Cockatoos as Pets

Cockatoos are very attractive birds, that are highly intelligent too. Cockatoos are mischievous birds that have a streak of comedy and a very affectionate personality. But there is something that you should remember before you bring home cockatoos as pets. These birds need a lot of attention, care and day-to-day requirements that you should be able to meet at any cost. Otherwise, these birds tend to feel neglected and this makes them cranky. They start screaming, being aggressive, confused and may even bite. The owner might feel this is a 'bad bird' and may abandon the poor bird at an animal shelter. But, the bird is actually not being bad but is voicing his displeasure regarding the unhappy and unsatisfactory treatment given to him. If you are ready to take good cockatoo care for life, then read on further.

Cockatoo Physical Appearance
There are about 17 species of cockatoos that are mostly white in color. Some cockatoos come in shades of gray, pinks, blacks and even deep blue. These birds are native to Indonesian Islands and make for very good pets. The most common species of cockatoos are Moluccan, Goffin's, Sulfur crested, bare eyed and umbrella cockatoos as pets. These cockatoos have a size range of about 12 inches to 27 inches. The smaller ones are lesser sulfur crested cockatoo, Goffin's cockatoo, etc. The larger cockatoos include Moluccan, greater sulfur crested cockatoo and umbrella cockatoos as pets.

Cockatoo Behavior
Cockatoo behavior is very different from other parrots in some ways. Some cockatoos also have different behavior from their own kind. They can be very obedient pets and some turn out to be out-and-out destructive birds. These birds are known for their manipulative and contemplative behavior. They have rapid mood changes - one moment the bird will be screaming his lung out and the other time it will behave like a stand up comedian!

Also, these are very sensitive birds and you can easily hurt their feelings. They need a lot of personal attention and need to be cuddled a lot. If you fail to do so, they become aggressive. They need to be pampered like a baby and love to flap, romp and swing while playing. The cockatiel behavior is such that they have an intelligent, playful personality and tend to be very loud. Cockatoos tend to show less inclination towards mimicry but they have good ability to speak human. However, all species differ in their ability to talk.

If your cockatoo starts plucking on its feathers and carries out self-mutilation, it means it is not getting its daily dose of attention and affection that it thrives on. It may also indicate physical or emotional problems. The bird might be suffering from zinc poisoning, bacterial infection, dry skin, vitamin A deficiency, or tapeworm. You need to see if it is under stress or is bored with the environment. You should take your bird to a good veterinarian and try to find some solution to treat your bird.

Cockatoo Life Span
The average cockatoo life span is about 40 years for smaller birds like Goffin's cockatoo. The larger cockatoos like Moluccan as pets have a longer life span of about 80 years. However, most of the birds die younger in captivity. Therefore, good cockatoo care is required to ensure that your pets live longer.

Cockatoo Care
Cockatoo care includes proper housing requirements for the bird. You need to have a cage that is not smaller than a 24" x 36" x 48" in size. It should have bar spacing of ¾" to 1". If you have a large cockatoo like umbrella cockatoo as pets, you need a larger cage size of about 24" x 48" x 48" and bar spacing of about 1" to 1.5". You should invest in the biggest cage you can afford. Buy strong cages made of wrought iron, stainless steel, etc. as cockatoos have a very tough beak.

You should give your cockatoos as pets lots of toys to play with. Their playful nature makes toys a necessity to keep your bird happy. But they are aggressive chewers and love to destroy things. So give them softwood toys, vegetable tanned leather, ropes, bells, even cardboard to play with. Their toys should include hanging toys as well as those that the bird can pick up with its beak.

Cockatoo care includes feeding them the right kind of food. Your cockatoos as pets require a different variety of fresh foods. You should feed them fresh vegetables, grains, fruits, etc. You should also include bird pellets in their diet. Feed little quantity of seeds and seed mixes as they have high fat content. You can give them nuts as a special treat. Do not give them chocolates, fried foods, alcohol or salted foods like potato chips, pretzels, etc.

Bathing is also a part of regular cockatoo care. You need to give them a shower or bath every week. This helps get rid of feather dust and keeps the plumage in good condition. You can take a bowl of warm water and use it as a bird bath. You can even use a spray bottle and give your bird a warm shower.

This was some information related to cockatoos as pets and cockatoo care. These birds are just like humans in behavior and need love from their owner. If you train your bird well, you will be able to get out the best behavior from your pet. These birds are very sensitive so make sure you do not neglect them in any way. If you are ready to give life long affection, care and love to this long living bird, you can bring home cockatoos as pets. I hope this article has helped you in some way to know how to take good care of your pet cockatoo.