Cockatoo Shopatoo - what is it about the checkout that brings out Benji's crazy side?

Thank you for watching Benjamin the Best Bird! Benji is an extraordinary bird who sadly must rely on humans for his entire existence. That is not how a bird should live. Birds should be flying in the skies and living in the trees. But not all are lucky enough to be living that life. Instead they are existing in the lives that people have forced them into. Before finding us, Benji was in a stressful environment, and he plucked his feathers in response, so often that many of the follicles died. He has only half the usual number of feathers, and will never fly. He will need someone to watch over him for the rest of his life. There are far more failures in cockatoo ownership than there are successes, and the ones paying the price are the birds - who are also the only ones not at fault in this situation.
If you are watching bird videos and thinking, "Wow, I want one!" please understand that you are only seeing a few minutes in a day with a cockatoo... I'd like to share some reality:
Cockatoos destroy anything and everything they can. Their destruction is so intense that they are officially declared "pests" in their native countries, where they destroy trees, crops, homes, outdoor furniture, and have even been known to damage cars.
Their scream is loud, and can be anger-provoking, like being punched in the face with sound. The noise is unlike anything I have ever experienced before, and if I didn't live with Benji, I would say that I didn't care to ever hear it again. Seriously folks, it's horrible. But it's their sound. It's what nature gave them to be able to communicate with each other while living in treetops - not in people's homes. It is a sound meant to travel miles, and it does. Hearing damage takes place at 120db. The decibel level of a cockatoo scream is 120-135db.
If you have (or anyone in your household has) a temper of any kind at all, this bird is not for you. It will destroy things dear to you, inciting anger. It will scream, which will ignite your temper (a great illustration in film, just replace the boy with a cockatoo: • Everytime the Boy Scre... ). The more you yell at the bird, the more, and louder, it will scream. You will blame the bird, but it's really you at fault. The bird is screaming for a reason, and it's up to its caretakers to solve the problem, to stop the screaming. Sadly, while anger is not the appropriate response, it is the most human response.
They require a large enclosure, and many hours outside of it. If you leave a bird in a cage too long, it will scream, pluck its feathers, and in extreme circumstances, it will chew holes into its skin. Sitting in a cage is against their nature, & extremely difficult for them - can you imagine anything more diametrically opposed to soaring in the sky? When out of their cage, they require close supervision due to the carnage that would be left in their wake if freely wandering. They also emit a dander that, while important to their health, can cause serious lung issues in people and pets.
They are very emotional creatures who mate for life, which in their case, is +60 years. Their need for bonding, for having a being in their life that is "theirs," is very strong. They will depend on you every day, in sickness and in health, til death do you part. Frequent re-homing is very hard on them, and can cause deep depression.
Lastly, understand you will be bitten at some point. It's simply communication for them, but it sucks (and hurts!).
There are thousands of these birds in rescues and sanctuaries all over the world, who were violently trapped, netted, grabbed... kidnapped from their homes, and forced to live with humans who later discarded them. There are more who were bred by people who think it's okay to do that. But it's not. Selling these birds to live in people's homes is like selling fish to live in sand. It's just not right. People acquire them because they are indeed adorable, but it is quickly learned that living with them is dramatically life altering and fraught with negatives, and the bird is then abandoned. It is believed that more than 600,000 birds are given to rescues each year (or attempted to be given, but turned away due to a lack of vacancy). It is estimated that 75% of birds live a life of abuse or neglect.
We need to provide homes to the birds who are trapped in this life with humans because they have no alternative. Let's allow the rest to live in the wild where they're supposed to be. If you wish to jump into bird ownership, please educate yourself, and then go to a rescue and save a lonely bird who needs love and care, or buy from an owner who cannot, for whatever reason, care for the bird any longer. We must get breeders to stop breeding and selling them. These birds are not meant to live with humans, and when they do, it takes very dedicated, patient people willing to do the work for decades. If you think you are up for it, please adopt a rescue bird. You can change its life.

[@user-zp8oh3wq1j]

❤ Benjamin is So Free and So Happy 😊 and Most of All Benjamin is Loved,plus he wants all of his Mama, Attention 💞🕊️🧍‍♀️💞🌹

[@shanarstra2129]

That was terrific benji! I had tears in my eyes especially when you suddenly just crow, or grabs the sponge backwards and kind if slow motion lose it! And the back and forth swaying and I think I heard the words freaking out in that tirade!! And I thought you were gonna scan yourself benji but no price would come up cause you're priceless!!❤😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣💘💘

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@shanarstra2129 😂😂. (I love the sudden crows too 😂)

[@markoursic2685]

what a show!!😁😁😁😁 👍

[@asseyez-vous6492]

He’s ranting ‘Where’s all the 🤬screwdrivers?!’

