My Cockatoo Has Learned Bad Habits

Cockatoos are members of the parrot family and a popular pet for many bird enthusiasts. But despite their popularity, these birds can pick up some unwanted behavioral habits that can cause issues for the pet owner. Caring for a cockatoo can be like dealing with a child stuck in the terrible 2s for a lifetime, but with some basic understanding of the bird, you can overcome any potential bad habits and enjoy your pet for many years.

  1. Common Bad Behavior

    • Bad cockatoo behavior can manifest itself in several ways. All species of parrots tend to exhibit these same unwelcome behaviors, and cockatoos can be especially troublesome when it comes to behavioral problems. Common ways for these birds to misbehave include throwing a cockatoo version of a tantrum, which may involve screaming very loudly. They may also become aggressive and try to bite and may even begin plucking out their own feathers.

    Make Sure It's Not Medical

    • Before writing off your cockatoo's behavior as simple hardheadedness, you should make sure the behavior isn't being caused by a medical problem. Feather plucking can often stem from a medical condition rather than bad attitude. A cockatoo may pluck out its own feathers because of aspergillosis, lice, bacterial infections or feather and beak disease. Take the bird to a trusted veterinarian to make sure everything checks out before you make assumptions about its behavior.

    What Makes a Good Bird Owner

    • Just as misbehaving children often point to poor parenting skills, a misbehaving cockatoo can indicate poor pet ownership skills. Knowing how to be a good bird owner can make a world of difference in how your bird acts. A good owner takes time to interpret behavioral patterns in the bird, knowing what it needs and wants based on its reactions in different situations. A good owner also makes keeping the bird's surroundings in good condition a priority and spends one-on-one time with the cockatoo.

    Adequate Interaction

    • Cockatoos are much more likely to act badly if they do not get enough attention from their owners. A single person who works outside her home and sees the bird for only a short time each day is not giving it proper attention. Cockatoos are emotional creatures, and ignoring them will cause them to act out to get your attention in any way possible. It's not necessary to baby the bird and spoil it, but the cockatoo does require regular acknowledgment from the owner.