Animal Stories - People Talking About Cockatoos



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Latest Animal Stories on Cockatoos (243)

Peggy Frankenfield - 2009-12-10
I have two Goffin Cockatoo's. Floyd is 11yrs. old and Louise is 6. I got them both as babies and have loved them every minute of their lives. They are so sweet. Louise talks better than Floyd and actually puts sentences together. When my husband leaves the room she will ask me "what's daddy doing?" If Floyd screams she tells him to "stop it, that's bad!" They have a big cage in our kitchen, a cage in the livingroom and a sleep cage in their very own bedroom. They sleep about 12 to 14 hrs. a day and are the sweetest "kids" ever!I take them both into the living room together for an hour every day. I recline in the recliner and they watch my soap with me. They cuddle one on each side of my neck and make smooching noises in my ear.... they NEVER try to leave. If my husband or one of my cats trys to come in they both put their crests up and make warning noises. It's hilarious. They are both potty trained and never have accidents. They poo on command before exiting their cage. They are entertaining and love to show off to our friends. I do hope they live for the 40 years we were told they would. I can't imagine life without them. We have a motorhome and take them camping with us all summer long. They have a big cage in there as well. They love to watch TV, especially Sesame Street.When we go away we just leave the TV on for them and they also have each other for company. They are truly the best thing that's ever happened to me.

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jamie - 2011-04-21
How did you potty train them?
Clarice Brough - 2011-04-21
Nice to have Goffin's. I want one!

Anonymous - 2011-04-15
I have a 9 or 10 year old umbrella cockatoo. She has laid 2 eggs. This is normal she does it once or twice a year. However, this time I would like for her to have a baby. I would like to get one fertile cockatoo egg she can lay on. Does anyone have any ideas. I live in Kansas.

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Charlie Roche - 2011-04-15
It is not unusual for a cockatoo (or other birds) to lay eggs without a mate. Obviously, the eggs will not be fertile. It is also not unusal to place fertile eggs under another parrot that is known to sit eggs real well. You don't need an umbrella cockatoo egg.
However, there is no assurance that your Umbrella will sit the egg. They lay them but they may not wish to sit them. If they do sit them, they may not wish to feed them. So you could acquire a fertile egg and your Umbrella may not sit it and probably won't feed it so you would have to hand feed it around the clock every two hours for about a week, then 3 - 4 times a day for another 6 or so weeks.
That is quite a commitment.
In any case, if you want to check it out, see if there are any breeders in the area and ask if they will sell you a fertile egg.
I would not recommend this. It is difficult to do. Your umbrella may not accept another egg. It could be a very expensive proposition with no reward for you or your Umbrella.
Why not just invest the money and buy a baby Umbrella cockatoo (or another parrot) that your Cockatoo can be friends with. You would have to hand feed it but there is a better chance of success - by a whole lot.

brian - 2011-04-11
I got a 12 yr old male moluccan cockatoo. He's a super sweet bird but lately I noticed he'll go to a corner of his cage and start shaking and sounds almost like he's hissing. Does anyone know why he's doing this? Please tell me. Thanks.

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Charlie Roche - 2011-04-11
Shaking - like his body is shaking as if trembling? Feather crest up or down and body feathers out or flat? Cage looks out a window? Cockatoos will do a sort of shakey thing where there body seems to treble and a low almost growl vs hiss. I can't say for sure but breeding season is one thing. Is something out the window? Is this just a short 30 - 60 second trembling than my guess is breeding thing. Feather crest up and wings out and flapping and head bobbing with big noise - well you probably know that is normal for attention. I found that mine only did it in the spring and I was told something like the scent in the air and hormones. Mine was a female though and she started it about 9 years old.

Suzanne M. - 2011-01-16
Hi, I'm Suzanne. I love birds and own a pair of two Lovebirds. I shop for pellets at "The Bird Shop," which sells products and birds. Today I went there and found a wonderful 9-year-old Goffin's Cockatoo there. I fell heads over heels in love when I scritched her neck and she told me hi. Unfortunately, my only bird experience comes from my two sweet Lovebirds, and I'm not sure if I have the level of experience necessary for a too. Any help is appreciated!

