Obtaining a Cockatoo

Cockatoos may be adopt from shelters or purchase from pet stores or reputable breeders. Thousands of cockatoos are give up to bird rescue facilities ever year because of their destructive or loud behavior, and so they are readily adoptable worldwide. When selecting a cockatoo, try to choose a young bird, as it may be easier to tame and train. Older, wild caught, colony-raised, or parent raise birds may prove more challenging to tame. Hand-raised babies often make better pets, since they have been socialized to interact with and not be afraid of being handled by humans. Young birds generally are easier to tame and adapt readily to new environments and situations.

Your new bird should be expose early in its life to different events young and old peopl and  other pets, car trips, visits to the veterinarian to help them be more well-adjusted and learn to adapt to new people and new events. A lively, alert, interactive bird is more likely to be healthy. After purchasing your new bird, have it examined by a veterinarian familiar with birds as soon as possible to ensure it is healthy.

Veterinary Care

Cockatoos require annual, routine veterinary health check-ups. Your veterinarian can perform a physical examination, grooming (including nail or wing trimming, as necessary) and laboratory tests, including blood and stool analysis, as recommended. During these annual check-ups, your veterinarian can identify and discuss your bird’s health, nutritional, and behavioral issues, and can make recommendations for future care. Veterinary check-ups help prevent disease and help maintain a long-lasting, healthy relationship between you and your bird. Your bird’s nutrition is the foundation of good health for its entire life. It is critical to feed a diet recommend by your avian veterinarian.

Characteristics and Husbandry

Color: The main color of most mature cockatoos is white, with the following exceptions: Moluccan cockatoos have a salmon color; rose-breasted cockatoos have a pink chest with grey feathers on their wings; and there are several species of “black cockatoos”. Immature cockatoos have similar coloring to the adult.

Sexing: Generally, mature male and female cockatoos have few external differences. Mature females of some species have reddish-brown eyes. Males generally have a dark brown or almost black eye. There are no reliable external sex differences in immature cockatiels.

Weight: Average 10 to 30 ounces (300 to 900 grams), depending on the species.

Size: Average 12 to 27 inches (31 to 70 cm) in length.

Life span: 25 to 45 years (upwards of 70-80 years is possible for larger Cockatoo species).

Diet: Commercially formulated, nutritionally balanced pellets should make up the base diet, supplemented with adequate amounts of fresh or frozen vegetables daily and fruit or seed as an occasional treat. Consult your veterinarian for dietary recommendations specific to your bird’s age, activity level, and health status.

Breeding: Sexual maturity for smaller species is 2 years, for medium species 3 to 4 years, and for larger species 5 to 6 years. Successful breeding can be challenging, depending on the species.

Clutch size: 1 to 8 whitish eggs hatch in 17 to 31 days; young leave the nest in 6 to 9 weeks. Birds can lay an egg every 48 hou.