As adorable as they are, they are also one of the HARDEST birds to care for. It's hard to read body language, and they've been known to act out. Looks cute, but think again if you want one, parrots are known to be rehomed 7x more than any other pet because people don't know how to care for them
It's so true. Even regular parrots aren't like a domestic pet, it feels like work and your *enriching them. I feel bad for people that decide cockatoo is what they want, let alone other parrots.
Yeah, they're also very emotional & hormonal animals that are prone to tantrums. If they're in a bad mood, even if they love you, they can bite you. And their bite is very painful and can be dangerous. They are also very loud and shrieks a lot, which is natural for parrots but can be a nightmare for people living with neighbors. They're also very emotionally dependent and can become jealous. Being an animal who mates for life, they often only bond with one person in the family and expect that person to always be with them, just like their mate would in the wild.
They are like having a permanent 2 year old. Also, there's no guarantee they will learn to talk, dance or whatever. I would never recommend a cockatoo or any other parrot to anyone who hasn't had a lot of experience with other birds. Cockatoos do make wonderful, and sometimes lifelong, companions IF you are someone who can love them unconditionally. You have to be willing to take the bad behavior with the good.
I started watching parrot videos and thought about adopting one but decided to wait and do more research and think about it some more because I knew they were a major commitment (plus I thought maybe I should get a smaller one like a Conure instead). After several months I went to a bird rescue sanctuary in Fargo, ND and was just going to look, but when I glanced into the big bird (no Sesame Street pun intended) room an umbrella cockatoo stretched out her neck to look at me so I went over to her a little nervous and the worker told me she’s friendly and to hold out my hand and say step up which I did. The bird climbed onto my hand and I lowered my arm. When I did that the bird named Bella laid her head on my chest and I fell in love. While she has destroyed some good shoes and trim on the walls, I wouldn’t change a thing because I couldn’t imagine life without her. I’ve had her six years now and don’t regret anything.
@@roseoakes411 my best friend did. I fostered birds not cockatoos. mostly ring necks and cockatiels. I was in a bird club and raised birds for food. I know a little about birds. I know cockatoos are in almost EVERY bird rescue because people don't know what they're getting into. I'm very much a bird person, that's why I don't have any.
I had one for 25 years. He was my baby. I could read his body language and he could read mine. I understood the vocalizations he made. Plus his demeanor never changed during breeding season.
"Had" one? Do you no longer have him? I have had a Rose Breasted Cockatoo since she was 18 months old. She's 27 years old now. I adore her, but honestly, it took some time to bond with her. I also adopted a Goffin's Cockatoo about 18 months ago. He comes across as "grumpy" and "onery" to some people. But it's all a facade. He's got a BIG heart and is definitely a "momma's boy" now.
Im 18 years with my galah. Around his 14th summer I didn't have to clip his wings anymore. I added a husband to the mix a couple years after that. Thats been fun. My galah is in love with my husband. Follows him around the house with the dog. Poor guy is NEVER alone. 😂
@@FallingBanan Did you ever own or care for a ringneck? If so, male or female? And for how long? I just finished taking care of my friend's IRN (female) for a couple of weeks along with her 26 YO Meyers parrot and her 9 YO cockatiel. Her cockatiel and mine are best buddies. They entertained each other (and me!) the whole time. Her Meyer's parrot was SOOOO snuggly! I adored her. And her 3 YO IRN was so cute! BUT, she was extremely loud! Much louder than my Goffin's (my RB cockatoo hasn't ever been loud). She made a high pitched laser gun sound everytime she saw something that scared her. I got used to it after a couple of days, and thankfully she didn't make the sound as often after she got used to me. But, wow! I was surprised how loud she was!
Birds will not thrive unless you’re dedicated to them, and give your time and energy every day. They don’t like being alone. They’ll pluck all their feathers out when depressed. And they are very very smart!
I got my cockatoo when he was 2 weeks old. I hand fed him and made him a nest in the laundry basket with some towels. When he grew up he was never mean or gave me any problems at all. He liked to chase my rottweiler around the house. His name was Fred. I never tried to teach him to say anything, But he learned to say hello Fred, And shut up Fred. They can make very loud sounds when they're happy to see you. 😊❤
I own a cockatoo and mini macaw and adore them both, but yes parrots are a handful, and rewarding ❤️😊 I would not give my babies up for the world, but I wish all the other babies out there had good homes and stable environments and loved that they deserve.
From what i heard from one owner, its like being married to a 3 year old child that wont ever shut up and needs your attention 24/7. But he still loves his pet and has him to this day.
