How to Care for a Baby Umbrella Cockatoo After Bringing it Home

Umbrella cockatoos are friendly and affectionate birds.

Described as "the cuddly bird," umbrella cockatoos can be excellent companions. They are affectionate and playful, with inquisitive eyes that captivate their owners. But umbrella cockatoos are an intensive commitment. They have a lifespan of up to 65 years and can be loud. These birds require several hours of socialization and play each day to maintain physical and emotional health. While the rewards of caring for a baby umbrella cockatoo are great, so are the responsibilities.

Things You'll Need

• Cage
• Cage litter
• Toys
• Bird pellets
• Varied fruits, nuts, beans, and vegetables
• Water
• Bowl (optional)
• Water tube dispenser (optional)

Instructions

1. Provide an ample sized cage for your baby umbrella cockatoo. Shelly Bohannon, writing for the Avianweb.com website, advises new owners to buy a cage that measures at least 40-by-36-inches to ensure sufficient space for the bird to play. Include a layer of cage litter in the bottom tray.

2. Place many different types of toys for the cockatoo to play with. The bird will appreciate several kinds of toys, including rope toys, puzzles, wood toys, and raffia toys.

3. Feed the cockatoo a varied diet of commercial bird pellets, beans, nuts, and fruits and vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, apples, carrots, and green beans. Provide fresh water daily in a bowl or water tube dispenser.

4. Remove the bird from its cage several times a day for play and socialization. Umbrella cockatoos become bored and self-destructive very quickly if they do not receive social interaction.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the cage litter daily to prohibit bacterial growth. When you must leave your house, turn on a radio or television to entertain the cockatoo.

• Umbrella cockatoos are complicated creatures and owners must be prepared to meet their extensive emotional needs. The Mytoos.com website advises bird owners to avoid handfeeding their baby cockatoos or they may become too attached to their humans and will lose their identity and the ability to entertain themselves.

• They can suffer from behavior problems such as self-mutilation and other destructive behaviors. Many umbrella cockatoo owners leave their birds with a rescue organization because their emotional and mental needs become too immense to handle. Do not overfeed the bird citrus fruits, as too many can cause Iron Overload Disease.

References

• Avianweb.com: Cockatoos as Pets
• Birdchannel.com: Cage-Cleaning, Litter, Building Nest Boxes, Satisfying A Finicky Cockatoo
• Mytoos.com: Most People Not Familiar With Large Parrots Fail to See the "Big Picture."