Are ya ready? You see the cute, fluffy, ball of feathers in the pet store, begging to be held and cuddled. You reach to pet it - then to hold it... The beak reaches up, gives you kisses, and you know you just hafta bring this bird home. Yup, admit it - you've been cockatoo'd. You're not the only one - there are countless cockatoo owners all over the country, many of them taken in the same way.
But are you ready for a too? Are you really ready?
Take a moment and make sure you and your home are prepared for a 'too. Housing Large birds need large cages. Cockatoos are no exception to this rule. Choose a cage large enough for your bird to run, flap, hop, and play in, with strong bars and appropriate bar spacing. Ask your breeder or pet shop for help if you're not sure.
Keep in mind the material the cage is made from. Stainless steel would be the best cage material, but it is extremely pricey. Powder-coated cages are currently popular and come in many sizes, but there is a risk of zinc poisoning if the powder formula has high zinc levels and your bird likes to mouth the bars.
Consider getting a cage with a removable playtop. This can be toted around the house or outside so that you can take your companion to more places inside the house besides its cage and playstand.
Your own housing will make a difference for your bird, also. Apartments are a very poor home for a large cockatoo, unless you have a extremely positive relationship with your landlord and neighbors. Cockatoos can get very loud, and their beaks can make short work of cabinets, walls and molding. Places that ban pets won't be fooled that the yells and shrieks coming from your abode are being caused by air in the water pipes.
Time Commitment Companion parrots are very time consuming in general, and cockatoos can be among the most time consuming of parrots. Their love of cuddling can be distracting to the highest degree - who wants to clean a bathroom when they could be cuddling with their 'too?
Cleaning and food preparation takes up a lot of time every day. The cage paper or litter must be changed daily, toys must be disinfected on a regular basis, and droppings inevitably fall on the floor. Chopping and cooking veggies, cleaning and preparing fruit, mixing grain and bean mixes and making other treats takes up time as well - while some of these things can be prepared in advance, they do need to be fed every day. |
