How to Introduce a Cockatoo in a Breeding Facility

Acquiring and introducing a new cockatoo to a breeding facility is a gradual process. Cockatoos are large parrots that mate for life in the wild; it takes time for a pair of cockatoos to bond properly. Rushing the introduction of a new pair of birds can result in injury or death to either or both birds. Although cockatoos can become tame and affectionate pets, they are not domesticated, and their behavior can be unpredictable.

Things You'll Need

  • Separate cages
  • Quarantine room
  • Breeding aviary
  • Nest box
  • Food and water containers
  • Perches
Show More

Instructions

    • 1
      Cockatoos express excitement and agression by raising their crests and partially spreading their wings.

      Quarantine a new cockatoo away from your breeding facility for 10 days to ensure that it is healthy. Consult an avian veterinarian for conducting appropriate testing for latent diseases that may not show symptoms but that could transfer to your other birds. Prepare two similar cages for introducing the new and existing cockatoos. Use individual cages unfamiliar to both birds. This guards against either bird defending its territory.

    • 2
      Cockatoos defend themselfs with their powerful bills.

      Remove a former mate from within sight and hearing of the bird you are pairing with the new cockatoo. Cockatoos mate for life, and a single bird that has lost its mate may not accept a mate immediately. Introduce the existing cockatoo to the new cockatoo by caging each bird in its own cage within sight of one another. Separate the two birds' cages enough to prevent them from biting each other.

    • 3

      Observe the birds each day and note how they react to each other. Move the cages closer to one another when there are no signs of aggression between the cockatoos. Watch for courting behavior such as head bobbing and attempts to groom each other through cage bars. Move the cages next to one another to allow the cockatoos to "visit" through their cage bars. Allow the birds privacy for getting acquainted, but check on them periodically to assess how they are getting along.

    • 4

      Prepare the breeding aviary when the two cockatoos have bonded. A nest box should have two openings so the birds can escape if threatened by the male. Place food, water and perches in the aviary before releasing the cockatoos into it. Watch the cockatoos carefully and check on them frequently to verify compatibility. Avoid handling and disturbing the cockatoos as much as possible, but interfere if the birds fight and injure each other. Separate the cockatoos and transport an injured bird to an avian veterinarian immediately.

    • 5

      Watch the birds for signs of courtship and mating. They may feed and groom each other and will feed and drink together. When they select a nestbox, the cockatoos will chew the opening and enter and leave the nest box frequently. These behaviors indicate a successful introduction and pairing.