Being an Aussie, I get to enjoy seeing them in the wild. They are beautiful, intelligent and are very loud. Each cockatoo and parrot has their own unique sound. So you can tell which one is flying over your house by the noise they make. Red tailed black cockatoos make an amazing screech as they talk to each other. They all mate for life and it's sad to me that these birds are sold as individual pets.
They don’t deserve to be caged, I hate it. I took in my friends Cockatoo when she passed from Cancer. He has ups and downs, very quiet for several weeks then will have morning tantrums for a week. Like this week 😳
I'm jealous, that's the best way to 'have' a cockatoo is in the wild. Cockatoos are so full of energy they shouldn't be in a cage, no parrot should be in a cage and especially cockatoos. They are like children with ADHD and will be like that the rest of their long lives which drives some people to give them up to shelters or re-home them multiple times. RESCUE, never buy!
These birds are the most handed in to sanctuaries in the USA. Social media has done nothing to help the fact, 100s are put to sleep monthly due to lack of room for birds in sanctuaries. #AdoptDontShop
@carvalone3076 birds, dogs, cats, it's all down to human nature and sweet videos. People really need to understand. Parrots are wild animals. It takes as long to build trust with an adopted parrot as it does a baby. Unless the babies are taken away from their parents and hand raised. That in itself should be criminal. A human being can not teach a bird what it parents can. Sorry for two long post. Birds are my passion ❤️
No one should be getting birds. They are a life long lifestyle. 99.98% of the popular cannot do it and shouldn't try. All they get is an angry screaming biting bird. Then they blame the damn bird for THEIR abuse.
Cockatoos are amazing companion birds but they are a full time commitment and need a lot of interaction with their non feathered flock. Since they live so long, they need a living will to hand them off when their flock passes away.
People need to be very aware when making an investment in these beautiful parrots. Being highly intelligent they need attention, they need toys, to be busy. They are loud and NOT an apartment bird. They are like insistent 2 yrs olds. So please do not buy one only to figure out you have neither the time or patience to care for them. They will outlive you and they have feelings.
I don't need one as a pet because we have them (sulphur crested ) everywhere here in Melbourne, Australia. Very cute and all, but very, very loud and can be very destructive. And cheeky! Had 2 sitting on my roof, hanging upside down, listening to me talk to them for about 10 minutes. Heads tilting, as they listened intently. So much more fun to be friends with the wild ones. ( also, don't feed the free ones. If you forget, or are away, they are likely to have a temper tantrum and destroy any woodwork on your house. )
I have had a cockatoo like the first one for almost 30 years. That is a Goffin’s cockatoo and is one of the smaller species. Another thing that attracts people to cockatoos is they are very affectionate and love to be petted and being close to their person. The problem, they never get out of wanting that attention and can get loud and destructive if they don’t get the attention they crave. Some people call them “Velcro” birds because they want constant attention. For that reason, they are also a bird species that is most likely to be surrendered to a rescue. My bird was only 5 years old when I got her and I was her third home. I am 76 and worry about what will happen when I am gone.
Birds don’t just mimic human speech. They often understand what certain words or sounds mean and will use them appropriately. For example, their ability to mimic sounds has given them an evolutionary advantage by alerting the flock of the presence of specific predators by using it’s unique vocalization. Or they can use sounds or words to trick other birds and animals. My African grey was very clever at tricking me and using words to communicate what she wanted.
It's misleading to say they can understand words. They, in fact, don't understand what the words we say, they're just smart enough to be conditioned what certain words are related to. For example if it is a habit for the owner to say "boots" before giving them food, they would start to connect the word as an indication that the word boots means there's food. Thus, made it seem like they understand when they actually don't. It's a cognitive cause and effect thing that a lot of other animals are capable to learn too such as dogs, cats, ravens and crows, etc. The mimic sounds and words that they hear often because that's how their environment conditioned them to. Pet parrots and cockatoos mimic the words or sentences even, because that's what they hear the entirety of their life. They understand that's how others communicate around them, so they too, learn. But that does not mean they understand a single thing we said to them, despite them talking back to us in a seemingly appropriate answer and reaction.
