10 Best Cockatoos for Pets: Guide to Choosing the Perfect Companion

10 Best Cockatoos for Pets: Guide to Choosing the Perfect Companion

Hey y’all, if you’re digging around for the 10 Best Cockatoos for Pets: Guide to Choosing the Perfect Companion, then stick around ’cause I’ve got the scoop. I’m Joshua Van, the guy who started and runs this pet care hangout, and I’ve been elbow-deep in the bird scene for ages, right in my Dhaka backyard where the sticky air reminds these critters of home. Let me tell ya, coming back to a cockatoo pet flipping its crest or hollering for attention? It’s the best kind of chaos.

I’ve racked up more than a decade fooling with cockatoos picking up strays, bottle-feeding babies, you name it. These feathered clowns aren’t just something to look at; they’re like eccentric aunts who crash your life for good. This write-up’s my way of dishing out the best picks, some straight-shooting pet care advice, and warnings on the slip-ups that trip people up, all to keep your healthy pet chirping along happily.

Key Takeaways

• Cockatoos glue themselves to you and might outlast your retirement 40 to 80 years, folks.
• First-timers, ease in with the little guys like Goff in’s or Bare-Eyed; save the heavies like Moluccans for when you’ve got the chops.
• Chats every day, decent chow, and head-scratchers like puzzles make for a solid healthy pet cockatoo.
• Hunt down rescues or solid breeders to do pet care the right way.
• Fair warning: Some yodel louder than a fire alarm, so factor in your neighbors or thin walls.

Why Bother with a Cockatoo Pal?

Got to say, cockatoos snag your heart with their over-the-top flair. Imagine a bird popping its mohawk like it’s shocked, then pulling stunts that have you in stitches. Mine have morphed into total lap birds, hunkering on my lap and mumbling like they’re spilling secrets. And brains? One sneaked out of his pen to swipe bananas sneaky devil.

Hold up though, owning a cockatoo pet ain’t all laughs. They beg for your time like a pup after treats, and if you flake, expect bald spots or shredded curtains. They’re built from those rowdy flocks in Aussie bush or Indonesian jungles, scavenging and goofing off nonstop. I got to recreate that vibe at home. Picked this up from the Avian Welfare gang’s end-of-2025 notes mix with people young to skip the drama.

My Personal Top 10 Cockatoos for Everyday Folks

I’ve jawed with docs, trawled 2026 bird threads, and drawn from my own bumps and bruises to whip up this list of the best cockatoos for normal homes. Sizes, moods, everything and hey, scope out your area’s rules ’cause some are off-limits.

1. Bare-Eyed Cockatoo

These hidden gems cram fun into a tidy frame, 14-17 inches high and 11-16 ounces feather-light. Bouncy and warm, they’re gold for households with rugrats or greenhorns. Win: Wit without the sprawl. Bummer: Kinda plain Jane. They’ll tag along for 50 years. My Charlie nailed a high-five in no time cracked me up.

2. Black Palm Cockatoo

Old hands only—these tanks measure 23 inches and pack 32-42 ounces. Gutsy souls that earn your respect, rewarding with fierce loyalty. Dig the grandeur, but newbies beware the chompers. Around 40-60 years. Lately, folks say cycle toys to beat the blahs.

3. Citron Cockatoo

Shyer on the squawk scale, these 14-inch roamers clock 16 ounces and crave discovery. Cozy for tight quarters. Loads of love, but pencil in play sessions. Sticking it out 50+ years. Fostered one hooked on riddles nipped boredom in the bud.

4. Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo

The poster child with that banana-yellow spike 15-20 inches, 12-31 ounces. Whiz kids needing elbow room or they’ll gnaw your stuff. Adore the IQ, loathe the idle antics. Up to 70 years. Vet buddies this year nudge swapping playthings weekly for sharp minds.

5. Goff in’s Cockatoo

Pint-sized pranksters at 13 inches and 8-14 ounces, forever scheming getaways. Quick-witted and zippy, but they love a pattern. Fab energy, just stay present. 40-50 years. Rescue peeps swear by timetables for these scamps.

6. Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo

Blush-pink tops that wow 14 inches, 15 ounces, clever as they come with space demands. Head-turners, but tending’s tricky. Roughly 60 years. Rare birds, so track down clean.

7. Moluccan Cockatoo

Jumbo softhearts at 20 inches and 30 ounces they latch on like Velcro. Pure affection, but solo stints? No thanks. 70 years no sweat. Fresh word: Spritz often to tame the dust.

8. Rose-Breasted Cockatoo (Galah)

Rosy-gray flirts, 12-15 inches, 10-14 ounces. Chatty extroverts for humming homes. Hues that dazzle, volume that amps. Up to 80 years buckle in! Crews with kids adore .

9. Umbrella Cockatoo

My heart’s pick 18 inches, 16-26 ounces, crests flipping like pop-up tents. Stunt pros gentle with tots. Minglers supreme, but clingy. 50-70 years. Bottle babies? Sweet as pie.

10. Slender-Billed Cockatoo

Buzzing up the ranks at 16-20 inches and 23 ounces, hungry for hangouts. Lively mates with deep vibes. 50 years. Pats daily forge iron bonds.

Day-to-Day Tricks for a Happy Cockatoo

Mastering pet care for your healthy pet cockatoo? Chow’s key: 60-70% kibble, quarter fresh like mango chunks or spinach, seeds for rare treats no tubbies allowed. I tuck goodies in gadgets so they scrounge like pros. Pen size? Bare min 36x24x48 inches stuffed with sticks and gizmos. Slip in UV bulbs for sun vibes.

Splashes? Hose daily or join the rinse; mine frolic like ducks. Roam free 2-4 hours, scan for worry plucks, doc once a year. 2026 chatter pushes gut boosters in the drink. Fun wise, coach words or spin records mine bop to vintage beats.

Landing on Your Dream Bird

Sync the cockatoo to your routine. Always hustling? Lone wolves like Goff in’s. Wild bunch? Bare-Eyed or Umbrella. Sniff out breeders with creds CITES seals the deal. I’m all for shelters snagging healthy pets ready-made. Dough: $500-2000 kickoff, then bites and bills monthly.

Goofs I’ve Witnessed (and Skirted)

Worst move? Barreling in clueless sparks regrets and handoffs. Pooh-poohing the racket or shorting hours? Messy. Gizmos save the day; ditch brace for bedlam. Chase real pet care, skip the pretty plumage.

FAQs

Starter cockatoo for fresh faces?

Bare-Eyed or Goffin’s they let you learn.

Volume on cockatoo pets?

Varies, but belts out bursts. Coach early to hush.

Cockatoos sharing space with furballs?

Yeah, but supervise they sulk over shares.

Chow chart for a healthy pet cockatoo?

Kibble core, greens second, seeds scarce.

Years tally for the best cockatoos?

40-80 gear for decades!

References

• The Spruce Pets: 10 Top Pet Cockatoo Species.
• PetMD: Cockatoo Bird Species Care.
• VCA Animal Hospitals: Cockatoos General Information.
• Parrot Essentials: Umbrella Cockatoo Guide.
• AskAVet: Cockatoo Care Guide 2025.