The Nymph or Carolina Cockatoo is one of the most popular pet parrots, not only because of its size and great intelligence, but also for the belief of its low maintenance. However, if you want to live with a happy and well-stimulated bird, the truth is that you must dedicate time, attention and money to ensure proper environmental enrichment. For this reason, in this article on our site we will review each of the points that make up the basic care of the cockatoo, such as its feeding, cage layout, and much more.
Whenever we decide to adopt an animal, regardless of the species, it is our responsibility to guarantee its well-being by ensuring the five freedoms. Keep reading and discover with us how to take care of a nymph or carolina cockatoo.
Before adopting a cockatiel
Before adopting a nymph or carolina cockatoo you must be completely sure that this is the most suitable pet for you and your family. Birds do not always adapt to all lifestyles, since they are animals that require a large amount of free time, space, commitment and dedication. Living with a bird is not as simple as leaving it in its cage, giving it water and food, keep in mind that it is an animal that was born with wings and, as such, needs to flyLikewise, they tend to be quite long-lived animals with proper care, the average lifespan of cockatoos being 20 years.
If you are looking for a quiet animal that makes little noise and doesn't make a mess, the cockatoo or any other bird of the order Psittaciformes is not the most suitable for you. In this case, we recommend consulting our article with our tips on how to choose the right pet.
If finally this is the animal that best suits you and your family and, therefore, you are determined to adopt it, read on and offer the best care to your nymph cockatoo.
The cage of the nymph or carolina cockatoo
As we pointed out in the previous section, birds were born to fly and, therefore, many experts argue about keeping domestic birds in cages or not. However, at least at night, this is the best way to ensure the safety of your Cockatoo.
What is the ideal cage size for a Cockatoo?
The answer to this question is easy: the bigger the better! Thus, although we cannot set a maximum, we must set a minimum, and that is that the width of the cage must be large enough so that the adult cockatoo can open and flap its wings without damaging its wings. Regarding height, it must guarantee that the animal's tail does not touch the ground when it walks around the cage. On the other hand, priority should be given to cages with horizontal bars, as they allow the birds to climb and keep them stimulated, since this is one of their favorite activities.
Where to put the cage?
The ideal location for the Cockatoo's cage depends on the personality of the bird. Most cockatoos are very sociable and, therefore, areas such as the living room are one of the best options to maximize social interaction with the people who are in that space. On the other hand, more timid Carolina nymphs may prefer quieter areas, such as a bedroom. In this way, we emphasize, the position of the cage depends on the character of the cockatoo, since adapting its placement to the animal's personality will enhance the feeling of security.
Some ethologists specialized in birds affirm that placing the cage in a very high place can promote the aggressiveness of the animal, since it feels superior to the rest of the family members. Others, on the other hand, affirm that the most insecure birds can live in a state of intense anxiety if the cage is very low. In this way, the height of the cage must also be adapted to the needs of the cockatoo, so it is essential to observe its behavior. Also, to promote a greater sense of security, it is recommended that the cage is against the wall.
Can the cockatoo bask in the sun?
¡It can and should! Exposure to sunlight is essential for the well-being of the carolina nymph, and through From the sun the animal manages to produce the optimum amount of vitamin D, essential for calcium metabolism. Therefore, it is very important that the sunlight hits it directly and not through the glass of a window. If the cage is not near a window that can be opened fully, it will need to be placed outside for a few hours at the end of the day or early in the morning to avoid heat stroke. Remember that the Nymph Cockatoo must have shade at all times to take refuge in if it no longer wants to bask in the sun; you should never leave its cage completely exposed to the sun's rays.
Feeding of the nymph or carolina cockatoo
Food is one of the most important points when it comes to offering the best care to the Cockatoo, not only to guarantee its well-being, but also to prevent the development of some of the most common diseases of the nymphThe best diet is one that meets all the nutritional needs of the cockatoo, offering the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc., that it needs.
On today's market, we can find a wide variety of seed mixes made especially to feed domestic cockatoos. However, in recent years, veterinarians specializing in this type of bird have recommended opting for a feed based on pellets suitable for Carolina nymphs. Despite being more expensive, they are the best option, since they prevent the bird from selecting the seeds it likes the most, discarding the rest and promoting a nutritional imbalance. The rations must be prepared according to the specific needs of each species and age of the animal, therefore, when purchasing the food, the package must be reviewed and the type of nymph must be taken into account. If you want a change of diet or brand of it, it is essential to carry it out gradually.
