How to Build a Nest for a Cockatoo

Cockatoos are large, visually striking birds native to the tropical forests and the savannahs of Australia and Indonesia. Unfortunately, these birds are nearing extinction. Breeding captive cockatoos helps increase the numbers of pet birds and decrease the number of birds taken from the wild. There are no breeding restrictions in the United States, but breeding cockatoos is a difficult task that should not be attempted by amateurs without significant forethought and planning. If you're ready to breed your pet cockatoo, you'll need to construct a nesting site for it or give it the materials to construct its own.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden box
  • Paper towels
  • Branches and twigs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Obtain a base for the nesting box. A wooden box with dimensions of at least 18 inches by 18 inches by 24 inches works well for cockatoos, but a metal barrel, plastic container or even a trash can be substituted. Choose an open-top box for ease of access. If you decide on a closed-top box, make sure there are two entrances to the box.

    • 2

      Line the bottom of the nesting box with layers of soft paper towels or kitchen towels to absorb moisture. This helps ensure that newborn chicks have a solid surface to walk on and decreases the risk of chicks developing issues with their legs due to walking on a slippery floor.

    • 3

      Make a dent in the bottom of the nesting box. The slight downward slope toward the dent will keep the eggs from sliding around and away from each other.

    • 4

      Provide branches and twigs in the nesting box if you prefer to let your cockatoo build its own nest. Placing a nesting box in the cockatoo's cage is not necessary in this case, but you can still provide it as cockatoos prefer to build nests in areas that are well protected from potential predators.