Like all birds and animals, cockatoos also poop once in a while. But how often do they poop, and do they poop somewhere specific or everywhere?
Cockatoos poop almost twice every hour, making it almost 48 times a day. Generally they poop whenever and wherever they feel the urge to poop. But they can be trained not to poop everywhere.
Mostly they poop when they start their day in the morning, after 3-4 hours of consuming food, and after getting off their eggs (that they are incubating).
Cockatoos’ poop is not a problem until they are pooping in the cage or somewhere outside. But when they start pooping on your dress, bed, sofa, or on things that must be clean, it is a problem. Since cockatoos are smart and can learn many things, you can train them to poop in just one spot of your choice.
What does cockatoo poop look like?
Cockatoo poop is partially solid and partially liquid. The solid part of the poop is green to brown in color. The color of their food varies with the food they eat. For example, when my cockatoos excessively eat green food, their poop is mostly green. When they eat watermelons, their poop is reddish.
The color and density of their poop also indicate their health. If a cockatoo is sick, its poop is very sticky, either bright green and white or dark brown and black.
Do cockatoos eat their poop?
Yes, sometimes cockatoos eat their poop unintentionally. Sometimes they poop inside their feed pot, throw food on the floor (already contaminated with poop), and later eat the same food.
But it is not safe for them. It can cause histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and newcastle disease in cockatoos. The newcastle infection spreads through one cockatoo’s poop to other birds. It can infect the entire flock and cause severe loss of health.
Can cockatoos control their poop?
Some large parrots can control their poops because they have a strong anal sphincter muscle called the cloaca, which can block their external anus. But most cockatoos cannot control their poop.
How can you potty train a cockatoo?
Cockatoos can be potty trained on where to release their poop. Usually, cockatoos feel bowel movement before they poop. With proper training, they can be commanded to go to a specific spot before they poop.
But before you train him, you must set up a suitable spot. Create the spot using a paper towel, tissues, or newspapers. The most suitable place is a corner of his cage.
When you feel your cockatoo wants to poop, quickly command him to move to that corner. Potty training cockatoos is hard, but they stop pooping everywhere once trained.
Final thoughts
If you find potty training your cockatoo is hard, simply regulate his activities. Whenever you take him out of the cage, don’t immediately take him to your sofa or bed; put him on the floor and wait for 5-10 minutes. If he has the urge to poop, he will poop on the floor. Once done, you can safely play with him; he won’t poop any sooner.
Also, expect him to poop if it has been a few hours since he consumed something. At this time, either keep him on the floor somewhere you can manage his poop or keep him in the cage. This is the easiest way of dealing with cockatoos that poop everywhere; I hope it helps.
