Usually, pet cockatoos are nice and gentle, but sometimes they can be destructive. They tear apart everything they can. Let’s talk about why they do it and how we can make them stop doing it.
Cockatoos have a baby-like habit of playing with things they shouldn’t be touching. Colorful things easily make them curious and trigger their urge to chew them. In other conditions, cockatoos tend to show destructive behavior because of stress.
Stressful situations that trigger destructive behavior of cockatoos
Stress is the most common reason cockatoos chew things around them, tear them apart, and scream. Below are different situations in which cockatoos can get stressed.
Annoyed
Cockatoos do not like to be teased; otherwise, they become violent and show destructive behavior. A cockatoo shouldn’t be disturbed if it does not want to be touched or interacted with.
Usually, cockatoos are annoyed when they are not allowed outside the cage for long and when they get out, they want to release their stress. Make sure you let your cockatoo out of the cage for at least a few hours daily.
Boredom
Yes, cockatoos can get bored. They are very playful and joyful, but sometimes they can get bored. When they are bored, they start chewing and tearing things.
Daily spend time with your cockatoo and interact with it as much as possible. Even when you pass by your cockatoo, call his name, or talk to him; your bird needs it. Also, get him some toys to keep him company when he is alone.
Depression
Like humans, cockatoos have emotions and cannot tolerate loneliness. If your pet cockatoo is habitual of playing with you and you suddenly stop giving him time, he is prone to depression.
Or if, for any reason, your bird is stressed for too long and it is not being helped, it can permanently fall into depression. In severe cases, such cockatoos start plucking their feathers.
This self-destructive behavior can become life-threatening for them, and they can also attack you. If your cockatoo shows any such signs, immediately consult an avian.
Sickness
If cockatoos are sick, anything can trigger their anger and make them furious. I’ve observed my cockatoo likes to chew things more often when he is sick; maybe it helps him with stress.
Breeding and molting season
During the breeding season and molting, cockatoos often become slightly aggressive. They deal with their aggression by chewing things around them. In such cases, all you can do for them is maintain some distance, give them time, and ensure you serve them a balanced diet.
If they are fed a diet that further brings them in heat, they maybe become more violent. I recommend reducing the seed content in their diet and increasing the quantity of fruits and vegetables.
Final Thoughts
Cockatoos are curious birds and like to check out things around them. They do not always need to be stressed to show destructive behavior.
What you can do is make sure they are happy with the environment and being cared for properly. Also, never leave them unattended with anything sensitive in their approach. Providing them with toys to chew helps keep them from chewing things they shouldn’t.
Also, learn about the body language of cockatoos. It helps us understand their feelings and makes it easier to take better care of them.
