upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

it really bugs me since cockatoos are my favorite bird to own and raise!!!!! I raise citron cockatoos and also own a rosebreasted as a pet. I have had Rudy for over 6 years now and he is a total hoot! Very different than my 2 citrons or my umbrella cockatoo. You must watch their diet thought cause they are prone to fatty tumorsRudy has one that does not bother him and is not growing). seed should consist of small amounts and that should be cockatiel seed. They need pellets and fresh human fruit and veggies to stay in shape. Since they are a ground bird naturally like a pigeon they are not prone to high activity to keep their weight down and LOVE to eat which is how they easily become obese. They like to chew!!!!

Sandi

I have a pair and they are a beughtifull bird to have, but they are a little neurotic, they bond strongly to one person and are posessive of that person and in the case of my pair won`t let anyone but me touch them feed them or even approach the cage, funny,,In Australia we call them Galla`s.

Pepper is no way attached to 1 person in our household. Even my 10 yr old can play with her. Everyone handles our RoseBreasted, so Id say its just how they are socialized and handled.

True, my pair are a wierd case, I should have mentioned that. They are both birds I rescued from different owners one, a male, called him Bernie is about 30yo and spent 28 of those years in a two foot by two foot wire cage eating black sunflower seed with little interaction with anything, so he is not properly socially adjusted in any way, and the other, a really sweet hen, maybe 8yo was in even worse condition when I found her "which I won`t re visit", Petie we called her, she had no feathers when we brought her home would just sit there and bob her head from left to right all day long, that was five years ago, now she has 90% feather coverage and I can handle her in any way I like without a problem, and its been years since she did the head bob thing, so in a nutshell these guys are not a representative example of a Galla

WOW! ThankGod you came along! Im a firm believer in Everything happens for a reason- They are very lucky birds. We have a Blue & Gold that lived in that very cage for 2 years- and he is still a work in progress, always will be- But he has a 5ft-4 ft kings cage, toys and proper diet. It took 2 months for him to even chew a toy, he was so scared that it was going to attack, and food he had only known cockatiel seed and peanuts. I feel sorry for these people cause Karma will eventually catch up.

As a footnote, the person who previously owned Petie made a big deal about me wanting to take the bird she said to me, and I quote,,
"if its because of how the bird looks well, there is nothing wrong with her and I want $50 for her"
at the vets the next day she weighed in at 0.19 kg don`t know what that is in lbs and her breast plate stuck right out she was so starved.

Thats why Id rather have animals than deal with humans- People are sick!

John,
Nice one mate! My Galah is a bit nuerotic as well but I think this was down to the breeder who was a bit dodgy. It's taken me 7 years and a lot of hours to get the bird into good shape, but what a pet!! Great companion bird and now very happy.
Regards,
Mike,
Melbourne.

Hey Mike, yeah they are prone to nervous disorders and one bad owner can do damage in one singe incident that can take halfe the birds life to fix.
FYI we are in NSW near Newcastle.