Should I adopt an eleven year old female Cockatoo?

[VJB]

Hi I am new to this wonderful forum and looking for advice. I have been given the opportunity to rehome a Cockatoo. She lives in the local pet shop and belongs to the owner. He says she is 11 years old. She is very friendly and likes to be stroked behind her ears and on her head. Unfortunately she is a feather plucker and is missing feathers all over her tummy. He says that he can't be with her all day and at night she is left in the shop and that she needs more stimulation hence the feather plucking through boredom. I asked him weather she has bonded more to men or women and he said he thinks men. However, she was quite happy to be stroked on her neck and head by my young daughter and myself and seemed very affectionate.
I feel very sorry for this beautiful bird she is constantly in the cage and I feel that we may be able to offer her a happy home.
I have never owned a larger bird before only Budgies and I am not sure whether it wise to take on board this lovely 11 year old (I believe she is a Sulpher Crested) I am concerned she may have developed bad behaviour and habits that I won't know about until she comes home. (He wants about £1500) for her.
I would be very very grateful for an words of advice.
Thank you so much

 

[plumsmum2005]

I would read as much as you possibly can before you make a decision. You are probably getting good behaviour at the shop and are probably correct re the bad habits etc. Do more visits, it doesn't have to be a rushed decision. Would the owner let you have a home visit for a weekend to see how things are initially? Are you prepared that she could be financially draining if she suddenly requires Avian Vet care, plenty of toys will need to be supplied to stave off boredom also. Chances are she will still pluck, are you OK with a part naked bird?

She probably gets a fair amount of attention during the day with people popping in and out of the shop, so a move to a quiet home (alone?) during the day may bring on plenty of vocalisations. Would this annoy neighbours etc?
I firmly believe in an eyes wide open approach to owning a 'too but applaud you for considering this. Ask more questions of the owner ie how long have they had her and why now are they saying she needs more company?

You will get more input I am sure and wish you luck with your decision.

 

[wrench13]

And 1500 pounds is quite a bit of $$, IMHO

 

[BIRDIGIRL]

I am not going to add to what plumsmum2005 has said as you have been given good advice but I do wish you luck if you decide to go ahead and adopt the 11 year old. It would be lovely if it worked out but even if not well done for giving thoughtful consideration to adopting her.

 

[Jayyj]

Just as an fyi, £1500 for a LSC (let alone with behavioural issues) is an insane amount of money. My local bird place in Manchester generally sells on rehomed LSCs for around half that. If you feel like you want to move forward do some research on prices and make them a sensible offer.

That said, I knowingly overpaid for my galah because I could see she wasn't doing well in her current environment and I wanted to rescue her so I'm not saying absolutely don't do it. It just rather sound as though this guy doesn't really know what he's doing or what the market is.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Just as an fyi, £1500 for a LSC (let alone with behavioural issues) is an insane amount of money. My local bird place in Manchester generally sells on rehomed LSCs for around half that. If you feel like you want to move forward do some research on prices and make them a sensible offer.

That said, I knowingly overpaid for my galah because I could see she wasn't doing well in her current environment and I wanted to rescue her so I'm not saying absolutely don't do it. It just rather sound as though this guy doesn't really know what he's doing or what the market is.

Or maybe he does and that is why he is asking so much. I suspect there are undisclosed reasons for the sale IMO.

 

[sonja]

I will agree with the others - this is a sale, not an adoption. Nothing inherently wrong with that, but go in with eyes wide open regarding the bird and the seller.

 

[bill_e]

Think long and hard about how this, or any parrot, will affect your family....life will change.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[SailBoat]

Since you entered this Thread in the Cockatoo Forum, I hope that you have read the first two Threads in this section (high lighted in light blue), if so, please re-read them. If not, please read them.

Toos' are rarely a good choice for a first time large parrot owner.

 

[Scott]

Your heart is in the right place, and cockatoos are among the most loving and willing to bond of parrot species. At the same time they are incredibly challenging and sometimes the battle to prevent self-mutilation cannot be won. It would seem the seller has revealed many of the salient aspects of this bird relevant to the plucking behaviors.

I would humbly refer any aspiring cockatoo parront to www.mytoos.com
Some of the material is controversial, but it serves as a counterweight to the generally terrific first impressions a cockatoo can offer.

If you choose to adopt this bird, many of the threads in this sub-forum will prove helpful!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Your heart is in the right place, and cockatoos are among the most loving and willing to bond of parrot species. At the same time they are incredibly challenging and sometimes the battle to prevent self-mutilation cannot be won. It would seem the seller has revealed many of the salient aspects of this bird relevant to the plucking behaviors.

I would humbly refer any aspiring cockatoo parront to www.mytoos.com
Some of the material is controversial, but it serves as a counterweight to the generally terrific first impressions a cockatoo can offer.

If you choose to adopt this bird, many of the threads in this sub-forum will prove helpful!

Thanks for putting this up Scott, I wanted to but was unsure if it is OK to. Every aspiring 'too parront should go here first and foremost. They sell it as it is, no sugar coating, just straightforward honesty in all it's glory.

