Cockatoos

Please also refer to the following relevant web resources:

Training and Behavioral Guidance ... Cockatoos as Pets ... Cockatoo Species ... Cockatoo Species Data (Range, Eggs & Incubation) ... The Taxonomy Of Cockatoos

Cockatoo Photo Gallery ... Talking Ability (compared to other species)

Cockatoo Diseases ... Sexing Cockatoos ... Cockatoo Nutrition / Diet

Books, DVDs and Other Media about Cockatoos (Sold / shipped out of: | | | )

Are you looking for a cockatoo breeder? Click here for a listing

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Overview
(kindly provided by Dr. Rob Marshall

Native to Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, there are over 40 species of cockatoo. These can be divided into two main groups – the white cockatoos and the black cockatoos. The species available as pets range from the well-known Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, the Galah, the Major Mitchell, the Red tail Black Cockatoo, to the lesser known White (Umbrella) Cockatoo. Outside of Australia, the Moluccan and Umbrella Cockatoos also make a lovely pets but are rarely kept as pets in Australia due to their expense.

The most obvious external feature of any cockatoo is the erectile crest that raises immediately after alighting and when alarmed or excited. The strong, heavy beak of the cockatoo is used to crack large seeds but can also produce a powerful and destructive bite.

Consistent training from a young age will help ensure potential cockatoo owners enjoy a bird free of this destructive habit. Hand reared male Red Tailed Black Cockatoos are generally less prone to bite and make better pets, especially for younger owners, for this reason. However, these birds require an extremely dedicated owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention to this highly intelligent species.

With a lifespan of up to 120 years with some cockatoo species, these birds make wonderful life long friends. They have great characters, a “cuddly” nature and enjoy physical interaction with their owner. Cockatoos deprived of this affection may become loud and develop unwanted behaviours.

These friendly birds are good talkers but also possess the ability to make loud screaming noises. For this reason, cockatoos can be a challenging bird to keep and therefore require a committed owner who is willing to provide continuing obedience training.

Disease Susceptibility

Psittacine beak and feather disease (Circovirus infection or PBFD) is a problem that is frequently encountered in the white cockatoo species. The black cockatoos are less susceptible to this disease. PBFD is chronic and incurable and results in poor feather growth and ultimately, complete feather loss. The beak is also affected and becomes fragile and does not repair itself. Due to its highly contagious nature to other parrot species, it is advisable to avoid any bird suspected of having this condition.

Aviary Notes

Cockatoos generally require an aviary no less than four to six metres long by one to two metres wide. The best breeding results are achieved when one pair per aviary is kept. The aviary wire should be a heavy-duty grade, as cockatoos can easily chew holes through lighter grade wire. Similarly, the frame should be constructed of steel to avoid the birds chewing the structure away. Hollow eucalypt logs are best suited for nest boxes and should be approximately 30-40 cm in internal diameter and about 1m in length.

Weaning:

• Small Cockatoos: 12-15 wks
• Larger Cockatoo Species: 15 - 18 wks.
• Weaning Foods: table foods mostly with tiny pellets, mixed dried fruit and vegetables; as well as mashed banana and oatmeal. For more information on weaning, please go to this website.

Training and Behavioral Guidance:

Cockatoos certainly demand a lot of attention, but are appreciated for their exceptionally loving, devoted personality that is second to none. Cockatoos require an extremely dedicated owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention to these intelligent parrots. They require consistent training from a young age to ensure potential cockatoo owners enjoy a bird free of destructive and annoying habits. Behavioral challenges that cockatoos present include:

• Excessive Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined cockatoos will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach a cockatoo what is "off-limits."



• Biting: Cockatoos, as most parrots, are likely to discover their beaks as a method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage." It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established. If this behavior is unchecked, the cockatoo is likely to be dominating the entire family, chasing and attacking their least favorite humans (usually the ones they deem to be a competitor for their human mate's affection). Training is vital to stop this destructive behavior.



• Screaming: Not everybody can tolerate the natural loud call of a cockatoo, and even though it can't (or should not) be entirely eliminated, there are ways to discourage screaming / screeching in your pet cockatoo.
  

Training and behavioral guidance will help your pet be the kind of companion you want it to be ...

• AvianWeb 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 found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.


• 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.

If you are considering one of these magnificent parrots as pets, please visit the following websites for information:

• Cockatoo General Information



• Procuring your Parrot
  • Bird Breeders
  • Do you breed this species and would like to be listed? Click here to see your options.


• The 3 Key Elements to Keep Your Pet Bird Happy & Healthy



• Housing Your Bird



• Bird Nutrition



• Parrot Products

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Cockatoos as Pets

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