Feather3

I have 3 large parrots & 2 toy poodles. I had more poodles (8 total), but they have passed away, from old age, since we got the parrots. My parrots are all now 13 years old. 2 came from pet stores (African Grey & Umbrella Cockatoo). The 3rd parrot (Blue & Gold Macaw) was a rehome/rescue. You would not believe the condition she was in or the terrible life she had & she was only 2 when I got her. There are many sad stories about parrots. My dogs soon learned those big beaks bite, so they keep their distance. My dogs were also taught to let the parrots alone, ie, do not chase them, etc.

A large parrot requires a large very sturdy cage (stainless steel is best if you can afford it) & lots of chewable toys. A playgym would be a good idea for a "away from cage exercise area". However many can & do climb or jump off them. They must be left out of the cage daily to exercise. Large parrots have LOUD voices, so expect LOUD high pitched screaming, which can be heard a few blocks or more away. Each sound/scream they make is for a reason. If you watch them you cna learn what sound they associate things to. Many parrot owners make the mistake of telling/yelling at them to shut-up, which just makes them scream more to get the added attention. They are sort of like a 2 year old child that never grows up.

Moluccan Toos are big chewers, so do expect damaged furniture, cupboards, etc. If you do decide on a M2 or other large parrot, visit a local lumbar yard, Lowe's, etc that has untreated pine & ask for scraps. Many toss them out & you can make cheap toys for your bird from them. Take note a M2 can destroy a $50.00 toy in a day. My U2 took the lock apart on her cage while I was at work. Yep she managed to unscrew the nuts/bolts/screws & got out. She did major damage to my sofa, TV cable, drapes, wall decorations. Came home to find her sitting on top of her cage just as happy as could be. We now padlock her in.

Large parrots also require more than a seed mix & pellets for diet. They should have some veggies & fruits daily, as well as nuts. I buy all my nuts (raw in shell) off the internet as it's much cheaper to buy in bulk. We store all foods (seed mix & nuts) in gallon glass jars. I got the jars at a local Italian restaurant. I place 2 layers of wax paper on the jar & screw the lid down tight. This keeps the food fresh for a good 1.5 years in our basement. If your basement is not cool then you can store food in the freezer for up to 2 years. Also note that large parrots waste a lot of food. It's in their nature to reseed the Earth, so they toss/waste a lot of food.

Then you have the dust factor. Cockatoos are "powder" birds. They make powder to coat their feathers. This powder can not just be sucked up in the cleaner, as it's sort of oil based. It sticks to everything & must be wiped up. Cleaning soon becomes a dreaded chore once you own a cockatoo. They should be showered at least once per week. I use a table perch in the tub to shower the U2 & Grey. My macaw loves showers & plays for a good 20 minutes before she's ready to get out.

Large parrots tend to chose 1 person as their mate, so do not expect a large parrot to be a "family bird" & like everyone. Large parrots can also sense your adrenal levels & with kids in the house it will cause the bird to be more active/scream/etc. The M2 & U2 have what is called "3 point beaks" the lower beak has 2 points, which can land a nasty cut if bitten.

As another poster stated...you just can't let them with a neighbor & go on vacation. If you do you may come home to a bald bird. They will rip out their feathers or even go as far as to chew a hole in their chest. Not all will do this, but many will. They bond to you as a mate & when their "mate" leaves they become stresses/depressed. Also vvet bills are not cheap when it comes to parrots. One visit can cost a few hundred to several hundred, depending on the illiness.

M2's & U2's can live into thier 60's or 70's. That's a long time, so you need to consider what will happen to the bird down the road. Cost is a major factor as parrot foods keep going up in price & most are not cheap. Feeding a large parrot is nothing like feeding parakeets.

Of my 3 parrots if I had to chose one it would be my Blue & Gold Macaw. She is less "needy". She doesn't make the massive powder that my U2 & African Gery does, so cleaning would be so much easier. She entertains herself & even invents games to play. She is fun loving & very forgiving. She loves to be in the middle of everything I do...dishes, baking, cleaning, weeding, etc. She is a good talker, but note that not all large parrots talk & if they do not all talk well.

At 13 years (all 3 are same age within 6 months of each other) we are now to the point they have damaged their cages (chewed the paint off/broken welds/feet no longer roll/etc.) so we will need to buy new cages. Stainless steel cages for 3 large parrots will set us back major, but they should be the last cages we have to buy.

Don't get me wrong, large parrots are awesome, but they are also a ton of expense & work. This is why so many end up in rescues, stuck in garages, abused, etc. They are highly intelligent. You can teach them many things, including hand signals. They do not come knowing how to step up/down/talk/etc. You must teach them & they are nothing like a dog. You can not teach parrot "No". No to a parrot means try later, lol. They should be included in daily activities to keep them busy & wear off energy. They busier you keep them the less they are apt to become a screamer. So play games, involve them in what you are doing, etc.

I would highly suggest you locate a rescue & visit several times before deciding on a large parrot. Go on line & research the species you are interested in before you make the choice. Once you get the bird home give it a few days to settle in. Then take it for a walk thru your home. Explain things it sees, furniture, frig, door, etc. Touch things so the bird knows they are safe. Let the bird touch them. Birds see things different than we do. Never under estimate their intelligence.

Best wishes