COCKATOOS Need Love Too!

Citron-crested Cockatoo. Photograph of upper body and crest.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is true...Cockatoos are gorgeous and popular, but you still need to give them love too...Many are under the endangered species list, and all others are considered vulnerable.

They have beautiful plumage in a rainbow of varieties, and an amazing crest on top of their head, which they can control to fan out or to lay back flat! They have big personalities and are very intelligent.

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Cacatuidae

Subfamilies: Microglossinae, Calyptorhynchinae, Cacatuinae

There are 21 species that belong to the Cacatuidae family. Of these 21, only 11 exist in Australia in the wild, 7 exist in Indonesia, New Guinea and other South Pacific Islands, and 3 exist in both New Guinea and Australia.

Cockatoos are under both the endangered and vulnerable species list, protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This means that it is illegal to import and export these birds, which are caught in the wild.

Endangered Cockatoo Species:

* Goffin's cockatoo, Cacatua goffini

* Red-vented Cockatoo, Cacatua haematuropygia

* Moluccan Cockatoo, Cacatua moluccensis

* Yellow-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea

- includes the subspecies, Citron-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata

* Palm Cockatoo, Probosciger aterrimus

If you are interested in adopting a cockatoo for a pet, make sure you are buying from a reputable dealer that has not partaken in the illegal trade of wild cockatoos.

My Story:

When I moved to Perth, Western Australia, about 13 yrs ago, the 1st day I woke up, I went for a jog. I was flabbergasted at the teeming wildlife just in my neighborhood. I made a few turns and ended up jogging through a park, where I found the most amazing site.

The trees were all pink! (Photo: This is what I saw! I wish I could find my photos to show you!) What I mean is, that they were absolutely full of pink cockatoos! Absolutely one of the most amazing things ever! Literally, there was no branch left open. What a treat to get up in the morning for your dull jog, and be graced with this beauty on a regular basis. So special!

It was so normal for the locals, they didn't really see what the big deal was, and certainly did not want to go jogging with me...LOL Coming from Canada, this was a real eye-opening experience.

How beautiful, I thought. How terrible that they are all either endangered or vulnerable now, 13 yrs later.

* Tip: If you have any respiratory diseases, problems or sensitivities, a bird for a pet is not a great idea, as it can irritate and aggravate your respiratory problems further. (When we owned 2 budgies, when I was young, they lived to be about 10 yrs old. My mother seemed to have chronic bronchitis throughout the year, and it would be aggravated to pneumonia come winter time. When our Misty and Sky passed away, within 2 wks of each other, Misty's heart was broken, my mother's respiratory problems cleared up spontaneously. She has never had these problems since. She had a serious sensitivity to the birds plumage and dust that resulted from them living in the house. On the other hand, me, my sister and my father did not have such a sensitivity to our budgies.)

If you are blessed enough to have a cockatoo as a pet, it is important to make sure they are being fed properly so they will live to be your companion for many years to come.

I love all of these beautiful species of Cockatoo. How gorgeous! How amazing would it be to have these beautiful birds all over the place in Canada?

By Kimberly Turner Edwards Article Source: EzineArticles

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COCKATOO Is A Popular Pet Today

Photo  by Makuahine Pa’i Ki’i 

Cockatoo is one of the popular choice pet today that has an owner have. They can show a lot of tricks that can entertain your guests at home. Taking good care of them is one of your responsibilities that the owner should do. You should feed them right away in order to avoid the stress for your pet and help them be active by showing some stuff that you would enjoy looking at it. This pet loves the attention should focus with them while doing some great things or even if obeying your command, which results in behaviors you want to have.

Training a cockatoo is very hard to do because it requires the owner to have patience and more passionate while teaching them you want to do from them. The best thing about these birds that they are not talkative just like parrots but they love to dance always and done a lot of things in their cage. While they are in the cage you should be careful for them because they are known as a keen chewer, so be sure that your cage for them was enough to be strong so that they will not out for their cage.

Choosing the best cockatoo is not as hard as what other pet to pick. They are just usually like parrots. But the good thing about this bird is that they are more colorful rather than the other species of birds. It has a long span of living and they are just like human being that can live for about sixty to seventy years of age. The will of companionship and affection would a desire to long live these birds. The need to have a truly feel safe for them always and do whatever is crucial to maintaining the chook in beneficial health and fitness.

