Animal Stories - People Talking About Cockatoos



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Latest Animal Stories on Cockatoos (246)

robin - 2010-11-11
Hi, my husband brought home a utoo about 3 mos ago, this bird loves him so much, she will let me pet her and feed her, even let me break and fluff her crest feathers, BUT! If I try to get her to step up see if she will get on me, she will bite me so hard it draws blood and leaves a mark for weeks. Anybody know why she would be so sweet and then so nasty?

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Dave - 2011-03-14
If your bird is in the cage when you try to get it to step up, they might see your hand as an invasion of their "space". Perhaps the bird needs to get out of its cage first, on its own, and will be friendlier to any overtures. Another possibility is that your bird, a female, prefers males; she might prefer your husband over you, and perhaps doesn't trust you as much. And, since your husband brought her home, she probably sees him as the object of most of her affections.
Anonymous - 2011-05-04
She has fallen in love with your husband.

Lisa - 2008-11-11
Hello, I have a goffin and she's 5. Love this bird dearly, so live up 2 her singing and screams when she wants something. Where I live they dont treat these type of birds. Last night she dropped an egg in her cage, which from a fall, it broke. This worries me because it was her first egg, and now she's having hard time walking, Made her a safe and smooth bed to keep an eye out. Her eyes are also looking like they're holding water. Should I be worried and will there be more eggs. This is taking all her engery and I am so worried I am gonna lose her. My email is lisaannpool@yahoo.com if anyone can help...Thanks so much....

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Donna Throckmorton - 2011-05-02
If possible, put her in a small cage with a heat lamp. Make sure she can get out of the way of the heat lamp. Or a aquarium with a heating pad on the bottom, but again only half in case she gets to hot. Try and keep her as relaxed and quiet as possible. I would call pet shops or other bird people in your area an try and find a bird vet as soon as possible. It sounds like she might be egg bound. A very serious condition. If nothing else try your area vets and ask them if they know of a avian vet. Even if you have to drive a long ways, its better that losing your little girl. Make sure to offer her food and water
Charlie Roche - 2011-05-02
They usually have two eggs and it sounds like your little gal might be egg bound. There has to be someone near whre you live that has been through this so try and contact any vet or breeder in the area. If not, try online - like you are. Keep her warm. Put your goffin in some sort of large container and put a heating pad on low wrapped in a towel under 1/2 the container so she can get warmer or cooler by moving there. Put care fresh, newspapers or bedding material on the bottom of the container. You can also soak her in warm water. You can take a cotton ball and put mineral oil around the vent which might help. It is lubrication. I have placed birds (egg bound) in containers and have placed birds in warm water that were egg bound. The egg came out so I was fortunate. I have not had to go in after an egg, however, and I don't know how to do that. If you can find an online breeder, maybe they would know how or have been through it before.
Charlie Roche - 2011-05-02
I don't mean to soak the entire bird in water, just the back end - vent part to relax the vent so maybe the egg will pass. Please do not soak the entire bird. Hopefully the egg has passed by now.
Charlie Roche - 2011-05-03
How is your little gal doing? Was there a 2nd egg? Did it pass. Hope all is well.

Jane - 2009-05-13
I've had my little goffin for about a year now, I got him at 6 months from a pet shop. He has changed my life to such a degree that I don't want to be anywhere alse but with him. He does come with me in the car, and enjoys it thoroughly. He does stay alone when I am at work, but he has my African Grey with him and he has a huge Macaw cage with lots of toys - it is so important for a Goffin to have the biggest cage that you can afford, as believe me he plays in ever corner of that cage, it is actually cruel to lock up a goffin in a cockatiel cage for the whole day, imagine that you were locked up in a small room for the whole of your day, you would go MAD.
He is my whole world and I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. Thank you my baby goffin, I love you so much and you have made my life so much richer!

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Donna Throckmorton - 2011-04-27
I know what you mean about the biggest cage possible. My Goffin Cockatoo, Shera, is in the same size cage as my amazon. 36in.Hx24in.Wx4Ft.long. She uses every inch. She has her own toy box, and of course hanging toys. She is so funny. Plus she is out every morning for an hour to two, and in the evening before bed time for an hour. I think more people need to be aware of the importance of teaching independent play. Or any cockatoo can be come very demanding and scream. Then they end up in shelters.
Oh one more thing, I got Shera when she was 11 weeks old, she is now three (April 14). She is a spoiled rotten brat. Of course she is sexually mature now, so its like she is going into her teen years. Now she is a big girl, and doesn't have to listen to mom all the time anymore. She has taken to ripping my glasses off my face! Then she flys around the house with them. Kids and cockatoos need rules to.

