Firebird Deb
Number of posts : 936 Age : 52 Location : Carterton, Oxfordshire, UK. Registration date : 2008-10-18
| Subject: Cockatoo Information Page Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:03 pm | |
| Description
Native to Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, there are over 40 species of cockatoo. These can be divided into two main groups – the white cockatoos and the black cockatoos. The species available as pets range from the well-known Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, the Galah, the Major Mitchell, the Red tail Black Cockatoo, to the lesser known White (Umbrella) Cockatoo. Outside of Australia, the Moluccan and Umbrella Cockatoos also make a lovely pets but are rarely kept as pets in Australia due to their expense.
The most obvious external feature of any cockatoo is the erectile crest that raises immediately after alighting and when alarmed or excited. The strong, heavy beak of the cockatoo is used to crack large seeds but can also produce a powerful and destructive bite.
Diet
25% vitamin enriched seed mix 25% pellets 25% vegetables, dark leafy greens and fruits 15% cooked rice, corn, and bean mixture 10% table food, cereal, bread, pasta, cheese, meat etc.
Vegetables:
Vegetables to be fed can be green, dark green, orange, yellow or meaty. Fresh vegetables provide the additional nutrition your cockatoo needs. So, encourage your cockatoo to eat vegetables. Some of those that fall under this category are: carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, broccoli, greens, green peppers, asparagus, ripe tomatoes, spinach etc.
Breeding
The cockatoo female will lay between 2 to 3 eggs. Brooding, depending on which species, is between 25 to 30 days. The young are naked and blind when hatched and don't open their eyes for several weeks. Hatchlings take between 60 and 100 days to become fully plumed and at that time they will begin to explore outside of the nest. However they will still be dependent for another two to three weeks before ready leave the nest for good. Because the cockatoos are threatened with extinction, successful breeding is helping to preserve the species and reduce the number of wild caught birds. There are no breeding regulations in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom, though other countries might have restrictions and you should consult with the authorities in your country before undertaking breeding.
Behaviour
Cockatoo’s are renown for their affectionate, cuddly nature, as well as being an energetic, playful and often silly bird. Most species of Cockatoo will learn to talk, and although they are not noted as particularly accomplished talkers, the “Cousin It” quality to their voices lends a humorous element to their speech. If you have never seen a Cockatoo ‘war dance’ or play ‘psycho bird’, your are certainly missing some great entertainment!
Further Information
http://www.avianweb.com/cockatoospecies.html
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/cockatoos/Cockatoos.htm | |
|