I'm seriously considering getting a Cockatoo

[HowardsPrenup]

[Charon]

Getting them into a routine will also help. Mine knows what time to wake up and she will start saying 'goodnight' when it is her bed time. She can sometimes be fussy about food but she gets fresh fruits and veggies every day.

She will be 18 this year.

[Dave]

I have to get up for work in the morning so I'm going, but let me know if you want to talk to my wife about her experience. It wasn't all bad but maybe she can point out where it went bad for her I'm sure she won't mind talking to you about it.

[Shine]

I know you would be a great bird mom, dev

[Dave]

Getting them into a routine will also help. Mine knows what time to wake up and she will start saying 'goodnight' when it is her bed time. She can sometimes be fussy about food but she gets fresh fruits and veggies every day.

She will be 18 this year.

Awww shit you just reminded me, my wife's would do the same thing He would get in his cage and start telling us "good night" over and over until we went to bed.

[deverrant]

i got bit on the finger once and if you have leather or vinyl chairs they like to chew the edges

The female that I handled today gave me a "warning" when I tried to pet her. She was fine with being held and she listened when I told her to "step up" or told her "no". But she wasn't comfortable enough with me to be pet on the back like the male was. So she'd give me a little nip. Not hard. Just pressure really. But I got the idea, and it's obvious the damage they could do if they really tried.

But even a Parakeet will do that. Most of my 'Keets were very friendly but one didn't like being held and he'd dig in when you tried to pick him up. No matter what size the beak, those fuckers hurt!
...but yea, a Cockatoo can break your finger if they want to.

[FatKidSullivan]

The bird will peck your eyes out.

[Stevie]

i got bit on the finger once and if you have leather or vinyl chairs they like to chew the edges

...

Go on...

[deverrant]

Yeah, my wife had one when we met. He was cool with me but he considered her his "mate" and would get nasty with her after he matured. He really wasn't so cute and cuddly anymore after he got the urge to screw. He'd follow her around the house and nip at her. It was funny because there's this bird walking on the floor following her around saying "Come here baby. Whatcha doing cookie?"

He would make the loudest fucking noises when he wanted more attention from her, so loud it hurt your ears if you were in the same room with him. She had him for around 10 or 12 years I think. She had to give him up to a breeder because she couldn't take him anymore and she was devastated. He killed the first bird they tried to mate him with, but the 2nd one gave in and lived we were told.

Anyways, you're smart and you'll consider all the angles before you commit. I wonder if they are a good first bird though, or if they require a more experienced hand?

Oh here.. I just glazed over this but I think it describes the commitment that a Cockatoo needs pretty well:
http://www.mytoos.com/behavior.shtml

Well, one good thing is that the woman I spoke with today DID mention virtually everything you said, and what was said in that article. She stressed the importance of the first two weeks... that how I/we interacted with the bird would dictate its expectations for the future. She said it's important that the bird realize I'm a friend, not a girlfriend and that he/she interact with a lot of different people.
She also stressed the importance of toys and even a gym/"busy" area somewhere in the house. As well as the importance of consistency.

[deverrant]

Getting them into a routine will also help. Mine knows what time to wake up and she will start saying 'goodnight' when it is her bed time. She can sometimes be fussy about food but she gets fresh fruits and veggies every day.

She will be 18 this year.

Yea, that's one of the many things the lady mentioned that I spoke with today.
I was impressed with her knowledge and how much she seems to care. As well as the fact that she said any behavior issues I should tell her about and we'd work on together.

So your experience with your Cockatoo has been good?

Maybe there's a big difference between males and females. Maybe females are more mild-mannered, especially for a female owner.

I have to get up for work in the morning so I'm going, but let me know if you want to talk to my wife about her experience. It wasn't all bad but maybe she can point out where it went bad for her I'm sure she won't mind talking to you about it.

Thanks dude!

I know you would be a great bird mom, dev

I've had birds. I love them. And the truth is, now that I have NO pets and only have my daughter half as much, I'm finding that not only do I have the time to devote to a needy pet, but I think it would be good for me. I'd welcome a companion that was more emotionally developed, that I could interact with on a different level, even if it was more work.

[Dirty South]

Get a picture of Dawg or Monk and get that tattooed on your other thigh, instead. That will make you forget about this dumb bird idea.

[Gitfiddle]

[Scott]

I've always wanted a larger male Cock in my two female inputs.

I found your original post to be a little wordy and time consuming so I edited it down a bit using only cut & paste.

[newcastlefan]

Anybody have one?
I'm not allowed to have pets in my house, but I'm hoping a bird will be okay. So my getting one is really dependent on that.
I was raised with birds. I've always had 'Keets and 'Tiels and have always wanted a larger parrot. I love their intelligence, their personalities, their emotional development and their abilities.

Based on my experience and research I think a Cockatoo would be the way to go... they're friendly, they don't get possessive or aggressive and they adapt easily.

I met two today. Obviously them being born domestically, in captivity (as opposed to being poached/black market) is a priority, as is them being hand-raised and imprinted by humans. The ones I looked at are. The seller/breeder/raiser seems very passionate about them, very knowledgeable and very concerned with placing her birds with owners who are not only informed, but whose lifestyle/personality will match the bird of choice.

The two I met are both friendly, but have very different personalities (I'll elaborate later). So assuming I'm allowed to get a bird, I'll have to decide which is best suited for me and my lifestyle. So any input from bird owners would be appreciated!

One is a female Citron Cockatoo...




The other is a male Umbrella Cockatoo...




...they're both about 6 months old.

Toos remain high maintainance children for life and quickly become self destructive if their attention needs are unmet. If you want I can forward you info from a local breeder here about their latest too they are rehabilitating.

