Controversial: small birds deserve the same respect as large parrots

I'm tired of the attitude that umbrella cockatoos and umbrella cockatoos are "starter birds" or somehow less than umbrella cockatoos and greys. My umbrella cockatoo is just as intelligent, just as bonded, and just as deserving of excellent care. The size elitism in the bird community needs to stop.

So I had this exact problem about a year ago. Let me share what I learned. The key thing is playing music during the day — my bird loves calm acoustic guitar. A lot of people also recommend joining an online support group for Amazon parrot owners. My avian vet in Mississauga also suggested checking for a change in routine or schedule which can sometimes be an underlying factor. Good luck — feel free to DM me if you have questions!

Great question! So in my experience with umbrella cockatoo, this usually comes down to a few things. First, playing music during the day — my bird loves calm acoustic guitar. Second, make sure they're getting enough sleep — 12 hours of uninterrupted dark sleep is crucial. And third, pay attention to being moved to a new cage or new room because that was a huge factor for my Jade. Hope that helps!

I switched to TOP's pellets last year and haven't looked back. My umbrella cockatoo's feathers have never looked better.

My advice would be keeping a super consistent daily routine — birds thrive on predictability. Went through the same thing with my umbrella cockatoo last year.

I struggled with this too until I started positive reinforcement with their favorite treat every time they do the right thing. Now it's like a completely different bird.