It is best to have at least two cockatoos in your home so that if you were not being able to devote so much of your time for them and attention. They could develop bad habits if they were bored with themselves such as screeching and feather plucking. By having two of these will help prevent bad habits from developing by a bored bird. It is important also to have an exercise and play with them every day for their physical health. They are just extraordinary playful that it would play all day with just a little rest of time.

Author: Jessie Smith - Article Source: GoArticles

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The UMBRELLA COCKATOO - 5 Characteristics That Make the Cockatoo a Charming Companion Bird

Umbrella Cockatoo - Photo by JunCTionS 

The Umbrella Cockatoo is a large Parrot with a big personality to match. Here are 5 traits that keep it in constant demand as a pet bird.

Beauty-Their snowy white plumage makes a wonderful and striking contrast to their dark beaks and eyes and gray or black feet. In flight, they are like sunshine as they show the underside of their feathers that are yellow in color.

But probably their most amazing feature is their crest. Usually, it is kept flat on the head, but when extended, forms a half circle of beautiful feathers above their head, similar to an umbrella. They are truly elegant creatures whether they are flying or perched on your finger.

Affectionate Personality-Known for their great affection for and ability to bond with their humans, they are often accurately described as cuddly. They love physical contact with their humans and need these several hours each day to remain emotionally healthy.

They are perfect companions for someone who has a lot of daily time and energy to devote. If your lifestyle does not permit you to spend at least 2 hours a day with your Cockatoo, consider another bird that is less demanding of your time, attention, and affection.

Trainability-Cockatoos are extremely intelligent birds that are capable of learning and performing a wide variety of tricks. Short, daily training sessions yield the best results. Your consistency and patience will pay off not only in the tricks that your Cockatoo will eagerly perform for family and friends but also in the trust and loving bond that this daily attention will create between you.

They are so trainable that they are often featured in their own shows at the circus and zoo! So there you have it, the sky is truly the limit for what they can achieve.

Enthusiastic Eaters-They love to eat and are not particularly fussy about what they eat. They still depend on you to provide a well-balanced diet to help them stay strong, healthy, and happy. A healthy diet should include a constant supply of clean water, a high-quality pellet diet as a base supplemented by fresh organic vegetables, sprouted seeds, and a smaller amount of fruits and nuts. Some fruit seeds are toxic to Cockatoos so check with your vet before feeding.

Round out their diets with occasional table foods such as small pieces of boiled or thoroughly cooked scrambled eggs, cottage cheese and small pieces of cooked meat, pasta, and crackers. Provide a varied menu within these guidelines to keep your bird's interest high at meal time.

Long Life Span-If you are looking for a lifelong companion, the Cockatoo has one of the longest life spans of any Parrot. With proper care, they can live for 80 years or more. Now that's a friend for life!

Another way to help your Cockatoo live longer is to use a HEPA air purifier to remove airborne pollutants from the air. Debbie Davis, President, PurerAir.com

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COCKATOO - Is This The Bird For You?

Palm Cockatoo - Jurong BirdPark, Singapore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cockatoos are sweet, loving, beautiful birds. They make great pets if they are given the proper care. However, they can be a handful. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into before you bring one home.

The first thing you must do before even thinking about getting a cockatoo is to consider cockatoos to be like children. You would not leave a child alone all day. Cockatoos also cannot be kept alone all day. They need plenty of interaction. If no one is going to be at your house during the day, then I would not recommend getting one of these birds. The cockatoo is the most emotional bird species and needs human interaction every day.

Another thing you must realize is that cockatoos live for a very long time. They can live to be 100 years old! You will be taking care of this bird probably for the rest of your life. This is also a very expensive bird. The bird, cage, and accessories really cost a lot!

Cockatoos need a very large cage. Many people even suggest you keep them in an aviary! The minimum cage size for these birds is 36 inches long by 36 inches wide by 48 inches tall. Inside the cage, they will need perches, toys, food, and water.

Toys are something that your bird must have. If they do not have toys then they will not get the mental activity they need. This can lead to serious health problems. You also have to change the toys at least once a month. Birds get bored if they have the same toys all the time.

For your bird's diet, you cannot just feed seeds. A little bit of seeds is okay but buy a food that is mostly pellets. You will also need to prepare fruits and vegetables every day. Take out any fresh foods once they have been in the cage for a while.

Cockatoos have dust in their feathers and must be given weekly baths or showers to prevent dust accumulation. If you have allergies, this bird is not recommended for you. Also, the wings, beak, and claws need to be kept trimmed.

