Cockatoos: Awesome Animals, Awful Pets
Cockatoos: Awesome Animals, Awful Pets
Counting down to Int'l Parrot Crisis Awareness Day on 3/10, I got a rant to share.
If there was one parrot species I wish to never see in a cage again, it would be cockatoos.
Cockatoos are some of the most incredible birds on the planet. They’re highly intelligent, affectionate, and full of personality. However, they are one of the most difficult animals to keep.
Self-Destructive Behaviors
Cockatoos form deep emotional bonds and often struggle in our homes and in sanctuaries. Many develop severe feather plucking and even self-mutilation when their needs aren’t met. This isn’t bad behavior, it’s actually psychological trauma.
Eardrums Destroyed
These birds evolved to scream across miles of forest to reach their flockmates. Their calls can reach 135 decibels—louder than a chainsaw. They don’t just scream when upset; it’s whenever they want to communicate, which is often.
Domestic Violence
Unlike many parrots, cockatoos cannot be housed together without risk. If bonded birds have a falling out, one will unalive the other. This makes housing multiple cockatoos extremely difficult.
There Will Be🩸
A cockatoo’s beak is built to destroy wood, which means your furniture, walls, and even your fingers are at risk. Their playful bites can break bones, and a full-strength bite can require stitches or worse.
Expensive at Hecc
Proper care for a cockatoos are not cheap. They need a huge cage (minimum $1,000+), constant toys to destroy ($100+ a month), fresh food, and regular vet visits. Finding an avian vet is already hard—treating a sick cockatoo can cost thousands. Many owners are unprepared for the financial burden.
Long Lives, Hard to Rehome
Cockatoos live 60-80 years, often outliving their owners. Unfortunately, their high needs make them extremely difficult to rehome. Many end up bouncing from home to home or abandoned in sanctuaries that are already full.
Cockatoos are actually wild animals. If you truly love these birds, support rescues, learn about their plight, and PLEASE don't buy one.