Cockatoos as Pets
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Cockatoos as Pets
By Shelly BohannonCockatoo’s make exceptional companion birds, if their needs and requirements are adaquately met. They are affectionate, funny, comical, mischievious and generally easy to get along with. Their requirements, however, are rather complex and many.
The key to a great Cockatoo as a companion bird is a great beginning. Cockatoo’s are known for becoming phobic and developing behavioral issues such as plucking and/or screaming. A study was done a few years ago by Dr. Brian Speer, DVM and associates that indicated that many of these phobic issues may be caused by the early weaning that is practiced by many breeders.³ In the wild, and also in captivitiy, if left alone, Cockatoo babies stay with their parents until the next breeding season. Thus, a year or slightly less. While the babies are certainly eating on their own a few weeks after fledging, they have also been observed being fed by their parents up until the next clutch is laid.
A properly raised, socialized and trained Cockatoo makes a wonderful companion. Cockatoo’s are noted for being very sweet, affectionate birds, with a voice that sounds a lot like "Cousin It". They are also known for being exceptionally cuddly birds that want to be “on” their people as much as possible. They have rightly earned their title of “Velcro Birds”. They love attention and affection and will generally like just about anybody that will pet them.
When raising Cockatoo babies the process is much the opposite then with Parrots and Macaws. With Parrot and Macaw babies you handle as much as possible. They are by nature independent and will generally learn to entertain themselves on their own. With Cockatoo babies you handle frequently, but just as frequently you must leave the Too baby in his/her cage or play area, without human interaction to encourage independence and the ability to entertain itself.
Alternately, an improperly handled, raised or spoiled Too can (and often does) become destructive, overly dependent, self-mutilators and/or screamers. Correct handling and meeting their dietary, exercise, activity and affection needs, is a must. Somewhat of an effort but most Too owners will agree, that their Too is well worth the effort!
Cockatoo’s are renown for their affectionate, cuddly nature, as well as being an energetic, playful and often silly bird. Most species of Cockatoo will learn to talk, and although they are not noted as particularly accomplished talkers, the “Cousin It” quality to their voices lends a humorous element to their speech. If you have never seen a Cockatoo ‘war dance’ or play ‘psycho bird’, your are certainly missing some great entertainment!
The basics
Diet: A healthy Cockatoo diet consists of a large variety of fresh vegetables, fruit and nuts. As well as cooked grains such as barley, oats, brown rice, vegetable pasta, and sweet potato. Pellets and a small amount of seed should be included at least several times a week.
Exercise: A cockatoo should be allowed plenty of opportunity for exercise. 3 to 4 hours a day outside of the cage is ideal. If not practical, then at least an hour on a Play Gym with time allowed for interaction with people.
Cage Size: The bigger the cage the better. Large Cockatoo’s, such as Umbrella’s and Moluccan’s should have a cage 40” wide x 30” deep at minimum. Smaller Cockatoo’s such as the Goffin’s and Ducorps can get by with a cage 36”wide x 24” deep, but again bigger is always better! I recommend 40” wide x 36” deep for ALL size Cockatoo’s. They love the space and this allows lots of room for toys and perches.
Entertainment: Lots and lots and lots of toys….. toys to chew, toys to shred, puzzle toys, simple toys, complicated toys, wood toys, rope toys, raffia toys…… Leaving the television or a radio on when you are gone is appreciated by many Cockatoo’s. Most love music!
In conclusion, if you are dedicated and willing to go the extra mile, a Cockatoo makes an exceptional companion bird. However, if you aren’t willing to go the extra distance, stick to one of the less needy and demanding species.
References:
³Speer, Brian, DVM. “Cockatoo’s as Companion Birds”, Exotic Pets Veterinary Symposium, October 11-15, 2000, University of California at Davis
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
- Pet parrots generally present challenges, such as excessive chewing - especially at certain stages in their life. They do discover their beaks as method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage" and they can generally be somewhat naughty, and it really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. Undisciplined parrots will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. They regard anything in your home as a "toy" that can be explored and chewed on; destroying items that you may hold dear or are simply valuable. Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation.
- Web Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:
- Procuring your Parrot
- Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.
- Cockatoo Species
- Cockatoo Cages
- Cockatoo Diet / Foods
- Cockatoo Photo Gallery
- Cockatoo Diseases
- Cockatoo Library
- Housing Your Bird
- Training Your Bird
- Bird Nutrition
- Parrot Products
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with web visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the webmaster.
Photo contributions are welcome!
