Animal Stories - People Talking About Cockatoos



Select Pet Atlas	Select A Family	Species / Breed

Latest Animal Stories on Cockatoos (244)

rosie - 2012-03-22
Is it ok to feed a cockatoo or any bird milk?

Click For Replies (1)

Charlie Roche - 2012-03-22
A little sip is not going to hurt them but they can't digest milk - at all. They are lactose intolerant and just can't digest milk or other dairy products.

Anonymous - 2008-06-24
Jennifer, you sound like someone who will make a great bird mom! Your concerns are what makes you a potentially great parrot owner. Just make sure that you give him tons of toys, huge cage (best by the window, no drafty areas), great food like dried fruit mixes (human), bird pellets, safe vegies, cooked pasta, and read read read everything you can so you can't make a mistake. You'll be fine! Talk to your bird and handle him tons, and when your not home he can watch TV. I wouldn't change buying my bird for anything in this world! He looks like the world's happiest bird! Everyone who meets him says that and has to laugh, because no one expects him to be as awesome as he is. So go and get your Goffin's and just remember love, hygiene, diet, entertainment, and absolutely no ignorance at all! They are smart-bums! Hahaha, all the best!

Click For Replies (1)

jennifer - 2012-03-12
Hi. My name is Jennnifer. I have a goffin cockatoo. He puts his food out of the cage and when I leave he start to make loud noise. What can I do

das - 2010-05-01
I just purchased a LSC today. I did think long and hard as this is a life long commitment. I was told that she was a he, but after getting her home and in her new cage she kept lowering her head and raising her bottom and shaking (breeding posture). She is amazingly sweet, letting me pet her already and not biting. The place I purchased her from concerned me. There were so many other Cockatoo's in dirty cages without toys and missing feathers. It reminded me of a puppy mill but only a bird mill. I felt so sorry for those poor birds. The people who breed these birds related they are selling all their birds and getting out of the business and I hope they do. Too many birds are purchased and then abandoned or resold back to breeders who do not give them the kind of attention or care they need. It is very sad and I feel like I rescued this bird. She is going straight to the vet on Monday. I offered to come back and help them clean cages but they didn't seem like they wanted the help. I know not all bird breeders are like this, and I had no idea when I contacted them off the internet what I was going to find, but it makes you wonder.

Click For Replies (2)

Jade Lindholm - 2010-12-07
Hi,
I have been searching for a cockatoo who needs me such as a rescue and wondered if you would tell me where this breeder is so that I can buy one from them to get the bird out of trouble. Thanks for letting me know. Best Wishes and thanks for your post. Jade
Barb Dozier - 2010-12-31
Report these people immediately. There is no time to waste. Those birds are suffering. Don't allow it to go on. Call animal control in your area, they will know what to do.

Lara & Matt - 2008-02-15
We just bought our citron from my boss. His name is Sinbad. We first met Sinbad while my boss was away on vacation and I was caring for all his birds. He has 27 birds of different kinds. Sinbad immediately flew to me and it took me a while to get him off when it was time to leave. My boyfriend would come to help me sometimes and Sinbad loved him too. He would fly back and forth between us, and it was hard to get anything done! Hey, its not easy sweeping under dozens of cages with a bird hanging off your chest! After my boss came back, Sinbad would sometimes bite him and seemed unhappy. When we would come to visit Sinbad would come right to us, talking and playing! This is very unusual because I have heard they have very strong bonds with their owners. My boss owned him for 12 years, since Sinbad was a baby! After a lot of begging, he agreed to sell us the bird. Whatever the reason he took to us, we feel blessed. Sinbad is such a joy to have around. He has such a personality, and everyday is full of new surprises! He does demand a lot of attention. Luckily, Matt and I usually work seperate shifts, because Sinbad doesnt like being in his cage. He chews anything he can get his beak on, so he has to be caged when no one is home. If you have A LOT of extra time and energy, a cockatoo is a good choice. They are so loving and wonderful companions. But its almost like having a child, very high-maintainence! They have needs that must be met. If you cant make a commitment to your cockatoo, maybe you should look into a different kind of bird.

Click For Replies (1)

james - 2010-10-11
I think this is gonna be the right bird for me but the high maintenance part scares me. How exactly are they? I'm currently renting and my landlord also stays in the yard. Do they make a lot of noise?

krystal - 2011-11-05
My grandprents have Admiral, hes a mollucan cockatoo.Hes been in the family for awile.Admiral only likes my grandfather ,howeve he does seek attention from everyone.No one wants to take the chance to get him out of his cage becuase he runs a muck,chaseing people ,andif you dont run or avoid him he will bite. I make him toys to help entertain him and share penutbutter with him by his cage.Unsurprisenly he bit me recently while tryeno give him a toy. how can i get this bird to like me and what can i do to e him out . he does not get out that much becuase he likes to eat the furniture ect. is there like a bird play yard ? could he be train to siton a perch ,so he could be included in the family. ps when i sAid he dont get out much i ment heonly gets out once a day for like a hour with my pops.

Jessica - 2012-02-02
My boy Fred is about 4 years old and is a mama's bird...I bought him toys and play things and he doesn't play at all he either will just dance on/in his cage of is with me, in my lap, on my shoulder. He seems happy because he is always dancing and playing with my hair but I worry because he never wants to play. He is extremely terrified of anyone but me and I wonder if maybe that is why. I'm not sure...any words of wisdom out there?

