Any advice on a bare eyed cockatoo? How do they differ from other 'toos?

[sunnysmom]

No- I am not getting a bare eyed. LOL Tempting, but no. But the rescue I volunteer with has one. I am hopefully going to spend some time with him after the holidays. His foster mom is finding some of his behaviors a bit confusing. This is her first foster 'too. So it could just be him being a cockatoo. Since I have a goffin, and they're sort of (?) a like, I am going to try to help a bit with him. But I was asked, are bare eyeds like goffins, and I couldn't really answer as I've never met one before. I know there's a lot of info out there on goffins but I feel like there is less on bare eyeds. Any advice or insight on them? The foster mom feels like he runs hot and cold, but again that could just be him settling in. He came from a home with a lot of birds and he was kept in the same room with birds much bigger than him. I know my Elvis has a definite fear/dislike of bigger birds. So, I am wondering if perhaps this new 'too is still a bit unsettled from that.

 

[MommyBird]

there's one Good Bad Ugly BE2 post #38 on small cockatoos.
Do you remember Solo Polo, Kristy"s BE2?
what a bundle of energy

 

[TikiMyn]

@Jenphilly @iamwhoiam

Maybe some Australian members have some input, @Shezbug?

I have met a few bare eyeds who seemed rather neurotic, they were in a sanctuary though so probably had a tough life. Very different form goffins, from the few I have met. But that could easily be the individuals, as they were not so active either and that seems something the species is known for.

 

[sunnysmom]

there's one Good Bad Ugly BE2 post #38 on small cockatoos.
Do you remember Solo Polo, Kristy"s BE2?
what a bundle of energy

Oh my goodness. What a cutie clown. He does remind me of Elvis. LOL. Nonstop energy. Elvis hasn't done it lately but he used to swing upside down from the ceiling fan chain.

 

[Bartles]

I’ve had my bare eyed for 24 years and she’s just as nutz now as she was the day I got her. A bundle of energy is an understatement- she’s either bouncing all over the place or taking a nap. Rarely will she just “be.”

She can get into anything and tries to get her beak on everything. I can’t take my eyes off her for even a second without her destroying something in my apartment or herself (not too long ago she managed to ingest a piece of metal and needed to be treated for zinc poisoning for just under two years- it was a nightmare).

She’s always loving and playful but it took me a while to adapt to her behaviors and communications i.e., she has no interest in behaving in anyway just to please me. She also totally doesn’t understand that I have skin, as opposed to feathers, and her beaky way of playing and engaging me can hurt a lot.

I’d never had a bird before so I can’t compare her to other birds but I can tell you that all my “bird people” friends comment that her personality isn’t anything like their greys, conures or larger toos.

She laid her first egg about five years ago which was odd but vet thinks it may have been due to COVID and my schedule changing to work from home. That was the only time I saw a change in her personality where she was even more “amped up” and seeming to be intentionally aggressive. Because of chronic egg laying after the first I’ve had to give her a hormone implant every year to stop that behavior and her “normal” personality has been back since.

The biggest problem I have with her is her piercing screams which cut right through you. It’s been hard living in the city with those screams but so far I’ve managed to find tolerant neighbors and a quality pair of ear plugs

I’m happy to answer any questions or speak by phone if there’s anything else you’d like to know about her!

 

[Bartles]

One more thing that might be helpful to know is how fearful and jumpy she is—everything scares her. A loud noise, sudden movement, or even a shadow creeping up will startle her. When I got her, her wings were clipped, and after a few years, I decided not to clip them anymore. That’s helped a bit, but I still have to anticipate everything that might set her off.

For example, if she’s in the room when I’m watching TV, I’ll turn the screen so she can’t see it because a commercial with a fast-moving car or animal could nearly give her a heart attack. She can usually tolerate something she finds scary as long as it’s not too close and she can perch higher than the “threat.” A dog, for example, is a tolerable guest—as long as he doesn’t get too close and she’s safely perched on top of her cage, far above everyone.

 

[Shezbug]

@Jenphilly @iamwhoiam

Maybe some Australian members have some input, @Shezbug?

I have met a few bare eyeds who seemed rather neurotic, they were in a sanctuary though so probably had a tough life. Very different form goffins, from the few I have met. But that could easily be the individuals, as they were not so active either and that seems something the species is known for.

Corellas?

 

[TikiMyn]

Corellas?

Yes, little corellas. I love watching videos on yt of them in the wild, from watching yt it seems there are many pet corellas in Australia but that could a flawed reflection of reality. But I thought maybe some of the Australian members know a few corellas and can help. But I didn't remember anyone else who lives in Australia

 

[Shezbug]

Sorry, I don’t think I will ever get used to hearing them called bare eyed toos lol.
Most little corellas I’ve actually interacted with have been quite cheeky and clownish- a bit like I imagine Elvis would be- full on, exciting, excited, fun, mischievous, energetic kind of thing.
The slender bills I’ve interacted with seem to be less foolish with their play and have seemed to display a bit less goofy behaviour but that could also be due to how they were raised.

Watching them with the other 2s in the wild they’re not so different that they don’t fit in with the mixed flocks foraging and playing about but they dont seem to be as well known for misbehaving with objects/people as the SC2s. They appear to have a better flight pattern and road sense than galahs and I see them more with the SC2s than the galahs.

From what I’ve read about goffins I’d say the little corellas are our equivalent.

 

[sunnysmom]

Thanks everyone. I will report back once I see him. I actually met him briefly as I was part of the team that did the relinquishment pick up but I haven't spent real time with him. He's definitely a cutie and I suspect a lot of his behavior is just 'too behavior. Testing boundaries in a new home, etc. It really killed me not to foster him from the get go but I have learned that one 'too in the house is my limit right now. If I ever move to a different house and can have a different set up maybe that will change. I suspect the BE2 is a lot like Elvis and is a smart, cheeky little guy who will end up being a delight once he feels more secure.

 

[iamwhoiam]

My BE2, Cody, is much shyer than my Goffin's, Keno. She is skittish about a lot of things and when stressed may have a seizure. She doesn't play with things as much as Keno does.
Keno is much more inquisitive and likes to take things apart. Cody likes to pull toys but doesn't manipulate them and/or destroy them like Keno. She is OK with other birds, whereas Keno
is generally not OK and has bitten other birds' feet when she got out of her cage when I was not home. Cody does not attempt to open her cage doors whereas Keno is a natural Houdini.
Cody likes to hang out with me whereas Keno would rather do her own thing. It just seems to me that Keno is a lot more independent than Cody. Both of them scream but Cody screams more
than Keno, generally at night when she wants me to turn the light off because it's bed time and in the morning when she wants me to uncover her.
Good luck with the BE2.