Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Sounds like the wire may be a bit light for a Cockatoo.  Do you have children?
My breeder recommended a b&g over a yellow-collared because she felt they
were not as good with children (she has 5 children).  They scream, you probably
aren't going to get around that.  I guess *very noisy* is what I would call
any mini or full-sized macaw I've met or owned  (Hahn's and the b&g).

Ed

    ED,
    
    THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.
    
    SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE I'D BETTER FORGET THE COCKATOO.
    
    NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN SO THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, RIGHT
    NOW
    ANYWAY.  WHEN YOU SAY *VERY NOISY*
    ARE THEY NOISY CONSTANTLY?  IS A SCREECH OR MORE OF A
    VERY LOUD SQUAWK?  WE HAVE A MOLUCAN
    COCKATOO NOW THAT CAN CUT LOOSE WITH QUITE A LOUD SQUAWK
    AT TIMES.  BUT HER NOISE IS NOT REALLY HIGH PITCHED SO
    NOT REALLY IRRITATING.  ALSO, SHE DOES NOT MAKE NOISE ALL THE TIME.
    
    THANKS AGAIN.
    
    LAURIE
    

My macaw can go for hours without saying anything, then she can turn around 
and go for hours screaming.  Yes, she's healthy.  We can't place rhyme or
reason to it.  We had to move her for a few days to a new location in the 
house while we were painting "her" room, and she did great for about 2 days,
then the old behaviour set in.

Earsplitting screams is what gets us. And she does it real well.

Ed

    Hi Ed,
    
    Thanks for your replies.
    I really appreciate your experiences with the macaw.
    
    It's hard to ask my last question in a note but I'll try...
    
    When you say your macaw gets you with ear-splitting
    screams, does she actually shriek or just squawk
    very loudly?  For example, our Molucan squawks very loudly.
    It hurts your ears to be too close to her when she screams.
    But her squawk is not really very shrill, ju=+st very loud.
    So it's a bit easier to handle.  She seems to behave
    as you describe your macaw, silent for some time then screaming her
    head
    off for a while.  The Amazons, on the other hand which we want to
    trade,
    have quite a shrill, ear-piercing shriek.  It's very high-pitched
    and is about to drive my husband crazy.
    They do the same thing as the Molucan and your macaw only on some days
    they seem to shriek almost constantly.
    My husband says he can handle the squawk even though loud,
    but not the shrill shriek.  Which type of scream does the
    Mini-Macaw give?
    
    Any help is appreciated.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Laurie
    

My Hahn's gave a shrill squeak.  My macaw gives a squawk using your 
terminology.

Ed

    Ed,
    
    Thanks very much for your replies.
    
    I am in the process of trying to locate someone who has one who is
    closer to my location than the breeder.
    I'd like to see one and hear one before deciding to take one.
    If no one has one, I'll try to make a trip to the breeder's home to see
    his
    pairs before they go to nest.
    
    Thanks again for the info.
    Sorry to seem so picky.  It's just that my husband says that
    he cannot stand that high-pitched screech and wants
    to make sure we are getting away from that sort of sound.
    
    Laurie
    

Hi Laurie,

 For Birds Only usually has some mini macaws in their bird room.  You could
hang out their to get a feel for how loud they are.  The owner, Floyd, is 
very knowledgable.  It is on Hwy 9 (Roswell Rd) inside the perimeter.

Roseanne (a fellow Atlanta noter)

    Hi Roseanne,
    
    Thanks for the information.  I thought about For Birds Only also.  I've
    been there before and they have lots of macaws.
    I was thinking of giving them a call to see if they had any
    mini-macaws now.
    
    Thanks for the reminder.
    
    Laurie