[Love]

I couldn't get into my old account, but needed to ask some questions!

I'm strongly considering bringing a Galah (Rose Breasted Cockatoo) into my home. I have a Scaly breasted Lorikeet, Sun Conure and Blue Quaker at the moment. I've wanted to experience a bigger for a long time but ekkies and sulphur created cockies are not for me and macaws, amazons and greys are way out of my price rang in Australia. (I also don't think amazons as grey are for me!) I've been smitten with Galahs since I was little and always wanted one. I love them not only from a pet perspective but love seeing them in the wild too.

From my experience and research, Galahs seem to be playful, affectionate towards their owners, loud, pet/scritchable, destructive, smart and easy to train. I've pretty much decided I want one but have been reading some more lately and people tend to describe them as being challenging, "phobic" (not sure what that means), aggressive, hysterical, sensitive and bitey.

I'm not really sure what to think because I feel some people expect to much from their birds and tend to generalise them too much. I mean, my sun conure is quiet, my lorikeet hates playing/being petted and my Quaker is cuddly as ever, 3 very opposites of the general descriptions given to those 3 birds.

Would anyone be willing to share some info or experience with galahs? Would love to here from fellow Aussies, as I think our view and tolerance on birds is somewhat different.

 

[Ginkai]

I'm no expert but I have had my galah for a few months so I have a bit of experience. Mine is very cuddly and affectionate and used to be very attached to me and got distressed when I left the room.I've worked on that and she is now very independent and knows how to keep herself company. The destructive part is very true, she will quickly destroy anything within beak reach so yeah extra supervision there. Very very smart I don't know whether this is the norm but she had already started speaking at 4months but I hear too's are usually much later than that so I'm not sure about that. She also really loves strangers but I think they may just be her. Her siblings certainly didn't when I was picking her out of the clutch. It has been hard to get her to each lots of fresh foods generally shell only eat it if I'm trying to eat it. So every meal time I make my veges and a pile for her pretend im going to eat it then give it to her. Without this method she refuses...but i think that's also just her and not a general galah thing.

Hope I helped

 

[wenz2712]

Galahs are beautiful Birds.. I had one myself several Years ago... I didnt find her too loud.. she loved scritches, but she was very bitey! They are very active and fast Birds and will destroy everything in sight the first chance they get! They need plenty of Toys that they can shred to pieces.. Wooden Perches they tend to destroy in a matter of days! I find them to be quite manic in personality.. Give me an Amazon or Grey anyday in comparison to a too

Welcome to the Forum

 

[lene1949]

I got Echo several years ago from a friend of mine, who was afraid of her... My friend got her out of the cage with thick garden gloves 'because she'll bite'... I don't know what possessed me, but I just asked her to give the bird to me without any precautions... I had bare hands and a short sleeved t-shirt on... She handed me the bird, and Echo just snuggled up against my neck... My friend just stood there with her mouth open... lol...

She has never bitten me...

These days she's in an aviary on my patio with Cory, my Corella, and she always flies over to my shoulder, whenever I go in there...

Go and get your Galah... They're wonderful birds...

 

[Quizzy]

Buddy has never bitten me , but he does get cranky at bedtime , he is destructive and not noisy as such more chatty I would say .. jabbers away to himself all day , must have toys and he eats like a pig and anything so I have to watch his seed intake.

Easy birdie, easier than the greys IMO.

 

[PortaPerch]

Chewbaca is more trouble (destructive) than Greybeard by far. She hasn't said a word, yet he talks a lot. As I go downstairs, he says, "See ya' later."

Right now, Jaybird our visiting U2, is eating the cats' canned food. She lives in a vet's office, and has been known to attack cats and dogs in the waiting room. That's not good for business, so she is caged most of the time.

Lunch last Sunday.

 

[terri526]

I think your ready for a Galah.I have a sun conure and lory,even though their smaller birds .Alot of the same issues I have to contend with in my bigger birds I have to with them.I think they get you ready for a bigger species[there handfuls!!].My Galah {Jennifer]is a quiet bird and is very easy going.She likes being out on me and is content sitting there[wont try to chew on the computer]The only suggestion is when you get your galah try to routinely get it held by different family members.I love it when their pink cheeks puff up!! Galahs are in their own catagory there not your typical too.