Every day you will need to clean out the food and water dishes and also wipe off feather dust from the cage bars and perches. Twice a week you need to clean the bottom tray of the cage. Once a week you will need to clean the whole cage and all accessories.

Cockatoos do not do well with small children. Some birds have even been known to attack small children for no reason. If you have small children, never leave them alone with the bird.

Cockatoos develop very strong bonds with their owners. They are extremely lovable and affectionate. However, they are very much like small children and will demand your attention. If you aren't giving them attention then they will scream, knock things over, or even bite to get your attention. Someone needs to be home most of the time with this bird.

If you give lots of attention to your bird, you will be greatly rewarded with a very sweet, lovable bird. Just be sure you have enough time to spend with the bird. These birds can cause serious problems if they aren't given enough attention. Many people buy these birds not knowing what they are getting themselves into and then end up having to give them away.

By Michael Russell - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Fact Sheet: UMBRELLA COCKATOO - Cacatua alba

(Original Title: Umbrella Cockatoo)

Umbrella Cockatoo (Cacatua alba) also known as the White Cockatoo.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

General Info:

The Umbrella Cockatoo, native to Indonesia, is a large, gorgeous, white parrot. On this bird, the underside of the wings and the tail have feathers of a delicate yellow color. The tail feathers are short and squared at the end. The beak and feet of this bird are a wonderful contrast to the light coloring of the feathers as they are a grayish-black color. There is a ring around the eyes that contains no feathering.

This ring is often tinged a light blue. The Female of the species often has eyes of a reddish brown color, whereas the male almost always has eyes of a very dark brown. The head holds a crest of feathers that lay flat against the head when calm and stand straight up when excited or frightened. This, in the wild, gives the bird the illusion of being larger than it really is. In this way, the bird may be able to frighten a predator or impress a prospective mate. In captivity, these feathers may play a perfect role in the comical antics shared between the bird and his or her family. It is (I say this from experience) quite amusing to see an Umbrella Cockatoo dance and "sing" with those "umbrella" feathers standing tall!

This bird is incredibly sweet and loving. It usually becomes very close to its family and will usually be especially close to one person in particular (often this person is the main caregiver of the bird).

It is important to give cockatoos a lot of attention and training. They get bored very easily and can feather pick if bored or upset.

Provide lots of toys to chew and destroy Change them often to combat boredom.

Before getting an Umbrella, decide how much attention you will be able to give on a consistent basis. Stick to a routine with the attention you give your cockatoo. Giving young bird tons of attention and then cutting off the amount of attention will cause behavior problems and can cause feather picking.

Size: The average length is somewhere around 18 inches, give or take an inch or two. The average weight is about a pound and a half.

Lifespan:

The Lifespan of the Umbrella Cockatoo is similar to that of many large parrots; about 80 years. This lifespan, as with all birds, can be lengthened or shortened, depending on the quality of care that the bird receives.

Dietary Needs:

A high-quality pellet is a good base to the diet. You may lightly mix this with some assorted parrot seed. Every day, try as hard as you can to give your bird fresh fruits and veggies (stay away from Avocados and chocolate). Great fruits and veggies include apples, cantaloupe, grapes, broccoli, peas, carrots, etc. As is true with humans, the less processing the food goes through, the better. Pellet, though processed, is great as it is nutritious and has vitamins and minerals that may be missing from one or another fruit or vegetable. But there is nothing better than a scrumptious freshly sliced apple or a delectably sweet bite from a crunchy carrot.

Cage size: 36 x 28

Train-ability:

These birds are very easily trained. All that is needed is time and patience. These birds are actually great acrobats, so it's common to teach them tricks, as well as the usual "step-up" (perch on your hand) command. Tricks include flipping the bird upside down or "dancing" to music. Teaching your bird tricks is a fantastic way to get your bird to trust you. It takes a lot of trusts for a bird to allow you to flip them upside down. I remember my family's Umbrella Cockatoo. He absolutely loved to do his tricks. It really helps them to feel like a part of the family.

Health Concerns:

Umbrella Cockatoos may be susceptible to the following:

-Psittacine beak and feather disease
-Fatty liver disease
-Obesity
-Bubblefoot
-Feather-picking
-Sarcocystis
-Cloacal Prolapse
-Poor eating habits (finicky eater)
-Miscellaneous bacterial and fungal infections

By Kimberly Santor http://www.birdcagesgalore.com http://www.yourparrotcage.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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How To Give Your COCKATOO A Balanced Diet

Coy Cockatoo - Photo   by               I’m George   (cc)

In the wild, Cockatoos eat whatever they find. For this reason, you should include a variety of things in their diet to stay as close to their natural diet as possible. On the other hand, your cockatoo can eat most of the things that you eat.

