CHOOSING A COCKATOO
General information
The Cockatoo (family Cacatuidae) is a large bodied parrot with a crest of feathers
on top of the head that stands erect when the bird is alarmed or excited. These
natives of main land Australia and surrounding islands are most widely treasured
as desirable companions because of their intelligence and incredibly affectionate
nature. They are a suitable family pet as long as it is appreciated they can
be like having a small child - forever! This is a high maintenance bird both
physically and emotionally as they demand a lot of attention. They enjoy endless
coddling, caressing and hugs. Without adequate attention, Cockatoos sometimes
become excessively boisterous and potentially destructive if incorrectly socialized.
This may lead to profound possessiveness towards owners, misguided aggressiveness
and feather picking.
This beautiful bird is not as talented a talker as other parrots. It has a
loud, harsh, penetrating voice that may indicate joy or outrage. When alarmed
or frightened, Cockatoos give off a peculiar hissing noise as a warning. Cockatoos
love to chew, therefore, providing a continuous supply of nontoxic fresh branches
and pet-safe toys will afford many hours of entertainment for your bird. Cockatoos
naturally produce a lot of feather dust or powder down from their feathers.
Some commonly kept Cockatoos include the larger Moluccan (Salmon-crested) Cockatoo,
Greater Sulfur-crested Cockatoo and Umbrella (White) Cockatoo. The smaller sized
birds include the Goffin's Cockatoo, Lesser Sulfur-crested Cockatoo and the
Citron-crested Cockatoo.
Purchasing a Cockatoo
Cockatoos may be purchased from a pet shop or, better, a reputable breeder.
When selecting a Cockatoo, try to choose a young bird as it may be easier to
tame and train. Older, wild, colony or parent raised birds may prove difficult
to tame. Hand raised babies often make better pets since they have been completely
socialized. with humans. Young birds are easier to tame and adapt readily to
new environments and situations. Importantly having a captive-bred bird also
means that the wild bird population is not threatened further by catching and
importing wild birds. This practice is bad both for the bird captured and transported
as well as for the dwindling population left in the wild. Your new bird should
be exposed early to different events (young and old people, males and females,
other pets, car trips, visits to the vet, etc.) to help promote a calm, well
adjusted pet. The lively, alert bird that is not easily frightened is more likely
a healthy bird. After purchasing your new bird, have it examined by your vet.
Veterinary care
Cockatoos require regular, routine veterinary health checkups. Your veterinary
surgeon can perform a physical examination, grooming (beak, nail or feather
trim ) and laboratory tests as needed. During these semiannual checkups., health,
nutritional and maintenance issues can be identified and addressed. Veterinary
checkups. help prevent disease and will aid in the maintenance of a long lasting,
healthy relationship between you and your bird.
Color
Mature
- the main color is white and depending on the species, various shades of
yellow, pink and orange
- a few are dark gray to black
- legs are dark gray
Immature
Sexing
Mature
- generally have few external differences
- mature females of some species have a reddish brown eye (iris)
- males generally have a dark brown or almost black eye
Immature
- no reliable external sex differences
Weight - average 10 - 30 ounces (300 - 900 grams) depending on the species
Size - average 12 - 27 inches (31 - 70 cm) in length
Life span - 25 - 45 years (maximum 85 years)
Diet - consult your vet or see the information page here
Breeding - sexual maturity for smaller species is 2 years, for medium
species 3 - 4 years, for larger species 5 - 6 years
- can be challenging to breed successfully depending on the species
Brood size - 1 - 8 whitish eggs hatch in 17 - 31 days, young leave the
nest in 6-9 weeks
Cage - minimum 3 ft x 3 ft x 4 ft (90 cm x 90 cm x 120 cm) - need a
very strong sturdy cage to withstand the powerful beaks
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