@@LeanneKrv Yes, they are “conditioned” to know what certain sounds and “words” mean and then use them as such. Just like we do. Only, of course, not nearly as sophisticated. Dogs can understand what the word “walk” means because we’ve mostly used it for that purpose. Unfortunately, they don’t have a voice that can mimic those sounds back to us. We are conditioned to say the word “hello” every time we pick up the phone. Or to say please and thank you when appropriate. So we’re all mimics. There have been studies in some parrot species (in the wild) that have revealed they create names for each other by only using specific sounds when a certain member is present. Although I’ve had very little time to work with them in this area, my birds have learned specific sounds or words will get them that item or they will associate those sounds with an action. For example, we have been conditioned to always say “bye” when someone leaves the room. So will my birds. And they NEVER use that “sound” except at the appropriate time. Not ever! After all, don’t we follow the exact same line of thinking as Pavlov’s dogs do anticipating food when they hear the bell? Give them more credit for processing and interpreting sounds. We respond to dinner bells too. We’re all mimics.
@@Loralanthalas I am a bird owner too. Some of my bird can also talk and react appropriately to certain words and sound. But I know that even so, they don't understand what they do or say. Most of the times they don't react appropriately because of course, they don't understand what it means to do or say. They react, do a certain action or say a certain word, is because either it benefits them, or it doesn't. Most of the time they mimic just because they can, because they know that's how their environment communicate. Even so, it's still amazing.
I once saw a vibrant colored bird come into the pet store i worked at. The owner said the bird had been found by his great great grand dad in the mid 1800s the bird has been part of the family being passed down from father to son for generations
Few things to note if you have interest in having one or some as a pet; they are very, very loud. Unless you are lucky and got ones that are not as talkative and quiet, once they scream they could actually wake up the whole neighborhood. They're also playful and destructive. They're a literal kids shaped like fluffy cute bird. They chew on everything. Everything! Their beaks are strong and are notoriously known to be able to break bones. They can even break metal if they have the time and enough dedication to chew on them. Lastly, they have a really long lifespan. They can live around 60-80 years, they can easily outlive you if they're healthy and well taken care of. They're a lifetime commitment.
Well said! I have to chime in about noise. I recently had the pleasure of watching my friend's 3 birds while she was on vacay for 2 weeks. One was a 3 YO female Indian Ringneck. That bird was VERY loud! And regularly loud! She made, what I call, a high pitched "laser gun" sound, which is her "stranger danger" sound. She didn't know me; it took a few days before she stopped sounding the alarm whenever she saw me. She also used that sound when playing with her toys sometimes. I'm bringing this up because Indian Ringnecks have gained popularity as a result of YT and Tik Tok videos showing their talking ability (only applies to male Indian Ringnecks). People need to know the "bad" along with the "good" (bad isn't actually bad... they're birds being birds) before thinking about buying or adopting any type of bird. They also should never purchase a bird expecting it to talk. Talking ability is never a guarantee - even with males. I consider it a bonus if one of my own birds picks up on a word or phrase. I adore all of my birds because they are wonderful friends who have helped me through deaths of family members and through becoming an "empty nester"...not because of talking ability. I wish people who post videos of their birds' talking ability would include a disclaimer letting people know to never expect a bird to learn how to talk at the beginning of each video.
@@Loralanthalas that's not the case at all! Though scream can also indicate their distress, they also scream when they're happy, excited, giddy, etc. That's the only source of communication they can do. Good bird owners know their bird's body language and which scream indicate distress and excitement. Pet owners also know that they should be more cautious of their pet bird being quiet and not active. Birds and other animals that are lonely, hurt, unhappy, stressed, and anxious are more likely to stay quiet instead of screaming. Birds have personality too. Some talk and scream more, some are more quiet and reserved. But if you see a cockatoo that are screaming all the time and you are sure that the owner is not taking care of them, then maybe you should let them know or call your local animal professional for help.
@@scootermom1791 yes! It really hurts whenever I see people buy birds just for the sake of having a bird that can talk or sing. The majority of the time, birds don't want to talk even on command. If they can humanely train them and are able to take care of them, then it's fine. But most people are just so abusive, simply putting them in tiny cages and expect them to talk and sing. It really breaks my heart.
@@LeanneKrv You can say that again! There was a time (early 2000's) that I went to a pet store and found a Moluccan Cockatoo in a cage way too small for him! He was the sweetest bird and desperately wanted out of his cage to play! I have never wanted a bird so much and felt so desperate for him! Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately?) I didn't have the money for him plus the size of cage he'd need (way bigger than what he was in!). So I did the next best thing; I asked for a manager and told HIM that the cage the Moluccan was in was extremely small and that they needed to get him into a bigger cage ASAP. The guy had the gall to say, "Oh he's fine. He's perfectly happy. We get him out a few times a day." 😠 To say I was fuming was an understatement! I told the guy he's not fine; he can't even stretch his wings inside the cage! I then did the next best thing and prayed for the cockatoo to get a good, loving home. I can only hope he did! I wish there were laws protecting these prescious little spirits. I had wanted to call animal control and have them remove the bird and place him in a rescue where he could be given a huge cage and be adopted out. Most rescues, at least, now do intensive screening before adopting out birds. And, thankfully as a result of social media like YT, Instagram, etc. there are people like us to advocate for these darling birds and advocate for adoption. I'm glad there are people like us who can warn people about the challenges involved in caring for these birds and the costs involved (emotional and financial).
