Sandra crossed the line

[Abby]

We've been having some difficulties with our GSC2 Sandra lately. For those who don't know her history she was with an elderly couple from a baby until 3 months ago when we took her on. They were going into a retirement village and weren't able to take her. She came to us at the end of October as a feather plucker which I put down to hormones and stress. She'd laid an egg the day before she came here and then was in a new environment. Feather wise there's been big improvements.I'd say she'll be fully feather by the end of Feb.
Things started off well, then over the holidays she became very attatched to my husband. This has got to the point that if she knows he's around but isn't with her she screams. The main problem here is our neighbours on one side who we are very close to are now feeling that they have to leave home because of the noise. They go back to work and school next week so I'm letting her get what she wants to keep her quiet then hope to pull her back into line on the attention seeking screaming next week when they aren't home during the day.
The big problem is she's often gone for my middle son (Finns) feet. Last night she crossed the line. She came in while we were finishing off dinner. Finn was sitting on the chair feet up and she climbed up and started attacking him. I put my hand in between so he could get away, grabbed a pair of gloves and put her back in her cage outside with the door shut. She was given full eye contact and growled at in the tone that she knows is my I'm not happy with you.
So much of this is our own fault. We let her get away with alot of things at the beginning when the boundaries should have been tight from the start. It's now a case of pulling those boundaries right in again and dealing with a pissed off 'too. I've had galahs and GSC2s throughout my life so I know what they are capable of. Madam is so far my biggest challenge and has become something of a nightmare. I'm feeling really down over the whole situation right now so will say I feel we made a mistake taking her on. This is from someone with experience.
Give me eye candy anyday. They don't piss the neighbours off generally, they aren't capable of taking a huge chunk out of your child and they don't get as damned neurotic.

[Archive]

I feel for ya Mary! My Rosie is giving me a helluva time! But a GSC...no thanks! Hopefully she will calm down.

[Archive]

Gee Abby, I wish I had something that would help. I hate to generalize on bird species (nor do I have the experience to do so) but I don't think I'd ever try having a Too. They sure sound like a hand full!:hugs: to you!

[Tiki]

Wow, that is weird she actually attacked Finn. Do you think is is jealousy? She wants you all to herself and resents your attention to Finn.

[Lynjupiter]

I can't give you any advice on the screaming right now. I am struggling with a screaming, swearing U2 we rescued and kept this summer. She is bonded to my son and when he leaves she screams and screams and screams some more. I have established a little control by having a contact call with her. I found she likes singing and if I sing loud enough for her to hear she will stop screaming for a bit. But after half an hour or so I have to do it again. Ignoring her and reinforcing quiet moments has not worked at all in the last six months.
Edit forgot one last thing, if there are any quiet times or even just talking instead of screaming at all reward them with lots of praise and a treat. Reinforce the good stuff she does, ignore the bad is the common technique in controlling a cockatoo.
Never make any drama over anything bad. They are the drama queens of the parrot world.

But with the feet is he wearing socks? white socks? My other U2 Tyler attacks feet in white socks but only white socks. If he is not wearing socks have him wear them and see if that throws her off. If not get him a big pair of scary looking slippers the kind with animal heads on them LOL Those never fail to scare the life out of the birds. My daughter has a pair of cat slippers she is not allowed to wear around the house. Good luck! now you all see why cockatoos are a bird commonly seen in rescues. If it was up to me I would ban the breeding of the large cockatoos entirely. They can be a joy for the right person,I love my two. But most people can't handle them.
Lynda

[Abby]

She was really moody on Monday. I copped a couple of decent bites from her, one which was my own stupidity for not backing off when I could see she was in a mood and the other was just her being a cow. As soon as Jeff got home she started fluttering the eyelashes at him. I think the feet with Finn started as a game for her, he'd squeal which to most birds is a fun reaction. She's terrified of Noah (our youngest) and will run the other way. Similar reaction to most small (5 and under) children, I think they're too fast and noisy for her. Why she jumped onto the lounge to get to Finn, maybe it was her trying to intimidate him further or looking for a reaction.

[Abby]

I hadn't seen your post when I wrote the other one Lyn. I'll try the sock/scarey slipper thing with him. I have to agree with you about banning breeding of large cockatoos. The problem in Australia is most of those sold are wild caught or taken from the nest.
I grew up with 'toos and tamed down a couple of GSC2 for my father. These problems are coming from someone with experience so heaven help someone who doesn't have the knowledge of what these guys are like. At the moment I'm just really peeved at myself and my husband for letting her get away with so much during that time over Xmas. It's now made things difficult to have to retrain her and pull her back into line.
I've become a firm supporter of people not getting a 'too (in particular GSC2s) unless they really have some experience in larger birds and are prepared for the neuroticness, the noise and the general destruction. On a good day I don't think you could find a more loving bird. On a bad day they are straight out of the bowels of hell.

[Doubleyolk]

I know what you are going through,Abby. I have a 5 1/2 year old Eleanora (MSC) and he hates my guts. He is free flighted and he will fly to get me but loves my two daughters. He was a screamer for about two months but now he will only call out when he hears my daughters voices. I also have a "Magic Flower" which is a wonderful invention. We found this out by accident and it's been the best for cockatoo control.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/doubleyolk/Project1.png

We had this flower on a shelf about 2 feet from Eddies cage and when he let out one of his screams the flower started shaking and singing "You Are My Sunshine" and Eddie jumped and stopped screaming. Every time Eddie starts to scream off goes the flower. Well Eddie knows how loud he can go before it sets it off and will hardly ever go to the point of setting it off. There are times he will get loud and he will turn and look at the flower with crest standing and his head tilted, like to say why didn't it go off. The best part is this cockatoo control is that it only cost 5.99 at Wal-Mart.:applause:

[Abby]

Love the idea of the flower. I'm sure I've seen something similar here. I'll keep an eye out for one and give it a go. Worse case scenario, we get stuck with a flower that doesn't shut up. ;)

[GINICH]

That is just too funny, Joe! :toofunny: Love the flower and scary slippers solutions :outstanding:

[Tiki]

Love the idea of the flower. I'm sure I've seen something similar here. I'll keep an eye out for one and give it a go. Worse case scenario, we get stuck with a flower that doesn't shut up. ;)
Mary, there should be a branch of The Smoke Shop in a mall somewhere in your area. They sell a hilarious stuffed toy parrot that swears! You have to be there to push a button though!

[Abby]

I've already got a parrot that swears, Olly. :rolleyes:
With Valentines day coming up there should be some wonderful tacky singing flowers and whatnot in the cheap shops. I checked on ebay and there's the same thing over in England, but I'll try local first.

[Tiki]

If you find a sound activated one, let me know. It might amuse Chaska and the gang!