Umbrella Cockatoo
Characteristics
Length: 40-45 cm (about 15 3/4 – 17 3/4 inches). White; naked periophthalmic ring yellowish. Eyes black (red-brownish in females), beak and legs black. Friendly, quiet bird, which can be very long-lived.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies. Can learn to talk.
Diet
All parakeets and parrots, including cockatoos, need a large variety of fresh, healthy foods, whether on a pellet or a seed diet. Beneficial foods include dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, dandelions, and chard, as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. Healthy table foods like cooked eggs, corn, beans, pasta, and rice can also be offered. Remove perishable foods after a few hours and at bedtime. Grit, gravel, and oyster shells should never be given. A seed-only diet will result in malnutrition. Eventually, a cockatoo should become acclimated to a diet containing specially formulated pellets. An AVIAN vet can help with more information.
Cleaning
Tray liners should be replaced every day and the cage bottom, fittings and dishes regularly washed with hot water and soap. Once a month, disinfect the cage with diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly. Line the tray with black and white newspaper or paper towels. It is unsafe to use pine/cedar shavings, corn cob or walnut bedding.
Fertility
Breeding successes in an aviary are difficult but possible. Provide a large nest box or barrel: 50 x 40 x 50 cm with an entrance diameter of 12 cm. The female lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 1 month. After about 11 weeks the young leave the nest, but will still be fed for a relatively long time primarily by the male.
Health
All parakeets and parrots, including cockatoos, should be examined by a qualified AVIAN vet at least once a year or ASAP if any bleeding, injuries, or other signs are noted. It can be hard to tell when a bird is ill, and by the time you notice a problem, the sickness is usually well-advanced. Delaying a visit with an AVIAN vet or using over-the-counter or human medicines may be fatal.
Warnings
All parrakeets and parrots, including cockatoos, have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes.
