The cockatoo is a member of the parrot family who is highly intelligent and in my opinion the most affectionate of all parrots. There are seventeen species of cockatoos from Australia, East Indies, and the Philippines. They have extremely long life spans of seventy and some upward to one hundred years old. Most cockatoos are white but there are varieties that are gray, pink, or black, with bright markings. All cockatoos have a bald spot on top of their heads with an erectile crest. The crests range in color from white, to pink, to orange to black. Watching the erectile crest you can see how highly expressive the cockatoo really is! The crest is part of their communication.

All parrots require a great deal of attention. Cockatoos require even more. Their ability to love and trust are strictly in your hands. They love to be with you, to play with you and to be loved by you. In the wild the cockatoo mate for life. This is one of the reasons why they bond so strongly to their human owners. Their cage should be big and located in an area where they will receive plenty of attention remember you determine the limitations of their environment. Cockatoos are highly acrobatic and love to play on bird playpens. They need plenty of fun and exciting toys.



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Cockatoos have a silky powdery substance that is a protective powder covering their feathers. This powder helps insulate them to keep them warm. This powder gets over everything in your house, if you can’t or won’t handle a constant state of dustiness or if you are allergic don’t purchase a cockatoo.

Cockatoos can learn to speak a few phrases and words. They are not as good of talkers as Amazons or African Greys. They also will mimic sounds and mannerisms. In fact, their vocal abilities can be rather impressive.

Purchasing a Cockatoo
Purchase your cockatoo from a reputable breeder, dealer, or pet store. Make sure the bird is a legal banded bird. If it is not banded it could be an illegal, smuggled bird. Never encourage smugglers! Many parrots are becoming extinct or endangered. The reason they are becoming endangered and extinct is overexploitation and habitat loss.

Before you buy and bring home your bird, have him tested by an Avian Veterinarian. These tests should include a complete blood count, (CBC) Chlamydia Screen and a culture of the throat and vent. Make sure a signed veterinarian certificate accompanies the bird. Make sure he looks healthy, with bright and healthy feathers. Check to see if his eyes are bright and shiny. Make sure that he is not ruffled up or hunched over. Check his vent and his droppings. Check out the bottom of the cage for droppings. Make sure the droppings are well formed and not runny. Any of these symptoms could be a sign of a sick bird.

All new birds should be quarantined for at least 8 weeks apart from your other birds.

It is usually wise to choose a bird that has been weaned and is eating on this own. Some of us have been taught to hand feed, but unless you are experienced, this could lead to torn or burned crops, infections and other problems. A hand fed baby cockatoo usually will make the friendlier companion pet.

Cockatoos are natural chewers and will gnaw apart just about everything. Set the cage away from walls, drapes doorframes and moldings. Mine ripped the wall paper right off the wall; I didn’t like the color anyway. They can also screech very loud. They will mostly screech in the morning or evening. They will screech when they pick up on excitement or listening to music. If he screeches continually all-day, something is wrong. He or she could be ill, lonely, or bored.

Cages and Accessories
Cages need to be secure and big. The cage should be big enough for a bird to be able to stretch his entire wingspan plus some. You can buy a cage with a playpen on the top of the cage so the bird can have freedom while being supervised. Unless the bird is below your shoulder area you may want to purchase the playpen separate from the cage. The bird at a higher level than you can create behavioral problems. I am an Exotic Bird Behavioral Consultant and that little tactic has cured more problems. Make certain, the cage is strong and it has a good lock. Cockatoos are natural born escape artists! It does not take them long to figure out a new lock. Rectangular and square cages are much better than a round cage. The cockatoo needs perches of various thicknesses for healthy foot development.

The cage should be carefully placed. Make sure the cage is out of drafts and out of direct sunlight. A cockatoo need lots of attention and does not want to be located in a place where he rarely sees anyone.

Cockatoos need plenty of safe toys to keep him physically active and mentally alert. They also need plenty of safe wood from branches, and toys to chew. Rotate the toys frequently so they appear to be new and exciting. The need for toys is immense. Boredom is unhealthy for a parrot and can be fatal.

When a cockatoo is ignored, they will exhibit mental problems such as squawking, biting, and feather plucking. Without proper social interaction they will become stressed which lowers their immune systems and they will become ill.

Health and Nutrition
I prefer to keep my bird’s wings clipped. Far too often, they fly out a window or door, or into windows and mirrors. If they have free flight, they can accidentally fall into open toilets or open pots of boiling liquid. Many pet birds have fallen into glasses of liquid only to have their owners find them dead. There are many dangers in your home. There are toxic fumes in your home. Never smoke cigarettes around your bird. Never use Teflon around your birds. When Teflon is over heated it emits deadly fumes. Scented candles and perfumes can be toxic. Air fresheners are bad for birds. Bird’s respiratory systems very different from mammals and many things can be deadly to them. Also, keep all poisonous plants out of your home. Do not cut tree branches for your birds that have pesticides, toxins or that are poisonous.

Use caution when clipping the bird’s wings. Carefully watch for new growth, or blood feathers. If you do cut one, the remaining part of the feather will act as a straw and siphon out the blood. This can cause the bird to bleed to death. Birds have very little blood and can bleed out quickly. Grab a pair of pliers and pull the entire feather out quickly. If you are unconformable, clipping wings or toenails for the first time have your avian veterinarian clip the wings. Ask to watch the procedure.

Birds will hide their illnesses. Birds that are ill in the wild become easy prey to predators. It is difficult without watching your bird very carefully, everyday for any signs that something could be wrong, and to not catch an illness before it is too late. If something seems amiss or off never delay taking the bird to an avian veterinarian. Cockatoos should have a yearly examination to insure they are healthy.

The cockatoo needs a varied healthy diet. Do not feed all seeds or all pellets. Many seed mixtures have primarily sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are very fattening. I pick the sunflower seeds out and only give them as an occasional treat. Feed fresh vegetables (green and yellow), fruits, sprouted seeds, and grains, cooked brown rice and cooked legumes. They need protein. A varied diet from all these groups insures they have a healthy diet. I feed our parrots anything healthy that we eat. I have also found having parrots in the house, we have been eating a far healthier diet! Cockatoos also enjoy large sprays of millet. Always provide your bird with plenty of fresh water every day!

Never feed your cockatoo chocolate, avocado, alcohol, or caffeine. Cockatoos do not need grit. Grit will cause serious problems.

Summary
The cockatoo is a very affectionate bird and will form a very strong bond with you. You must spend plenty of quality time with this bird otherwise he will display unwanted behaviors and even get very ill. They need lots of physical and mental stimulation with play, toys, and attention. Be sure to provide a good size cage and place the cage in an area that the cockatoo gets plenty of attention. Be sure to feed a healthy varied diet with plenty of fresh water.

Cockatoos have a very long lifespan and you should make arrangements with someone that is familiar with the bird to take care of him should something happen to you.

Cockatoos can be loud, mischievous, and destructive but they are also intelligent, sensitive, love, and trust very deeply! Above all else spend lots of time with your bird and enjoy him!



Cockatoos Complete Owner's Manual

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