They mainly feed on seeds, berries, fruits, nuts, and flowers. Sometimes, they can thrive on the basic diet of seeds and pellets alone. They don't require any particular food but need "particular nutrients". You should add more vegetables and fruits to your cockatoo's diet. These are sources of additional nutrition.

The growth of your cockatoo depends on nutrition. Apart from that, reproduction, temperament and longevity also depend on nutrition. So, a well-balanced diet becomes very essential to mold a lovable, healthy and a life-long companion.

To put it briefly, a cockatoo's "balanced diet" should have equal shares of pellets, seeds, and vegetables with a small number of fruits, nuts, proteins, cooked rice, bean mixture, and table food like cheese, corn, cereal, pasta, meat etc. It should have it all (that's why I said they can eat most of the things that you eat!).

Pellets

Pellets can make as much as 60% of your cockatoo's food. In fact, some cockatoos thrive on a pellet diet. You should keep pellets in their food dish all day and night. Pellets are a must as they provide your bird with a balanced diet.

Seeds

Most cockatoos favor seeds of the Eucalyptus tree, Casuarinas, Native trees and Marri seeds. Apart from these they also eat bull banksias seeds and occasionally feed on Angophoras, Hakeas, Acacias and fruit seeds (fruit seeds are toxic to some cockatoos, so make sure your new pet is not in that list before you feed it with fruit seeds). If the bird is fed only a seed diet on a daily basis, it will lead to a deficiency in vitamins. So, a supplement of vitamins may be necessary in that case.

A Healthy Mixed Diet

A healthy mixed diet has it all...25% vitamin enriched seed mix, 25% pellets, 25% vegetables, dark leafy greens and fruits, 15% cooked rice, corn, and bean mixture, 10% table food, cereal, bread, pasta, cheese, meat etc.

Vegetables

Vegetables to be fed can be green, dark green, orange, yellow or meaty. Fresh vegetables provide the additional nutrition your cockatoo needs. So, encourage your cockatoo to eat

vegetables. Some of those that fall under this category are carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, broccoli, greens, green peppers, asparagus, ripe tomatoes, spinach etc.

Fruits

Some of the cockatoo owners-to-be have this general query. 'Do cockatoos eat fruits and how to make the bird eat fruits?' Fruits provide the natural supplements to your cockatoo. So, it would be a good idea to introduce fruits to your new pet. Initially, it may reject it, but later it will start eating fruits. Some of the favored fruits are apples, pears, peaches, pomegranate, bananas, berries, plums, oranges, kiwi, citrus, pomegranate, grapes, raisins etc.

Nuts

Cockatoos prefer nuts to fruits. Because of this, some nuts make ideal treats. They can crack hard nuts and should be encouraged to do so. If given whole nuts, they love to crack open the shell to extract the seed. Their beaks are specially adapted for this function and it could also be a form of entertainment.

Water

Water is equally important as food. The bird should drink water on a daily basis. Fresh water should be in the cage at all times.

Proteins

As I said earlier, it's important that the bird gets all the necessary nutrients. And proteins are an important supplement that aid growth. The bird can be provided with food high in proteins such as legumes, cooked eggs, and grated cheese. Sprouts, ripe tomatoes, cooked beans, spinach are some of the other sources. They can also be fed with freshly cooked lean beef, chicken or fish in small quantities. Occasionally, they can be given cooked meat bones.

Vitamins and Minerals

If the bird's diet has a variety of all the nutrients, then a supplement of vitamins and minerals is not required. As a matter of fact, it is better to consult an avian vet before giving the bird vitamin supplements because an overdose of vitamins and minerals will do more harm than good.

Now having known all that you can give your cockatoo, let's also keep ourselves informed as to what should be avoided.

AVOID:

Don't feed your cockatoo alcohol, parsley, and avocados (as they are toxic to cockatoos). Seeds high in sunflower and safflower should be avoided as these are very fatty. Keep your bird away from chocolates and caffeine. Iceberg lettuce and cabbage can cause diarrhea in your pet. Other foods to be avoided are seasoned meat or fatty processed meats. All these can cause your pet serious health problems.

Other important tips

Keep in mind that just providing them with food isn't sufficient but you have to make sure that they're eating what is given to them.

