COCKATOOS.........................

In 1975 a TV show called BARETTA aired starring Robert Blake Blake played a cop with a side kick bird, a Blue Eyed Triton Cockatoo named Fred. As a result, in the 70's and 80's, the sale of cockatoos increased a great deal. Everyone wanted a "Fred" bird or a "Baretta" bird. Sadly, most people had NO IDEA what living with a bird was like especially a cockatoo. Fred answered the phone, responded to everyone, was in perfect feather and didn't make much noise............

NOT REALITY TV THAT'S FOR SURE !!!

If you look on the internet for more then 5 minutes, you will find hundreds of websites telling you - DO NOT GET A COCKATOO. Don't do it. They are loud, destructive, can do a great deal of damage to your body- skin, bones etc. Personally, I don't think this helps a person a great deal. Many people think WE WILL BE DIFFERENT. WE KNOW BETTER. WE HAVE EXPERIENCE AND CAN HANDLE IT........

That isn't always true. I thinking adding any bird to your home should be more then a knee jerk response. (one major reason I don't like bird sales at auctions, bird marts and other animal related events. For more on that- see this page) It is something the entire family should think about and consider. When adding certain species- it is more then emotional- it can be for medical considerations. Certain species, such as cockatoos, greys and tiels (among others) produce a GREAT deal of "dust" and/or "powder". Certain people consider them different things -dust being what is flaked off when a bird preens (cleans their feathers) or just playing around, kind of like skin... And "powder" is a fine powder composed of keratin. This dust and power can cause TONS of problems for people with asthma, COPD, other lung problems, allergies etc. Cockatoos, Greys and Cockatiels are known for causing breathing reactions in people. So it isn't just a simple reason, it could cause medical problems.

Aside from the medical problems- what else should be considered. Some people believe that cockatoos should never be kept as pets, they require too much care and can be dangerous to little children, even adults if they are aggressive. I am trying to get some pictures of bites people have suffered from cockatoos. Again, some people won't be convinced and say they will be careful and won't get bitten. Trust me, as I sit typing this with scars on my arms and a bandage on my finger- it happens. Sometimes they aren't bad- other times- they can be REALLY bad. Many years ago I was bitten by an Umbrella Cockatoo, I lost circulation in my finger and had to have surgery on it. For over a year I had no feeling in the finger.

OK, we have talked about allergies and bites... So WHY NOT get a cockatoo....?? For every person who says they want one, a dozen people will tell them not to get them. I think if you buy in to the idea that cockatoos are snuggly, love everyone, great family birds - you could find out that it was a BAD mistake to take in a cockatoo. For as many sweet, love everyone, cuddly cockatoos I have seen - I have seen 20 emotionally unstable, feather picking, screaming, won't go to 99% of the people cockatoos. Sadly- in most cases it is because the humans who had them from the time they were babies- messed them up. They got them during a vacation or when they weren't working much, spent hours a day with them, gave them tons of attention, the kids talked to them all the time- then the facination wore off, people went back to work or school and the cockatoo that once was the center of the household is now banned to the family room with the door closed because s/he screamed too much..... Then they started feather picking or worse- mulilating (GRAPHIC PICTURE)    How sad, unhappy, frustrated, misable a bird must be to do that. Can you imagine the pain?

MORE ON COCKATOOS LATER !! I PROMISE, BUT WE ARE kind of busy here and need to get back to the birds... PROMISE.. more later.