Getting A New Parrot Or Cockatoo?
By Rene`e

There are many things to tell someone who is looking for a new parrot or Cockatoo and you may want to check them out.

1. If this is your first bird, I would suggest that you read several books prior to buying a bird. Reading everything you can about your potential pet will help you to know what you are getting into when you go out to find the bird you want.

2. If this is not a new bird, you may want to have it checked by a Veterinarian prior to bringing it home. You may want to look for signs of illness such as wheezing, heavy breathing, feather problems, general depressed appearance, sneezing or bad stools before you even handle the bird. Parrots carry several diseases which your other birds at home could be exposed to.

3. If you are able to, find out the bird’s history of ownership before you buy it. This helps determine how the bird may have been cared for and may alert you to something potentially important. This gives you an idea of if the bird was a breeder or a pet and it also tells you a bit about how many times it’s been shuffled around. Birds who are shuffled from owner to owner tend to be neurotic and have problems in some cases.

4. Ask the seller for all potential habits, good and bad, that the bird has. This will help you to know what you are getting into.

5. Be prepared to bring home a bird who can be noisy, destructive, aggressive, a big baby and an attention sponge. Cockatoos tend to be big babies who require a lot of attention.

6. If bringing home a bird who is not the only bird you have in your home, please be prepared to quarantine it for at least 30 days, preferably 45-60 if you are able. Sometimes a disease is not evident to a Veterinarian right away, or to someone who is buying a bird. I would not want to effect my other birds with a potential disease from a newcomer.

7. Look around. Don’t jump on the first one you see for sale. You need to spend as much time as you can holding each bird you see and see how you bond with that bird. You may want a Sulfur Crested Cockatoo in the beginning and find out you are better suited with a galah.

8. Be prepared to feed, house, live with, eat with, talk to and own this parrot for many, many years. Parrots live long lives and it is the responsibility of someone who is buying one to think it out prior to getting one. Larger Cockatoos have been known to live to at least 75 years of age. In circumstances such as owning larger birds, you may wish to provide for that bird in your will should you pass before it does.

I certainly hope that these thoughts help you out in your search for a Parrot or Cockatoo.

Toys for your Galah
Toys are a very important part of your Galah’s home. Without toys, Galahs can pick, mutilate themselves and get neurotic behaviors. Toys in bright colors are very stimulating for Galahs.

Make your Own
I was sitting at home one afternoon going over our budget and found out how much we really were spending on bird toys and that is when we decided to come up with some fun alternatives to buying toys. We now make a number of our own toys and these are our own recipes for making bird toys.
It’s simple and easy, but be sure not to use zinc or lead coated beads or facets. Make sure any material you use is “bird safe” such as wood, rope, rings cannot be coated with exterior glow polish or be of metal. When making shower curtain ring items, please use the plastic rings instead of the metal.

Cotton Rope Tree:

Need:
- One roll of cotton rope. This is rope commonly used in floor mops.
- One plastic shower curtain ring.
- One piece of cardboard cut to approximately 16 inches by 8 inches.
Take the rope and wrap it several times around the cardboard in only one direction (much like making a yard ball for the top of a knithat). Wrapping from the longest side is best. Do this approximately 15 times and then take this off of the cardboard and on one end, stick the curtain rod through it, and then tie it around its neck just below the rod with more cotton rope. Cut the bottom loops so that the tree hangs with strands down for the bird to play with. Hang from cage using the shower curtain ring.

Link Tree

Need:
- 1 plastic coat hanger - must not contain snaps, clips or have small grooves in it. The straight kind is best.
- 4 or more boxes of plastic shower curtain rings. Try to get the type that snap together. Bright colored rings of different colors are best.

Take the shower curtain rings and hang 5 to 8 per strand by linking them together. This should make several strands of plastic rings. Take these rings and hook them to the coat hanger and your bird will have hours of enjoyment playing with this homemade link tree.

Swing

Need:
- Plastic shower curtain rings in your choice of colors, linked together in 2 equal chains.
- One piece of bird safe wood, such as manzanita.
- 2 U nails, stainless steel only, and please check with the hardware store to make certain that they contain no coatings from their manufacturer.

Take 2 equal chains and then nail them to the stick with the U nail. Hang from cage for hours of entertainment.

Hanging Toy

Need:
- Piece of wood
- 6-8 Small round and square pieces of wood
- Drill
- Cotton Rope

Take the large piece of wood and drill 3-4 holes of equal distance through it, turn it a half turn and drill 3-4 more holes which go in alternate routes through the stick. Stick cotton rope through all of the holes. Use the top string for hanging the toy. On the end of the remaining strings, string pieces of wood. Tie knots in the end of the strings. Do not tie knots above the rings and squares because part of the fun for the bird is yanking them back through to the other side while playing.