There’s an ancient Chinese proverb which says, “It is the beautiful bird which gets caged.”  If you own a Cockatoo then you understand this proverb because the cockatoo is indeed a beautiful bird. 

However like many beautiful creatures, once you own them you may have regrets.  In the case of the Cockatoo, known for extreme drama and a few behavior issues, this is certainly true for many owners. 

Rather than give up on this magnificent creature, commit to changing your circumstances with training.

The benefits of cockatoo training

Cockatoos typically have a handful of behavior problems.  Either they’re screaming non-stop, biting, or yanking their feathers out.  The good news is that these behaviors generally stem from a few main causes.

Fear is a common cause of behavior problems.  It’s caused by a lack of socialization.  This can happen quite by accident. Say for example you’ve had your cockatoo since birth. 

They know you, your family members and their immediate surroundings.  Introduce a new noise like the neighbor’s car without a muffler, a new pet or family member, even a new piece of furniture in the home and all of a sudden your cockatoo is on edge. 

Birds are by nature very skittish creatures.  They’re not at the bottom of the food chain but they’re closer than they’d like to be.  In order to protect themselves they fly away from danger, right?

But in your home they cannot fly away from danger, which causes great stress.  The resultscreaming, biting, and pulling their feathers out one by one. Training a cockatoo to avoid these behaviors is possible but requires a commitment on your part.

Hormones.  Fear isn’t the only reason a cockatoo can act out.  The hormones from sexual maturity can trigger some issues.  It’s pretty simple to understand, they want to mate but don’t have the means.  It makes even the most patient of us a little crazy from time to time and cockatoos are not known for patience.

Of course it’s a little more than the simple need to mate that can make them act out.  Hormones cause all sorts of issues including aggression and stress so don’t think you can just take your cockatoo out for a booty call and solve all their problems.

Boredom.  No toys, no interaction, and no time outside of the cage can drive even the most relaxed cockatoo crazy.  The solution is fairly simple.  Give them toys while you’re away and let them out of the cage when you’re home.  Spend time with your cockatoo.  If they’re too aggressive to hang out with you, then training is definitely going to solve your problems.

Poor health.  Your cockatoo doesn’t have to be sick to not feel well.  A poor diet, not enough sleep and not enough sunshine can all affect their general health and well being.  If your cockatoo isn’t feeling well, he’s not going to behave. 

Jealousy.  Finally, many cockatoos consider themselves one person birds.  If you’re that one person, they may attack anyone or anything else which demands your attention.  Again, training and socialization are the key to solving this problem. 

Beginning Cockatoo training

Training your cockatoo may be the single best thing you ever do for your bird.  It establishes a structure for your bird so they know what to expect but more importantly it enables them to trust you and their surroundings.

Before you get started with training it’s important to understand the basics.  Positive reinforcement is the key to a rewarding training experience.  Positive reinforcement occurs when you reward your bird with verbal praise, food treats, and if they enjoy it with physical praise like petting. 

Negative reinforcement like throwing water on them when they scream may work immediately.  You throw water on your bird and wow, they stop screaming.  However it typically makes behavior problems worse because it breaks down trust, reinforces fear, and generally makes your bird downright miserable. 

If your beautiful bird is cranky inside and outside of their cage, if they’re biting, screaming, or pulling out their feathers consider adding cockatoo training to your daily bird care routine.  You and your cockatoo will be glad you did.

Tags: Training a Cockatoo | Training a Cockatoo | Training Cockatoos | Training Cockatoos | Cockatoo Training | Cockatoo Training

del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit