How To Set Up Your First Cockatoo Cage

Setting up your first cockatoo cage is fun, exciting, and the perfect time to make sure everything is 'just right' before bringing your new family member home. You want to make your feathered child's home as comfortable as can be. So we've helped you out by creating a step by step tutorial on creating the first (and best) cockatoo cage.

Photo credit to the Denver Parrot Rescue.
Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Find The Right Cage: For a cockatoo, the larger cage you can get the better. The maximum bar spacing should be 1 inch and the minimum size should be 30 x 30 x 40 inches. Look for a new cage- as used cages can sometimes be rusty or made of unsafe metals. Do not buy painted cages- instead look for stainless steel. Paint can chip and if ingested by your cockatoo it can sometimes be fatal. The bigger the cage, the happier your cockatoo will be. Depending on your budget and home, look for the biggest habitat possible (check out some of our favorites at the end of this article).

Find The Perfect Spot: Set your cage in an active part of your home. Cockatoos love attention and need lots of it. So avoid putting them in a bedroom (unless that's where you spend most of your time) and instead put it in a living room or family room area. Keep the cage away from the kitchen. Nonstick pans cause toxic fumes that can be fatal for birds. Also keep the cage away from doors or windows where air can leak through. Drafts can make your bird ill. Make sure the cage is also away from direct sunlight- as you don't want your bird to overheat during the day.

Build A Tree: Cockatoos need a variety of perches to sit on, play on, and exercise their feet with. So fill your cage with a variety of shapes, textures, and sizes of perches. Imagine a tree. Start with a few large base branches and then extend them into a few smaller branches. There should be a 12 inch gap above and below each branch so that your cockatoo can stand up straight and fully extend their tail. Do not overcrowd your cockatoo's space with branches. Make sure they can fully extend their wings and 'stretch' in between perching areas.

Add Food & Water Areas: In the middle of your cage create a food and water area. The food should be on one side of your cage and the water should be on the other. This will prevent food from being flung into the water and causing rot. Place your food and water dishes right next to a perch so that your cockatoos can easily access them while still sitting comfortably.

Add Chew Toys: Every cockatoo loves to chew, and over time you'll learn what sorts of things your cockatoos likes to chew on. Some prefer wood, some prefer rawhide, some prefer coconut shells. At first add a few different chew toys to your cockatoos cage. Place them from the sides and top of the cage in areas near perches where your cockatoo can reach them while sitting on the perch. Once you figure out what kind of toy your cockatoo prefers add a few more of those to the cage to keep them happy and entertained.

Add Entertainment Toys: Entertainment toys are things like bells, mirrors, puzzles, and snack areas. Add a variety of entertainment toys to your cockatoos cage. Just as with the chew toys place them in areas your cockatoo can reach conveniently. Add a variety and change them out regularly to keep your bird curious.

Add Exercise Toys: Things like ladders, swings, rope perches, and bouncy perches are great exercise toys for your cockatoo. Add these things in empty spaces where you do not have perches nearby. Remember to leave enough space for your bird to stretch their wings and stand tall with their tail outstretched.

Introduce Your New Family Member: You're all set and ready to bring your new family member home. Fill up your food and water dishes and let your little feathered kid become acquainted with their new room!

Bringing Home Your First Cockatoo

Bringing home a new cockatoo is very nerve wracking for both you and your bird. The transition from one home to another is often very stressful for our feathered friends and we need to take extra precautions to assure they are safe not only one the ride home- but as they get adjusted to their new home as well.

Photo credit to the A Helping Wing Bird Rescue.

Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Have Habitat Set Up: Prior to bringing a cockatoo into your home, you need to have a proper cage set up. This cage should be of appropriate size, have perches and toys inside, have a full food and water dish, and be placed away from direct sunlight, windows, and drafty areas.

Research A Good Seller: Before buying a cockatoo, look for a reputable source. Unfortunately most pet stores do not have adequate enclosures or health standards for larger birds. Because of this we recommend that you look for a smaller family-owned pet store or you look directly for a breeder. We suggest a breeder. Do your research ahead of time and contact the breeder directly. Ask appropriate questions such as 'When will the chicks be ready to adopt?' and 'How long have you been in business and do you have references I may contact?'. These questions are appropriate and if a breeder chooses not to give you the information, it may be a sign that you should look for a different breeder. Do your research. Look online and contact multiple breeders in your area. By doing this you will help eliminate people who are improperly caring for their animals or doing so out of greed rather than love.

Bring Travel Cage: When you go to pick up your cockatoo, be sure to bring a travel cage. A travel care is a small cage for your cockatoo to stay in safely while you travel. By keeping it in a small cage you will prevent your cockatoo from getting startled and possibly hurting themselves by flying or falling off of their perch.

Pick Out Your Bird: Most pet stores will only have one or two cockatoos available for sale at once. Breeders, on the other hand, will have a collection of chicks ready to be adopted. Most breeders will happily let you select from the batch. Look for a bird that is attentive, awake, and looks healthy (no ruffed feathers, clear eyes, alert). Take your time in selecting your pet. Although each bird will develop more of a personality as they grow- they can still express themselves at a young age. Find one you feel would fit nicely into your home.

