Care for a Moluccan or Umbrella Cockatoo

Moluccan and Umbrella Cockatoos are among the larger of the cockatoos (black cockatoos are larger), and widely considered to be two of the most difficult parrots to care for. With careful consideration and correct care, however, these parrots can make wonderful pets.

Steps

  1. Don't rush into cockatoo ownership. Unfortunately, cockatoos have gained a reputation as "cuddly." Though cockatoos are very loving parrots, before buying one it's important to ask yourself the following questions, and only purchase a Moluccan or Umbrella Cockatoo if all your answers are in the affirmative:
    • Do I have the money for cages, toys, Research Pet Care, food, and anything else my 'too might need?
    • Do I have the space for a cage roughly 3 x 3 x 3 (91cm x 91cm x 91cm)?
    • Do I have the time for a parrot that needs at least an hour of play time a day?
    • Do I have the patience for a parrot that will scream extremely loudly and bite?
    • Do I have the commitment for a parrot that will, in all probability, outlive me? (Moluccan Cockatoos, for example, can live to 65 plus years.[1])
  2. Choose your cockatoo. You have several options for obtaining a cockatoo. You can:
    • Buy a baby cockatoo from a pet store. This is extremely risky, as generally you don't know who the parents are, where he was bred, or his health history. However, certain parrot-specific stores are reliable enough to be bought from. Look at parrot websites online for people's comments on forums, etc., for advice as to where they purchased their cockatoo from. If you are in a region where cockatoos are found naturally, require written proof that the parrots were not wild-caught, as catching parrots from the wild is a cruel practice which can physically and emotionally damage a parrot.
    • Buy a young bird from an established private breeder. A private breeder knows the parents and will have raised, or help raise the baby. The breeder can also let you know how siblings have turned out, and you can make plans accordingly. You can make any arrangements with the breeder ahead of time, such as preferring the chick be parent raised, hand-raised, or co-parented with both humans and parrot parents.
    • Buy an adult from an individual. As long as the adult is being re-homed because of a situation unrelated to the Cockatoo himself (allergies, divorce, etc), this is a fine way to get a 'Too. However, require that you meet the parrot beforehand to check her behavior, and contact the vet for her health history.
    • Adopt an adult from a rescue center. This is a good way to go, as rescue centers will usually be able to tell you the parrot's behavior and health. However, avoid rescue centers that seem to be individual-run, or which don't give their parrots vet care, as the health of the cockatoo may have been compromised. Ask the local Start an Animal Shelter organization or shelter for their advice.
  3. Buy a suitable cage for your Moluccan or Umbrella Cockatoo. The Select a Cage and Toys for Your Bird or Birds should be rectangular and roughly three feet by three feet by three feet (91cm by 91cm by 91cm), with plenty of space for your cockatoo to climb and flap his wings, and a bar spacing no more than half an inch (1.27cm). Because zinc and lead are poisonous to parrots, request a written certificate that the cage does not contain these elements. Ideally the cage will be stainless steel with a strong lock, as Umbrellas and Moluccans have a penchant for escaping, and harming less powerful cages. You should include plenty of toys (but not so much as to restrict your 'Too's movement); a seed guard for keeping thrown food inside; three stainless steel bowls for pellets, vegetables and fruit, and water; and safe wooden and/or rope perches.
  4. Give your Cockatoo a healthy diet. Seeds are, contrary to popular belief, not a suitable diet for parrots. Around 60 percent of your Cockatoo's diet should comprise of formulated, non-dyed pellets such as the brand Roudybush. Vegetables are another necessary part of your 'Too's diet; some of the best vegetables include kale, broccoli, dandelion greens, carrots, cooked sweet potato, and squash. Fruits are healthy and tasty, but should only be fed in moderation due to their high water content; good choices include orange fruits such as papaya, mango, oranges, and cantaloupe.[2] Healthy table foods (well-cooked meat, brown rice, tofu, cheese, non-fat yogurt, cooked egg, cooked beans, carrots, etc) are also acceptable in small amounts. Seeds are a good treat; grit, cuttlebone, and vitamin supplements are unnecessary. Food should act as mental stimulation as well as nutrition, so introduce new foods as a means of chewing, play, and curiosity fulfillment.[2] Toxic foods include:
    • Chocolate
    • Avocado
    • Green parts of tomatoes
    • The seeds/pits of fruits from the rose family, including pears, peaches, apricots, and cherries
    • Caffeine and alcohol
    • Dried beans
    • Very salty foods like pretzels; and
    • Many other foods; always check that a food is safe for your parrot before feeding it to him!
  5. Allow your Cockatoo out of his cage every day. He should be out for at least an hour a day, though longer is always better. Try to fit him into your life - let him out to Watch TV on Your PC with you, or let him sit on your chair when you're on the computer. However, if you bought a baby, you'll need to train him to step up. You can do this by following these simple steps:
    • Place your arm next to his chest, and in a gentle but firm voice tell him "Step up!".
    • Hopefully, he'll step onto your arm, or place one foot on your arm. Don't worry if he does nothing!
    • When he steps up, praise him! You can also offer him a treat; however, don't do it every time or he'll come to expect it.
    • Eventually stepping up will become a learned behavior.
  6. Ensure regular vet care. This is nothing but mandatory. Find a vet who specializes in avian care; it's also good to have an emergency vet available in case your parrot gets in trouble after your regular vet closes. You'll need to take your Cockatoo to the vet every year for blood work to check for any diseases; and if you notice that he has runny droppings, seems tired and dejected, has changed his eating or drinking habits, or is suddenly biting or plucking when he didn't before, take him to the vet immediately.
  7. Clip your Cockatoo's wings! If you allow him to fly, he could severely injure or kill himself through flying into fans, pots of boiling water, closed windows, or other household dangers. In addition, lost parrots are often euthanized in shelters or never found or returned to their owner. And even if you clip your 'Too's wings, he might be able to fly away if you bring him outside. Never take your Cockatoo outside without a harness or carrier!
  8. If you bought a baby, prepare for the "teenager" stage. While he is a baby, enforce rules such as no biting, inside voices, or any other rules you have by ignoring bad behavior and praising good behavior. This will help you during the teenager stage, at which point your parrot will seek a parrot to mate with (which might be you, as parrots have a loose sense of species), explore and defy boundaries, and behave in general like a human teenager. Adopted adults have something somewhat similar: When you first adopt your 'Too, you'll experience the "honeymoon" stage, at which point he will behave perfectly. Once this stage is over, however, you will experience typical Moluccan or Umbrella behavior.
  9. Check for household dangers. Common ones include:
    • Cook Without Teflon and many other non-stick products, which can be found in ovens, irons, heaters, and many other household items. If heated, they can produce poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene (PTFE) fumes, which is fatal to parrots and other birds.
    • Fans - this only applies for non-clipped 'Toos.
    • Open Install a Glass Toilet Tank, which your Cockatoo can drown in.
    • Dogs and cats: Even their saliva can be fatal for parrots, and no matter how well they seem to get along, your cockatoo should be kept separate from any other pets.
    • Lead and zinc, which can be found in some cages, and many household items (Lead: picture frames, paint, jewelry, etc. Zinc: white rust, padlocks, galvanized dishes, certain paints, duct tape, etc).
    • Some household plants, including the common Christmas plant, poinsettia.
  10. Don't allow your Cockatoo to interact with children. Moluccan and Umbrella Cockatoos are powerful enough that they can cause severe damage to a child, with the addition of any emotional trauma an attack may cause. Even the friendliest 'Too can attack if provoked.
  11. Watch out for behavioral issues. Common problems cockatoos have include Prevent or Stop a Parrot from Plucking, screaming, and biting. Plucking is a neurotic behavior in which the parrot will pull feathers out, causing a great deal of pain. If it progresses far enough, plucking can go as far as self-mutilation; if this happens, your Cockatoo needs to be re-homed or taken to a sanctuary. Screaming is a natural behavior, and happens most often during the morning and evening, but if it starts to become a habit, seek the help of a professional. Biting is again natural, but if it becomes an issue, again find a professional.
  12. Have fun with your Cockatoo! Umbrellas and Moluccans are difficult to care for, but if they're given the correct care, your 'Too can be your "cuddly" (if screaming) best friend!



