There are many species of pet birds that a person can choose from out there right now. For those that are willing to spend the money and dedicate the time there is the cockatoo.
Of all the breeds of large parrot like birds, the cockatoo makes the perfect pet. They are undyingly faithful to their owners and very intelligent to the end. Not only that, they are also well known to live upwards of forty years in the right circumstances.
Because of their longevity they are not the kind of bird that is good for the older person. They will live a long and healthy life providing that they are cared for.
But the cockatoo requires a time commitment that is not found with other birds and they are well known to be hard to deal with if they feel left out. Most people will tell you that getting a cockatoo is much like having a child.
They require a huge amount of attention and have to be cared for much like a child would. They are not the type of bird that can be left in a cage for long periods of time and they will need care when you are away for more than a day or so.
That means that you must be sure that you are ready for a commitment of this type. The cost of such a bird is prohibitive so one should also be prepared.
A common umbrella cockatoo can cost upwards of three thousand dollars or more depending on where you purchase the bird from. The age, coloration and sex of the bird also weighs in with the price.
There is no difference between the male and the female cockatoo. They are both very intelligent and can be taught to speak in a large variety of words and phrases, will do tricks and can be very strong willed.
They are very easy to train for most things, like handling and so on, but they have a unique personality that is going to be something to deal with. You may find that they are exhibiting some very bad behavior much like a child.
That is something that you may have to deal with when you own one of these birds. You will have to learn to be patient with them.
Eating and Sleeping
It is best that you keep the cockatoo in the cage at night when it is time for sleep. They will know when the time is right and they will wake when they are ready.
If you were to leave them out then they could get into trouble or danger. The cockatoo is a naturally curious bird that will get into just about anything that catches its attention. When you are feeding the bird you should have them out of the cage.
This will give you a chance to work with them. Do not start them on full seed because this is very fattening.
They will not want to eat the good for them food if you start them on food that is not so good. Start with pellets an give them seed and fresh or dried fruits as a treat.
