Cockatoo and Ferrets?

Question

I have 2 cockatoos ( Red Tail Black Cockatoo and Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo ) and a White Shepherd . I am thinking of getting a ferret as a pet . So I was wondering will my ferret and cockatoo bother one another ?

I watch some clip on youtube seeing that larger parrot and ferret can get along with each other

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6NYGHnO-hU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KMedXWIcNI

Answer 1

Do you always trust everything you see on YouTube?

Have you done any research on ferrets at ALL?

Whoever is letting their ferret and birds be around each other is a complete moron. Look at the comments under the videos.

Ferrets can be amazing pets. They are curious, cuddly, affectionate, and hilarious. But they were domesticated because of one trait, and one trait only. They are vicious killers.

For thousands of years they have been used as pest control in barns, and for hunting small animals. They have very one-track minds and they will never give up once they have their minds set on something. They are even worse than domestic house cats when it comes to killing your other small animals. They have been known to kill rodents, rabbits, birds, reptiles, amphibians, hermit crabs, even young kittens and puppies. They will even get into your fish tanks and eat your fish. Letting a ferret loose at the same time your birds are out of their cages is just asking for them to be killed. It would only take a few seconds for a ferret to completely disembowel a cockatoo. And unlike cats, ferrets are not scared of anything. They also can't be trained to leave the birds alone.

In the first video, the ferret is being held by the owner and isn't free to do what it wants. In the second video, the ferret being restrained by a leash and can't quite get to the African Gray parrot because he keeps climbing up on the stand. But you can PLAINLY SEE the ferret try to BITE THE BIRD! If that ferret was unleashed and the video lasted another 20 minutes or so, you'd have a dead bird and possibly an injured ferret too.

Not to mention, the saliva from a ferret or the bacteria under it's claws are just as deadly as a cats. One bite or scratch is enough to send one of your birds to the vet with a serious infection. I'm sure you know that birds are very susceptible to this.

Parrots are prey animals. The scent of a ferret alone is enough to distress them.

I have many animals, more than most people. I have 4 ferrets, 2 Eclectus parrots, 1 amazon parrot, and a finch aviary. I also have a large number of small rodents and other furry prey animals. My ferrets live in a completely separate part of the house from all my other small pets. When they come out to play, the other pets (except cats and dogs) are shut off securely from the rest of the house. This is THE ONLY WAY to keep my other pets 100% safe from the ferrets.

Join some ferret communities and ask them this question. I'm sure you'll get hundreds of horror stories about ferrets who seemed to get along with other pets for weeks or months before brutally killing them in a matter of minutes.

Don't do it. The risk is just too high.

Please read the Ferrets for Dummies book.

Answer 2

i wouldnt advise ferrets as they smell of wee really bad u have to clean them every day mabe 2times a day but they will get on i have cocketiels who get along with rabbits hope this helps

Answer 3

Rebecca hit the nail on the head-- they don't mix,, I have ferret's and will allow the cat to mingle with the ferret's when they come out to play, the cat can hide and out run them but birds are part of a ferret's natural food source, one or the other will be hurt---not a wise choice---keep them apart and you will enjoy the ferret's

Answer 4

Use your judgment. Do your birds get along well with other animals? Have they been introduced to another ferret before? I would recommend bringing one or both of them to the pet store where the ferrets are and seeing how they react.

Answer 5

Ferrets are a natural predator of birds.  

When my lesser sulfer crested 'too sees a ferret on the big screen (national geographic/animal planet)...he really freaks out!  Starts hissing and becomes flighty.  Try watching them with your birds on TV or take them to a pet store and see how they react.

I definately would not have ferrets or snakes within eye-shot of a companion parrot.  You should always put your pets comfort and safety over your wish to add another pet to the home.