An outdoor aviary is ideal for parrots; natural sunlight is essential for their plumage (feathers) and overall health. This can be supplemented with full spectrum lighting indoors if your climate does not allow for your cage to be outside.
Rose-Breasted Cockatoos do best when put in a “high traffic” area in the home where they will get daily interaction.
Because these types of parrots are more prone to having problems regarding their weight – a flight cage is highly encouraged as a means to properly exercise and stay at healthy as possible while living in captivity.
As with all animals; the larger the cage/habitat the better. Bar spacing should be no less than 1 inch apart and the proper gauge should be 10g/12g.
A varying diameter and texture of perches are necessary to avoid arthritis and various types of foot sores. The main perches should be made of wood; these are perches your bird will use consistently throughout the day and more often than others. Sandy perches should be placed high in the cage so your bird will be encouraged to sleep on it at night – this allows your parrot to get trimmed nails naturally.
A metal grate at the bottom of your bird’s cage is suggested as it makes cleaning up after your parrot easier and keeps your bird out of it its own droppings.
Recommended Supplies
- Indoor Cage
- Outdoor Aviary
- Cage Liner (newspaper, walnut shells)
- Organic Pellet
- Food Finding Toys
- Treats
- Mineral Block
- Variety of Perches & Shreddable Toys
- Interactive Training Courses & Tools
- Bird Perch Scale (weighing in grams)
Habitat Maintenance
Perches, toys, and food-finding toys should be rotated regularly and especially if showing wear and tear. Only toys made from all-natural materials should be used; any metals such as zinc or lead can be severely harmful to your parrot’s health. Your bird’s cage should be changed at least once a week. It may need it more often due to fresh foods and toy parts.
It’s recommended to clean and disinfect the bird’s cage as often as well. It’s very important to weigh your bird daily to be able to catch on to illness early on. Cockatoos are very good at disguising illness (as it means the difference between life and death in the wild).