Hello, Tabbi!

 

     My husband and I have a Goffin's, Sammie, we've had for about 4 years.  Every month my husband threatens to call the local bird society to take this bird away.  When Sammie screams, it is loud, and as my husband describes the sound, "it pierces my soul."  My husband says this mostly at night, when the cockatoo starts screaming and we humans go to bed at 9PM, evidently the bird's bedtime.  Sammie screams a little in the morning, in the evening, and when she wants attention.  Please note when the phone rings and a person tries to hold a conversation in earshot of the cockatoo, the bird says "hello" and starts to scream. 

     Sammie loves to be out of her cage, saying "got to go potty?" and pottying so we can take her out.  She loves her neck and underwing areas petted.  Sammie plays catch with a foose ball, gives me "high four" and plays tug-of-war with a hair scrunchie.  She also goes through toys like a bandsaw--you should research toymaking.  It will save you $$$.

     Sammie also plucks her/his chest feathers in the winter.  In the summer, no plucking.  I think it is a hormonal or seasonal behavior.  This bird also can bite and draw blood--the beak has three cutting edges on it.  Sammie doesn't bite that often, but when she/he does, it hurts.  For example, I know what it feels like to have one ear almost pierced by a cockatoo.  

     Often times, when the bird begins to scream, we talk to the bird to get it to use human speech imitation for attention, instead of the screaming.  This works about 50 percent of the time.  The other times, my husband either raises the volume of the TV to stop the bird, puts on earphones to drown the bird out, or leaves the room to stop the screaming. 

     My husband and I also have an African Grey, African Redbelly Parrot, Greencheek Conure, and Indian Ringneck.  I recommend you also investigate and research greys and poicephalus parrots.  Our most wonderful parrot, the grey only screams in a loud, piercing manner unless it is imitating the Indian Ringneck (another loud, piercing sound); the grey greats us each morning reciting all the words (my guess over 100), phrases  and sounds he knows; and seems generally a happy bird.  Our grey is not "touchy feely" like a cockatoo, he will step up and down for you and occasionally offer his neck for petting--that's it.  The bird is a little more spooky than other birds--loud noise, strange objects can scare him and he trys to fly off.   In every other aspect the grey is fantastic. 

     In your research on parrots, I also advise you to be strong and resolute about when and what kind of parrot you buy.  It is very easy to be swayed into buying a parrot, especially a baby one, that is adorable and likes you, before you really are ready for the responsibility of the parrot.  Then you end up like us, with a living room full of 5 birds and maybe much more of a parrot hobby than you first envisioned.

    Please join a local bird club to help you with all aspects of bird ownership.  This is the most important piece of advice I can give.  Here in the bird club, you get expert opinions and a source of parrots to visit in a nonselling environment.  Maybe you can also learn how to groom your birds here, too--another expense if you go to a vet, for us and 4 birds, $100 two or three times a year.

      These are just some things to consider.  The bottom line is once you have a bird, it wraps around your heart and becomes like a child in the family.  Best of luck to you in your search for a super family pet.

 

                                                       Mary Jo 

    

Tabbi,

            As of this evening,I am nursing a severe bite to the base of my index finger from my M2 Orck.  I was picking up shredded paper when he ran between my legs and nailed me.  I got  Orck when he was 5yo(now 7) so I definitely suggest you get a weaned hand fed baby.  My bird is not a continuel screamer, but when he does let loose, lets just say  it is earth shaking.  I also have a B&G(Willie T.) and a CAG( Tobiyah) plus numerous little birds and I agree that  African Greys are WONDERFUL birds.  Bi-Bi has a large vocab. and never screams, but she is a plucker.  She is sitting on my shoulder as I type making sure I put out praise about greys!  Don't get me wrong, I love Orck and would not ever get rid of him, but I find him as a cockatoo like the little girl with the curl....when good very very good, but when bad horrid

                                Orckbit (again)

 

While we are on the subject of praising greys -- let me add my 2 cents.

 

If you look into greys - be aware that there are 2 varieties (of 3 total) which are bred and sold: Congos (CAG) and Timnehs (TAG).  Congos are slightly larger, lighter in color than TAGs, and have a red tail (versus maroon in TAGs).  Greys have a reputation for feather picking but I think it really depends upon the bird and its environment.  Back when I got Aristotle (1990) I had heard that CAGs were more likely to feather pick than TAGs so I ended up with an imported TAG (when this was still legal).

 

When had no idea of her age when we got her, but still were able to enjoy 12 blessed years with her.  In that time, she picked up words and phrases (usually practicing quietly until she had it down and then sharing it with us) and could even hold a 3 sentence conversation with us or find other ways to express what she wanted. Example: "mommy" meant she was calling out just to get an idea where in the house I was, whereas "mommy peek-a-boo" meant that she wanted eye contact with me -- which was usually followed by "feed me" or "need some water" once I came to her.

 

She only feather picked once in her life -- right after we added a GWM to the family.  The problem was not the other bird, but that the other bird was blocking Aristotle's view of the television.

