Which is a better pet, a cockatoo or parrot?

Question

I need to know about which can speak since I have a lot of time on my hands, which are friendlier, and what are they required to eat.

Answer 1

Both are parrots. They both speak so I have read. I have seen and heard many "common" parrots speak, but cockatoo's specifically don't speak much if at all. Mine never has but I have read that they are capable.

Which one makes a better meal, though? That is what I wonder about since I got this one. They may not talk, but they squalk like a mutherfucker.

Answer 2

A cockatoo is a parrot. Whether you have time or nto a cockatoo is a big responsibility and unless you are fuly aware of the time and attention and care they take: then please consider another species. You can always get another larger parrot, but start smaller. And if you want a parrot that talks remember that even if the species can talk your bird may NEVER talk. Just keep that in mind.

Unless you really want a cockatoo and are willing to do the research and then the work, then start small. Conures are a great place to start if you have the time and want a parrot. A cherry head conure, although loud, can be a great talker and they are cuddly and friendly. There are many species to choose from but you have to look at where you live, how many hours out of the cage you can provide, and your budget. Birds are expensive, and so is the upkeep.

A parrot's diet should consist of many different things. A good place to start for many birds (not all) is a pellet diet, with some seed mixed in with lots of fruits and veggies on the side daily and also things like birdie bread and or pasta, rice, ect. Whatever is good for us si godo for them. Avoid alcohol, chocolate, dairy products(Small amounts sparingly are ok but I avoid them),onions, avacaods, and anything high in fat and sugar. Also avoid the seeds and core of the apple.

Cockatoos although friendly, and cuddly are a challenge to keep as they are so smart and so sensitive. Plus once thye hit sexual maturity they become very moody and often loose a lot fo the baby friendliness. Not saying they stop being friendly but after that every breeding season they become little terrors, coming at you beak open wings spread wide. They can live for 60 years or more. They are very loud, some of the loudest and they require about 6 hours a day of out of the cage play time. If kept in a proper home thye make wonderful pets but it is important you do as much research as possible. Knowing your limits are veyr important to owning a parrot as it will keep you and future companion happy.

Talking to breeders, and other parrot owners can help you decide wich species are good choices and which ones are not. www.theperch.net is a great place to go and talk to bird owners about the challenges they face, but also the love and bonds birds can give as well. Cockatoos really do not make good first parrots, it is always best to start with a conure, cockatiel, or smaller to get experience and learn how to meet the mental and physical needs of a parrot. So a smaller parrot would be better than a cockatoo in my opinion.

Answer 3

Hi scooter. I'm probably late getting to this, and no offense but a Cockatoo is essentially in the same genus as other Parrots. I have had a few, like Scarlet Macaw, African gray, various conures, Amazons, now a small Lory. A Cockatoo can be taught a vocabulary, and a Peach is pretty, while Macaws can be very Alpha. I'd still probably go with another breed, especially if just starting out,,,even for a novice a Cockatiel can be a great bird, and in all, with good health some can outlive us. I disagree that they,,,any are like 2 year old children though. So much of that species life is dependant on Mimicing it's owner/keeper and they can all be taught good manners with proper care. I have had then break buttons and straps as well as trusting me enough to lay upside down in my hands. It isn't the bird who teaches as much as both the owner and bird learn together. Dallas, Hugs on yer weekend.

Answer 4

Both can speak, but some cockatoos can speak better than others. In my experience, Umbrellas speak the best in the cockatoo family. Keep in mind that "ALL" cockatoos produce a white powder from their feathers and it gets all over everything. Parrots in my opinion, are the best talkers. Among those are the Yellow Napes and the Double Yellow Headed Mexican Amazon. I've had both (cockatoos and parrots) and used both in television commercials. My Nape and Double Yellow where by far the best talkers. Their food is basically the same. Go to your local pet food store and ask for parrot feed. They all love fresh fruit and veggies and peanuts. I also used to put an ice cube in their water and they would play with it until it melted. Hope this helped. Good luck in finding your bird.

Answer 5

This is not meant as a personal attack, but an education, so bear with me. I keep the birds' best interest in mind, FYI.

It's actually true that a cockatoo is not a true parrot, but it is in the same order as true parrots, Psittaciformes. Both families (cockatoos and true parrots) have very strong beaks and zygodactyl feet. The main differences are the absence of the eye-catching crests in true parrots and the lack of a "shine" on the feathers of cockatoos that all other true parrots have.

You have a lot of reading and soul searching to do, in my opinion. Psittacines are not dogs or cats. They are, no matter what anyone tells you, wild animals. They have no been domesticated for thousands of years to develop domesticated traits. Consequently, you can NEVER expect a parrot to not bite, to say what you want or to act friendly.

