Toying with an idea of owning a pet but don't know which one? You must be keen to get some specialist advice in selecting a life-long companion.
Have you considered cockatoos? "Why should my pet be my lifelong companion?" you may wonder.
Pet owners know how strongly they get attached to their new-found pets, within a short time.
If their pet dies within a few years, they get into serious mental depression, for a long time.
In fact, the lives of many people undergo a drastic change when they lose their dear pet.
So, if you want to have a pet, you should think of it as a permanent part of your family.
Cockatoos have the longest life span of any pet and you can reasonably expect them to be with you for the rest of your life.
The average lifespan of a cockatoo is between 40 and 60 years.
However, there have been reports of some of them living over 100 years! Any companion you are going to share the next 30 or 40 years of your life had better be the right choice.
And if this companion is to be a cockatoo, there are several factors to consider.
As a prospective owner-to-be, you must be curious to find out all the important 'must know' information on cockatoos.
All About Selection Unlike other pets, in cockatoos you can find a pet who can talk a little.
Some species are less talkative than others.
And if you're looking for a talkative companion, then you should prefer male cockatoos to females.
As intelligent as they are, cockatoos are generally good at performing tricks.
But not all are equally skillful.
Though, if you train them, they can master the tricks quite well.
Some cockatoo species are noisier than others.
For example Roseate or Galah Cockatoos are quiet, whereas White Cockatoos are not.
So, if you're looking for a quiet companion, you should choose the smaller cousins as the larger birds can be very noisy and destructive.
The other important parameters that would help you to make the right choice are color, emotional and physical health.
Most cockatoos are white in color.
But you also have the grays, pinks, blacks, and even deep blues among them.
A background check is critical.
It is important that you get your bird from a reliable source.
The bird should be young and should have been hand-raised.
Young hand-raised birds are totally in sync with human company and more amenable to training.
Such birds are healthy emotionally.
Next check the bird's physical health.
You can spot the bird from its eyes to tell if it's an active specimen or not.
See if the eyes are clear and bright and there should be no lumps on the eye ring.
The nasal vents should be clear and open.
Some of the cockatoos have spectacular crests.
Their bills are large, curved and pointed and are used to crack nuts.
Scrutinize the bird's legs and feet.
The legs should be smooth scaled and of equal girth.
Its feet should have two toes projecting to the front and two to the rear and both feet should have the same temperature.
Don't miss the wings.
Make sure they are held close to the body and the feathers are smooth and clean.
Look out for any signs of drooping of the feathers.
Test the bird's breathing.
It should be smooth and even.
Inquire whether the bird has regular feeding and litter habits.
And its droppings should not be runny.
Generally, the color of the droppings of a healthy bird is dark green mixed with white matter.
Finally, make sure that the bird is of the correct size and weight for its age.
All these information should give you a clear picture as what you have to look out for while choosing your new pal.
The above is an excerpt from the free newsletter on "All About Cockatoos" published by Geostar Publishing & Services LLC.
Here's to a happier pet-owing experience!