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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Mar 10, 2015 7:57:45 GMT -5
So, it looks like I am going to have the opportunity to foster EITHER a Goffins Cockatoo or a Hahns Macaw. Pros and cons on both? I had the pleasure of meeting a Goffins over the weekend, he was sure cute, but he was socialized and belonged to the person whose house I was at
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Post by aaron on Mar 10, 2015 9:24:40 GMT -5
Man that is a hard decision!! Both of those are really intriguing. Ramifications of individual bird histories aside, the 'too is probably going to be a bit more challenging from what I've read.
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Post by easttex on Mar 10, 2015 9:39:38 GMT -5
That would be a tough call. I kind of lean to the cockatoo only because I came close to adopting one, but that is neither here nor there for your purposes. You are obviously a very talented and skilled fosterer (is that a word?) so in your position I would ask which one will have a harder time finding an alternate foster and/or permanent home, and would take that one. If you feel up to the challenge, of course.
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Mar 10, 2015 11:41:11 GMT -5
It may actually come down to who is still available after I am done performing grandma duties (about another 2 or 3 weeks I'm guessing) but as of right now, I was given my choice. They both have sad stories, both probably need socializing and both have the potential to become great companions! The Hahns I know for sure bites, the Goffins supposedly has never bitten anyone but that could be because no one has been trying to handle her. Both birds are young, relatively speaking (under 20) and have a lot of years left which could be happy ones for them. I've always wanted a mini macaw but lately I've taken a keen interest in cockatoos as well, and the Goffins would be perfect. So yeah, I'm torn. Guess I will let fate decide! Fosterer could be a word..I use foster mom or foster parront, they are easier to say  |
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Post by aaron on Mar 10, 2015 11:56:38 GMT -5
Yeah, I find cockatoos fascinating. They are so emotionally complicated and sensitive. I would love to have one but only if I could have a life situation where I had little else to worry about. In our hectic life, Cupcake is all the bird we can handle. But man those 'toos are cool birds. I think if I were to get one, a Goffins would be ideal (not going to happen)  There was a Cockatoo (one of the larger kinds) at the parrot store across the street from my house for a while that had to be rehomed because the family had moved to a military base and she was literally screaming at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night on a regular basis. It was disturbing people on base and was a major liability for the family. This had to be one of the sweetest birds I have ever encountered. She just wanted to talk and snuggle. Three different families tried to take her home and ended up bringing her back because of this problem, but apparently the last one was fully aware of the night screaming and was determined to help the bird resolve the issue. I'm really hoping the next time I go back she will not be there. I had never heard of this kind of behavior in any bird, but leave it to these complicated Cockatoos to be so unusual She seemed like such a sweet and well loved bird, I don't understand why she was screaming at night while she was still with her own family. Sorry, that was a bit off topic, but it is just an example of why I find Cockatoos so interesting. |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Mar 10, 2015 13:35:01 GMT -5
She seemed like such a sweet and well loved bird, I don't understand why she was screaming at night while she was still with her own family. You are the 3rd person in the last few hours that has mentioned cockatoos screaming at night. I have never heard of a bird doing this either. Apparently this is something that Too's do. I work from home, during the week I live by myself (my boyfriend comes over Fri nite to Monday morning), my kids are all grown and moved out and my b/f helps me with the birds on the weekends when he's here. If it wasnt for a combination of all of that, I wouldnt be able to do this either. The beauty of fostering is that I get a chance to have exposure to a lot of different kinds of parrots (I've never owned or rescued any kind of Macaw or Too) which is fun, I am helping the bird and doing something worthwhile (in my opinion) and ultimately, the birds find a permanent home (hopefully) and I can decide if I want to take on another foster right away or wait awhile. For me, it's a win win situation. In addition, because I *am* home a lot of the day, I can take on a bird that needs some behavioral work that perhaps someone who worked away from the home all day wouldnt be able to help. I have always been interested in both Toos and Macaws, but their beak size really intimidates me so this is an ideal opportunity to work with either of these breeds AND have a smaller beak to worry about. And, of course, the foster parront always gets the first crack at adoption, should someone else be interested. Apparently this must happen a lot as they have a term for it, the Rescue calls it "Foster Fail". The exact definition..Failure to keep your bird as foster because you adopt it yourself |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 10, 2015 16:20:25 GMT -5