If you have a lot of time, spend it with a small bird if you're interested in birds at all. Do not begin your bird experience with a large bird or you will most likely be VERY disappointed, not to mention you will probably hurt the bird in your lack of experience.

Birds are expensive, require vet care, they require elaborate diets, they need tons of time, patience, and lots of toys.

Psittacines are not like cats and dogs. They're not born tame.Do a lot of research before you even start to look for a bird. Join a forum like mytoos.com... they give one of the best description of cockatoos you could want.

I would write more, but YOU need to do your research.

Answer 6

I think that small parrots make much better pets/companions.
Try a conure (noisy), caique, senegal or quakers.
These are all good for first timers.
Talking varies from breed to breed and by individual bird.
A pellet diet with fresh suppliments (fruit/veggies) applies to most of these. Do the specific research.

The cockatoo is NOT a bird for the inexperienced. They bond strongly to one person and can be a real problem for others in the home or if they need to be baby sat for absences.
They can develope some serious problematic behaviors.
There are certain experts that do not recommend these birds to be kept by anyone.
They are normally wonderful during adolescence but can turn nasty as adults.
I have worked in rescue and have heard dozens of sad stories concerning someone's beloved pet that was handed over to rescue.

Answer 7

lol for starters a cockatoo is a parrot, so you will need to be a little more specific of what kind of parrot. There are macaws, eclectus, cockatoos, amazons, african grey, and dozens more. If you just want a bird to talk, I would suggest getting an older one that has already started talking. You can't guarantee any bird will talk. I'd hate for you to get a just weaned baby and after a year or so its not talking and it ends up in a rescue or forgotten about in a corner. Make sure there are other reasons for wanting a bird, not there talking ability as the main reason. Parrots can be very load, messy and demanding. They have mood swings just like every other living thing and a sharp beak to let you know what mood there in. I wouldn't suggest any kind of cockatoo or macaw if this is going to be your first bird. I would go w/ a small to medium sized bird. first instincts is to suggest a budgie or cockatail. but I know most people that want a parrot will not be happy w/ them. They can be trained and can talk, w/ patience. If you want something bigger how about a conure or quaker or something of similar size. none of these birds I mentioned are known for there talking ability but are capable of talking. If you have your heart set on a larger bird known for talking how about an african grey. both the timneh and congo are the cadalac of talking birds. But like I said there is no guarantee that the will talk. the african grey is not such a demanding or loud bird as some others. They are very smart though so they need lots of human interaction and time out of there cage so they do not become bored and pick up bad habbits, such as plucking and screaming. they also need lots of toys and you must switch them out frequently so they don't get bored w/ them. They also need for than just pellets to eat. Shopping for fruits and vegitables for my tag is like shopping for another person. They are like all other birds and very messy, it will seem like you are buying food just for them to through around, but this is important part of there life. Which ever you decide make sure you do your research and make sure you have the time, patience and love to care for your bird. good luck w/ whatever you decide.

Answer 8

A Cockatoo is a parrot. They are native to Australia. Cockatoos and their family, come in all shapes and sizes. They are also known to be very destructive. You may have alot of time now but if you have less in the future you may have a problem bird on your hands, they are famous for feather plucking and screaming. In my experience, they do talk but are not clear alot of the time. If you want the best talkers or mimics, get an African Grey. Another one you should check out is a Double-Yellow Amazon. If you want to try smaller birds first (this is recommended for a first timer.) Try a cockatiel, they are fairly inexpensive and easy to train, get a male and they will be easier to train. Or something a bit bigger try a Senegal or Meyers. Please remember to research the breed of bird thoroughly before you purchase one. They all require lots of attention and love but some have traits that may not fit into your family enviornment. ex.African Greys are sometimes known to be a one person bird. Cockatoos love to chew wood, and left alone will rip your baseboard or molding into shreds. Good luck.

Answer 9

cockatoos are parrots.

You need to do a hell of a lot of research. Parrots live a long time and are emotionally delicate creatures and require a lot of specialized knowledge and care.

Buying a large parrot like a cockatoo, macaw, african grey, amazon etc is a commitment of the next 50 years of your life. Cockatoos tend to be very snuggly, but at the same time need attention constantly. If your single now, getting married might be a problem if you get a cockatoo. Its pretty common for the bird to be jealous of a new parter and try to attack them, or scream all the time, or mutilate themselves

Answer 10

I would say a parrot but you might need to spend some time with them, and a cockatoo dont talk i think. So i would say the parrot is a good choice.