How to Take Care of Your Pet Umbrella Cockatoo

Umbrella cockatoos are known for their beautiful crest feathers, which take the shape of an umbrella as their name suggests, but there is so much more to this beautiful bird than most people think. These birds are playful, loving, affectionate, intelligent, friendly, active, and inquisitive, and can be trained to talk and perform a variety of tricks given enough patience. Because they are such social animals, potential owners are discouraged from buying an umbrella cockatoo unless they are willing to put in a lot of patience, time and attention into caring for these birds. Umbrella cockatoos live long --- up to 70 years --- which means that whoever wants to owns one must be ready for a lifelong commitment.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage
  • Perches
  • Assortment of toys
  • Clean water
  • Variety of food such as fruits, vegetables, pellets and seeds
  • 2 or more stainless steel dishes for food and water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure the bird of your choice is not dependent on human attention before you bring it home. Although attachment could be enjoyable at first, an emotionally dependent cockatoo can become destructive even when it is left alone with toys and other distractions. Pick a bird that is happy playing in its cage without your presence.

    • 2

      Bring your cockatoo to an avian veterinarian for a checkup. It is important to know how healthy your bird is and what it might need before you take it home.

    • 3

      Purchase a small cage if your bird is young, which will keep it from learning to fly. As it gets older, make sure to pick a bird cage that is about 48 inches wide and 36 inches deep, or at least three wingspans in width. Buy the largest cage you can afford.

    • 4

      Place the bird cage at eye level in a room you frequently visit, preferably in a sunny spot.

    • 5

      Provide an assortment of toys and a variety of activities for your cockatoo, such as horizontal bars, parrot swings, fresh branches, link chains, ropes and wooden chewable toys. Because cockatoos like chewing and destroying their toys, buy as many toys as you can and rotate them to keep your cockatoo interested. Chewing on toys will make their beaks stay trim, and having concrete perches for your cockatoo will also help keep their nails short.

    • 6

      Make sure the steel dishes for food and water are locked at the side of the cage to prevent the bird from toppling them over and to keep droppings from contaminating its food and water. When your bird gets bored with its perches and toys, it might take to toppling over its dishes for something else to do.

    • 7

      Keep your bird's diet balanced and varied. Load up on fruits and vegetables (especially the dark green and orange ones), seeds, pellets and even table foods. Note that birds must not be fed caffeine, avocado, raw onion, chocolate, rhubarb and fatty processed meats. Avoid junk food and spinach (which hinders the absorption of calcium).

    • 8

      Clean and replenish water and food dishes, and wipe perches daily. Clean out bottom trays twice a week and wash the entire cage, perches and toys monthly. Disinfect twice a year or more as necessary.

    • 9

      Give your umbrella cockatoo a weekly bath using plain lukewarm water to wash out accumulated dust, which cockatoos naturally produce to help keep their skin and wings in top shape. Birds are generally very clean animals, so they don't really need baths. However, you may opt to do so.

    • 10

      Scratch gently, in the direction of its feathers, the top and back of its head, neck and other areas. When preening, your cockatoo will not be able to reach these areas, so a little help will be appreciated.

    • 11

      Allow your bird to fly freely whenever possible but supervise it, as cockatoos can chew and destroy anything that takes its interest.