[@the_game]

More 🛒please! 🥰😍😄💋

[@annieseaside]

Wowza He is Animated today! ❤

[@scratchy1704]

He's having a right old rant 😁

[@sand-er28]

Benji scan results are, precious and priceless! 💖🤩😍😇🥰🤟🙏🏼

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@sand-er28 ❤️😀❤️

[@sand-er28]

@@benjaminthebestbird 😊😍🤩

[@michellewinfield3899]

Benjamin wants to get home to play with the new toys and eat some snacks .and l think he thinks your leaving his goodies behind or he likes the peep noise and the cashier lady.and he would like a pen to play with.all fun shopping with s cockatoo in a shopatoo so exciting .❤️❤️🥰🥰 3:10

[@TrickeryISee]

Benji is so happy😂

[@joannakoman1457]

No picking up swearing, Mr. B 😂

[@joeb9849]

He thinks you're giving HIS stuff away.🤣

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@joeb9849. That's a very interesting perspective - I never thought about that...

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

Good for you, Joe! You're thinking like a birb! I'll bet you have one of your own.

[@nancycinnomnbontreger7146]

He's got a lot to say!

[@lornalaboricua1004]

Benj 😂😂😂😂 make me laugh when he talk like demande 😂😂😂😂omg so cute ❤❤❤❤❤tell them benji tell mommy

[@nagjrcjasonbower]

So adorable!

[@ayahannabroman2675]

Mr. Chatter box 😅, you are a true shopatoo and being chatty and crazy on check out is a big part of it 😂😂😂💜💕

[@Valjao67]

Don’t talk with a full mouth Benjamin 😂😂. Too adorable

[@birdenthusiastg5570]

I could've swore I heard, "And I better get it back!" 😂

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@birdenthusiastg5570. 😂

[@rebeccabledsoe4550]

He us so entertaining love to hear hus cockatoo chatter

[@eschwarz1003]

awe, Benji just wants to express to the people how much he loves the store and all the exciting ideas he has for his purchases.

[@nadinemasteller1089]

Whatever the reason, I could watch and listen all day. 'Course I wouldn't get any of my work done. Hmmm, all the more reason to watch and listen all day.😄😄😄

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@nadinemasteller1089. 😂😂

[@ms.cellaneous7458]

What is it about the checkout? Well, my guess would be either Benjamin knows chatter gets attention or he doesn't want you focused on anyone but him. Better guess would be it's both of those things. Either way, this was a very fun video to watch. ❤😊❤

[@marzenakrawczyk8306]

😂😘😘

[@a_sea_oasis]

Benjamin saw the cashier counter = shopping was done. Hmmm, he did not want to leave. 😢 He tried so hard telling Mama that he needed few more items back in the hardware department resulted in all the animated chatting. ❤ Benjamin ❤ I adore this baby B and his Mama very much.

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@aseaoasis8725 🙂❤️🙂❤️

[@classarank7youtubeherokeyb63]

When you're shopping you're just foraging. Once you hit the checkout you're socializing with other birds.

[@gth042]

And playing with the freshly-found toys.

[@gth042]

...a trip to the coffee shop would be interesting -- socializing then food and relax.

[@terrylancey5451]

Sweet Benja is quite vocal today. What a joy to watch you sweet boy. Love you Benja

[@barbarafisher5494]

LOL he gets so excited and has so much to say.

[@doglover44]

Benjamin says that the items in the cart are his and not to give it back!😂

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@doglover44 😂😂

[@jansmall72]

Benjamin loves those things you have gotten him Benjamin is so excited about seeing everyone his happy with his mommy Benjamin is a good boy

[@rebeccaenlow7395]

He says, we spent all this time picking stuff out and then you give it away!

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@rebeccaenlow7395. 😂

[@shellygilmore6787]

Mom I think he's telling you you didn't get any nuts or smoothies for him before you decided to check out

[@abeautifullife5303]

♥️✨️🦜✨️♥️😊

[@randallwong7196]

The story he told was in Cincinnati, but it actually happened in Cleveland.

[@benjaminthebestbird]

@randallwong7196 😂😂 Benji would enjoy hanging out with you - you get him. 😂😂

[@CindyEisele-bm9ug]

Heh, heh, heh 😂🥰❤️

[@ingeh.9604]

I like it ❤❤