in reference to flytes post
the also can develope serious mental problems as well, plucking..feather picking, screaming, biting.
my umbrella Marley was with a guy for 13 years before i adopted him, then he was left with the guys parents who kept him alone for 2 years with no toys and no attention, and he plucked his chest, wing and tail feathers. then had to be given up when the guy came back with a newborn who was allergic to his powder down.
he doesn't pluck anymore, he doesn't scream, doesn't bite..i like to call him the best behaved cockatoo in the world..i got lucky with him though.
buying a cute little baby IMO is the worst decision anyone can make UNLESS you are a cockatoo expert, they are the sweetest things for around 3-5 years...then they hit sexual maturity and can become quite a handful..males will scream almost constantly, or at night, they will go into spells of biting and aggression when their breeding season comes along..i was tagged by a molluccan 'too a few years ago and needed 14 stitches. and not to mention the huge cage, and toys they need, they are destructive by nature, and need many wooden toys to destroy to keep them form ruining your furniture, toys for toos usally cost anywhere from $12-$40 i spent almost 300$ for toys from marley on christmas each on is almost 75% destroyed. they need stimulation by foraging, or puzzles, or teaching tricks, they need to have out of cage time, which means you'd have to either buy a cage with a playtop, or spend $150 -$200 on a play stand..its a hassle
they can be very unpredictable also, even Marley will try to bite now and then, if one bit any small child at full strength, they would most liley lose a digit.
if she wants a bird, and you are willing to buy one, get a parakeet or a cockatiel, both are small, fairly quiet and don't have nearly the same problems as a cockatoo can have. they don't need huge cages, and don't demand as much attention. but they still do require time and and patience as they will likley need to be tamed and socialized, cage cleaning needs to be done weekly..fresh foods and fresh water every day..they need a varied diet, and seeds are no good for birds as a staple..fruits and veggies need to be added in from time to time..etc.
just do as much reserach on any bird as you possibly can..l
