Story of Snowball

[Christinenc2000]

I have seen a lot of his videos and LOVE this bird he is so amazing. And to think someone had abandoned him. I tried to post the video telling the story about him but it can't be shared.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJOZp2ZftCw"]Snowball (TM) - Another One Bites The Dust - YouTube[/ame]

I did find print information on him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowball_(cockatoo)

 

[Birdman666]

Well...

You kinda have to realize that these guys can also be holy terrors, and can be the biggest tantrum throwers in the too family...

Sometimes they also inexplicably turn on their owners as well, though I've seen that more with U2's than these guys, but these guys do that stuff too... if it becomes unsafe to be around the bird because he's constantly trying to injure you...

And if the bird didn't have structure?

Give them structure, and stuff to do, like "birdie dance off" and you have a different bird on your hands.

And some of the show-ey toos can get attacky when they get over stimulated... so it would not be out of character at all for this to be a charming, show off, lover too... that also viciously attacks without notice or provocation.

I've worked with those... it's aggravating. You bleed a lot... your patiences get tested on the daily. You also laugh a lot... but...

 

[Christinenc2000]

A friend of mine just emailed me. Said her Husband had seen the video years ago and thought OH COOL . Bought one and they were way over there heads with it. They could not control the bird.
SO I guess sometimes a video of a COOL bird needs to go with a warning like you posted.

 

[Birdman666]

Raising a too properly is something of an art form.

Most folks aren't prepared for it.

I don't have any toos, but if I did they'd be RB2's or if I were really, rich and crazy, perhaps a couple of BP2's (which are more like macaws than toos behavior wise... Rachel had one.)

My daughter is the TOO person in this house.

I love them, don't want to live with them day in and day out.

My big macs are needy enough...

 

[Scott]

Great video! Very cool how he's dancing to the music and engages in bowing at completion!

I'm partial to Goffins, as they seem exhibit fewer dependency and behavioral issues in my experience. No doubt they are individualistic and some can be terrors! That said, I've not experienced the more potentially volatile Too species.....

 

[Birdman666]

Our G2 came to us completely bald, with only a couple of head feathers left, and covered with festering sores, he was that neurotic.

I was the first person who was ever able to pick him up. I wasn't even trying to. I just walked by him, and he hopped aboard... SO THEY BEGGED ME TO TAKE HIM...

So even though they are significantly easier to deal with and have less problems, they still CAN have significant neurotic issues.

Of course, no one knew anything at all about the bird's background. He was dumped at the rescue like that in a crappy old cage, that he refused to leave...

WE TRIED SWITCHING OUT THAT BIRD'S CAGE FOR A NICE ONE, BUT HE WOULD HAVE NONE OF IT... NEARLY GAVE HIM A HEART ATTACK GIVING HIM A NICE NEW CAGE, AND TAKING THE OLD CRAPPY ONE AWAY...

WE HAD A TOTAL "JUDGE WHOPNER" MELTDOWN MOMENT THE SECOND WE DID THAT... COULDN'T SWITCH IT BACK FAST ENOUGH!

 

[Scott]

Our G2 came to us completely bald, with only a couple of head feathers left, and covered with festering sores, he was that neurotic.

I was the first person who was ever able to pick him up. I wasn't even trying to. I just walked by him, and he hopped aboard... SO THEY BEGGED ME TO TAKE HIM...

WE HAD A TOTAL "JUDGE WHOPNER" MELTDOWN MOMENT THE SECOND WE DID THAT... COULDN'T SWITCH IT BACK FAST ENOUGH!

Yep Mark, they really do choose "their people!"

How does a Judge Wapner meltdown rank in comparison to a Judge Judy event?

 

[Birdman666]

Our G2 came to us completely bald, with only a couple of head feathers left, and covered with festering sores, he was that neurotic.

I was the first person who was ever able to pick him up. I wasn't even trying to. I just walked by him, and he hopped aboard... SO THEY BEGGED ME TO TAKE HIM...

WE HAD A TOTAL "JUDGE WHOPNER" MELTDOWN MOMENT THE SECOND WE DID THAT... COULDN'T SWITCH IT BACK FAST ENOUGH!

Yep Mark, they really do choose "their people!"

How does a Judge Wapner meltdown rank in comparison to a Judge Judy event?

YOU MUST BE YOUNG! HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN THE MOVIE RAIN MAN?!

If not, you MUST watch that movie. Dustin Hoffman is an amazing actor, but that is by far his best ever performance...

"IT'S TIME FOR JUDGE WHOPNER!!!

Holy Crap! We gotta find a TV...

 

[Christinenc2000]

I love that movie LOL A friend of mine her son is autistic . She said he nailed it.

 

[Birdman666]

I love that movie LOL A friend of mine her son is autistic . She said he nailed it.

SHE could probably raise a cockatoo correctly!

HE was absolutely AMAZING in that...

His version of Willie Lowman from Death of a Salesman was also the best I've ever seen that done...

 

[Christinenc2000]

Sounds affect her son. If to loud he just goes OFF. Major melt down . Can't stand to be touched. He loves the bell ringing video of BB. She said he watched it for a solid hour so I sent her some links for him.
She said Heck NO to the Cockatoo . LOL

 

[Bandespresso]

I love videos of toos being adorable and I'll snuggle one but I'm on the never ever own a too train. I was also on the never ever own a grey train and look where that left me hahahahaha

There is an autistic man who volunteers at the same place i volunteered at...you couldn't believe how amazing he was with the birds! Espresso stepped right up for him the first time she met him (which was right after she barely started stepping up for me). He seems to just get them better than most people.