[newcastlefan]

The female that I handled today gave me a "warning" when I tried to pet her. She was fine with being held and she listened when I told her to "step up" or told her "no". But she wasn't comfortable enough with me to be pet on the back like the male was. So she'd give me a little nip. Not hard. Just pressure really. But I got the idea, and it's obvious the damage they could do if they really tried.

But even a Parakeet will do that. Most of my 'Keets were very friendly but one didn't like being held and he'd dig in when you tried to pick him up. No matter what size the beak, those fuckers hurt!
...but yea, a Cockatoo can break your finger if they want to.

Bird females are totally different in personality from the males. My hen is bonded to me for >15 yrs now and still I keep a close eye on her at all times because instincts and hormones are strong with birds.

[FatKidSullivan]

I think this is a bad idea and you should feel bad, Dev.

[deverrant]

Toos remain high maintainance children for life and quickly become self destructive if their attention needs are unmet. If you want I can forward you info from a local breeder here about their latest too they are rehabilitating.

Bird females are totally different in personality from the males. My hen is bonded to me for >15 yrs now and still I keep a close eye on her at all times because instincts and hormones are strong with birds.

Yes, I'm aware of their emotional neediness, as well as their need for activity and mental stimulation. I have researched it and I feel I have the time/desire to devote to a higher-maintenance pet, that will also give you a higher level of emotional attachment and interaction in return.

Do you think the gender dynamic depends on the genders of the birds and their owners? Like, do you think that a male bird will be more likely to be possessive of a female owner, while a female bird will be less likely to be possessive of a female owner?

I LOVED the personality of the male I handled. He made me laugh. He was goofy. He was a showoff. The female was more reserved. She needed to warm up to me. The breeder/seller said she WOULD be as friendly as the male in time, but she needed more time to settle in and was not as emotionally needy in general. But that makes me think... maybe the male is showing off because I'm a female. maybe he's trying to "win my affections" and such a relationship could cause problems down the road. At least if I don't handle it right from the beginning, and manage my affection toward him so that he sees me as a friend and not a mate.

The woman said the female has never screamed for attention... that you can cuddle her like crazy when you want to, but if you have an "off day" where you're just preoccupied, she doesn't complain.
She warned me that if I was over-attentive to the male in the first week or two, that he WILL expect that and will raise a fuss if he's not given that from then on.

The conflict I find is in that I fell in LOVE with the male's personality immediately. He literally made me laugh out loud... so dynamic and so funny/eager to please. And I know that if I manage him right in those first two weeks, he probably won't expect more than I can give him.
However there's a chance he will, especially when he fully matures. AND I don't want to sell the female short. She'll likely be just as fun and just as affectionate when she warms up to me, and the fact that she's less needy will reduce the likelihood of behavior issues in the future. And if there's a male vs. female difference in relation to the gender of the owner, well that's something to consider too.

But damn... that male was fucking awesome. He's so cool. So funny and I seemed to "click" with him right away. I wish I knew for certain that the more laid-back, aloof female would eventually display that kind of goofy personality and that kind of relatability. If I knew that, I'd go with her no question. Just to avoid problems.
Maybe she will? And at the same time maybe the male WOULD be free of major problems, if I manage him right.

Jeez... this is a tough decision.

[deverrant]

I found your original post to be a little wordy and time consuming so I edited it down a bit using only cut & paste.

[Gitfiddle]

Yes, I'm aware of their emotional neediness, as well as their need for activity and mental stimulation. I have researched it and I feel I have the time/desire to devote to a higher-maintenance pet, that will also give you a higher level of emotional attachment and interaction in return.

Do you think the gender dynamic depends on the genders of the birds and their owners? Like, do you think that a male bird will be more likely to be possessive of a female owner, while a female bird will be less likely to be possessive of a female owner?

I LOVED the personality of the male I handled. He made me laugh. He was goofy. He was a showoff. The female was more reserved. She needed to warm up to me. The breeder/seller said she WOULD be as friendly as the male in time, but she needed more time to settle in and was not as emotionally needy in general. But that makes me think... maybe the male is showing off because I'm a female. maybe he's trying to "win my affections" and such a relationship could cause problems down the road. At least if I don't handle it right from the beginning, and manage my affection toward him so that he sees me as a friend and not a mate.

The woman said the female has never screamed for attention... that you can cuddle her like crazy when you want to, but if you have an "off day" where you're just preoccupied, she doesn't complain.
She warned me that if I was over-attentive to the male in the first week or two, that he WILL expect that and will raise a fuss if he's not given that from then on.

The conflict I find is in that I fell in LOVE with the male's personality immediately. He literally made me laugh out loud... so dynamic and so funny/eager to please. And I know that if I manage him right in those first two weeks, he probably won't expect more than I can give him.
However there's a chance he will, especially when he fully matures. AND I don't want to sell the female short. She'll likely be just as fun and just as affectionate when she warms up to me, and the fact that she's less needy will reduce the likelihood of behavior issues in the future. And if there's a male vs. female difference in relation to the gender of the owner, well that's something to consider too.

But damn... that male was fucking awesome. He's so cool. So funny and I seemed to "click" with him right away. I wish I knew for certain that the more laid-back, aloof female would eventually display that kind of goofy personality and that kind of relatability. If I knew that, I'd go with her no question. Just to avoid problems.
Maybe she will? And at the same time maybe the male WOULD be free of major problems, if I manage him right.

Jeez... this is a tough decision.

Can you post some fat pussy pics in NSFW pls?

[Chriza]

Can you post some fat pussy pics in NSFW pls?

No she can not