Gloria - 2009-06-21
Hello everyone. I have a Goffin Cockatoo named BeBe. He is about 8 years old. He means the world to me. I find that cockatoos have the funniest personality. My Bebe loves to dance, jump around, give kisses and loves for me to pet him all over his body. They do require lots of attention. If he doesn't get it, he will squack and chew on things. I have had to replace molding in my house because of it. I almost lost him a couple of weeks ago. I took him outside and he flew off my shoulder. He flew so high into a tree, that we could not get him down. We tried throwing a football to try and scare him down but he flew out of sight. I was so devastated. That night I put his cage outside and prayed to god to please bring Bebe back to me. The following morning after putting out flyers on a lost bird I went out back and heard him squack. He was yelling "I love you". I found him high in a tree, and again tried to scare him down. He tried to climb down to me but couldn't get a grip of the branches. Finally after 4 hours of this, he tried flying down to me, but got startled and flew to another branch. This time the branch was low enough a ladder could reach. I put the ladder up there stuck my hand out and he climbed onto my finger. We just sat there and gave each other hugs and kisses. God answered my prayers. I don't know what life would be without him and I don't want to find out. I love you Bebe.

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Donna Throckmorton - 2011-04-27
Hi, If God forbid that should happen again, especially if it is going to be dark soon, put his cage outside where he can see it. Hang a light next to the cage. Like one of the work lights guys use when they work on cars. Get up at dawn and start calling him. Hopefully he hasn't flown off.
My husbands Sun Conure got out the back door an hour before dark. I stayed out to 1am talking to him. Then I put his cage out, and hung the light in the tree right above his cage so he could keep it in sight. Next morning I was up at dawn calling him. He was in the neighbors yard so high up that I could barely see him. He was scared, but three hours later he finely came back a little closer, and a little closer, then flew back on the house then hopped on his cage. When my husband got home, he cryed he was so happy to have his little buddie back again. I trained my Goffin to a harness, and thats the only time she goes outside unless she is in a cage. I take her lots of places in the summer time.

Marina Bomb - 2010-08-24
Hello! I am Marina and I'm 13 years old. I am bored all the day and I told my mom that I want a Cockatoo for Christmas. She said it's okay, I'm going to have one, but I need good grades at school! I'm so excited, I think this Cockatoo will make my life happier because I read what you wrote on this web-site. I heard that this Goffin's Cockatoo is quite, is it true? I actually can't wait to teach it tricks and teach him to talk! Is it better to buy a baby 'too or an older one?

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Gemma - 2011-01-15
Hi Marina! Okay, time for the toughie: Cockatoos are very likely to annoy you to no end very quickly. Goffins are not quiet at all. This website may not get down to the hard facts, so try out www.mytoos.com. Your whole family has to back you up and support you on this decision - it is not going to be just your pet, it will be the whole family's. Goffins Cockatoos are not known for talking ability, though they can learn a few words as this says. If you must get a too, go for a hand-raised baby from a reputable breeder.
Keep in mind though, that you're probably going to have this bird for over 30 years. Are you really okay with that? What are you going to do with your bird when you go to slumber parties? Is your future boyfriend going to like this bird? Is your future husband going to like this bird? Cockatoos produce a large amount of bird dust, so if you or anyone in your family are allergic, don't get one. Another thing is prices. Buying your bird will be about a thousand, a good cage about two hundred, and toys, vet visits, food, and everything else about another thousand. Do you have $2,200 dollars saved up? Will your parents pay that money?
Do a huge amount of research and make sure you - and the rest of your family - really know what you're getting into. Good luck - and if you do get a too, have fun!
Donna Throckmorton - 2011-04-27
Hi, just wanted to make the comment that Goffins Cockatoos are great. I love my three year old Shera so much. But they are a life long commitment. They can live up to 40 years. They also need a lot of attention. What happens when you get older and start dating?
If you do get one I would recommend a young one, 3 or 5 months old. Teach it to play independently. Meaning lots of toys, and change them frequently. They are very intelligent, more so than dogs. But they also need a lot of attention and training. Maybe you should start with something a little less demanding for a first bird, like a cockatiel. Cockatoos are not like other parrots. I have a amazon, and a Sun Conure. Goffins are not as loud as the other toos. But they can screech when they are unhappy. They can also pull all their feathers out if they are stressed or bored. That can become a life long habit. They also cost between $850.00 to 1,300.00. So please think it over carefully, for the birds sake.