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Rob Parker - 2011-03-24
Hi Suzanne... Goffin's are pretty low maintenance birds with the exception that the more attention you give them, the stronger the bond between you two. Just make sure you have a big enough cage (the bigger the better, especially if you are away during the day). Cockatoo's need room to move as they are naturally curious - which can lead to some sometimes funny events, and sometimes not funny. They LOVE to chew. Make sure you have plenty of wooden toys that are painted with DYES, and NOT PAINT. If you let you buddy out of the cage lots, I would recommend clipping the wings a little so he cannot fly too far, and MAKE SURE ALL ELECTRICAL WIRES are out of his reach - THEY LOVE TO CHEW.
Feeding them is fairly easy, however I would stay away from any pellets that are colored. The coloring usually contains sugar, and processed sugar is not good for them. NEVER EVER give your cockatoo (or any bird) Avocados. They are deadly to birds. They love all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. While nuts are good for them, they contain high amounts of fat, so you want to use seeds and nuts more as a treat than a staple of their diet. Fresh water daily (put the dish high in the cage so he does not defecate into it). I give my two buddies a cup of fruit (apples, c antelope, bananas, and sometimes a small piece of orange) in the morning, and leave it with them for 3 hours. I then take it out, and replace it at dinner time with a dish of pellets. It is easy to see what they do not like as they have NO problem tossing the food that is disliked out of the cage or onto the bottom of it! Mine used to toss the whole dish if he wanted something else.
Never EVER yell at your Goffin, or hit it, or spray it in the face with water to reprimand him or her. They can hold a grudge for a looong time and you can lose a great friend. Rather than scolding him or her, simply ignore the behavior - especially screaming. If you simply leave the room without a word, and only return when the screaming stops, your buddy will learn pretty quickly not to scream to get attention. Reward good behavior with treats (they LOVE sunflower seed and peanuts). You will find that they are very much like children.
You do not have to be a genius to own or care for one of these birds. You just have to use common sense, and realize that these birds are HIGHLY intelligent. Oh yeah.. make sure you buy clasps or small locks for all access doors in the cage.... if you don't, do not be surprised (or upset) when you find your cockatoo sitting on the top of his cage or making a mess somewhere else...

Hope this little bit helped.
rhparker@xplornet.ca

Rob

Carla L - 2009-12-29
I am the owner of a beatiful 12 year old Moluccan Cockatoo named Bacardi. I have had her since she was a baby and she is very bonded to me. She is very loveable and friendly to most. This past year she started mutilating her chest. I have been treating her for the past 4 months or so and it is getting very expensive. I see this appears to be a common problem in their teenage years. I am new to this site so I'm learing how to communicate with those of you that have posted comments about this horrible mutilation problem. I'm in the process of getting some result back from a specialist to confirm anything going on healthwise. I'm getting very frustrated and worried I won't have the necessary money needed to continue such treatment. Anyone out there that can give me some hope?

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annmarie and boo - 2010-02-20
Hi,
Do you bath your bird? Getting them use to the shower or bath tub is a good idea. Try soaking her feathers every couple of days and misting her everyday. Warm mist humidifer at night near where she sleeps might help too. Our climate is too dry for our birds. Just use plain or brita filtered water. good luck.
syndi - 2010-04-10
My bird started that too in the teen years as well. I spent a lot of money as well and saw3-4 different vets. Finally when I was in zoo by the bird area, I spoke with one of the care takers. She told me to put on a denim sweater. I made her one and she couldn't chew her chest. It worked great. Although she looked funny! I took it off only to spay her down with water and put on meds. Back on it went. She work it for a long time too. But her feather miraculously grew back although not 100 percent.
melanie67 - 2010-05-10
Hi not to worry this is very common in these birds usually they do this when they get depressed or frustrated. Try some new toys and try giving more attention and you can use Vaseline to the area and it won't hurt him at all.
kathy - 2011-03-15
Hi Carla, I have a 20 year old Molluccan Cockatoo since she was 4 months old from a great breeder, I am all she knows. I am having A LOT of problems with her 'vibrating' behavior in the last 4 months and need ANY advice. She is my life and I have paid for my funeral arrangements over the past 5 years so she will be well taken care of when I'm gone, I have no kids or relatives. This behavior is getting worse and I don't know if it is 'brooding' or something else, please educate me if you can or know someone who can let me know what to do. She is a great girl and 'time-out' doesn't work, please help us. Kathy @ Ksutton1962@yah00.ca or 604-607-0607 Thank-you for you time.
Jeahnette - 2011-03-24
My moluccan is 13, I put a vest on him. Corrected the self plucking. He likes some vest better than others, he lets me know. Also if you can move her cage outdoors when possible......wind currents, sounds etc. keeps them busy.

