Cockatoos are expensive and time consuming to care for. But if you take the time and effort to give them the best life possible you will be reward with a loving, entertaining, feathered part of your family that will create a permanent place in your heart and home.
Food: In the wild Cockatoos are magnificent scavengers. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and greens. Many people recommend pellets for Cockatoos, but we do not. Cockatoos are a bird of variety and as long as you offer the correct selection of foods you will have a happy and healthy bird. Your birds diet should consist of three equal parts- nuts and seeds, vegetables, and fruit. Whole walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, millet, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried corn, dried carrots, dried bananas, dried coconut, dried papaya, dried pineapple, and dried cranberries are all great foods to be a part of your cockatoos diet. You should also offer fresh greens and small bits of fresh fruit once or twice a week.
Water: As with every other animal, Cockatoos need a constant supply of fresh water. Because Cockatoos are larger birds, they take in larger amounts of water- so their water bowl should be at least 1.5 cups in size. Do not use a water bottle for any bird, as they cannot drink properly from them. Instead have an open bowl, and change your water daily.
Nutritional Supplements: Cockatoos need cuttlebones added to their diet at least once a month to maintain a proper nutritional balance. Cuttlebones offer vitamins and nutrients that are not found in a typical 'seed diet', so it's important that your cockatoo have access to a cuttlebone in order to stay healthy.
Cage: A cage is NOT a permanent home for a cockatoo. Instead it is sort of like a child's bedroom where your cockatoo can go when you are not around to supervise it. Cockatoos are large birds, so the larger cage you can supply for them, the better. A cockatoo's cage should be no smaller than 30 X 30 X 40 inches in size.The bar spacing should be no farther than 1 inch wide. Every cage should have a variety of perches and toys, as well as a constant supply of fresh food and water. Even if your cockatoo seems very comfortable in it's cage, it's important to let it out to play at least 4 to 6 hours a day.
Perches: Birds perch! It's what birds do. So every bird's cage should have a variety of perches to perch upon. Cockatoo's perches should range in size and texture- as this will exercise your birds feet and keep a proper blood flow. Try to get a variety of perches ranging from 1.5 inches in diameter to 4 inches in diameter. Look for a variety of natural wood perches, but you can also add in rope perches and ladders for variety. We suggest a selection of bird-safe tree branches, so your cockatoos can chew, play, and perch on them!
Snacks: Snacks are a fun way to keep your cockatoo entertained and active. By offering treats around your cockatoos cage, you promote healthy 'scavenger' behavior. Try putting fresh cut washed greens, millet spray, wash fruit, or even store bought cockatoo snacks in different areas of your cockatoo's habitat two to three times a week. If you work, a good time to offer a treat is before you leave for the day- as it will keep your bird busy and active even while you are away. But snacks should only be given in moderation. Do not offer your cockatoo snacks more than three times a week.
Toys: Toys are a very important part of a cockatoos well being. Not only do they offer entertainment (which can avoid feather-plucking and excessive squawking), they also help your bird's beak from overgrowing. You should have an array of bird chew toys around your cage. Give your cockatoo something they can chew apart, like wooden toys, rope toys, and coconut shell toys. These will all help your cockatoos beak stay filed down. You should also have a fun selection of 'just for fun' toys in your cockatoos cage. Ladders, swings, plastic mirrors, and bells are all wonderful ways to inspire your cockatoo to have a healthy active lifestyle.
Baths: In the wild cockatoos will often path in puddles, ponds, and in the rain. Indoors, however, they do not have the opportunity to bathe in those ways- so it's your job to give them the chance to clean themselves at least once a weak. Different cockatoos prefer different ways of bathing. Some will love to sit in a shower with luke-warm water. Some will splash around under a bathtub faucet happily. And some would rather just play in a shallow tupperware bowl filled with water on the bottom of their cage. Try out different techniques. Spray bottles, small plastic containers, and even a garden bird bath are all good opportunities to keep your cockatoo clean and happy.
Playtime: Cockatoos are very intelligent birds and need at least 4 hours MINIMUM outside of their cage each day for proper mental stimulation (but the more 'playtime' they can have- the better). They should be allowed to play around, adventure, and fly in a bird-safe well supervised part of your home. Cockatoos are very attentive and during play time you could easily work on teaching them tricks and how to speak, whistle, and sing.
Companionship: By far the most important thing any human can offer a cockatoo is companionship. Cockatoos are extremely loving birds and need social contact on a regular basis in order to stay happy. Most cockatoos are very 'cuddly' and enjoy snuggling up with their human or even a fellow bird. If you cannot give your cockatoo adequate attention, it's highly suggested that you have make two cockatoos a part of your family.
