Tips on How to Care for an Umbrella Cockatoo

Managing an exotic bird store and raising hundreds of different types of birds, I have seen the ups and downs to owning an Umbrella Cockatoo. One of the most beautiful and, most of the time, gentle creatures in the world, the Cockatoo can also be more demanding and loud than a two year old kid. Adopting one should not only be a lifetime investment, but a literal part of the family.

Native to Australia, the Umbrella Cockatoo ranges in 20-28 inches from beak to tail, depending on whether it was parent-raised, partially parent-raised, or completely hand-fed (Never having contact with the parents.). They are white in color, minus the yellow found on the underside of the tail and on the inside of the wings. The beak is a dark grayish color and the head has a very large crest of feathers that rises when excited or frightened.

Cockatoos do not make grand parents, as they are known for killing and feasting on the babies. The babies that do make it are much larger in size, being fed by the parents, as their true food is fattier than formula feeding. Parent-fed babies can sometimes show more aggression and also have the instinctive wild-side that progresses into adulthood.

For the most part, Cockatoos are known for their sweet spirit and need for love, cuddling, and interaction with the family. The demands of these creatures are shown through extremely loud screaming, yelling, and squawking. Most people who purchase Cockatoos cannot give them what they need and in turn deal with a very loud, unhealthy and unhappy animal. Here are some tips to keeping your companion happy and healthy while still keeping your senses!

Attention

Cockatoos are not pets to be thrown in a cage and seldom let out. They need at least 3-5 hours a day out of the cage and with some sort of interaction. If not given, these birds resort to plucking, pulling their feathers completely out, and often times going on into the skin, causing severe sores and holes. Elizabethan collars are then needed to prevent any more damage, such as the organs protruding from the abdomen. Give your bird lots of love and often.

Diet

Do not only feed Cockatoos seed! It has been proven that a diet consisting mainly of seed causes fatty liver disease in birds, which is often fatal. Pellets are a much better choice along with a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Brain Games

Umbrellas are extremely smart. A plain wooden toy will do them no justice. Spend the money and invest in extra large toys that have knots and other things hanging from them. Dragon wood is also a great choice, as it is much harder to shred than some of the softer woods. Large nuts and bolts are great for them, as they will try and figure out how to get them apart. For a quick treat, feather dusters, toilet paper rolls, and popsicle sticks are great, just make sure and keep an eye on them. Cockatoos can learn tricks, so small basketball hoops and "birdie" skates can be fun.

Cage Precautions

Already mentioned, Cockatoos are intelligent. They are escape artists. Spend the money and buy a very large cage that has special locks. Grates at the bottom should be secured, also. There is nothing like coming home to a chewed up house.

Bathing

Start young with a spray bottle to bathe. Water bowls are not large enough for a sufficient bath and Cockatoos have a lot of dander. This is not only irritating to them, but people, too.

Before you go on a whim and want a "show bird" for your home, please do your research on these animals. They are very needy and require a lot of time. They bond hard and fast, so going from home to home is detrimental to them. If they are taken care of properly, Cockatoos can be a pleasure for you.