what are some of your Daily Routines for your Cockatoo?

[dolphin3212]

I have a goffins and she isn't on a set routine but I just acquired an umbrella and she is on her 4th day here, I would like her to have a set routine so she is physically and mentally healthy. so, what are some of the daily schedules and routines that you guys have for your toos?

 

[Kiwibird]

My dad has a goffin. Since he does not play nicely with the amazons and my dad is the ONLY person he will go to, he gets to come out for a few hours very early in the morning while my dad gets ready to go to work, and then gets to come out again when my dad gets home from work for several hours. He gets up earlier than the zons, and goes to bed later, so he has about the same time out each day (around 6 hours), just not all at once. He has an extra large cage and a lot more toys than the amazons, since he is MUCH more active. He also gets the window view from his cage. The amazons get to come out during the day when Alfie is in his cage so theres never any bird fights or my poor mom doesn't get chased around by a devilish too'. In the summer, my dad puts him in his outdoor cage before he goes to work, which is on wheels so my mom can bring him inside safely if she needs to go out.

A lot will depend on how your birds get along and your schedule. The more time you spend away from home, the larger and more toy-dense the cages should be. Cockatoos are hyperactive birds and need a lot more room and entertainment than other similar sized parrots. If they get along well, you can have them both out whenever your home. If they don't mix, you'll have to schedule times for each bird to be out while the other is up so there aren't fighting issues. That can be more tricky... and only time will tell whether or not they get along. If that were the case, you could try to take one out in the morning, the other in the evening, or have one be out am/pm and the other during the day.... There are definitely ways of working it, and toos are smart enough to learn to expect when their time is to be out and with the humans

 

[Scott]

I don't overly embrace routine for my Goffins aside from letting them wake up naturally with outside light and closing the windows/blinds before sundown if possible. Then again, with one exception 4 of them live in a semi "flock" situation with other cockatoo species and a Timneh Grey and likely have established a basic routine. Fresh food and water are always available so their very basic survival needs are met. Cockatoos are by nature very gregarious and enjoy their "people time" whenever possible.