 

[Scott]

Your heart is in the right place, and cockatoos are among the most loving and willing to bond of parrot species. At the same time they are incredibly challenging and sometimes the battle to prevent self-mutilation cannot be won. It would seem the seller has revealed many of the salient aspects of this bird relevant to the plucking behaviors.

I would humbly refer any aspiring cockatoo parront to www.mytoos.com
Some of the material is controversial, but it serves as a counterweight to the generally terrific first impressions a cockatoo can offer.

If you choose to adopt this bird, many of the threads in this sub-forum will prove helpful!

Thanks for putting this up Scott, I wanted to but was unsure if it is OK to. Every aspiring 'too parront should go here first and foremost. They sell it as it is, no sugar coating, just straightforward honesty in all it's glory.

You bet! I don't agree with every premise and conclusion of their site, but it is a good counterbalance. Toos have a knack for cheery first impressions and wonderful honeymoons once they have a new home. While I would love to see every pet store/shelter/rescue/breeder cockatoo find a great home, it is fairest for prospective parronts to see the full spectrum of behaviors.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Your heart is in the right place, and cockatoos are among the most loving and willing to bond of parrot species. At the same time they are incredibly challenging and sometimes the battle to prevent self-mutilation cannot be won. It would seem the seller has revealed many of the salient aspects of this bird relevant to the plucking behaviors.

I would humbly refer any aspiring cockatoo parront to www.mytoos.com
Some of the material is controversial, but it serves as a counterweight to the generally terrific first impressions a cockatoo can offer.

If you choose to adopt this bird, many of the threads in this sub-forum will prove helpful!

Thanks for putting this up Scott, I wanted to but was unsure if it is OK to. Every aspiring 'too parront should go here first and foremost. They sell it as it is, no sugar coating, just straightforward honesty in all it's glory.

You bet! I don't agree with every premise and conclusion of their site, but it is a good counterbalance. Toos have a knack for cheery first impressions and wonderful honeymoons once they have a new home. While I would love to see every pet store/shelter/rescue/breeder cockatoo find a great home, it is fairest for prospective parronts to see the full spectrum of behaviors.

Oh boy...can I ever relate!


Jim

 

[plumsmum2005]

Your heart is in the right place, and cockatoos are among the most loving and willing to bond of parrot species. At the same time they are incredibly challenging and sometimes the battle to prevent self-mutilation cannot be won. It would seem the seller has revealed many of the salient aspects of this bird relevant to the plucking behaviors.

I would humbly refer any aspiring cockatoo parront to www.mytoos.com
Some of the material is controversial, but it serves as a counterweight to the generally terrific first impressions a cockatoo can offer.

If you choose to adopt this bird, many of the threads in this sub-forum will prove helpful!

Thanks for putting this up Scott, I wanted to but was unsure if it is OK to. Every aspiring 'too parront should go here first and foremost. They sell it as it is, no sugar coating, just straightforward honesty in all it's glory.

You bet! I don't agree with every premise and conclusion of their site, but it is a good counterbalance. Toos have a knack for cheery first impressions and wonderful honeymoons once they have a new home. While I would love to see every pet store/shelter/rescue/breeder cockatoo find a great home, it is fairest for prospective parronts to see the full spectrum of behaviors.

Absolutely.

 

[EdwardH]

In Australia, sulfer crested cockatoos are the number one dumped, rehomed, released into the wild, pet bird. They can make wonderful life long companions for those who can provide for their needs, especially the social needs. Most people have great intentions and then it goes down hill from there. Unless you really know what you are committing yourself too I would shy away. One thing that has proven very successful is bringing the bird to work so that it can roam around and socialise with people. These parrots are often seen in clubs, pubs etc and are as happy as can be. They have their stands and are allowed to roam around.

 

[VJB]

Thank you all so much for your help and advice I have taken it all on board. I suggested to the owner of the pet shop that we look after the Cockatoo for a week or so to see how we get on but he didn't seem keen. This set alarm bells ringing for me. Whilst I want to give her a new home I do want to know what we are getting into first.
In the meantime we go past each day to say hello to her but I am not sure that she is the right bird for us even though my heart tells me otherwise.

 

[sonja]

Keep in mind that parrots never show their true personalities in a week's time at a new home. So, while it may give you an idea of the logistics of caring for her, you won't get an idea of the potentially difficult personality and behavioral issues that can come from having a 'too.
Good luck with your decision!

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

As someone who tried to rehome a rescued GSC2, I'd think long and hard before bringing it home. In our case, we ended up out around $600 (full vet profile and 1/2 the $500 adoption fee), as compared to the 1,500 quid (extortion IMHO) being charged by your local pet seller.

Ours was on best behaviour when we met her, but she quickly turned into an uncontrollable, biting, house eating machine. After scaring one of the daughters and my wife to the point where they were afraid around her (and I even had some scary moments), we decided very quickly this wasn't for us. When a bird becomes aggressive, cannot be handled, or not even be picked up on a perch due to some past abuse, it makes providing a home very difficult.