I have a 6 year old Umbrella Cockatoo. He is the coolest bird and I love him to death. My husband and I are looking for advice on behavior problems .. We have a huge bathroom we keep his cage in and he has free reign in that room. He is becoming destructive no matter how much we interact with him. We are looking into an outdoor aviary for dys when wether is nice outside. Pp,ease give any advice especially if we are doing things wrong with him.
Need advice
- Thread starter Zezemama
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sonja
New member
- Jul 31, 2012
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What kind of toys does he have? Cockatoos are naturally destructive birds. Only to them, it isn't being destructive, it's just their nature. It's not a behavior "problem". It is normal behavior. They chew things. They demolish things. They don't really have a preference whether it is something you want him to destroy or not. Sounds like a normal cockatoo to me!
MikeyTN
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- Feb 1, 2011
- 13,296
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- "Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
I agree with sonja there! He's just being a Cockatoo....
- Thread starter
- #5
I have him out every morning evening and on my lunch hour. I do know his destruction is normal. He has a long wood ladder that he loves to chew on and all sorts of other wood toys. He is the most loving bird...he sticks like Velcro
Pinkbirdy
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- Feb 26, 2013
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My Toos are a HUGE mess [and their the smaller ones ] . You should see my mantles ,door frames and other furniture. I would get untreated pine 2 by 4s ,A stack of newspaper and cardboard boxes. These guys are shredders [and its a huge mess]. even though mine have a ton of other toys [these materials worked].At least your guy sounds happy [hes not plucking or screaming] 
- Thread starter
- #7
No plucking at all and rarely screams.. He love any an all wood. I will try the untreated wood and other stuff. He is so funny .. I was trying to post a picture of him. Also, he loves hot water to drink which I find kind of odd lol
Last edited:
SoCalWendy
New member
I'd have to agree with the comments about their destructive behavior is natural. Have you ever seen the documentary called Parrots Majectic Birds? Here is the link: [ame=http://youtu.be/l3qUvdy1Dh8]Parrots: Majestic Birds (Nature Documentary) - YouTube[/ame]
Check out the cockatoos in Australia.
jenphilly
Well-known member
Wonderful to hear no plucking or screaming, those are excellent signs!!
In addition to wood, try softer shredding toys too. We have medium size Toos (bare eyeds) and material that can just be shredded to bits seems more fun then some wood. To give it a try and not spend a ton to see how it goes, give him a roll of white paper towels. Rolled up paper stuck in the bars are easy items too. Corn husks are a favorite of Ivory or any type of raffia craft type 'ribbon'. These are not toys that last, but they seem to help with that desire to shred and make a mess. Baskets are another big hit in our house with birds of all sizes. Just be careful to make sure you get uncoated baskets, best part is they are usually the cheaper ones! Fill them with foot toys and the basket will end up a toy too. I stuff toilet paper and paper towel rolls with nuts in the center and then shredded paper on the ends, again don't last long, but Ivory loves pulling the shreds out and tossing them around.
Having a wide variety of different materials might be just the thing he needs... think of him as a kid (and I joke that having a Too is like having a very intelligent 3 year old that never grows up!), the same toy is going to get boring, so switch things up If he has run of the bathroom, you might also want to consider a rope climbing net, and tie on lots of items to chew and things like brown lunch bags with some nuts or such, so he has items to go 'foraging' and searching for. It will be a mess, but thats part of the whole thing with having birds! There was a thread in one of the general forums that asked about what do you sacrifice and my thought was... ever having a clean home again!! I can vacuum and sweep 3 times a day and the only time its not a mess or being messed up is when the birds are tucked in at night!! And then its too late to vacuum so you don't wake the babies!!!!
You may have mentioned it, but I might have missed, do you have a playstand for him too? One made of wood would be a great thought for him. You can even make your own and then replace branches / perches as he makes his way thru them.
When you get a chance, try posting pics, we would all love to see your baby!!!
In addition to wood, try softer shredding toys too. We have medium size Toos (bare eyeds) and material that can just be shredded to bits seems more fun then some wood. To give it a try and not spend a ton to see how it goes, give him a roll of white paper towels. Rolled up paper stuck in the bars are easy items too. Corn husks are a favorite of Ivory or any type of raffia craft type 'ribbon'. These are not toys that last, but they seem to help with that desire to shred and make a mess. Baskets are another big hit in our house with birds of all sizes. Just be careful to make sure you get uncoated baskets, best part is they are usually the cheaper ones! Fill them with foot toys and the basket will end up a toy too. I stuff toilet paper and paper towel rolls with nuts in the center and then shredded paper on the ends, again don't last long, but Ivory loves pulling the shreds out and tossing them around.
Having a wide variety of different materials might be just the thing he needs... think of him as a kid (and I joke that having a Too is like having a very intelligent 3 year old that never grows up!), the same toy is going to get boring, so switch things up
If he has run of the bathroom, you might also want to consider a rope climbing net, and tie on lots of items to chew and things like brown lunch bags with some nuts or such, so he has items to go 'foraging' and searching for. It will be a mess, but thats part of the whole thing with having birds! There was a thread in one of the general forums that asked about what do you sacrifice and my thought was... ever having a clean home again!! I can vacuum and sweep 3 times a day and the only time its not a mess or being messed up is when the birds are tucked in at night!! And then its too late to vacuum so you don't wake the babies!!!! You may have mentioned it, but I might have missed, do you have a playstand for him too? One made of wood would be a great thought for him. You can even make your own and then replace branches / perches as he makes his way thru them.
When you get a chance, try posting pics, we would all love to see your baby!!!
jenphilly
Well-known member
I just found the photo of your baby in the photo gallery, he is absolutely beautiful!!
I hope some of the posts and advice helped a little with keeping him busy and active, and reduced some of his vocal calling.
I hope some of the posts and advice helped a little with keeping him busy and active, and reduced some of his vocal calling.
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