My friend had a cockatoo she got from another family who didn’t say why they were giving it up. The bird started going after my friend in every way possible, but it liked her husband. She was told it was a male bird. Is it common for cockatoos to pick favorites or even prefer one gender?
Yes, that can happen. Parrots are known for being territorial with the people they like best and even with certain spots or items around them. One of our cockatoos was almost put down by his last owner because he attacked a family member and nearly bit off part of the guy’s ear.
@Aris
Wow, that’s wild! People need to know about these kinds of things before deciding to keep exotic animals.
Koa said:
@Aris
Wow, that’s wild! People need to know about these kinds of things before deciding to keep exotic animals.
I agree, but people can be stubborn when they’ve decided they want a ‘unique’ pet. Baby parrots are cute and sweet, but they grow up with crazy hormones and can get bored, which makes them a whole lot harder to handle.
@Aris
Have you seen that show on chimps? It’s complete madness. How do they even allow that kind of stuff?
Koa said:
@Aris
Have you seen that show on chimps? It’s complete madness. How do they even allow that kind of stuff?
Right?! It makes you wonder… Tonya and Carol Baskin should just have a showdown 
Koa said:
@Aris
Wow, that’s wild! People need to know about these kinds of things before deciding to keep exotic animals.
People see the cute side of exotic animals and not the reality of the challenges. I researched a lot before getting my birds, but it was still a shock to see how much effort they require. I only have small ones, but I know I couldn’t handle cockatoos, macaws, or African greys, even though I think they’re amazing.
@Page
I only started to think about this after watching that chimp show. It’s like people don’t even keep these pets until they’re fully grown because they’re so hard to control. The exotic pet trade is disturbing, and I don’t want to support it. My husband wants a bird, but I’m really against it—it’s just too unfamiliar for me.
@Koa
Honestly, birds are a lot easier to keep than something like a chimp or tiger, especially certain types. Birds like macaws, greys, and cockatoos are high maintenance and live a long time, so they’re a big commitment. But there are smaller birds with shorter lifespans that are bred in captivity and do well as pets with the right care. Conures, Quakers, cockatiels, and budgies are intelligent but don’t need a ton of space as long as they get time out of the cage.
Quail and some doves are also good options; they don’t impact wild populations and can be affectionate and smart. Birds do require research, but it’s not as extreme as some exotic animals.
Yep, very common. My Umbrella cockatoo hates women and acts very protective. He’s even gone after people’s ears and arms. If he were a dog, he wouldn’t be here anymore, but he’s my ‘good bird’ when he’s around me.