We had one that lived to 78. At least that was our best guess as he had been passed around the family many times.(They are hella loud and can mimic irritating sounds)
When I was searching for a Bird for a pet; I remembered my friend had a Cockatoo… and the never ending screeching. So I decided to get a Soft Billed Bird… a Keel Billed Toucan. Bosco was an incredible and he lived to be 18 years old. Lifespan is about 20 years. I miss my Bosco everyday.
Birds love the feeling of a breeze just as much as humans do. But I imagine even if it fell, it can catch itself, assuming that the driver isn't going highway speeds. Didn't look like it anyway
He is safe he's got an red and yellow vest on if you look at the video And it's fastened with what looks love a wire of sorts He is safe no doubt about it The owner would not let him do that if not Just saying 🇧🇻
Cockatoos are high on energy and require high engagement levels from the owner. It's important to consider the animal's needs before acquiring them as pets to ensure that they can fit in with our lifestyle and their needs are met as well.
My umbrella cockatoo is 9 years old. I hand raised him from a baby. He talks up a storm. He's my life ! Along with my rescue timneh african grey, and my two green cheek conures. I love them so much !! #birdlife4ever 🤗🦖🦕🦖🦕
I've had my baby since he hatched 32 years ago. He was my mom's but when she passed he didn't want no one else except me. He used to speak but after my mom passed he hasn't said a word.
I see cockatoos as a bird version of husky😅 They are social, laud, energetic, chaotic and weird (in a good way). Personally, I wouldn't get one, cause I get tired of their screaming, even if I just watch a video of them on YT. I know for a fact, I would never be able to tolerate so much noise. Also it's a pretty big bird. So I prefer to just watch their shenanigans online, but not to deal with them in real life😅
My parents worked at an aviary and as a result had a few parrots. I heard that breeders usually don't sell cockatoos anymore because they have such a high return rate. My sister took my parents after it was too much to handle and I'm not sure how she does it. It's not a pet that meshes into your life, it becomes a job. Saying that I have two African greys in my apartment that don't get let out much so out of guilt I take them from my parents place. But a cockatoo is like bipolar toddler on crack (many years went into that definition and its accuracy is pretty spot on) the only thing about them people like is how cuddly they are. But this starts great but is seen as a breeding thing by them, and there behaviour will spiral and get unbelievably unpredictable. Just don't do it 😂
Cockatoos and other parrots can make wonderful, lifelong companions for people who have a lot of experience and/or training working with birds. People need to be willing to love them unconditionally: they need to be willing to take the "bad" with the good and need to be prepared to handle what we consider "bad" behavior (screaming tantrums, destructiveness, biting, etc). without yelling at them or wanting to give them away. Technically, what we call "bad" behavior isn't actually bad.... it's their normal behavior. We just expect them to adapt to human rules, and if they don't, we label it as "bad" behavior. I'm glad you gave your African Grays to your parents. I'm assuming it was to have them adopted out to different people. There's no shame in that at all. I personally think people should sign up to be foster parents for parrot rescue places before ever actually adopting a parrot. That way, they can make a more educated decision before actually adopting one, plus they'll be doing a wonderful thing by providing a temporary home for a parrot until it's permanently adopted.
@@b.williams9473 no it's not. That's how birds communicate with each other. That's how they communicate with their humans. I realize you can, and should, discourage biting by saying "no bite" and returning the bird to the cage (or whatever method works). BUT, there will always be a chance that a bird will get spooked when on, or around, you and bite you to warn you of the perceived danger. You have to be prepared, in advance, to accept a bird's bite without reacting negatively to the bird! No screaming, shouting, or physically harming the bird. Otherwise, it will make them scared of you, and it will bite you to keep you away from it, which makes a bigger problem than it was to begin with! I've had birds for over 45 years now. I'm speaking from experience.