Tips

  • Many Moluccan and Umbrella Cockatoos are protective of their cages. If this is true for your Cockatoo, it might be best to have your 'Too step up onto a wooden stick. Then, when out of sight of the cage, have your Cockatoo step up onto your arm.
  • Birds poop frequently! An early part of training can include a "poop" command while holding your 'too over a suitable spot. Doing this immediately after removing from the cage, and every 10-15 minutes during your play time can make that time a lot more pleasant. Because of the natural frequency of this action, it is surprisingly easy behavior to train as a command response.
  • The Moluccan Cockatoo is endangered; it heralds from the Indonesian Central Molucca Islands of Seram, Saparua, and Haruku.[3] It is a highly intelligent parrot that requires the same amount of attention as a child. The Umbrella Cockatoo is known also as U2 or the White Cockatoo, and it heralds from islands in North Maluku, Indonesia.[4] It has a vulnerable status according to the IUCN. Known also as "Velcro birds", the Umbrella Cockatoo likes to "cuddle" with the primary caretaker. Again, they have a high level of intelligence too.
  • If you do end up needing to rehome your Cockatoo, advertise for an adopter and then screen them. Make sure they are completely aware of what they're getting into - now is not the time to hold back! If you can't find a home in time, surrender your 'Too to a no-kill rescue.

Warnings

  • Learn parrot body language! This will help you understand your Cockatoo's behavior.
  • Umbrella and Moluccan Cockatoos, and most in general, are very good at learning to talk. However, they do learn what is repeated most. If this is their name, "Hello," "I love you," or such, it isn't a problem. However, if you tend to swear or be otherwise impolite, your 'Too's vocabulary can be embarrassing when you have guests.
  • Moluccan and Umbrella Cockatoos will create a large amount of "dust," which can irritate people with allergies.
  • Don't allow your Cockatoo onto your shoulders, as they have a tendency to bite ears.

Things You'll Need

  • A Moluccan or Umbrella Cockatoo
  • An appropriate amount of money
  • A large cage (around 3 x 3 x 3/91cm x 91cm x 91cm).
  • An experienced avian vet
  • Cage supplies
  • Lots of toys and activities to keep your 'too occupied, including wood toys to chew up and destroy
  • Healthy foods

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/aves/psittaciformes/moluccan-cockatoo.htm
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.petpublishing.com/birdtimes/breeds/moluccan.shtml
  3. ↑ http://www.aviancompanions.com/moluccan.htm
  4. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Cockatoo

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