 

No matter which type of bird 'chooses you', you (and your family) are in for an adventure.  You will become better at what you eat, you will be VERY aware of what you say, you will find yourself changing the TV to something the bird would like to watch. In other words, you are gaining a member of the family who will always have the emotional state of a 3-4 yr old human, while retaining the intelligence of an child from 6 to 12 years of age.  Understanding that, with a bird's need for mental stimulation (besides LOTS of chew toys) will make life more enjoyable for all of you.

 

Best wishes  in your research , and your expanded family.

Tabbi,

 

     There is the great ring of truth in everything repliers are saying about parrots, be they cockatoo,  African grey, or ?? (there are so many great birds).  You have a big decision to make, one that impacts you and your family potentially for 20-50 years and beyond, due to the great ages the big birds can live.  Great wisdom is evident in your resolve to study these parrots a couple years before you make that commitment. 

     Learn well, so you make a decision you and your other family members are happy with.  To be sure, parrots are like no other pets--with their charm comes owner responsibility.  Please keep us updated periodically on your search and use us for resources as you look for that feathered pet.  Again, the best to you on your path to parrot selection.

 

                                                                                                                  Mary Jo  

Margo 

Tabbi, everyone with too's has different experiences. Of my 38 pets, 10 are too's of one variety or another. All have very different personalities, some calm and quiet, some not so much. As a whole, the Goffins seem to be the most vocal, but even two of them are quiet and shy. The mytoo site is good for helping people understand the "dark side" lol See if there are any experienced too breeders in your area that are helpfull.

I'm so sorry it took me so long to reply back to this. Its been kinda busy around the house, had a sick dog and I'm trying to get ready for my husband to come back home this coming week. He's been in Iraq for almost 15 months.

 

Any how, to reply to the questions you guys had for me:

 

I've defintily made up my mind for a 'too, but if for some reason I change my mind, I made sure that the size and the bar spacing on the cage will work for any type of bird from conure on up to macaw. I'm not joking when I say this is one heck of a monstrosity of a cage.

 

I "SAY" that I want to wait at least a year before I bring home a bird, but to be totally honest, there is a Citron 'too at the bird store I frequently go to that I've fallen for pretty hard. I don't know if I'll bring her home or not, kinda depends on how everything goes after my husband comes home since he has the final say on this one. I've been eyeballing her for 7 months and reading up on these guys for about a year. I'm trying to learn the personal stuff, the stuff the books (I have 30) and websites don't tell you. I'm 99% sure I'm ready for this, never had a doubt till I found mytoo's...lol. That really scared me.

 

Noise really isn't a huge factor for us..I'm 80% deaf and my husband is about 50%. (mine was from child abuse his is from the army...lol)

 

For the birdy grooming, I know how to do the wings myself. (I have parakeets right now and I've had a Amazon and a Cockateil who have both passed away.) The lady I would buy the bird from (I haven't totally decided on the bird, but I already know who I would get it from) does bird grooming as a free service to clients and is willing to teach me how to do it myself.

 

I'm not really afraid of bites. I've been laid open by a macaw repeatedly. (the reptile store I used to go to has a B&G macaw up there that is positvly evil. They refuse to cage him, so from the moment you walk in the store, you have a huge bird chasing you around biting you or if he's sitting on top of his cage, he'll fly to you to bite you. I'm not the only person walking around with scars from this bird...lol I think its gonna take some one sueing them before they either take him home or keep him contained. Its so bad, I refuse to go in there anymore.)

 

I considered a Grey at first, read up on them and started talking to the lady who ownes the store I'd get one from. She raises Greys and sat me down and we had THE TALK. Afterwards we came to the conclusion that my personality just isn't right for a Grey, she told me a Amazon, 'too, or a macaw would be better for me. After losing my 'zon and my experience with the macaw, I've decided on a 'too.

 

Thanks,

Tabbi

Hi just a quick tip for the feather pluckers........My Merlin was a habitual plucker.......he wouldn't leave his chest alone!!! I work for a Vet so we did every blood and stool test possible!!! nothing..........so she advised me to cut small chunks of untreated wood for him and place them allover his cage and attach larger pieces to the sides of his cage.........I also found cardboard boxes of any sort work very well.......that was accidental of coarse..I left a box to close to his cage and he got ahold of it and destroyed it........I then found a large cardboard box and cut it and placed it between the cage and the wall...........he pucks away at it and leaves his chest alone(which is almost totally grown back!!) take care and good luck......Marni

 

Too's are very special and not for everyone. They can be loud and demanding, and even two of the same kind can be completely different from each other. There are not ANY problems that can't be solved or at least improved on if you just have the time and patience. Good luck!  Peggy

That web site really gives toos a bad rap but does make people seriuosly think before getting one. I have a second hand lesser too that was given up for being a screamer. It is all in there envirement because in this home he seldom screams and is a very happy go lucky bird. He wants for very little so has nothing to scream about:) I have 3 parrots and my too is the most comical. His only downfall is he loves to destroy everything thing in site so I have to always add new things to keep him entertained. I have never regretted adding him to my family and he is loved by everyone in the house for his wonderful personality. He was 3 when he came to live with us. The bigger the cage the happier your too will be. My toos screaming in his former home was from being confined to a cage that did not allow him enough room to play.