Kelly - 2010-12-14
I have a three year old female Goffin. I've had her for about nine months. We are buddies and spend hours a day together. She'll Say "Hello Zelda" which is her name and night night when I cover her for the night. She used to say good morning. I don't understand why she stopped. I've also been trying to teach her new things to say but she hasn't yet said anything else. I say How are you? And my grandfather wants me to teach her how to say Oh hell. I say these things to her several times a day but she never says anything back. Also, she constantly squawks when she's in her cage. I do not let her out when I clean the house because I am afraid she'll get into something harmful. It takes me about an hour and a half close to two hours until I am finished. Does she squawk because I spoil her too much? I would really appreciate if someone could help me out. If anyone has any advice for me please let me know.
Sincerely,
Kelly

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Gemma - 2011-01-15
Hi Kelly! Goffins are really, really sweet birds, but they aren't great talkers, which may be why she isn't learning. To try and teach her, though, whenever you come over to her tell her "Oh hell" or whatever you'd like to teach her. Also, whenever you do anything positive (like give her a treat, feed her, pet her, snuggle with her, etc) tell her the same phrase. Hopefully, she'll associate this phrase with good stuff, and then say it expecting good stuff. Reward her when she says it!
Good decision not letting her out while you clean! No, she's not screaming because she's spoiled. When she screams, resist the urge to tell her off - instead, completely ignore her. Don't even look at her, just ignore her. Don't expect instant results and keep doing it even if you really want to walk over and tell her to be quiet. If she's still screaming, put a cover over her cage while you clean or consult an expert.
Good luck!
Donna Throckmorton - 2011-04-27
Hi Kelly, I suggest getting her lots of small toys. My Goffin Cockatoo Shera loves little plastic cat balls with bells in them. She also likes little plastic pacifiers that you get to decorate baby shower presents.Toys and toys. Like I take newspapers, and show Shera that I put a almond in the middle, then crumple it up, I also crumple up a few at a time an throw them in the cage. I taught her from the time she was 11 weeks old to play independently. She's three now, and spends her time happily playing. She is out in the morning for a hour and a half. Then in the early evening she is out for a hour or so. Depending if she is a good girl or not. Now that she has hit her teenage years, she can be a handful sometimes. But she is very forgiving of me on days when I don't feel well enough to take her out for long. I am in a wheelchair, and all three of my parrots seem to have a understanding that I am not like other people. Hope this helps you. Toys, all kinds her size. Donna
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-28
They squack cuz they squack - especially if you are running a vacumn. They want to be with you. They need a lot of toys and will eventually settle in. Try a perch or having her in front of the TV with cartoons. That sounds nuts but they seem to like it. I have most birds are not receptive to saying something like "Bells on a tree". If you clap hands in rhythm and say "CLAP HANDS" then they will say that. They need an association. It has to mean something to them. My daughter said "CRACKER GOOD" and then did this huge burb and the bird would constantly go WANT CRACKER GOOD and then burp. It was hysterical. So try rythm or association.

KS - 2010-03-08
I was given an 8 yr old , male cockatoo...first experience..bless his soul, I can't help but love him but they can be challenging at times.....lol.....They get mad at you & it's like having a spouse mad.....but it sure is quiet...Always a great challenge

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Jeannie - 2010-04-23
What part of Kansas are you from, I am from there until a year ago, I moved to NC, I have an umbrella cockatoo.
Carl Mote - 2010-05-04
I was told that an umbrella cockatoo is like having a chronic two year old child with a bad temper. That is soooo true but if you love your bird and correct him without abuse like a two year old child. I used a little squirt bottle that did both spray a mist or spray a jet stream and used the jet stream and sprayed directly on a foot. That taught him the term no eventually. Remember a chronic two year old child. But the love you get back is unexplainable.
Akil - 2010-08-17
I want to sell my Cockatoo I leave in wisconsin do you know any on interested in it? You can email me I just bought for my daughter who is 6 years old but she want parakeet.
margie - 2010-09-13
How much are you asking for him?
Harmony - 2010-11-20
It is true, these are wonderful birds but you must be prepared for a lifetime commitment and many behavior challenges. These birds can be very sweet but will also bite you HARD if they are scared or upset. Their screeching can be very difficult to live with. They should not be bred for sale because it is not fair to them. They are very loving, especially in the first 3 years of their life - but so often people give them up because they were not prepared for the reality of owning a parrot. Parrots are loud and somewhat dangerous and need LOTS OF ATTENTION. If you are not prepared to take care of a 3 year old child for up to 80 years DO NOT GET A COCKATOO! They are incredibly sensitive and when they are passed from home to home it is like torture to them! Be honest with yourself, if you do not have the patience for the mess, the expense, the noise and the time involved DO NOT GET ONE. I have an 8 year old. By the time I got him at 3 years old he had already had 3 other homes. He is the sweetest creature I've ever known and I love him with all of my heart - and am therefore in it for the long haul but I assure you, had I known how much work, noise and danger I would deal with I wouldn't do it again. He has never hurt me personally - (I'm his "person") but I have to be very careful when other people come in our home - he will fly at their faces and could cause serious damage!
Libbie - 2011-04-22
I have a wonderful Umbrella Cockatoo with only one leg. He broke it the day I brought him home. Got caught in the bird cage and out of excitement he broke it. Had to be amputated. He does great without it. Now, pictures of cockatoos always show how smooth their feathers lay all the way to the tip of the tail. My bird, Q-Tip, has unneat feathers around the tips of his wings and tail. Can you tell me what causes that? He can groom himself all over but his feathers just look tattered.

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.

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