#BEST COCKATOO BREEDS HOW TO#

My sulphur crested also acquired speech and has a very clear voice, but has a limited vocabulary. Speech potential in most cockatoos does not equal that of the macaws or Amazon parrots, but I have had some outstanding talkers among the galahs and salmon crested. The intellectual capacity of some individuals is truly amazing, while others seem unable to grasp the simplest idea. These include the very exotic black palm, Banksian, gang-gang, Leadbeater's, greater sulphur crested, slender billed and red vented cockatoos.Īll of the cockatoos I have lived with and trained were exceedingly noisy, demanding birds, regardless of species. Some of the more unusual species are most often seen in bird parks. There are several other species frequently kept as pets, including the rosebreasted or gal ah, the Goffin 's cockatoo, the citron crested, the (lesser) sulphur crested, the triton and the corella. The varieties most common in captivity include: the salmon crested or Moluccan cockatoo, the (medium) sulphur crested or Eleanora cockatoo and the umbrella or greater white crested cockatoo. However, the greatest number of cockatoos that find their way into private homes via the pet trade, are imported.

#BEST COCKATOO BREEDS HOW TO#

It is far better for the beginning bird fancier to gain real knowledge of how to care for and handle some of the less complicated parrot species before getting involved with a cockatoo.ĭomestic hatched, hand-reared cockatoos are becoming more common in the United States and elsewhere, as captive breeding programs are instituted. I do not recommend any type of cockatoo (whether imported or domestic hatched) as a 'first' pet bird in a home where there is no previous experience with parrot husbandry. Due to their multi-faceted personalities, the inexperienced bird handler should consider the purchase of any cockatoo species with careful deliberation. Too often, the new cockatoo fancier is unprepared for the task of taming and properly caring for a wild caught, imported bird.

It is important for the prospective owner, as well as the long time owner of any cockatoo, to realize that these birds have complex emotional makeups. Maladjusted, aggressive, frantic cockatoos are few and far between, although I have observed some who bordered on schizophrenia and others who engaged in self destructive behaviors that were hard to understand. Most will thrive for many years in a stable environment, given proper diet and housing. They are highly intelligent, inquisitive birds who appreciate a well-ordered life style. The great majority of cockatoos are natural hams and respond well to your attempts to tame them. A newly acquired cockatoo is an individual with a definite personality.

Best cockatoo breeds