Too much milk shouldn't be included in the diet as some cockatoos are lactose intolerant and could get diarrhea. You can give them tofu, low-fat cottage and hard cheeses and non-fat yogurt in small quantities.

If you aren't including pellets/vitamin/mineral supplements in their diet, you should sprinkle a powdered bird vitamin/mineral supplement to their food once a week. This would avoid deficiencies. Although a calcium block and a mineral block should normally serve this purpose, these birds are famous for destroying the blocks.

Don't let fruits and vegetables stay in the cage for more than two hours.

Do not give them nuts and peanuts often, as these are very high in fat and can make your pet obese if overfed. Dry food can be left for no more than a day.

Always store nuts in a secure bin that will keep the contents dry and safe from rodents. Rodent excreta can transmit diseases like Salmonellosis.

Clean the food and water bowls kept inside the cage thoroughly every day. Disinfect them with bleach (and wash off thoroughly) every week.

Some cockatoos have the tendency to become overweight so you need to monitor their food and diet properly. Stick to a low-fat diet and include a variety of greens. Don't increase the volume as overfeeding will make them picky and they will also waste the food.

Cockatoos are famous for tipping over their bowls. Usage of heavy-bottomed feed and water bowls serve the purpose just fine.

With all these tips, I believe you have all the important information on how to provide your pet with the best diet.

Author: Jessica Harrison  - Source: www.isnare.com

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PALM COCKATOO - Probosciger aterrimus

Palm Cockatoo - Probosciger aterrimus

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Your RED TAILED BLACK COCKATOO - A 7-Point Plan For Care

Red Tailed Black Cockatoo - Photo  by     russellstreet  (cc)

As highly intelligent birds, Red Tailed Black Cockatoos can often be the cause of both great amusement and certain challenges. The following points highlight some of the main issues which will need careful consideration.

1. You may have bought your cockatoo a cage which looks as though it is quite impenetrable. However, be aware that your cockatoo's intelligence can be applied very easily to the mechanics of the cage door mechanism. These birds will easily take apart items, demonstrating an astonishing degree of dexterity as they do so. They seem to have almost as much dexterity in their feet as we do in our hands, and it is marvelous to watch.

However, marvelous though it may be to watch your cockatoo delicately remove the pins and screws from the cage mechanism, it is not so endearing to watch your precious bird flying around the house, causing chaos, destruction and quite possibly injuring itself in the process. To this end, make sure that you provide your cockatoo with plenty to do, toys and activities to keep it entertaining, and of course as much of your own time and attention as you can. This will help prevent your cockatoo from becoming bored and exploring other means to get your attention!

2. Are you fully aware that Red Tailed Black Cockatoos can live longer than you? Many people buy pets as relatively short-term commitments. Not that they want to, because most pet owners would gladly spend their whole lives with their animals. But the reality is that the vast majority of cockatoos will outlive their owners by many years! Cockatoos can easily live between fifty and seventy years and depend on how old you are when you buy your bird, you may well find that you have a companion for life.

This is a huge commitment, and you will need to think carefully about the chances of any major life changes you have in mind, such as marrying, starting a family, moving away, career changes and such like. Make sure you don't find yourself committing to a cockatoo that then becomes an object of resentment in the future. It's also worth bearing in mind that you will usually need to make some provision for its care after you fall off your own perch for the final time.

3. Don't just feed your cockatoo seeds. Many owners believe that birds eat seeds or insects - period! Imagine if you were owned by a bird, and it fed you nothing but burgers and fries for half a century because they were the only foods they thought you would eat!

Just like you, your cockatoo thrives on variety, and this applies just as much to the world of food as anything else. Use pellets, fruit, vegetables and even extras such as eggs, bread, and crackers. There are some foods which are bad for them, and in even dangerous in certain cases. Avocados, chocolate, caffeine products, alcohol are all fatal if ingested and should be avoided at all costs.

4. All birds need a good calcium-rich diet, but cockatoos require a much higher dosage. If you use a pellet based supplement then in most cases, if this is specifically targeted at the cockatoo family, it should already include a good calcium supplement. However, check this out for yourself, and make sure that you provide your bird with foods which do have high levels of calcium to keep it in tip-top condition.

5. Always make sure that your Cockatoo has a ready supply of clean water available at all times. However, water which may look perfectly clean and drinkable to us can contain toxins which are harmful to Cockatoos. In fact, cockatoos have a tendency to be much more seriously affected by these toxins than other birds or animals. A good tip is to use a water filter to purify the tap water before providing it to your bird. Even better is to provide bottled water if you can manage it.