On the other hand, it is very important that the consumption of pellets is complemented by the intake of fruits and vegetables, the ideal being the following proportion: 75% pellets, 20% fruits and vegetables , and the remaining 5% dedicated to rewards, such as nuts.
Of course, clean and fresh water should never be lacking, which must be changed every day.
Vitamin supplements
Most veterinarians advise against the use of vitamin supplements, except in cases of previously diagnosed vitamin deficiency. Why is it discouraged? Most of the supplements require dissolution in water and it is practically impossible to control the amount of water that the animal ingests, so there is a high risk of nutritional excess or deficiencyIn fact, several cases have been reported of birds that, due to excessive vitamin D supplementation, have developed hypercalcaemia.
Does the cockatoo need a bath?
Yes! Allowing the Carolina Nymph to bathe stimulates its natural behavior, promotes well-being and contributes to better maintenance of the feathers. Now, how to bathe a nymph cockatoo? There are several options!
- Water container. Place a container 2/3 full of fresh, clean water in its cage. Remember to change the water daily or when you finish bathing.
- Aerosol. Put water in a spray bottle and moisten your cockatoo keeping a certain distance to simulate the effect of rain.
- Rain. On light rainy days, you can take the opportunity to place the cage outside for a few minutes and let the nymph enjoy a natural bath. Many birds love this method as they represent a wild environment.
- Shower Some birds thoroughly enjoy a bath with their human companions, even selling suction cup perches at speci alty bird accessory stores. The shower. Of course, it is necessary to pay attention to the temperature of the water so that it is neither too cold nor too hot.
The important thing is to ensure that the Cockatoo baths regularly, weekly or daily, depending on its tastes and needs. Thus, observe the behavior of your nymph and, if you see that she feels uncomfortable or nervous, do not insist or force her, just try another day. In the same way, select the mode that she likes the most, not the one that is most comfortable for you. After bathing, it is essential that the bird be dried, cleaned and groomed in a warm, draft-free environment.
Hours of sleep of the cockatoo nymph
It is essential that the nymph or carolina cockatoo sleep the right hours and without interruptions to maintain its he alth in perfect condition. Sleep deprivation is one of the main causes of behavior problems, such as feather picking or plucking.
The cockatoo's sleep oscillates between 10 and 12 hours, so it needs much more sleep than we do. During this period, there can be no noise or lights to wake her up, so if your nymph is used to being in the living room late, you should move the cage to another room when she sleeps. A cockatoo that sleeps the hours it needs is a calm bird, less stressed and happier
Ideal toys for the cockatoo
Environmental enrichment is essential to ensure that the nymph or carolina cockatoo remains happy and well stimulated. In this sense, toys are the easiest and most used form for this purpose. The ideal is to have some toys inside the cage, no more than three, to be exchanged regularly and avoid boredom.
There are several types of toys available for nymphs on the market, the following being the most recommended:
- Strings
- Bells
- Ladders
- Rockers
- Mirrors
Likewise, you can also build your own toys using natural branches, for example. The ideal toys are those that offer the cockatoo the challenge of searching for and getting food, since in the wild this task would occupy 70% of their day. As we said, the easiest way to simulate this state and keep the bird stimulated is by distributing the toys and creating an environment as natural as possible, which encourages the nymph to discover how to manage the environment to reach its reward, which can be nuts or your favorite seeds.
Social interaction
As we pointed out at the beginning of the article, social interaction is an essential factor in the day-to-day life of the Cockatoo. If the nymph does not have any mate, it must be her human family that assumes that role and relates to the bird. To do this, you can include the cockatoo in various family activities, talk to it, whistle and even try to educate it. When the bird is left for many hours alone and confined to its cage, it tends to develop behavior problems and disorders such as stress or anxiety if no stimulation is available. In this sense, a good stimulus can be the reproduction of the sound of other birds so that they feel that they are accompanied.
On the other hand, it is essential that the cockatoo has freedom outside the cagein order to promote exercise physical, essential to ensure her well-being. Remember what we said at the beginning: it is a bird that was born to fly, and needs to fly
The Nymph Cockatoos are extremely intelligent birds, and when they live under our roof we are responsible for everything around them. It is our duty not only to provide water and food, but also to offer a stimulating environment at the height of the cognitive abilities of this bird if we want to ensure the best care for the Nymph or Carolina cockatoo.
If you haven't adopted a cockatoo yet but you're sure you want to, don't miss the list of names of famous parrots.
Other care of nymphal cockatoos
In the following video, Little Birds explains in a much more dynamic and visual way the care that a cockatiel needs to be happy and he althy, don't miss it!
