Cockatoos Good for Beginners? (What You Need to Know)


Cockatoos are renowned for their cuddly, playful, silly, energetic, and affectionate nature. They are also extremely photogenic. With such a reputation, many beginners welcome the idea of getting a pet cockatoo.

So, are cockatoos good for beginners? Cockatoos are generally not recommended for beginners due to their complex care requirements. Their intelligent and emotional nature demands significant attention, interaction, and mental stimulation. Often loud and prone to destructive behavior if not properly cared for, cockatoos require experienced handlers who understand their unique needs and can provide the necessary time and resources. Inadequate care can lead to behavioral problems, making them a challenging choice for novice bird owners.

In general, cockatoos are not good pets for a first-time bird owner due to their constant need for their attention. Cockatoos require a lot of time outside their cages and tend to scream and squawk. Only one in ten people can properly, sufficiently, and effectively take care of a cockatoo, giving it all that it requires.

Cockatoos, a family of parrots known for their distinctive crests and remarkable intelligence, are sought after as pets by many bird enthusiasts. The suitability of cockatoos for beginners, however, is often a subject of debate. It involves considering their needs, temperament, and the experience level required to care for them properly.

There’s a variety of cockatoos breeds, including the Umbrellas, Moluccans, and Rose-breasted, among others. All these breeds have different personalities and you must understand cockatoos’ nature as pets before jumping to get one. Understanding about whether cockatoos are good first birds, whether they make terrible pets, and what is the best age to get a cockatoo is very important.

Parrots are great birds. In fact, many experienced bird owners will easily add a cockatoo to their flock. However, if you’re a new owner, you may be wondering if this is the best decision to make.

Cockatoos aren’t good first birds because they are very demanding. They need you to cuddle them frequently, provide them with fresh food daily, and constantly give them new toys that they mostly end up destroying within hours. Therefore, if you cannot manage to attain that level of care, you shouldn’t get one.

Cockatoos have a very long lifetime; therefore, they are not the best choice for trial and error. They are a lifelong commitment, living for over 55 years. Some cockatoos have even lived for more than 100 years. Therefore, once you pick a cockatoo as your first bird, be prepared to bond with it for life.

A cockatoo’s toy budget can be quite a headache. This is because they need to be engaged constantly. However, they chew through their toys in just a few days, prompting you to replace them on a regular basis. The recurrent purchases may cost you somewhere between 25 and 55 bucks per toy.

The general unpredictable personality of a cockatoo can be a lot for a person who is new to birds to understand and cope with. Cockatoos have a limit to their friendliness. They exhibit emotions in both extremes, a lot like bipolar disorder. For instance, they’ll show extreme friendliness that they have never shown you before, then suddenly begin to make screeching noises.

Cockatoos are aggressive and territorial. In the absence of a flock, their caregiver automatically becomes their flock. Cockatoos do not appreciate it when you as part of their flock choose to make contact with other pets or humans. They will get aggressive if you deny them attention or do something contrary to their liking. The intensity of their aggressiveness can be intimidating for a new bird owner.

If you have a long work schedule or shift-based employment, a cockatoo’s demanding nature makes them an unsuitable pet. They do not survive alone for a long while. You may even notice a cockatoo blabbering as soon as you leave their presence. If you cannot maintain at least four to six hours of interaction with a cockatoo, you may not be able to provide it with its social needs.

Cockatoos have a high initial cost. In addition, they require a lot of work, emotion, and time investment, making them high maintenance. For instance, an umbrella cockatoo may cost you somewhere between a thousand and three thousand dollars. For a beginner, these costs may not be the best to experiment with bird-rearing with.

Do Cockatoos Make Terrible Pets?

Cockatoos, known for their striking appearance and engaging personalities, are often considered as potential pets. The question of whether they make terrible pets is subjective and depends on various factors including the owner’s experience, environment, and ability to meet the bird’s needs. It’s essential to analyze the specific requirements and characteristics of cockatoos to provide an informed perspective.

Cockatoos don’t necessarily make terrible pets, but they can be challenging for some owners. Their need for attention, mental stimulation, and physical activity requires a dedicated effort. If not properly attended to, they may develop behavioral problems such as screaming or chewing.

Potential owners must recognize the substantial commitment in terms of time, effort, and financial resources required to care for a cockatoo properly. In the right environment, with an experienced and attentive owner, a cockatoo can be a rewarding and affectionate pet.

Deciding on a Cockatoo depends on your interests, their demands, and how able and willing you are to meet these demands. Before you decide to settle on a cockatoo, you need to learn more about it and what it will require of you and your family. This will help you live more peacefully with your pet.

Cockatoos cannot be left by themselves for long hours. What’s unsaid in the many adorable pictures of cockatoo owners on social media is that those owners devote a lot of time to their birds. In reality, earring a cocktail involves a lot of biting, screaming, and destroying items.

Cockatoos tend to get anxious when their owners leave their eyesight. Cockatoos enjoy many activities such as using block toys and watching movies; however, they may begin to pluck their hairs when they panic or can’t locate you. Their anxiety is so intense that cockatoos can’t manage to sleep unless there is pin-drop silence.