6. Always keep an eye on your cockatoo's nails. If you notice them getting too long, then ask your vet to have a look and show you how to trim them yourself. Don't try it without having been shown first as you can very easily injure your cockatoo. Always provide rough landing areas such as sand or concrete to help keep the nails in check-similar to cats using a scratching post.

7. Make sure your Cockatoo's air is the cleanest it can be.  Using a high-efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) air purifier virtually eliminates dander, feathers, dust, and other particulates that can clog your bird's airways and that can also carry potentially fatal airborne viruses and bacteria.  Clear air passages mean a healthier bird and increased lifespan.

Giving careful and thoughtful attention to these 7 areas of care will have earned you the right to have your Cockatoo share your home and your life.

By Debbie Davis An excellent HEPA air purifier to remove airborne pollutants from your bird's air is offered by PurerAir.com-- the Bird Dander Purifier See it now at http://purerair.com/bird_dander_air_purifier.html Article Source: EzineArticles

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Small COCKATOOS That Make Great Pets

An adult Galah (also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo,
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cockatoos are renown for their cuddly, affectionate and comical natures and as long as they are given plenty of attention they make great pets.

Usually, when one hears the word cockatoo the first thing that comes to mind is the umbrella cockatoo which at 24 inches from its head to the tip of its tail is a large bird.

Not everyone has space or the desire to own a parrot the size of an umbrella.

Fortunately, there are other cockatoo species that are considerably smaller and still make excellent pets.

Goffin Cockatoo

The smallest cockatoo is the Goffin cockatoo at only 12 inches.

They are white with pink between the eyes and the beak. They have a light yellow on the underside of the wings, tail and ear coverlets.

Goffins are very smart, inquisitive, loving and social parrots that are great at learning tricks.

Rose Breasted Cockatoo

A parrot that is slightly bigger than the Goffin is the rose-breasted cockatoo. They are light to mid gray with rose-colored feathers on the breast as well as under the wings, and a light pink head and crest.

Rosies are more independent and not as cuddly as some other cockatoos, but this independence means they don't need as much attention and can be quite happy in their cages. They are a very intelligent bird that responds well to training.

Bare-Eyed Cockatoo

A somewhat unusual looking parrot is the bare-eyed cockatoo which gets its name from the blue, bare patch around its eyes. They are relatively small birds that are 15 inches in length.

Bare-eyed cockatoos are mostly white with yellow on the undersides of the tails and wings, along with pink between the eyes and beak.

As with the other two species they are quick to learn and make excellent pets. Anyone of these parrots makes a great choice for someone that doesn't have room for a large parrot but wants a bird with the affectionate and fun-loving nature that cockatoos are famous for.

By Gary Caine - Article Source: EzineArticles      

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WHITE COCKATOO - Cacatue alba

White Cockatoo - Umbrella Cockatoo

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COCKATIELS Are People Too

Photo  by włodi 

Owning a cockatiel is not something that I ever thought would interest me. I am a dog lover. In fact, I will go out of my way to pet a dog. But not a cockatiel. Until...

A time came when I moved into an apartment that did not allow dogs, which was fine because I didn't have one at the time. But, it just so happened that a friend of mine had a cockatiel that he needs to give to someone who had time to take care of it. So I graciously took my new companion just to have some kind of a pet. Was I ever in for a surprise.

I didn't really know much about them, but I figured that a bird was a bird. Not at all true. There are some, like cockatiels, that are very drawn to human beings and make excellent pets, as well as friends. They are so full of personality that you can actually develop a personal relationship with them.

My cockatiel's name is Miss Birdie. I know, not really original, but if you knew her you would agree it fits. She is very much a "miss priss". She thinks she is the cat's meow (oops, bad choice of words).

She likes to ask a lot of questions. When I'm doing something she is not used to seeing, she will start to inquire as to what's going on. When I go into a different room she will call out to see where I am. If she sees me eating, she figures it's time for her to eat, too. If I turn off my computer, she knows it must be time for bed, so she will station herself on the appropriate nighttime perch and give me her little goodnight talk.

If I sneak up on her in the dark, she will hiss at me as a warning. She loves to 'duke it out' when I playfully thump her beak. She fights back as if she has a chance to take me. She will lower her head, step back and forth on her feet and flare out her wings to make herself look bigger. After a little tussle like that, we make amends while I lightly stroke the side of her head (over the ear coverlets) or flick her crown. They seem to find that very stimulating.

