Don’t keep your bird in the kitchen. Fumes given off by non-stick coatings can harm your birds health, plus debris from your bird’s cage can get on your food. [1] X Research source

If your bird spends a lot of time in its cage, it needs an even bigger cage. Choosing a cage that’s too small will make your bird unhappy, which can lead to behavioral issues like self-mutilation.

Plan to replace the perches often, as your bird will likely destroy them over time. Your cockatoo will enjoy scratching and chewing on the perches.

Your bird also needs 12 hours of darkness to encourage it to sleep.

Normally, you’ll feed the bird in its cage using food dishes. You don’t need to move its cage for feeding time, but it’s best if the cage is positioned where it can see you eating. Additionally, your bird can also eat a small amount of table scraps, which you can provide either in its food dish or by tossing them to your bird during your meal. [6] X Research source

You can find a food dish that’s made for use with birds at a local pet store or online. Some of these dishes will look similar to a food bowl made for a cat or dog, only smaller. However, you might prefer a pellet dish that attaches to the side of the bird’s cage so your bird doesn’t move it around the cage as it eats. The food bowl might be hard to retrieve if your bird pushes it deep into the cage. Check the label on your food to find out how much to give your bird. Base the amount of food you give your cockatoo on its weight.

Place fresh foods in a separate dish. Remove the dish after about an hour, as the food will spoil. As an example, your bird might enjoy eating sliced pineapple, berries, carrots, cucumber, squash and peas. It might also like cooked chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, and macaroni.

For example, you might use seeds to reward your bird for good behavior. Alternatively, you might give your bird a shelled walnut, which it can crack!

Chocolate Caffeine Avocado Shelled peanuts Potato skins

Moluccan and umbrella cockatoos rarely bathe in their water dish, as they prefer to be sprayed with water.

Keep the water on a low-pressure setting. If the bird’s feathers are getting ruffled, the pressure is too high. It might take a few showers for your cockatoo to get used to baths. Start out with a light spray of water and gradually progress as your bird gets used to it.

You can find nail clippers at your local pet store or online. If you can’t find a pair made for birds, it’s okay to use one made for dogs and cats. If you’re trimming your bird’s nails at home, buy a powdered clotting agent first, which you can apply to the bird’s nail if you accidentally cut the quick. This will prevent excessive bleeding. You can find a powdered clotting agent at a pet store or online. Your vet can trim the nails if you’re not comfortable doing it. Your bird will naturally wear down its nails through clutching perches, playing with toys, and rubbing their claws on surfaces. However, your bird’s nails might not get as much wear as a wild bird, meaning its nails need a trimming. [14] X Research source

Your cockatoo will shed its trimmed feathers and regrow new ones about twice a year, which is natural. Make sure you monitor your bird so you can trim its new feathers. Your vet can show you how to trim your cockatoo’s wings, if you’d like. However, always visit the vet for your bird’s first trimming.

Make sure you find an avian vet, which is someone who specializes in birds. When the vet examines your bird, they may decide to do an annual beak trimming. Birds naturally wear down their beaks by chewing, gnawing on toys, and grinding their beak. However, birds kept in captivity may need a yearly trimming. If this is the case, your vet will do it. Never try to do it yourself. [17] X Research source

Feather plucking and self mutilation: If your bird has this, you’ll notice it pulling out its own feathers or picking at itself. This condition can be caused by stress, boredom, itching from parasites, or a bacterial infection. Psittacine beak and feather disease: This illness occurs when a circovirus attacks the cells that make up your bird’s beak and feathers, causing the beak to be weak and the feathers to grow poorly. You’ll notice bald spots, as well as trouble eating. Bumblefoot: Your bird’s feet might become swollen with lesions on them due to unsanitary cage conditions. This condition may also be caused by dirty perches and poor nutrition. Obesity: Birds naturally want to eat a lot, so they can easily become obese if you over feed them. An obese bird will look round about its middle and may struggle to fly more than it used to. This is a serious condition, as it can lead to fatty liver disease, which can be fatal. Lipomas: These are fatty deposits that usually appear on your bird’s torso. They aren’t fatal, but you may get them removed by the vet if your bird appears uncomfortable.

For example, you might let your bird sit on your arm while you go for a walk or watch television. Additionally, you might play catch with your bird using a small ball or play dress up with your bird using doll clothes. [19] X Research source Cockatoos are very demanding birds that crave attention. This can lead to bad behaviors like escaping, screaming, and destruction if they’re bored and don’t get enough attention.

Puzzle toys are a fun challenge for your cockatoo. Some puzzle toys allow you to place a treat inside the toy that your bird will work to retrieve. Your bird will get bored with its toys after a week or 2. Keep several sets of toys so you can cycle them. That way, your bird gets “new” toys every couple of weeks.

Turn off ceiling fans. Make sure glass windows and doors have smudges so the bird doesn’t fly into them. Remove, hide or cover electrical wires. Avoid using aerosol sprays. Blow out or remove candles. Avoid using essential oils. Clean up and cover flaking paint. Remove jewelry, especially costume jewelry, which can contain zinc. Put other pets in a different room.

You don’t need to turn up the volume very high. Turn it up just loud enough for it to be audible in the room where your parrot’s cage is kept.

Over time, your bird will learn to scream at this designated time. If it’s otherwise happy, it’s less likely to scream at unwanted times.