 

[Birdman666]

There is an autistic man who volunteers at the same place i volunteered at...you couldn't believe how amazing he was with the birds! Espresso stepped right up for him the first time she met him (which was right after she barely started stepping up for me). He seems to just get them better than most people.

They're supposed to have similar IQ's and learn things the same way...

The methods that Dr. Pepperburg used to train Alex were adapted and have been used with autistic children with a very high level of success...

So, I find this fascinating, and would love to watch the two of them interact... (I BET IT'S AMAZING!) but it doesn't surprise me.

 

[Christinenc2000]

I keep saying no more birds. There are no rescue close to me. I only have BB because animal control took him from a hoarder. A friend worked at the vet that took him in and she called me. The only close place would be adopting from Henpecked. and he has zon who scare me soooooooooooo One bird person for me and I am ok with that.

Her son has a dog that is kinda rough with everyone but him. He chills out with the boy. If he gets upset the dog just nuzzles him. Animals seem to know

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Our G2 came to us completely bald, with only a couple of head feathers left, and covered with festering sores, he was that neurotic.

I was the first person who was ever able to pick him up. I wasn't even trying to. I just walked by him, and he hopped aboard... SO THEY BEGGED ME TO TAKE HIM...

So even though they are significantly easier to deal with and have less problems, they still CAN have significant neurotic issues.

Of course, no one knew anything at all about the bird's background. He was dumped at the rescue like that in a crappy old cage, that he refused to leave...

WE TRIED SWITCHING OUT THAT BIRD'S CAGE FOR A NICE ONE, BUT HE WOULD HAVE NONE OF IT... NEARLY GAVE HIM A HEART ATTACK GIVING HIM A NICE NEW CAGE, AND TAKING THE OLD CRAPPY ONE AWAY...

WE HAD A TOTAL "JUDGE WHOPNER" MELTDOWN MOMENT THE SECOND WE DID THAT... COULDN'T SWITCH IT BACK FAST ENOUGH!

Funny you bring that up . My male Goffin and Eleanora Too wiil have no part in getting a bigger better cage.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

We have a female LS2 shes in her late 20s . We have had her 5 years , she came scared and screaming . Shes a doll now [easy bird ] . Worst thing she does is keep breaking out of her cage.

 

[Birdman666]

I fostered a 10 year old LSC2 for awhile with spoiled bird syndrome...

WORST tantrum thrower you ever saw!

Former owner never disciplined this bird at all. Zero structure. Threw five hour long tantrums... used to dive bomb people/fly at faces.

That bird was the opposite of scared. That bird was uber-aggressive.

WE HAD TO IMPOSE AN ABSOLUTELY STRICT RIGID STRUCTURE WITH THIS BIRD. AND HE BECAME VERY FAMILIAR WITH BOTH MR. TOWEL AND MR. CAGE COVER...

It did work. But I was NEVER so happy to have a bird leave my care, as I was the day I gave that one back!!!

 

[Scott]

Our G2 came to us completely bald, with only a couple of head feathers left, and covered with festering sores, he was that neurotic.

I was the first person who was ever able to pick him up. I wasn't even trying to. I just walked by him, and he hopped aboard... SO THEY BEGGED ME TO TAKE HIM...

WE HAD A TOTAL "JUDGE WHOPNER" MELTDOWN MOMENT THE SECOND WE DID THAT... COULDN'T SWITCH IT BACK FAST ENOUGH!

Yep Mark, they really do choose "their people!"

How does a Judge Wapner meltdown rank in comparison to a Judge Judy event?

YOU MUST BE YOUNG! HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN THE MOVIE RAIN MAN?!

If not, you MUST watch that movie. Dustin Hoffman is an amazing actor, but that is by far his best ever performance...

"IT'S TIME FOR JUDGE WHOPNER!!!

Holy Crap! We gotta find a TV...

LOL Mark, I'm almost certainly older than you!! Despite being a movie fan, don't believe I've actually seen Rainman. However, a cure is in sight as I just DVR'd it for 6-6 and will watch within a few days! It is a classic!

 

[Allee]

Scott, let us know what you think. I agree with Mark, I think it's Hoffman's greatest performance. I was fortunate enough to work with several autistic children and a couple of adults, they taught me a lot about being human.

Christine, thanks for the video! I love Toos, they're like Saint Bernards and Golden Retrievers, they make the world a better place. I know they aren't for everyone, but for some of us they are perfect companions.

This afternoon I caught Poppy swinging upside down from a flimsy toy, right before I swiftly rescued her she righted herself with a move an Olympian gymnist would have been proud of, then she scratched her face and looked at me like she thought I should seek professional help. How can you not love em?

 

[Hawk]

Well...

You kinda have to realize that these guys can also be holy terrors, and can be the biggest tantrum throwers in the too family...

Sometimes they also inexplicably turn on their owners as well, though I've seen that more with U2's than these guys, but these guys do that stuff too... if it becomes unsafe to be around the bird because he's constantly trying to injure you...

And if the bird didn't have structure?

Give them structure, and stuff to do, like "birdie dance off" and you have a different bird on your hands.

And some of the show-ey toos can get attacky when they get over stimulated... so it would not be out of character at all for this to be a charming, show off, lover too... that also viciously attacks without notice or provocation.

I've worked with those... it's aggravating. You bleed a lot... your patiences get tested on the daily. You also laugh a lot... but...

Holy terrors is an understatement, sometimes. My Major Mitchel was a one person bird basically, and could cop an attitude something serious at times. I still have a permanent scar on my left cheek where her bite took a chunk out and several stiches. That's when I learned that Over stimulation wasn't a good thing for a too, especially a major Mitchell. I was her 5th owner and she lived to be nearly 69.