I'm getting a Cockatoo, im just wondering.....
core
I'm wanting to purchase a Cockatoo, i know everything except, what is
weaning, its mentioned dont buy an unweaned bird.
and also can i let my cockie outside with me... Or will it fly away? How
long do i need to gain its trust before i can let it outside,
Do cockies even fly away?, reply thanx....
Crystna 72
You NEVER take any bird outside that is unclipped - no matter how much the
bird trusts you!
In fact - many large birds like macaws and 'toos - can STILL fly a bit
with clipped wings. They sell harnesses that you can put on them while
outside, better safe than sorry!
Weaned means that the bird is no longer hand feeding...and is eating
normal food on its own. And as far as earning trust - it varies greatly
on the bird and how experienced you are handling one.
I know you mentioned that you "know everything" about the cockatoos...but
these are BASIC bird issues - how can you be so knowledgable about 'toos
and not know the basics? It's like being able to do Trigonometry...but
not knowing how to add. I really don't mean to upset you - just curious.
Are you prepared to spend a LOT of time with a 'too? To let it out of
it's cage daily, and do you have neighbors that are close by? A too can
be heard 1/2 way down the street once it gets going. Are you willing to
put in the next 50 - 75 years of your life with it? If not, do you know
how distraught they get with change and can start self mutilating if
ingored or neglected?
Just wondering if you have gotten all the necessary info needed to dive
into the world of owning 'toos...they are very rewarding, but require a
lot of input in return.
Crys...@aol.com
David & Kathy Stice
An unweaned bird is a bird which is still being handfed.
Yes, a cockatoo will fly away as will any bird. Have the bird's wings
clipped by someone who knows what they are doing. Make sure that the
birds ability to fly is restricted BEFORE you even think of taking the
bird outside. Some people suggest never taking the bird outside if it's
not in a securely locked cage while others take their birds out all the
time.
Make sure you research extensively before you make this purchase. I
have an Umbie who is an absolute joy, but there is a lot to know before
bringing one of these birds into your home.
Kathy
--
David & Kathy Stice
dst...@flash.net
Bryan DeJonge
An unweaned bird is a birtd that is still receiving hand feedings, and is
not solely on solid food. As for flying, any bird is a risk to fly away
outside, you should have your bird's winds clipped, and also they now make
bird leashes not a bad idea if you want to go outside
core wrote in article <01bc9d0b$bb2fbbc0$02000080@core>...
Ol' Jim, hisself
core wrote:
>
> I'm wanting to purchase a Cockatoo, i know everything except, what is
> weaning, its mentioned dont buy an unweaned bird.
> and also can i let my cockie outside with me... Or will it fly away? How
> long do i need to gain its trust before i can let it outside,
> Do cockies even fly away?, reply thanx....
Did anyone tell you that 'toos are NOISY?????
When Michel, the NOISY Moluccan lived with me (He's now with my ex), I
kept him clipped. I took him outside, and sometimes he would leap off
my arm and flutter to the ground. Had he been able to fly, he would
have been gone!!!!!
Michel loves me, screamed to be with me, but still, every now and then,
instinct took over and he flew.
A friend of mine bought a U-too that landed on someones arm as he was in
his yard. This bird flew away from somebody. Here on the Space Coast
of Florida, I hear of two or three 'toos a year that have disappeared,
or have been seen in a tree flying free. Their average time in the wild
is about 4 days. Either they land in a yard and are taken in, or the
hawks or eagles dine well. A 'too cannot outfly or outfight a bird of
prey.
Additionally, most flyaway birds never learn to find food in the wild
(unless they luck into a flock of feral parrots).
So, in short: DON'T LET YOUR COCKATOO FLY FREE!!!!! Keep it's wings
clipped.
Ol' Mouthy, hisself
Chase Kimball
In article <01bc9d0b$bb2fbbc0$02000080@core>, co...@idirect.com says...
>
>I'm wanting to purchase a Cockatoo, i know everything except, what is
>weaning, its mentioned dont buy an unweaned bird.
>and also can i let my cockie outside with me... Or will it fly away? How
>long do i need to gain its trust before i can let it outside,
>Do cockies even fly away?, reply thanx....
Considering the nature of your questions, I seriously doubt that you
"know everything." You are making a huge decision, and I hope you
will make it wisely. Cockatoos need a lot of structure and attention
or you and the bird will both end up totally miserable. DO NOT BUY
AN UNWEANED BIRD!!!!!!! Take it from one who knows. A weaned bird
is one that is eating well on its own, and an inexperienced feeder
can EASILY kill an unweaned bird. If you want a good pet it is a
very good idea to trim its wings so it can't easily fly. Even a bird
with trimmed wings can sometimes get away in a strong gust, or if a
few feathers grow back in on a clipped wing, especially in a good
flying bird like a cockatoo. I strongly recommend that you do some
more research before you purchase a bird. Check out some of the more
recent bird behavior books like "My Parrot My Friend" and "Guide to a
Well-Behaved Parrot." I also recommend that you read many back
issues of Bird Talk and Pet Bird Report magazines, and then subscribe
to one or both of them. Your bird deserves this much, and the payoff
in having a good loving pet will be extremely substantial. I would
not recommend you take your bird outside except in a travel cage, it
is just too easy. Don't feed your bird seed, get a good pelleted
diet for it, and make sure the breeder weans the bird onto pellets
and not seed. Your bird will need toys, things to chew on, weekly
baths, lots of loving attention, a nice big cage, and many other
things too numerous to mention in a post like this. Good luck, and
remember this bird could easily live for 50 years, so approach this
decision with respect.
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+Chase Kimball (ch...@aros.net), nom de plum "Lord Brancaster" +
+ +
+My heart in hiding stirred for a bird, the achieve of, the mastery+
+of the thing! "The Windhover" Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J. +
+ +
+Visit my home page at http://www.aros.net/~chase to view the +
+virtual gallery of fantasy art of Jesse Allen, and the home site +
+of the Wasatch Avian Education Society. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Joan Napolitano
>You NEVER take any bird outside that is unclipped - no matter how much
the
>bird trusts you!
>
>In fact - many large birds like macaws and 'toos - can STILL fly a bit
>with clipped wings. They sell harnesses that you can put on them while
>outside, better safe than sorry!
>
The second statement is not exactly correct. The smaller birds like
cockatiels and budgies can indeed fly (and pretty well, at that) with
clipped wings. Larger birds like macaws and toos can glide with clipped
wings but have trouble getting height UNLESS there's a headwind.
SO, any clipped bird can be capable of flight under the right conditions.
Take your pet out in a suitable carrier.
Karen Hanegan
Please do not take any of your birds outside without any type of
restraining device. They will fly away, amazingly with the least
amount of wind, or when they become frightened. Please look into
training your new 'too to become used to one of the various tethers
that are available - they allow them room to roam, yet restrain them
from going off into the wilds. If you will E-mail me directly, I can
give you some info regarding a tether I have had much success with,
although there are others out there on the market.
Karen Hanegan
hane...@wolfenet.com
David & Kathy Stice <dst...@flash.net> wrote:
>core wrote:
>>
>> I'm wanting to purchase a Cockatoo, i know everything except, what is
>> weaning, its mentioned dont buy an unweaned bird.
>> and also can i let my cockie outside with me... Or will it fly away? How
>> long do i need to gain its trust before i can let it outside,
>> Do cockies even fly away?, reply thanx....