www.freakyplasticsurgery.com

Are cockatoos as evil as websites portray them?

I'm really facinated by cockatoos, they really are beautiul birds. I am currently interested in buying one, at the moment I want a cockatoo. The problem is from the websites I've visited they have have mostly said how awful they are and they attack everyone and you shouldn't get one since they'll scream all day and bite you and then they said unless you want to spend your time getting plastic surgery don't get one. Well I am not afraid to get bitten, I know someone who wants us to take their cockatoo for the weekend to see if the cockatoo would fit in, my point is they have been bitten but not like the bites I have seen on the computer, my question is are all cockatoos like that? also If you have had another type of parrot that you think I would enjoy more ( preferably nothing over $2000) then respond or email at I_gonna_be_vet_someday@hotmail.com also the whole weekend thing is because the people are trying to find the bird a home and they offered him to us, but anyway i wouldnt take someone elses bird just to see if i would like cockatoos or not

Public Comments

1. Cockatoo's are not evil they are just loud, and like to chew on wood, like cabinets , window facings, walls, base boards. This does not make them evil. It is in their nature to chew on wood of any kind, so they chew on what is available to them. http://www.avianweb.com/cockatooinfo.htm Although they are loud they can be very loving, and can deliver some very painful bites. But bites are not normal if they trust and love you. I owned a cockatoo and could hear him screaming a block away from my home. he screamed the loudest when he was alone. But there are ways to train them not to scream so much. If you live in an apartment I don't think a cockatoo would be a good pet for you or your neighbors. Most of the big parrots tend to be loud, may be you would do good with a smaller parrot, like a Quaker, or Sun Conure, or Amazon, just learn about the habits of all the birds and make sure you can live with its ways.
2. They're not evil, but they take a VERY dedicated bird owner to take one on. The brutally honest truth is the big ones, like Moluccans and Umbrellas, should NEVER be kept as pets. When they're young, cockatoos are called "velcro birds", because they LOVE being cuddled. Once they hit adulthood, and those hormones kick in, it's like living with a psychotic without the meds. Biting is the LEAST of it -- I've heard of owners actually being CHASED by their big cockatoos. Rescues are FULL of cockatoos for a reason -- the average time that one is kept in a single home is FIVE YEARS. Then the owners surrender the birds because they cannot handle them anymore.
3. I have never owned a too but I do know people who have one. Yes they can be ear drum splitting loud to the point where neighbors complain. I heard years later Murray the too had been banished to the cellar because of the mess and screaming. I was so angry ,I thought about kidnapping him.There was no legal recourse as he was being fed and watered and that's all they care about. I don't think taking a too for a weekend is a good idea. Toos need a period of adjustment and 3 days is not enough time for him to adjust. On the other hand you would probably see the worst side of him which is what you wondering about. Darned if I'd lend out one of my birds for a weekend.
4. Not all cockatoos are that way but during hormone season they can become hell to live with. Do not take someones cockatoo for the weekend that will damage the bird and may make things really bad for the bird. I suggest that you find a local rescue that doesn't support breeding and volunteer there and then think about rescuing instead of buying. You will end up not paying as much for the bird but also get some experience with toos.
5. Cockatoos are not evil. They're just very needy and hard to understand. Their powerful beaks make their bites much more damaging and they do go through stages when hormones make them mroe prone to attack. Some people can handle it, and still lvoe their babies. However, most cannot and that is why so many cockatoos end up screaming, biting, pluckign adn then land in a rescue. These websites are just make people aware, not to portray cockatoos as evil. If you really want acockatoo be prepared to make a lot of change and sacrifices! They need so much of your tiem and are very very expensive. But I know many people say it's worthit. You may want to visit a rescue as well, not just a friend's cockatoo who is probably friendly. A good cockatoo to start with might the small but friendly goffins or rose breasted cockatoo. Both are on the smaller size, and the goffins is known to be a bit more even tempered. A larger parrot you may enjoy might be a grey, an amazon, or maybe the large patagonian conure. All are larger parrots but less neurotic than a cockatoo. You may even want to look into a mini macaw like the severe macaw. Just know that owning a large parrot can be a life changing event so be prepared. Best of luck.