Cockatoo

Cockatoo

Breed:  Crested Cockatoo

Description:  There are three species of Cockatoo found in Australia , the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo is one of the most popular as a pet. This is a beautiful white bird with a yellow crest and black beak who measures about 20 inches from head to tail.

Characteristics: The magnificent bird is very affectionate and sociable and can make an excellent pet. They are intelligent and clever and can get bored easily. They need to get daily exercise, company and stimulation or they can become destructive, even to the point of pulling out there own feathers. Supplying them with a variety of bird toys can help alleviate boredom and help pass the time when alone.

They can be demanding and like any of the big pet birds, take a lot of dedication to keep them happy and healthy. They do bond closely with owners, but care should be taken as they can be aggressive to others.

They are noisy and have a very loud raucous voice and can be trained to mimic human speech. As they can be quite excitable, they are not always safe around small children.

Origins:  The Crested Cockatoo is common and widespread through out their native home – Australia

Special needs:  Cockatoos need a big cage, the bigger the better, one made of a tough material, stainless steel or wrought iron, to stand up to that strong beak.  Cages with horizontal bars are best so they may climb up and down the sides. They also needs lots of toys they can chew, preferably some hanging and some they can pick up with the feet. Cockatoos also need a diet of bird pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables, 50% of each. They also may be given nuts as a treat.

Highlights :

-If not trained properly, Cockatoos can be very dominant .

- The Crested Cockatoo usually lives to be about 80 years old.

- Care should be taken when allowing them out of their cage unsupervised as it is natural for them to chew and could ruin a favourite piece of furniture or walls or even chew on electrical wiring.

- Cockatoos are very messy birds who like to play with and toss around their food.

- The Cockatoo may not be the best choice for those with allergies. They produce a fine dust that will settle throughout the house and can aggravate both asthma and allergies.