CARING FOR THE MOLUCCAN COCKATOO

FOR MANY years it was the habit of humans to capture animals and put them in zoos around the world. During this time, in 1925, one of the greatest animal trappers, Frank "bring them back alive" Buck, was working for the San Diego Zoo and returned from the Moluccan Islands in Indonesia with a gift for the zoo: a beautiful bird.

This bird, peach in color, measured about 24 inches in length, bearing a majestic presence and a topknot (crest) that was bright orange when raised. This was a Moluccan cockatoo.

The personnel of the San Diego Zoo became so smitten with the creature that they spent time taming (as best they could) the lovely bird that they named King Tut.

Though never becoming as people-oriented as the hand raised Moluccans we have become so familiar with, the bird became the official greeter stationed near the front entrance of the zoo. King Tut greeted one and all with a raucous laugh and a hearty "Hello there."

This wonderful bird was the first of it's kind that 1, along with many others, had ever seen. Today, Moluccan cockatoos are bred in captivity, like many other creatures brought over from other lands.

Moluccan Mystique

Owning a hand-raised Moluccan cockatoo can be a source of great joy, but with this joy comes the responsibility of providing proper care for the new family member. These cockatoos are far and away one of the most loving creatures, desiring interaction with all members of a family or household. They are wonderful companions for beginners and experts alike.

Though they can be quite loud on occasion, Moluccan cockatoos also can become one of the best talkers, rivaling the well-known African grey for intelligence and talking ability. The cognizance of the spoken word is sometimes uncanny as they seem to understand spoken words as well as have great control over their answers. For example, I have a friend whose Moluccan cockatoo speaks English to him and Spanish to his Spanish-speaking friend.

Flexible enough to live alone or with a companion bird, it is necessary to keep a Moluccan cockatoo's mind stimulated at all times. Therefore, recommend that new owners have a variety of perches, swings and active toys available for their birds to enjoy

Male and female cockatoos are different when it comes to noise and dominance. Male Moluccan cockatoos tend to be better able to talk and use tools in comparison to females. On the other hand, female Moluccan cockatoos seem to make better companion birds for homes with small children since they tend to be less dominating than males.

Informed Ownership

When sending a Moluccan cockatoo home with a new owner, urge customers to take the bird to an avian veterinarian for a thorough examination. Be sure customers know to place their bird's new cage (home) where there is plenty of light, but not directly in the sun. Normal home temperatures usually are fine, but the birds need to be kept away from drafts. Since Moluccan cockatoos crave interaction with their families, suggest that customers keep extra perches in the rooms they spend a lot of time in; the bird would enjoy just being with its owner, even while doing dishes or laundry.

As with all animals, a proper daily diet is essential. Educate customers on what to give their new cockatoo. Seed mixes made for large hookbills and products containing sunflower, dried fruit, peppers, nuts and pellets are good, as are pelleted mixes.

The birds also should be provided with fresh water and a salad of fresh fruits and vegetables each day. This salad can include apples, grapes, oranges, papaya, bananas, swiss chard, broccoli, brussel sprouts and corn on the cob. Some exceptions for customers to avoid include: avocado, as the seeds are highly toxic; lettuce, which seems to give the birds diarrhea; and raw white potatoes or onions, which do not seem to be well-received although they are not toxic to the birds.

For bedding, suggest dry corncob animal bedding for placement in the cage bottom pan. This should be cleaned daily and changed every few days to prevent fungus from becoming a problem for the bird.

Warn new bird owners of household dangers, such as plants. Many of them, too numerous to name, are poisonous to birds.

Many nonstick coating pans left burning on the stove are known to emit a poisonous gas. Dry powder carpet cleaner may be deadly, and window cleaners containing ammonia can kill birds. Suggest that bird owners use vinegar as a cleaner on their windows instead.

With some helpful suggestions and information from YOU, new owners can provide their Moluccan cockatoo with a healthy and happy life.

Reprinted by Pretty Birds from Pet Product News by Gloria Allen

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