She loves to sit on my shoulder while I'm working at my computer. She makes this little purring sound like a kitten (oops, I did it again - good thing she's not here now). Occasionally I will secure the room and let her fly around. She loves a good workout. If I don't do that for a while, she will flap her wings briskly in her cage to work up a good heart rate. My bird gets more exercise than I do. I guess she's smarter than me.

I do have a couple dogs now and they find her to be as interesting as I do and vice-versa. When she goes to flapping her wings for exercise, they will bark and cheer her on. When they start barking because they want to go outside, she will jump in and cheer them on.

Cockatiels can live nearly 20 years. I hope mine outlives me because I couldn't imagine life without my bird. She is family.

By Michael Russell - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Rose Breasted COCKATOO

Photo  by GrrlScientist 

Cockatoos are admirably a favorite because of the size. Yes, you can easily have the cockatoo right in your hand. The striking color of the cockatoo is a big factor in its beauty. And there are lots of cockatoo varieties.

Rose-breasted cockatoo is one of the varieties. This variety is native from the dense forest of Australia. With the rose colors right in the feathers, this variety looks like a striking fire in the middle of the day. Plus, it can talk very well - the best feature dearly loved by most bird enthusiasts.

Attitude

Cockatoos are known to be great, intelligent, amazing and domesticated but the rose-breasted cockatoos are fierce and to the extent, they are almost untameable. Rose-breasted cockatoos are very different from ordinary cockatoos because of its wild habitat and breeding.

Rose-breasted cockatoos do bite and you need to be sure that you are properly protected from the bird's bites. Sometimes, the bird just plucks its wings whenever there are people around. However, rose-breasted cockatoos are unique and are smart birds. You can easily teach the bird the right attitude if you just keep the patience to continue the training. Sooner, your birds will grow smart and just fit the best of your pet.

Growing your Rose Breasted Cockatoo

The cockatiel needs food that you can consider for the best of your bird. However, it is very important to vary the foods. Variation in foods will raise the appetite of your cockatoo allowing them to grow the right way.

As the nature of the bird's fierceness, it is good to consider to give the best patients that you can give. Do not scream or slap the bird when it tries to bite you. You need to make use of the positive reaction to build a positive attitude of your cockatoo.

By Ludwig Bershtich - Article Source: EzineArticles

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When You Choose a COCKATOO, Pick the Bird That Selects You

Photo by Ozzy Delaney

One belief pet owners across the world share in common are: "When choosing a bird, pick a bird that selects you". It is believed that this bird will be cheerful, inquisitive and will readily come to you.

And before you buy a Cockatoo, make sure you know what you are getting into. Unlike other pets, "cockatoos require a lot of time and attention". They will also expect you to interact with them often.

This makes it all the more essential that your pet and you are compatible with each other!

Cockatiels

The first in the list is the Cockatiels. Cockatiels are considered the most popular pet of the cockatoo species all over the world. These gentle and friendly birds make great pets. They aren't moody and demanding like other cockatoo species. They can, therefore, be a child's first pet.

If brought home when young (8 weeks and above), they can be trained to talk, as well as perform tricks such as back flips and rolling over. If hand-fed as a chick, they will quickly settle in their new home. They love having an audience and will keep you amused all the time. These birds are amazing fliers. So make sure you keep their wings well clipped.

But at the same time, they should not be confined in the cage all times. Let them out for some time. Just make sure all windows and doors are shut, fans switched off and electrical appliances like stoves and irons are not running while they are outside the cage.

Umbrella Cockatoo

The Umbrella Cockatoo is a very popular pet. They are gentle, affectionate and will charm you from the moment you set your eyes on them. They get very attached to their owners. They love to please and you can teach your pet many tricks. Although they aren't good talkers, you can train them to dance to the music. They need a lot of physical attention and like a human baby, they need to be hugged, petted and played with. They aren't noisy birds and can be naughty one minute and quiet the next.

Galah Cockatoo

Galahs are commonly kept pets and even Galahs caught in the wild make good pets. They are affectionate and friendly. Galahs are usually pale pink and dark pink. They make good pets. They are independent birds and not needy like other species. They are happy to play on their own and require less time outside the cage.

Galahs make wonderful pets especially when hand-raised. They are extroverted, affectionate, friendly playful and intelligent. And like other cockatoos need to be kept entertained and occupied at all times. They are quick learners and can be trained to perform several tricks.