Keep In Safe Part of Car: When bringing your cockatoo home, keep it in a safe part of your car. What does this mean? First of all keep it away from heaters or air conditioners. Try to keep your car at a comfortable temperature (not too hot or cold), but do not let the air blow directly on your bird. Keep them away from sunlight, and if possible seat belt them onto a seat. If your cage does not have a seat belt holder, Put them in an enclosed place on the floor where the cage cannot tip over. On the way home try to keep your car as quiet and stress-free as possible. Light music is acceptable, but don't have the radio blasting. Drive slowly around curves and keep your cockatoo in mind as you're driving.

Put Travel Cage Next To Habitat: When you get home, bring your cockatoo inside and directly to their cage. To move your cockatoo from their travel cage to their habitat, open the door to your habitat and if you can- place the travel cage inside (if not hold it with the door facing the inside of the habitat). Then open the door to the travel cage and let your bird come out on their own. Do not force your bird to come out, rather let them take their time. Birds, by nature, are very shy. So be patient and let your little one wander out when they feel safe enough to do so.

Keep Habitat In Quiet Part of the Home: Keep your bird cage in a secluded area where there isn't a large amount of commotion or noise for the first two days your bird is in your home. A bedroom, corner of a living room, or office is a good place. This will help your bird adjust to their new setting without the added stress of odd noises, constant movement of people, and encounters with nerve-wracking things (like a television or someone knocking on the door). It's basically giving your bird a few days to relax and realize it's new home is okay to be comfortable in.

Move to More Active Part of the Home: After two days, you can now move your bird to a more active part of the home. It's gotten to know you and has experienced some one-on-one with you. It's nerves of the change of scenery have gone down. And it's feeling much more content. It's the perfect time to introduce it to an active fun part of the house. Bring the cage into it's permanent spot in a more lively part of the home. A living room, family room, or game room all work very well. They give your cockatoo the perfect place to be an active member of the family.

Start Working With Your Bird: Now that your bird is fully adjusted to life in your home, you can begin to work with your pet. It's the perfect time to cuddle, play, and train! Basically just love your little feathered child and get to know them like a good adoptive parent would.

Before-You-Buy Cockatoo Check List

Photo credit to the Iowa Parrot Rescue.

Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

We've created a quick list that you should check off before adopting your new feathered child. Each of these things are necessary to keep a happy, healthy cockatoo. And by quickly making sure you have all of these items- you're being a responsible pet owner that is sure to raise a very grateful squawking child.

Cage
Food
Food Dish
Water Dish
Toys
   Wooden Chew Toys
   Swing, Ladder
   Mirror Toy
   Bouncy Perch
Perches
   Wooden Perches
   Tree Branch Perches

   Rope Perches
Snacks

Things To Think About Prior To Adopting A Cockatoo

Cockatoos are a very big commitment and prior to bringing one into your family there are a lot of things you should consider. Cockatoos aren’t the right pet for everyone- and that’s okay! There are many other bird species on the market (including budgies, love birds, and cockatiels) that are equally as loving, but don’t require quite as much investment as a cockatoo does.

Photo credit to the A Wing and A Prayer Bird Rescue.

Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Noise
Cockatoos are very loud. They love to squawk and there is no way you will ever completely deter your bird from screaming. This is totally natural, healthy behavior. If you cannot stand loud noises or really appreciate your peace and quiet a cockatoo may not be the right pet for you.

Attention needed
Cockatoos love attention and unlike many other pets that enjoy their solidarity- a cockatoo absolutely needs companionship in order to be healthy and happy. Cockatoos should receive 2 to 4 hours of human interaction a day. If you cannot provide adequate ‘one on one’ time with your bird, it’s best to get two birds to supplement the lack of attention you will be providing.

Space required
Cockatoos are large birds and because of this they require a lot of space. The minimum cage size for a cockatoo should be 30 inches by 30 inches by 40 inches- but the bigger, the better. Not all small homes have room for a cage this large. Your cockatoo should also have a large, bird-safe room to fly around in. Is there a room in your home that is large enough for a cockatoo to play in? And if so, is it safe and free of open windows, screened doors, vents, and fans? Your bird will need a lot of space, and you should be sure to have that space prior to bringing a cockatoo into your home.

Expenses
Cockatoos are a very big financial investment. They can cost up to $10,000 for certain breeds- and most cost over $500. They require a large cage which typically costs around $600. Each month they will need food, toys, supplements, and possibly new perches (which can cost $25 to $100 a month). They also should have regular vet check-ups. Do you have the budget to provide these necessities for your cockatoo? Money is a big factor to consider when bringing any large bird into your home.

Life Expectancy
Some cockatoos live as old as 80 to 90 years. That’s the same amount of time as a human! Are you prepared to have your cockatoo as a life-long member of your family? Cockatoos get attached very easily and truly do need a home that wants to commit to keeping them for their entire life. If you want a life-long companion a cockatoo can be a great pet, but if you move frequently or foresee life changes that may prohibit you from keeping your cockatoo throughout its entire life, it may be best to opt for a smaller bird species with a shorter life span.

Training
Not all cockatoos are well-trained and many require months and months of patient training. Do you have the time to work with your cockatoo daily? Are you patient enough to teach your cockatoo basic commands and to give them the mental stimulation they require from learning new tasks and tricks?

Independent Personality
Every cockatoo is different. Some are very loud and hyper while others may be more docile and cuddly. When you adopt a young cockatoo it’s mature demeanor may not be showing yet. It’s important to realize that your cockatoo can develop an array of personalities and you should be prepared to love and accept your cockatoo in whatever way they mature.