How to Take Care of Cockatoos

One of the rewarding parrots is cockatoos; they are well known their sociability and intelligence. It is however to be realized that their positive traits would be nullified by problems if they are not properly cared for. Here are some tips that would help establish a fun, loving and productive relationship with these social and intelligent parrots.

Ensure you choose a healthy, alert cockatoo that does not display signs of fearing humans. Its eyes should be clear and the feathers smooth and clean. Ensure its feet are scaly, dry and smooth and the vent is free of fecal material. A half-way raised crest indicates a relaxed position, while flattened crests indicate hostility or fear and fully upright crest indicates surprise or defensiveness.

The parrot should show interest in playing with toys, eating and interacting with other birds and people. Embrace cockatoos with purrs, low-pitched squawks and clicks that are friendly and curious; avoid those with hisses and high-pitched screams that indicate aggression or fear.

Ensure your room is bird-proof and closed before letting the cockatoo out of the cage; most cockatoos love to spend time riding around on the shoulder or sitting on a perch outside the cage. Remove or hide wiring that they chew, small hard objects that they could easily swallow, bare bulbs, flames, toxic plants, standing water and hot plates. Cover all holes behind appliances that cockatoos perceive as tree cavities.

Ensure the cage is comfortable with perches, a few toys, fresh water and a removable tray for droppings; ensure you have a cloth to cover up the cage at night.

Cockatoos being highly intelligent get easily bored; introduce one or two toys like teething rings/teething toys, large bells, rope dog toys, balls (too large to swallow), and rattles at a time for the bird to entertain himself. Make sure top rotate the toys once the bird is tired; some cockatoos also enjoy listening to music and watching movies on your shoulder.

Cockatoos have an acute sense of time and enjoy predictable interactions; make sure you play with the bird or do any other activity at the same time daily.

Ensure your cockatoo has a wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts; include cooked grains such as barley, oats, brown rice, vegetable pasta, and sweet potato, pellets and nuts several times in a week. Beware of giving your bird a lot of fruits rich in Vitamin C; this could lead to excess absorption of iron from foods and supplements.

Bathe your cockatoo once or twice a week with a spray bottle in which 1 part of Listerine is mixed with 7 parts of water; some enjoy bathing themselves in a shallow dish of water.

Most important of all interact with your pet cockatoo that likes company; talk with your pet, allow it to climb on you and stroke it. Offer toys and food treats directly from your hand and introduce him to new people. Socially groom your bird by scratching its head. Mentally stimulate your cockatoo by teaching him bird tricks and amusing gymnastics.