Click For Replies (1)

Wanda Robinson - 2012-03-07
Put a tv and boxes and paper when you are not in the room and just watch him. He may start playing.

rabz - 2011-11-29
In what age does a cockatoo start talking?

Click For Replies (2)

Charlie Roche - 2011-11-30
They make noises pretty young but won't usually start saying words or trying to before a year old. Most cockatoos are not great talkers and only learn a few words.
dolly - 2012-02-11
I have had a greater sulphur cockatoo for 4 weeks and it was about 6 weeks when I got him. He is talking already 4 words and he can also laugh like a human when I say tickle he raises both wings and waits for a scratch then he laughs. Be patient and consistant your bird will talk if you stay at it.

lisa maddock - 2012-02-06
I HAVE A COCKATOO AND MY MAN BOUGHT THE BIRD FOR ME FOR MY CHRITMAS. IT LOOKED NOT GOOD BUT I AM BRING IT BACK TO GOOD HEALTH AND HER NAME IS HOOKAT AND I LOVE HER AND WIN SHE GET ALL BETTER I CAN PUT HER ON MY FACEBOOK

kim - 2011-11-29
Please tell me how to get my one year old cocktoo to stop picking her fathers. She is a very loveable bird. I love her so much.

Click For Replies (2)

Charlie Roche - 2011-11-29
You need many toys and much stimulation to keep a cockatoo from picking his feathers. You also need to spritz him with water or a bird bath mixture. A cockatoo needs a lot of attention, many toys, a lot of time outside the cage, stimulation to keep them busy - cartoons on the TV, music and they do watch TV - cartoons with singing Kung Fu Panda, Rio, Surfs Up etc. It is one of the hardest things to prevent and almost impossible to get it stopped. You can also speak to your vet about a collar which sometimes helps but you don't want to do that if it completely upsets the bird. A cockatoo needs to be with you and are not content on their own and so they pluck.
Rose - 2012-01-27
I have had great luck using foraging techniques recommended by Dr Speer. Our goffin went from picking and destroying almost all her feathers except tail feathers, to almost completely feathered for 80% of the year. I cut paper towel tubes in half and place all over her cage and then wrap small pieces of food (Harrisons, roudy, and fruits and veggies) in paper towels and then place in the tubes all around her cage. I also place paper towels without food in the tubes, so not every attempt gets food. It is easy and inexpensive way of foraging. She barely plays with toys anymore, but she will do puzzles, pen boxes, and hang upside down to try to get food. Also, we feed her no seeds, and all food must be foraged for. Foraging also reduced her constant craving for attention. Now after being out of her cage for a short time, she will want to go and back to her cage and "do stuff". Good Luck! Foraging is fun!

Lillie LeBlanc - 2012-01-21
We purchased our umbrella cockatoo - Abby for Christmas. She is 6 months old. She loves every toy we've either bought or made for her. We have no children & she is our only pet. I am a previous parrot owner - 12 yrs. and went 5 yrs. without one. Never owned an Umbrella Too. She is such a joy to have. Only problem so far is that she hates it when the TV is on. We watch it only at night & weekends. She ends up in her cage because she screeches & carries on so much we can't hear the TV!!! She actually doesn't mind going in her cage because she quiets down. Maybe I'll try leaving the TV on during the day....
No words yet but hopefully she will begin talking soon.

Click For Replies (2)

Editor's Note - 2012-01-21
What a fun addition to your family! Just like any 'new baby' you will see her little personality emerge as time goes on. Seems to me, possibly, that when she sees you watching TV, she is feeling like she is not the center of attention. After all, if you were a bird, and your humans became very still and didn't move and looked at a box in the room, you may be a little disturbed too! lol Maybe try petting her or having her sit with you when you watch TV. If that does not work, maybe she will grow out of it, like all little kids do! Enjoy and thanks for the information!
Charlie Roche - 2012-01-23
I don't know for sure what is true - only what is real. My birds would go nuts and talk and jabber and make me crazy if I wanted to watch a movie. I bought them their own TV with DVD's and would set up their TV for them. Surf's Up, Little Mermaid, Ninja Turtles etc. They love their TV and they talk to it and they learned many of the words. I then realized they weren't so much 'pitching a fit' when the TV went on as they were communicating with it and also trying to compete with it for my attention. My Panama Memorized Ninja Turtles and a couple and their teens came over to the home and my Panama said clearly 'drop your drawers, I have a pistol'. If it is your little guys bedtime, sure put him to bed, but otherwise you might want to just let him watch TV - their are kids programs during the day.

About Animal-World

Animal-World offers animal pictures, videos, and animal information on all different types of pets and animals. Included are animals that are commonly kept as pets, exotic pets and wild animals. Check us out for information, education, and fun. We strive to aid in responsible pet ownership and an understanding of the importance of preserving and honoring our world and its inhabitants. Animal-World members and contributors are from all over the world. You too are invited to be an active participant in this community. Post your own personal pet stories, contribute pictures of your pets, and join the forums for pet and animal discussions.

Visit Animal-World

Animal Stories - People Talking About Cockatoos

About Animal-World