Consider These 7 Factors Before Getting a Cockatoo
Are you thinking about bringing a new bird member to your family? The one who is very playful, intelligent, comical, and can live up to 50 years with you?
Well, no other bird besides Cockatoo could possess all these traits. Cockatoos are very smart, curious, and mischievous birds. They are also acknowledged for being really affectionate birds and who like to get as close to their owners as possible.
Cockatoo requires a lot of attention and time. If you don't satisfy your bird's demands, he'll screech nonstop, pull his feathers, and become nasty.
That is why, before bringing a cockatoo into your home, learn everything you can about him.
Here are 7 things you should know about them:
1. Feeding
A cockatoo diet comprises a basic large hookbill seed mix with sprouting seed supplements and varying kinds of fruits and vegetables. This is generally considered appropriate and enough of a diet.
Moreover, Cockatoo's food should not only be nutritious, but it should also include foraging ingredients as well. Cockatoos are bright, lively, and fun-loving birds and their diet should match those characteristics.
If you give them a well-balanced diet, they do not require vitamins and minerals unless changing or stressing situations. If your Cockatoo has a habit of destroying calcium blocks, calcium can be put on their diet once a week as an option.
2. Care for Cockatoos
Most cockatoos do not actually have to be bathed as much as other pet parrots would. This is because they are inherently clean and routinely preen themselves. But the beak and claws should be trimmed timely. Every day, give your cockatoo fresh drinking water.
Cockatoos need a robust iron cage or stainless steel to stand their tough beak.
Cockatoos are more demanding than other pet parrot species; therefore, an owner should establish limits early on to avoid the bird screaming for attention.
3. Exercises
Giving your parrot some exercise would be fantastic and would prevent them from being obese. Flying is certainly the best activity for your Cockatoos, but no one could risk it.
So, what are some non-flying options?
- Climbing and hanging. It is an excellent exercise for the legs, neck, and, sometimes, for the wings.
- Wing-Beating. It's almost as good as flying for the activity of the muscles.
- Game-playing. It can be beneficial to the entire body depending on the sort of play.
All cockatoos need exercise to maintain their physical and psychological health. These activities assist in alleviating distress and prevent issues such as screeching and feather plucking.
4. The Features and Traits of Cockatoos behavior
Cockatoos are smart and emotional birds. They are known for their very affectionate and loyal personalities. Cockatoos demand a committed owner who is prepared to give these sophisticated parrots a lot of care.
They might rapidly grow bored if you don't give them the required attention and connection. Screaming and feather plucking are common undesirable behaviors developed by bored cockatoos, and these habits are particularly difficult to eradicate.
Cockatoos are bright, lively, naughty, and tend to be quite noisy. They are energetic, and they do not always get along with small kids. The strong beak of a cockatoo may hurt little, probing hands.
Here are some special characteristics of Cockatoos:
- Cockatoos like being hugged and form strong bonds with their human caregivers.
- Cockatoos who have been well-raised are lovely; a hog for the limelight, a socialite, and a joy to be around.
- Cockatoos do not all talk. Those who can, on the other hand, have a large vocabulary.
- These birds are constantly in need of attention. Boredom and biting others may result from their owners' lack of attention.
- Cockatoos enjoy chewing and destroying things, so having chewable toys is essential.
5. Purchase a Secure, Large Cage for Cockatoo
The shape and size of the Cage are also significant for Cockatoos. For them, square or rectangular cages are preferable. Examine the security system thoroughly before purchasing the Cage.
The greater the size of the Cage, the better it is.
Large cockatoos, such as Umbrellas and Moluccans, require a cage that is at least 40" wide x 30" deep.
Small Cockatoos like the Goffin and Ducorps may live in cages as little as 36" wide x 24" deep, but larger is always preferable!
They enjoy the spaciousness, which provides plenty of area for toys and perches.
Because your Cockatoo needs to climb, horizontal bars are essential. Keep in mind that cockatoos may twist bars and break the joints on cages due to the power of their beaks. A snap-lock on the cage door is suggested for further security.
6. Maintenance and cleaning of Cage
It is vital to ensure that the cage of your Cockatoo remains clean. Paper is the greatest option for cleaning purposes since it is inexpensive, readily accessible, and easy to clean. Newspaper, paper bags, paper towels, and shredded paper are all suitable alternatives.
Choose a cage with a grate over the bedding, as you don't want your Cockatoo to come into close touch with its litter since germs and mold might grow there.
Cleaning the water and food bowls every day and wiping the feather dust off the bars and perches are all part of basic cage maintenance. Replace the filthy litter and clean out the bottom trays twice a week.
All perches and soiled toys should be washed weekly, and the entire cage should be cleaned once a month.
7. Training of a Cockatoo:
Cockatoos may easily become screamers and feather pluckers since they are such demanding parrots. Even if you spend hours with your Cockatoo, he may yell every minute you're not around.
As a result, we strongly advise you to seek out an excellent training process. A training guide will always come in handy, whether your parrot is new to your household or you've had him for years.
Here are few steps that will help you in training and handling your Cockatoo:
Step 1:
Before you begin training your Cockatoo, you must first tame it. Every day, in a space free of distractions, including other people and animals, softly and tenderly handle him. Give him treats and speak to him softly in a caring tone. Slow down and don't make any unexpected moves. Begin with brief taming sessions and progressively lengthen them.
Step 2:
Teach your Cockatoo to utter one word or a two- or three-word sentence at a time. During training sessions, repeat it with him several times. Treats should be given at regular intervals to maintain training sessions enjoyably. Stop the lesson when your bird loses interest, or you become frustrated or irritated, and restart a few hours later or the next day.
Step 3:
Avoid yelling or scolding your bird. He is not a robot, and he cannot learn everything all at once. In fact, if you shout at him, he will become afraid of you and will be less willing to try and will no longer participate in training.
Follow these simple steps to train your Cockatoo to do tricks or to behave in specific ways and not to scream without any reason. Consistent practice, tolerance, and positive strengthening are essential for this.
Is A Cockatoo The Right Pet For Me?
Yes, Cockatoo is the best pet and makes fantastic companionship with someone who can dedicate a significant amount of time and attention to them regularly.
If you are thinking of getting a cockatoo as a pet, keep in mind that it will be a lifelong companion with a lifespan of 50 years or more. A cockatoo may be compared to a never-growing child: it will require attention, will create a mess, cannot be left alone for extended periods, cannot live alone at home, can become extremely unhappy if not properly looked for, and can grow up to be something you never imagined or hoped for.
So, if you're not ready for the long-term commitment of having a cockatoo demands, it might be wise to wait for the right time.
Final Thoughts:
To summarize, cockatoos are awesome and adorable pets if you have the resources to care for one properly and can handle the filth and costly effects.
When choosing a cockatoo, go for a young bird because they are simpler to tame and teach and can adjust easily to new surroundings and habitats. It may be more difficult to tame older, wild, or parent-raised Cockatoos.
Cockatoos are incredibly talkative and lively birds that will never bore you. They continue to make sounds and tones and even dance to music, also make strong and faithful bonds with their owners.
It would never be a wrong decision to get a cockatoo unless you have extra time to care for them.