Hi Sharyn, is it possible to meet both birds before deciding? You did amazingly well with Pele so agree with Easttex that it might be worthwhile to take on the one that may prove to be harder to adopt. As to cockatoos, we have flocks flying over morning and night and my ears nearly fall off my head with all the screaming. Needless to say when Shah really wants to annoy me, he screams like a cockatoo as he knows he will get a reaction |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 10, 2015 16:29:32 GMT -5
Hi Sharyn, is it possible to meet both birds before deciding? You did amazingly well with Pele so agree with Easttex that it might be worthwhile to take on the one that may prove to be harder to adopt. As to cockatoos, we have flocks flying over morning and night and my ears nearly fall off my head with all the screaming. Needless to say when Shah really wants to annoy me, he screams like a cockatoo as he knows he will get a reaction |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Mar 10, 2015 16:29:52 GMT -5
Yes, you bring up a GREAT point, Jan. I am a little worried that if the Goffin screams (which she will, she is a Too) that Mr P would learn to imitate that call in the blink of an eye! It didnt take him long to learn Pele's calls, but Mr P was actually louder than Pele when he did the Pionus calls, so I could always tell it was him. Unfortunately, I am not able to meet the birds in advance. Once I show up at the current home, I am obligated to bring the bird into rescue. Florida Parrot Rescue does not have a central facility, the fosters take the birds directly from the owners' homes, into theirs. (of course there is paperwork and legal stuff to be signed) So, I can't decide after I get there that I don't want to take the bird. Lol only the potential adopters have that option I am a firm believer in fate though, so I guess I will just wait and see. Ironically enough, the little quaker that I was going to take if I hadn't taken Pele has not been adopted yet and is still in her foster home. My 2nd grandchild will be born in the next few weeks and I will be spending at least a week, probably closer to 10 days with my daughter and her family so if one of the birds has already been fostered by the time I get back, my decision will have been made for me. I'm kinda hoping for that actually! |
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Post by aaron on Mar 10, 2015 17:39:44 GMT -5
Yeah, fostering is very appealing for all of the reasons you mention. It would be great to get a chance to help out a bird in need and experience other types of birds without having to permanently alter your life by actually owning them forever. I think there's a very good chance we will get into fostering and/or rescuing later in life. For now it's just too much. That cockatoo scream is really quite jarring. Definitely puts our QPs to shame. I don't think I could live with that, certainly not at night. Perhaps as a foster, but permanently... I dunno. I wonder what it would sound like if Mr P imitated that... I imagine it would not have the same raw power, coming from smaller lungs. Heh, it would probably just be slightly more shrill, but probably not much quieter.  Hahns are definitely cool too... Definitely a hard decision. I can see why you would almost prefer it be made for you |
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 10, 2015 20:40:27 GMT -5
I've never actually met a Goffin's 'Too in person-- mostly I see Sulfur-crested, Umbrella, Bare-eyed and Rose-breasted (Galah) Cockatoos. Generally, they all seemed to have sweet personalities and were very friendly (some to the point of being clingy) and all were capable of loud vocalizations. I was quite taken with a Hahn's Macaw at one of the local pet stores a few years ago (and might have bought him had he been far less expensive). He was very friendly, a bit nippy, and quite smart. At the same time he was in the store, they had an Umbrella 'Too who was supposed to be a quick study-- repeat a new phrase a few times and he'd say it back. I stood there for ten minutes trying to get the 'Too to say "good parrot," with no results. The little Hahn's came over, looked me straight in the eye and said "good parrot!"  |
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Post by Sharyn and Mr P on Mar 10, 2015 21:12:23 GMT -5
Too's are referred to as "velco" birds because of their clinginess. They also tend to pluck, scream and react negatively to what they deem as lack of attention. Even as a foster parront, these are all things to consider. I do have more time than some, but my time is not unlimited and I do travel for work. Mr P doesnt really mind being left alone all day as long as it's not for a really long period of time and he sees someone once a day that will let him out of his cage for an hour or 2. I dont know how a Goffin would handle that.
Ironically enough, this past weekend I was at another FPR volunteer's house dropping off some empty bird cages. She was fostering a Hahns and owned a Goffins. They were both extremely adorable. The Goffins did do an EAR PIERCING call several times when we were all over at a different playstand admiring her daughter's Pionus. So, I can see where that would be tiresome after awhile.
The Hahns was quiet and seemed very friendly but when you tried to pick him up or pet him, he lunged at you. He was also smaller than I thought he would be. The Goffins was about the size I imagined. The Goffins also talked, quite clearly.
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Post by aaron on Mar 11, 2015 8:25:12 GMT -5
Yeah, I've heard that at least the larger 'Toos need more like 5 hours of attention a day in order to really be happy. I don't know if that applies to Goffins though. Either way I bet it's more than 2 hours. Those 'toos are really like needy children.
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