Triton Cockatoos

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The Triton Cockatoos are magnificent parrots that are native to New Guinea. Tritons are a sub-species of the Greater Sulpher Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita galerita), found in Australia and is considered an agricultural pest in its natural habitat.

Description:

They are large birds totaling 18 inches in length. Triton Cockatoos make excellent pets and owning one involves a life long commitment as they are long lived. Typical to most Cockatoos, Tritons love to chew. Wooden toys and natural limbs are recommended to keep them happy.

Cockatoos are very animated birds and can be taught to do tricks which are quite amusing. They are vocal birds that will call in the morning and evening, and are not recommended as pets for apartment dwellers. Tritons can learn to talk but the real charm is their affectionate nature. They adore being held and petted and will often raise their wings to be scratched.

A large Cockatoo cage is in order for Tritons. Make sure the door has a secure lock as they can be escape artists. Large wooden perches are recommended instead of pvc pipe perches. Frequent bathing is recommended to keep their feathers snow white. Cockatoos naturally produce a powder down and baths along with a portable air purifier will keep this to a minimum.

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

Breeding:

Like other cockatoos, the Triton Cockatoo usually makes its home in tree hollows.

Diet:

In nature, they benefit from a diverse diet that includes seeds, fruit and insects.

Captive cockatoos should be fed a good quality parrot seed mix, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Many breeders recommend feeding pellets*, I personally don't like the processed nature of them; additionally, I don't know of a pellet that doesn't contain harmful chemicals, whether it is preservative or artificial coloring / flavoring. You are much better off providing a good quality (preferably organic) seed mix and fresh fruits and veggies -- just as nature intended! *Please note: If you do opt for a pelleted diet, please be aware that overly feeding citrus fruits (including oranges) to your birds can lead to "Iron Overload Disease."

Taxonomy:

Genus: Scientific: Cacatua ... English: White Black-billed Cockatoos ... Dutch: Wit & Zwartsnavelkakatoes ... German: Eigentliche Kakadus ... French: Cacatoès

Species: Scientific: Cacatua galerita triton aka Cacatua triton ... English: Triton Cockatoos ... Dutch: Triton Kakatoe ... German: Tritonkakadu ... French: Cacatoès à huppe jaune Triton

CITES II - Endangered Species ... Distribution: western Papua Islands, West Irian, New Guinea, Geelvink Bay, other Islands Around Indonesia

If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with the AvianWeb visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the AvianWeb Webmaster.
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