A friend had several different parrots but the sweetest was 1 of her Cockatoos, Cuddles. She liked to play w my earrings (sparklies) and loved being cradled like a baby. The funniest thing I saw her do was hand upside down in a tree while saying "Here kitty kitty" 😅
They're wild in Australia (where Iive), and it is common knowledge that they could easily snap your fingers (they eat gumnuts, they are built to rip open super hard solid wooden balls, every day), so if you're a tourist in Australia, and get the chance to pick one up, only pick it up if it's hurt, and give it to a vet, but always use some protection, like putting it in a box, or picking it up with some thick clothes, and making sure it's beak can't get you
Yep. They're native to Australia and don't touch our wild animals unless they are genuinely in need of vetinary attention or caught in something they can't get out of. Source: am Australian.
@@felicitybywater8012 exactly. I once saw an injured galah, but I made sure I wasn't gripping it with my bare hands, as much as I wanted to just take it home and cuddle it
We have a flock of red tailed black cockatoos at murdoch uni. They sit in the trees waiting for people to walk underneath, then lob honkey nuts at the people below, then they laugh at us. It's always fun to watch the first years learn why you don't sit under certain trees.
You forget to mention they are generational pets . They canand will outlive an owner and unless you have prepared a ongoing carer,who they will bond withand who will continue the level of care theyreaccustomed to so if you pass and noone they know steps up they will be aggressive, act out, be depressed pluck , self mutilate and mourn . Plus it can be like having toddler around ...for years . They are a commitment
People need to realize there is NO GUARANTEE THAT a bird will learn to talk. If you're going to adopt a cockatoo or another parrot, you HAVE to be willing to love them unconditionally! If they don't talk? Oh well. If they destroy your book shelves? Oh well. If they throw a screaming tantrum when you're taking a nap? Oh well. You love them anyway. You don't yell at them for being birds. You love them even if they don't comply to human rules. They can make wonderful, lifelong companions for experienced bird owners who are patient and willing to take the "bad" with the good.
My aunt had a sulphur-crested that lived 38 years. He used to lure doorknockers into the backyard by imitating her voice and then he'd play dumb when they saw him.
How about mentioning that these birds are the hardest to care and keep for? They can bite, even if you are fully sympathico with them, and that will hurt the f out of you. They are also very loud on top of it. Not everything is dandy.
They are fantastic but being in the wild where they can mate, raise s family and be free. So many are abused and abandoned. Everything Crestor made should not be tamed. Many live sad lonely lives pulling out feathers without families. Let’s end the madness.
I live in Canberra, the national capital city of Australia. We have flocks of cockatoos that live in this city, mostly but not always year-round. We regularly hear "talking" cockatoos, some having been socialised, but others who have learned to 'talk' from birds that were released from human interaction. We are coming out of winter (August) and flocks are returning to Canberra.
I had to buy a different cage because my Goffins cockatoo kept removing screws and letting his self out , when he set about opening ev1 else's cages I knew time to switch cages lol he just passed away a few months back I've had him since he was a baby I miss that little feathered menace 😊
Our male Elanora Cockatoo was sold to us as a Umbrella Cockatoo and we were told that 'she' was just a love muffin. Don't believe what pet trade people tell you, they just want your $. These parrots do not belong as pets, live to be in their 80s and scream and bite. My husband ended up with a torn cornea and we all had bites and worse. After 20+ years we gave him to a rescue. Don't fall for it!
you need to do your research before getting a bird like a cockatoo, they are very challenging birds, and typically require previous experience with birds, so if you havent had a bird before i really dont recommend it. You could sure go for another bird however, just remember to adopt a bird rather than going to a store :)
Yeah, what this short doesn't tell you is that cockatoos are temperamental and tend to tear things apart. They are very high maintenance pets and not for the casual caretaker. That 70 year life span also means that if you get a cockatoo, you have to be committed to it for life, and you should make preparations for its care down the road because it will likely outlive you.
I made the mistake of befriending a wild one. It brought some friends over. They'll tap on the windows or scream through the screen door for attention. At this point, I'm a hostage.
"Cockies" or Cockatoo's, are great pet's if they have plenty of mental stimulating things to do, and of course if you really want an awesome one get a chick,hand rare it treat it well and you have a hilarious new friend, but because they are so bonded to their owner ,make sure that your have someone you and your bird know, because they do mourn. ❤Australia.
My Luna (Loons when she was being flamboyent) was a lot of work. They are also EXTREMELY loud. That's where the work comes in. They get loud for long periods of time, ear deafening loud. Potentially neighbors could be a problem. Make sure you have the time to give these beautiful and sweet birds the attention they deserve.🕊✌️
They also have pliers for a face with a bite force of 350 psi. Absolutely love to destroy things. We used to give ours planks of wood that he would shred for fun.
