How to Live with a Moluccan Cockatoo Parrot

The Moluccan Cockatoo is a beautiful yet noisy bird, often chosen as a pet. However, before adopting one, it's important to understand the kind of life you will have with such a parrot in your home. These birds are extremely affectionate and demand a lot of care. With a lifespan of over 30 years, Moluccan cockatoos love to play and can be mischievous. Owners will need to dedicate a lot of time and attention to them.

Discuss responsibilities with your family. While Cockatoos are amazing pets, they require a lot of care. You can't just leave them in a cage all day and feed them. You need to spend time playing with them every day. Have a conversation with your family to decide if you're ready to take on a pet that demands this level of attention.

Cockatoos are wild creatures. While Cockatoos have been bred in captivity as pets, they are not domesticated animals. They retain many traits of their wild counterparts.

• Expect typical parrot behavior such as squawking, chewing on wood and paper, and scattering food around.
• Experienced parrot owners will know how to provide the best care for a Cockatoo, managing its loud calls and strong biting force.

Make sure you can handle the Cockatoo's loud calls. Cockatoos are one of the noisiest parrot breeds. Their screeching reaches 135 decibels, which is almost as loud as a 747 jet engine. A Cockatoo may not be suitable if someone in your household cannot tolerate such noise, such as young children. If you live in a noise-sensitive area, like an apartment, you might want to choose a different parrot breed.

Be aware that Cockatoos can live with you for a very long time. The lifespan of a Cockatoo is extremely long, often rivaling human life expectancy. This means that they won’t just be with you for 10 or 15 years like dogs or cats. A Cockatoo can live for more than 30 years.

• Don’t get a Cockatoo thinking you can sell it off if you lose interest. Cockatoos are highly social and form strong bonds with their owners.

Assess whether you're financially prepared for a Cockatoo. The cost of keeping a Cockatoo is relatively high, even if the initial investment isn’t excessive. Prices vary depending on location, but the annual costs of keeping a Cockatoo can be quite significant, starting at least at $1000 annually in the U.S. You'll need to budget for food, a cage, cleaning supplies, and veterinary care.

• Don’t get a Cockatoo if you cannot afford to take proper care of it.

Cockatoos are mischievous and love to cause a mess. These birds have a habit of scattering things all around their cage. Cockatoos require many toys to chew on and pass the time, and once these toys are bitten apart, bits and pieces end up scattered everywhere. They are also known to toss their food, which often falls to the floor. Wood chips, dust, broken seeds, and bird droppings often litter the area surrounding their cage.

• To clean up the mess made by your Cockatoo, you can use a handheld vacuum cleaner to remove the debris every day.

Prepare yourself for dust. Cockatoos generate a significant amount of dust that spreads throughout your home. This dust, also known as feather dust, is made up of tiny broken feather fibers that detach and float off the bird, eventually spreading around the house. Therefore, you will need a vacuum cleaner or must sweep regularly if you wish to keep a Cockatoo.

• If you suffer from allergies or asthma, a Cockatoo may not be the right pet for you.
• Placing an air purifier near the Cockatoo’s living area can help improve air quality.

Beware of destructive chewing. Cockatoos love to chew on everything. When you let them out of their cage, always keep an eye on them to prevent them from damaging your furniture. They may chew on shoes, clothing, and furniture.

• Providing toys for them to chew on can help mitigate this, but it won't completely solve the problem. You should always supervise your Cockatoo when it's outside the cage.

Cockatoos are loud and have high demands. Cockatoos are noisy birds that often squawk endlessly. While they can learn to speak, they don’t talk as much as other species, typically only screaming loudly. They have many needs and are very clingy, often making loud calls when they feel bored or neglected.

Buy a spacious cage. Cockatoos are large parrots, so you need to invest in a big cage. Ensure the cage offers enough room for the bird to fly, exercise, and play.

• The minimum dimensions of the cage should be 75 cm in width and 120 cm in length, or large enough for the bird to fully spread its wings in all directions.
• The cage must be sturdy. Since Cockatoos love to chew, they can easily destroy a plastic cage. Therefore, opt for a stainless steel cage.

Moluccan Cockatoos should be housed separately. Cockatoos are aggressive towards other birds, and their bite is strong enough to kill another bird in the same cage. Although Cockatoos are highly social birds, it is best to keep them in a separate cage and avoid attempting to house them with other bird species.

Spend plenty of time interacting with your Cockatoo. Cockatoos thrive on interaction, meaning they require a lot of time spent playing with humans. If you're often away or don't have enough time to engage with the bird, it may become noisy, depressed, or engage in destructive behaviors. Try to spend at least a few hours each day playing with your Cockatoo to prevent loneliness.

Place the cage in a high-traffic area. Cockatoos want to feel like part of the family. Thus, it’s ideal to place their cage in a room that’s regularly used by people. This will help the bird stay calm and reduce the chances of depression.

• For example, when the bird sees people in the room, it will feel comfortable and play happily in its cage. On the other hand, if no one is around, the bird may squawk loudly, feel stressed, and start plucking its feathers.
• Do not place the cage in the kitchen, as cooking smoke can harm the bird.

Place liners underneath and around the cage. Since Cockatoos can be messy, it’s a good idea to buy replaceable liners to place around the cage. You can use any kind of paper, such as newspaper, paper towels, or paper bags. The liners also help you monitor the quality of the bird’s droppings.

• For extra protection, you can use bird cage sand and rolled-up newspaper. Never use wood chips or shavings, as they are toxic to birds.
• You can also protect your floors and the area around the cage by placing a liner underneath. Rubber mats are a good choice since they are easy to clean.

Provide plenty of toys. Cockatoos need entertainment, especially when they are left alone in their cages. Providing numerous toys keeps them physically and mentally engaged. Suitable options include ropes, swings, food-themed toys, chew toys, and brightly colored playthings.

• Fill the cage with chewable items since Cockatoos enjoy chewing. You can either buy commercial toys or make your own using safe bird materials like cardboard and wood.
• Food-finding toys are a great idea. Cockatoos have a natural hunting instinct for food in the wild, so you can offer toys that require them to search for food.

Spend time playing with your parrot every day. Cockatoos enjoy interacting with humans daily. If not engaged often, they may become anxious and start feather plucking to relieve stress. Take your Cockatoo out of the cage daily and talk to it.

• Some Cockatoos enjoy sitting on your lap while you watch TV or work on the computer.
• Make time for play to let them exercise, such as playing fetch where the bird brings back items.
• Ensure the environment is safe before letting the bird out. Close doors and windows, keep other pets secured, cover exposed wires, and remove any potential hazards.

Don’t allow your parrot to sit on your shoulder or walk on the ground. Cockatoos may bite your face if you allow them to perch on your shoulder. If you let them walk on the ground, they might treat it as their territory and become aggressive toward anyone who passes by. To minimize aggression, avoid letting your Cockatoo sit on your shoulder or roam the floor.

Install an activity playhouse. A fun way to interact with your Cockatoo outside the cage is by setting up an activity playhouse or toy house. Place this setup in a room where people often gather. Your Cockatoo will love it, as it can enjoy playtime close to its human companions.