wendy - 2010-12-26
I need serious help I recently got a cockatoo I have wanted 1 since I was little. When I inquired about him they said he was 6 mths old (not true I'm guessing he is about 14 mths). They also said he was tame (again not true I'm guessing they got him from the wild as he is very very feisty). My questions are
1) How can I start to train him?

2) What are the right foods to give him as I have read so many sites some are saying this is good while another says it's not.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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trent hardy - 2011-03-22
Spend lots and lots of time with him. Give him lots of love and attention. . . .
Charlie Roche - 2011-03-30
This is similar to a situation one that happened to me. At the time I was a novice when it came to birds and I was told that an approximately 15 year old blue/gold macaw with a quarantine band was a hand fed 6 month old baby. A friend of mine was a breeder and after Tiger ripped his arm open, I decided it was best to go slowly. I placed a perch by the cage and let Tiger go in and out at his pace. I thought this would get him used to me going by and he would feel less threatened. I then started feeding him by hand treats such as peanuts, shelled sunflower seeds etc. After he was used to my hand and showed no agression or fear, I would hold old a sunflower seed with one hand and very slowly just touch his feet with the other. The feet became the back, then the head etc. I finally taught him "UP" and he would perch on my hand. It took me about a year but Tiger did become an amzing pet with a slightly stubborn streak. However, he was affectioneete, enjoyed play and following me around the home. The more he trained me, the better behaved I became and so the more he trusted me.
Lots of luck and just go slow. Cockatoos make wonderful pets and are a delight to have. Let us know how it works out for you and any tricks you come up with.

Dena - 2011-03-14
My neighbor has a female Citron Cockatoo and is wondering if there is anything she can be given or that can be done for her to either slow or stop egg production. She has been egg bound a couple of times and my neighbor knows how to help her with that. But they do not want any babies and she is an only child in their home. Any suggestions will be appreciated. :) Thank you

Anna - 2011-01-20
The rose breasted cockatoo, the actual name is the pink galah , they are BEAUTIFUL birds, and soooo sociable :)

brandi - 2010-10-02
My friend could not take her bird with her she will be gone for a couple years over seas so I took the goffin cockatoo he is 3 will he get used to me? He lets me pet him and feed him he comes off his cage and is checking me out them some days he is funny and bites its only been 3 weeks.

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Gemma - 2011-01-15
Hi Brandi! Yes, he will probably get used to you. Respect his space but don't act scared or he might boss you around. If he bites you, tell him "No" in a firm voice and put him back in his cage/close the cage door and ignore him. Also try and figure out why he might be biting - research bird body language and see if you're ignoring his signals. Also, many birds are cage territorial. See if he's acting aggressive or biting when he's in or around his cage.
Good luck!

kathy - 2010-12-30
I have a goffins cockatoo about 4 yrs old. He is taken to chewing his shoulders and now one has started to bleed. Is there something I can do to stop this?

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Gemma - 2011-01-15
Hi Kathy! It looks like your Goffin isn't getting the mental stimulation he needs. Spend all your free time with him and give him a big cage with lots of toys. If that isn't working (or you've already done it), try to find out if you've changed anything that might be distressing him. New furniture, new animal? Try it!
As for stopping bleeding, wrap him in a towel and apply pressure to the bleeding part. Do not apply pressure to his chest/belly! If that isn't working try using cornstarch or call your vet. After the bleeding has stopped, let him out of the towel and have some one-on-one time to convince him you aren't trying to hurt him.
Good luck and have fun!

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Animal Stories - People Talking About Cockatoos

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