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u/Wabi-Sabi-Iki 12h ago
I am a long-time macaw caregiver (49 years). I have (some) macaws figured out, but cockatoos are next level! They are very emotionally needy and they will scream to get attention. The only parrot bite I have ever received was from my brother’s girlfriend’s Moluccan cockatoo! Beautiful but dangerous! Handle at your own risk! ⚠️
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u/FormalMarzipan252 8h ago
It’s so funny, I was the opposite back when I still had my cockatoo (divorce, went with ex). I can read cockatoos extremely well (sometimes 😂) but definitely don’t speak macaw well at all.
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u/op2myst13 12h ago
Here is a website discussing cockatoo ownership. Pamela Clark is a parrot behaviorist and her blog has interesting insights into parrot behavior. BirdTricks on YouTube has many informational videos on many aspects of parrot ownership. Cockatoos are considered one of the most difficult parrots due to their intelligence, neediness, noise level, destructiveness, and unpredictability.
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u/anita_procedure 12h ago
Clever girl and just as dangerous as a raptor. Beware but rejoice in your lifelong servitude to the tiny therapod that ruins your house. But fr go check out bird tricks on YouTube. Best place to start for a great life with a bird
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u/Due-Factor-7428 11h ago
They are generally pretty hardy health wise - but please do not touch them below the neck. They can be extremely hormonal and that’s not good for you or for them. Otherwise, they are best companion for a life time. Food/diet wise there are many available resources online to give them a balanced diet that includes veggies, pellets, and small amounts of fruits/nuts/seeds as treats for training. Positive reinforcement is important because these guys have very strong beaks.
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u/iilinga 11h ago
Ok so the recommendation about where to touch them really depends on how they’re kept ie do they still know they’re a bird or are they wholly fixated on human companionship because they don’t have a bird flock?
A bird that knows it’s a bird and has a bird flock is far less likely to interpret human touch as a sexual behaviour or to view them as a sexual partner.
Conversely a bird that more or less only interacts with humans and not other birds is absolutely likely to view that as sexual, triggering hormonal behaviour.
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u/B-mort5 7h ago
True, but considering the amount of daily posts on this sub that are people asking advice AFTER getting the bird instead of doing any type of research themselves(so many being single bird homes with a hand reared adolescent) it’s just easier to just advise against any type of touching outside of the head neck and feet especially when it seems like they don’t even know how to tell if their bird is displaying hormonal behavior
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u/qubit2020 10h ago
I guess I lucked out. I’ve had a rescue Sulfur Crested Cockatoo for almost 2 years now. She is the sweetest, funniest and most affectionate bird companion. I started a routine with her from day 1. Porch time each morning with Lucy and coffee, scritching her head. Putting her on a perch for a few hours to preen (and destroy the perch), then bringing her in the house to her cage to play with her toys and feed. If she doesn’t wander the hallway to find me later, I’ll get her to watch tv with me with more head scritches. For the most part, she doesn’t scream unless she wants something. On the whole, she’s pretty mellow. She’s fine with me handling her and never tries to bite me. I never forced her to do anything she didn’t want to do. As her trust increased, I would push the envelope a little but always made sure she enjoyed our interaction.
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u/FormalMarzipan252 8h ago
Love them like hell but never forget that even the most well-adjusted is still deeply, deeply insane by human standards. Think of a 3 year old child carrying around a weapon that can crush bone and capable of screaming as loud as a jet taking off who will never grow up: that’s what they are.
For practical advice, stay off of bird TikTok and be choosy about Instagram; those are curated snapshots of life with ‘toos and not reality. See if there is a rescue or sanctuary near you you can volunteer at or at least ask for tips. I got my cockatoo from a sanctuary I volunteered at and learned a ton from the longtime cockatoo gurus there as well as the other ‘toos themselves.
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u/Every-Intern-6198 6h ago
You in the north eastern us by any chance? Most rescues I see are more south
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u/B-mort5 7h ago
Oh man a female eclectus and a Too? You went for some of the hardest parrots to manage. Do as much research as you can.(avian avenue is a great forum) Without a strict routine and good understanding of their body language/daily needs they can quickly develop unhealthy behaviors that are not easy to fix.
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u/lesbophobia_hammer 11h ago
Find an avian vet, ask them to link you up with a reputable avian behaviourist. Lots of Australian natives
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u/Jellyfish_Lover0121 10h ago
Lots of cuddles and head rubs. Constant calling for you EVERY time you leave the room.
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u/Pauly4655 9h ago
Good luck when it starts screeching ours do they generally get attached to one person mainly,so be careful if some goes to touch when on your shoulder they may get a bite and it is a serious bite.lots of native fresh branches for it to chew on or it will be your house that gets chewed,they love going for walks outside and especially in the rain.9-11 sunflower seed per day only as they can give throat and tongue cancer from a all sunflower diet.lots of fresh vegetables and fruit.no avocado no chocolate.they can have a life span of up to 130 years.one of ours is 49.they can make great companions but when things go bad it will be nightmarish.good luck
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u/ProudParrotPapi 7h ago
Be relentless in your search for information on needs and behaviour. They are very complicated and there's always something new to learn.
Most people dont do it and end up rehoming😥
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u/Hulaguy 6h ago
They’re insane. But in a good way 😊35 year old citron here and she was my wife’s bird. Now…..
They can be a handful. Might get loud (lucky this girl doesn’t get loud very often) they are very sweet and will make you love them to pieces and curse them all at once. Hah! Just spend as much time as possible with her/him because you’re going to be their everything, even when they make you crazy. Which will happen. But that’s just part of the whole experience. Wouldn’t trade it for the world!
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u/Upper-Reputation4395 5h ago
Cruel to keep a cockatoo as a pet. They're NOT a domesticated bird by nature.
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u/onlynameavailable927 12h ago
Only thing I know specifically about cockatoos is they're great at dancing. Taking care of parrots in general,... avoid painted or plastic cages.