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From: helen@argosy.UUCP (Helen Kastner)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: INDOOR:  Cockatoo questions
Message-ID: <863@argosy.UUCP>
Date: 25 Jan 91 22:47:56 GMT
References: <21499@netcom.UUCP> <279B4037.6211@intercon.com> <14457@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com> <27A095AD.1A36@intercon.com>
Sender: news@argosy.UUCP
Reply-To: helen@europa.UUCP (Helen Kastner)
Organization: MasPar Computer Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA
Lines: 51

Thank heavens for Mikki! I've learned a lot from her about my
Moluccan (salmon-crested) in just a few
mails.  Another cockatoo owner told me that living with
one is much like having a killer 2-year in the house.
In article <27A095AD.1A36@intercon.com> ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry) writes:
>In article <14457@mcdphx.phx.mcd.mot.com>, brookb@tester.UUCP (Brook Burson)
>writes:
>> can do to keep the bird from biting?  What is the best method of punishment
>> if he does?  Any other comments?
>
>This may be the most difficult thing you ever do, but when the bird bites,
>do NOTHING.  Calmly put him back in his cage.  He is biting you to elicit
>a "free show".
I can get bird-bit (nipped, mostly) when "playing rough," the same way
a dog can get overexcited and bite too hard.  And walking away or
telling him to "go home" (go back in his cage) calms him down.
> 
>> teach him 'pretty bird' for 3 years now.  No Luck.  Any ideas?
>
>Stop trying.  The bird may surprise you.
that's a LOT;
all I get are "syllables"; one erk for food, two erks for water, drawn
out erk for rub my body all over.
> 
>> 3) Cockatoos are also good screamers.  Do you know any way to get them to
>
>Don't let him elicit a reaction.  Get ear plugs :-).  Don't encourage him
yeah, but he has that "get yourself in here" squawk that he starts
when he hears my car; since I always go in the apt.; he always wins.
Mikki, there are so many different calls (territorial, playtime,
exuberance, demanding), have you managed to control/halt some of
them?

>> 4) Dust.  Bonzo is really dusty.  Do you know of any way to keep dust from 
>
>I swear by Smokemasters.  They're expensive, but they sure get rid of the
>cockatoo dust!
Thank you! I thought I was doomed to live in a bird-talc environment!

Mikki - any noticeably consistent behaviors between hand-raised
and imported cockatoos?  
>
>Mikki Barry
>Natural Intelligence Aviaries
>Home of the Electric Cockatoo--


hk 
helen@maspar.com                      right-brain person in
MasPar Computer Corporation           a left-brain job
Sunnyvale, CA