Based on what? (surely not experience). An adult bird has a better capacity to handle a new situation than a baby simply because its an adult. The adult bird you connect with will not change. This baby is certainly going to change once it hits adulthood and quite possibly not in a good way. Any bird will grow with you and your family. This is all about you guys and what you provide. That is whats going to determine the bird you ultimately end up with.
and was crying when he told me what happened. It’s very sad.
Based on what? (surely not experience). An adult bird has a better capacity to handle a new situation than a baby simply because its an adult. Not true, as with most generalizations or absolutes. A rescue/rehome could've been severely traumatized or neglected and won't be ready or able to adapt to new things. The adult bird you connect with will not change. They certainly can change. Adult doesn't mean they haven't hit sexual maturity yet. When that happens, the bird's behavior will change, maybe not in a positive way. Petey is a perfect example. Once he was healthy from better diet, got to experience an outdoor aviary, and saw Daff in full spectrum light, he changed. Also, parrots can and do pick new people as their favorite person over the course of their lives. A friend's mature female scarlet switched her affections from my friend to her husband about every 10 years. When that happens, there is a change. This baby is certainly going to change once it hits adulthood and quite possibly not in a good way. Any bird will grow with you and your family. This is all about you guys and what you provide. That is whats going to determine the bird you ultimately end up with.
Your baby bird will be just as (psychologically) damaged as every other hand fed human imprinted bird already out there. My birds and those of many other AAers are NOT automatically psychologically damaged just because we got them as babies. This is patently wrong and offensive. I've purchased 4 birds as babies. Three came from caring, knowledgeable breeders who left them with their parents until well past the point at which their eyes opened. All 4 know they're birds. They were never clipped, except Daff (who flies now, thank you), and not force weaned. They are curious about new enrichments and rarely fearful of new things. They may not like new foods, but they'll try them. Are some parrots raised poorly? Don't know they're birds? Certainly. But that's not the case across the board, as you state. Your situation will not be any different. Please adopt or rescue a bird already out there. They are the ones that need us. I wholeheartedly agree with this. Just my strong opinionated opinion.
Some food for thought. You're getting a cockatoo. Not a budgie.
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