Otherwise, they may grow up to be overly attached to their humans and unable to deal with being left alone.Ī well-socialized, well-adjusted cockatoo makes a playful, cuddly, often wildly entertaining pet. Raising a cockatoo correctly is a delicate balance of handling them enough to be tame but giving them enough time on their own to learn to be okay with it.

Add in their tendency to express their feelings very loudly and you begin to understand why cockatoos generally aren’t recommended for inexperienced or first-time bird owners. However, they can also be demanding of their owner’s time, are prone to being moody, and can develop behavioral problems if their needs aren’t met to their satisfaction. They are smart, loving, affectionate birds with the right socialization and plenty of attention.

Related read: Where Do Cockatoos Come From?Ĭockatoos are known for their unique temperament among the pet bird species.

They are highly social, living and foraging for food in flocks of up to 100 at a time. In the wild, cockatoos live mainly in forests of all types, including rainforests. Around 1985, captive-breeding of cockatoos began and today nearly all pet cockatoos are bred rather than wild-caught. In the early 20 th century, wild-caught cockatoos became popular pets among rich Europeans. They were brought to Europe in the mid-1800s, first as specimens and later as pets, by sailors returning from exploring that part of the world. All of the cockatoo species originate from Australia and nearby islands including New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands.

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