Cockatoos may force you to shift your routine per their demands. Cockatoos live well on a routine; a shift in their needs may lead them to an outburst of annoying screams. It’s a little hard to predict their neuroticism; they will bite or scream unexpectedly.

Cockatoos are very jealous pets that loathe seeing their owners with other people or pets. Cockatoos do not readily accept people in their owners’ lives; anything can get them jealous or mad, from random emotions to nearby dogs. The dishwasher’s sound or a relocated picture may trigger one of their neurotic episodes. Additionally, they do not get along too well with other birds.

Cockatoos are attention-hungry; they will only work well when they are the centers of attraction. According to a cockatoo’s perception of itself, it lies at the top of the pecking order. In an interactive and highly social household, satisfying their attention needs may be quite challenging.

Every single minute, your cockatoo will stay by your side, and if you attempt to leave them alone or just get away for a minute, they will scream their lungs out. This means that you have to include them in every single activity you do including leaving the house to eat out or bathing. This is why most cockatoo owners end up giving them up for adoption.

Cockatoos can get quite destructive in the house. They can chew on your furniture, eat up shirts and make holes in them, damage your TV and keyboard; handling them is a full-time job. This means that you must keep a cockatoo engaged in some activities throughout their day until they fall asleep.

Cockatoos are not apartment-friendly pets. They are noisy, shouty, and dusty; expect many neighbors’ complaints if you choose to keep a cockatoo while living in an apartment. Additionally, they damage right about everything they can put their beaks through.

Cockatoos, like other parrots, may have respiratory problems; therefore, keeping anything that has scents is a no-no. Common fragrances to avoid include scented cleaning products, air fresheners, and scented candles. You must also take precautions on hair products such as curling irons; use them with windows open and about three rooms away from the bird’s place.

Cockatoos are like ticking outburst bombs. They may scream when you fail to make eye-contact with them. Pro-longed frustration may lead them to start plucking out their features, even a speck of dirt in their drinking water. Anything can turn a cockatoo off, including their bowl being empty or not liking what’s inside them, a car alarm, or a dog passing by.

Cockatoo bites are a lot more painful than you could imagine. Cockatoos do not always bite hard every time; however, they go all-in when they do. Tough cockatoo bites may even remove a chunk of skin from the person it’s biting, leaving long-lasting scars.

What Is the Best Age To Get a Cockatoo?

When contemplating the addition of a cockatoo to the household, one of the critical considerations is the age of the bird at the time of adoption or purchase. The best age for acquiring a cockatoo can affect the ease of training, bonding, and long-term relationship with the pet. Various factors, including the experience level of the owner and the specific needs of the cockatoo, must be weighed to make an informed decision.

The optimal age to acquire a cockatoo is generally when the bird is young, around weaning age, which can be between 3 to 4 months old. A young bird is often more adaptable and may bond more readily with its new owner. However, adopting an older bird from a rescue organization can also be a fulfilling experience, provided the new owner understands the bird’s history, temperament, and potential behavioral challenges. Both options require a commitment to training and ongoing care, tailored to the individual bird’s needs and personality.

Adult cockatoos are often great options since they are usually already tamed. Some may have a few behavioral problems, but most won’t. Additionally, many adult cockatoos need new homes for various reasons, like their owners expecting a baby. Such cockatoos can still live long, learn new tricks, and speak new words. They are excellent options.

On the downside, adopting a mature cockatoo may lead to some issues that only you will see. Cockatoos are highly social, breaking the bond between them and the person they adore and love; their flock may be quite hard. Some result in behaviors such as plucking their feathers due to heartbreak, a habit that may take days, weeks, months, or even years depending on the bird’s circumstances.

You can also consider adopting a cockatoo right after birth. A baby cockatoo has an easier and faster time getting affectionate with you. The initial cost of a baby cockatoo is also lower than that of a mature one too.

The disadvantages of getting a baby cockatoo are that it constantly requires your presence and attention. It also takes a lot of effort and time to train a cockatoo. Any mistake in a baby cockatoo’s care may lead to a malformation, incurable disease, or other condition that requires medical attention. Finally, a baby cockatoo may outlive its owner.

There isn’t a perfect age to get a cockatoo; you can either adopt a baby or adult cockatoo. The best thing to do is to use either advantages or disadvantages to make an informed decision. Once you pick, go in prepared for the disadvantages and work on your strong points with the bird.

Lastly

A lot of people are tempted to buy cockatoos because they are charming. At first glance, raising a cockatoo is assumed to be an easy and fun process. Moreover, many people also assume that it’s mandatory for pets to be calm and extra loving to them.

While cockatoos are often far from calm, they are excellent pets. However, it’s essential to get a fact check before getting one and realizing exactly what you are getting into, especially for a beginner.

Bal Kang

Bal Kang is an owner of several pets including reptiles, cats and dogs. An avid writer, who loves to share her insights into caring for pets.

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