Make sure that all parts of the Cockatoo's body are cleaned. But do not use soap or shampoo. A bird should be bathed in the morning. So, it has the rest of the day to dry off. Keep the bird out of the cold. In fact, keep the cage in partial sunlight. This hastens drying. Let its feathers dry out completely. But on days when it is cold or there is no sunlight, dry the bird as completely as possible with a clean towel. Keep the bird in a warm room. As your bird is drying, it will preen itself. Cockatoos can even be blow-dried. But some do not enjoy being "blow-dried." The noise frightens them. Chances are your Cockatoo might not mind the blow dryer. And, if you are using one, remember to set it at a medium temperature. No part of the bird's body should be exposed to the dryer for more than a second. Move the dryer All About Grooming constantly. Do not get the dryer too close to the bird. The frequency of a Cockatoo's bath depends on the seasons. Summers call for a daily bath. A bath every alternate day is sufficient in the cooler months. A bath at least twice a week is required, when it is very cold. Let your Cockatoo be the judge. If the bird is not feeling well, avoid bathing it. Bathe only a healthy bird. Birds kept for breeding do not need much grooming. Their feathers need not be clipped, nor their beaks trimmed. They do not need regular nail clipping too. But, if the nails turn too long or start curling, then they have to be clipped. But they need a bath. Either a garden hose or a bird bath works well. A garden hose to provide a light drizzle, for shower-loving birds. For birds loving a conventional bath, a bird bath should be placed at the bottom of the cage. The water in the bird bath should be changed regularly. Birds about to breed need a constant supply of water. The mother bird knows how much All About Grooming moisture is needed for her eggs and hatchlings. Most Cockatoo owners do not realize the importance of wing clipping. If wings are not regularly clipped, their pet bird could fly away. However tame a Cockatoo might be, given a chance it will fly away. To prevent this, the primary wing feathers should be clipped regularly. So, they won't fly away when you let them about the house. Birds such as Canaries and other Finches that stay in the cage do not need their wings clipped. But social birds that are allowed out of the cage need to have their wings clipped periodically. Cockatoos have landed in danger by flying high. A house may have plenty of death traps for winged creatures. We need to take the responsibility to protect them from such mishaps and this responsibility includes, wing clipping. The captive Cockatoos molt throughout the year. And they can fly with even one flight feather on each wing. Clipping of Wings The first seven to nine flight feathers should be cut for almost all species of parrots. The only exception to this are the African Grey Parrots, both Congos and Timnehs. These birds are thickset. Just trim the first five to seven feathers. The bird wings are feather layered. Cut the outermost primary layer, right up to the secondary layer of feathers. Feathers grow at differing rates. So, they need to be checked constantly. Never cut the wings on your own, initially. Watch your veterinarian or bird groomer trim the wings. A proper trim allows the bird to exercise its muscles. It can fly within the house and glide to a landing if needed. It should prevent the bird from attaining additional altitude. If you clip it too close you will end up injuring your bird. It could be damaged severely. With very short wings, Cockatoos often fall and injure themselves. Even if you know how to trim wing feathers, do not attempt it alone. Get someone to hold the bird while you do the clipping. |