Often you see them in bird shows, where they fly through several hoops. Galahs are good talkers and males usually have better-talking ability than females. Their talking ability, however, isn't on par with that of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos or the Corellas. So, if you're a workaholic, then Galahs might be the right choice for you!

Goffin's Cockatoos

The Goffin's Cockatoo is the smallest among the cockatoo species. Goffin's Cockatoos are gregarious, inquisitive and carefree birds. They are fun loving and make extremely intelligent pets. Many owners claim that their personality resembles that of dogs. They are active birds that need to be kept occupied at all times. They are more independent than other cockatoo species and don't mind spending a little time on their own. They don't get spoilt easily and if trained properly, they make fabulous pets. They love physical contact and love having their heads scratched. You can train them to imitate human speech but they can be very loud and are not recommended as pets for apartment dwellers.

Palm Cockatoo

The Palm Cockatoo is the largest of the different species of cockatoos. It is a striking black bird with red cheek patches. Palm Cockatoos are gentle, intelligent and love company. They make unique and wonderful pets. They are not as noisy as some of the other species of Cockatoos. In fact, their breeding call is the only loud and noisy sound they make. Palm Cockatoos are much sought after pets, but in reality, kept only in small numbers in mostly private collections.

Moluccan Cockatoo

Contrary to Little Corellas and Goffins, this species is one of the largest of the cockatoo family. The birds are pink to salmon pink with an attractive crest of orange. They make wonderful pets because they are normally very intelligent, friendly and affectionate. They are quite adept at talking and performing several tricks.

Little Corella

As true as the name implies, Little Corellas are one of the smaller cockatoo species. Little Corellas are playful, intelligent and even-tempered birds. They have been kept as pets for many years. These birds can be trained to talk and perform a variety of tricks. They also love to dance and chew. Like all cockatoos, they become very attached to their owners and need to be kept busy.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are affectionate and friendly. Although they have the tendency to become a one-person pet, they make excellent companions. They are more independent than most cockatoo species and are very intelligent. They are quite adept at talking and performing tricks. I hope all these information comes in handy to you when you select your pet cockatoo.

The above is an excerpt from the free newsletter on "All About Cockatoos" published by Geostar Publishing & Services LLC. Jessica Harrison Geostar Publishing & Services LLC 6423, Woodbine Court, St. Louis, Missouri, 63109, USA Article Source: EzineArticles

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PIED COCKATIEL - The First to Develop the Colorful Mutations of Cockatiels

Big and random bodily blotches these are the major characteristics in which the pied cockatiel is known for. This mutation is any color cropping up from solid cockatiel colors. Color quantity and placement differ a single bird to the other. The tint of cockatiels has been a result of the feather pattern changes, not a color change. These pied cockatiels are also called as pied tiel, variegated cockatiel and Harlequin cockatiel.

Pied Cockatiel - Photo: Wikipedia 

The pied upshot in cockatiel actually is a large mixture of colors in blotches or patches, such as permutation of whites and greys among grey cockatiels or a blend of yellow and cinnamon on the cinnamon cockatiels. Some stunning birds show a perfect balance of these blotches although it is not always achieved when breeding cockatiels. As a result, the variation of patterns makes it hard to determine between the sexes of a pied cockatiel.

The record of this cockatiel mutation is indistinct although it has been established that it was done in California. After the death of the first mutation developer, his stock was acquired by a certain Mr. Hubbell who continued the breeding program until today. Chances are that when you had a pied cockatiel, it comes from the continued mutation which was originally from California.

The pied cockatiel was initially developed by breeders so basically these birds did not come from the wilderness or anywhere. The grey ones are seen among the areas of Australia excluding the Tasmania and Australia's coasts. As a Cacatuidae family member, they have generally crests. These crests can go erect when these birds are agitated and enthused. Conversely, their crests level goes down significantly when they are angry or defensive.

The genes which have created the pattern in every cockatiel give no significant effect on the bird's coloring. However, the color distribution is the one that is affected. Pied cockatiels have major combinations of grays and whites within a random pattern. These mutations can weigh to up to four ounces and more.

Making the pied cockatiel an ultimate desirable pet is because of their behavior ñ they are not loud unlike other parrot species which are not only noisy but also are annoying. You can leave it alone it its cage or location for some time without their behavior being affected negatively. These species are steadfast and affectionate. Likewise, they love to play with toys and to climb perches which you have provided in their cage.

By Sara Looper - Sara Looper is a cockatiels expert. - Article Source: EzineArticles

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