Cockatoos

  
 

Cockatoos are extremely loving and social parrots. Intelligent, playful, and enchantingly comical, they seem to know what beautiful creatures they are! They will display their wings, toss their heads and raise their erectile crests in a proud impressive display. Make sure they have plenty of toys!

With an incredible need for physical attention, they love being patted, hugged, and snuggled. A young bird's attachment and affectionate devotion to you requires that you make sure you have time to play with your pet each day. A neglected Cockatoo may resort to uncontrollable screaming or restless feather picking and these habits are very hard to break.

 

 

  
 

Cockatoos are one of the most long-lived parrots. Though not outstanding in their ability to imitate speech, they exhibit some of the most intelligent behaviors of the entire parrot family. Many species are actually considered a pest in their native environment, where they travel together in large flocks. Farmers are hard put too keep them away from bags of grain and out of the fields where they will dig up freshly planted seed.

A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.

Cockatoos can be quite loud screeches. The behavior can be reduced by giving attention and proper surroundings. Also, since they are prone to chewing, if they are not given enough attention they will chew their own feathers. Cockatoos in general are a very loving type of bird that needs a lot of attention from their owners. Buy a cockatoo only if you can spend a lot of time with it.

Lesser sulphur crested cockatoos (pictured top of page) are a smaller cockatoo with a yellow or "sulphur" coloured crest on the top of their head.

 

  
 

The most common is the rose-breasted cockatoo. Their a smaller cockatoo with rose coloured feathers on the breast and the underside of the wings. They can learn to talk, as can most cockatoos and are easy to teach all kinds of tricks.

 

  
 

Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are a full-sized cockatoo. They are primarily white with a yellow or "sulphur" coloured crest on the top of their head. The underside of the wings and tail is also frequently tinged with yellow.

 

 

  
 

Basic Requirements

If you are about to get a cockatoo, you need to make sure you have the basic requirements, before you even bring them home! Here is a list of the basic requirements for any cockatoo.

  • Cockatoo Cage or Aviary
  • Water/Food Feeders (usually with cage)
  • Shell Grit
  • Large Parrot Seed

 

  
 

Optional Requirements

  • Full flight cage or aviary
  • Play Gyms
  • Calcium grit
  • Calcium & Iodine bells or supplements
  • Harness & Leash
  • Toys

 

  
 

Breakdown

Suitable For People Aged:
Experience Required:
Feeding Care Time Required:
Maintenance Time Required:
Minimum Space Required:
Cost of Upkeep: (approx)
Life Span: (approx)
Availability:


 

10 & Over Adult Supervision
Preferably Smaller Birds
1/2 Hour a Day
1/2 Hour a Week
Large Parrot Cage or Aviary
$7 per week
Up to 100!!
Spring onwards