Q&A for How to Care for a Moluccan or Umbrella Cockatoo

I have owned an umbrella cockatoo for 20+ years and have never oiled her feet or her beak, nor have I ever heard of doing so.

Bring the bird to a suitable veterinarian as soon as possible.

At night when your bird is loud, cover the cage with a blanket (birds tend to be quieter when it is darker). During the day, whenever your bird screams, leave the room, and don't reward it when it screams. When it stops screaming come back and reward it. Birds also tend to be noisy when people are loud.

It's possible, but it's not a good idea to encourage a bird to interact with a dog or cat. Predators sometimes can't squelch their instincts, and all it would take is one bite...

This can depend somewhat on an individual bird's temperament, but generally yes, a cockatoo will sleep quieter when the cage is darker.

Mine is constantly sticking his tongue out and moving it around, it seems like he does this when he's happy. This is just my experience though, if your cockatoo seems to be in distress, you should definitely consult a vet for a professional opinion.

You can use wood branches from untreated fruit and pine trees (untreated meaning no pesticides), or any pieces of cardboard, like pieces of boxes, toilet paper or paper towel rolls, etc.

All nuts that are safe for human consumption are safe for a parrot to eat. Watch out for peanuts, though, because they have a high fat content and if fed too much, the bird can gain a bit too much weight.

Buy an unweaned bird is not advised. Moving to a new home is stressful for any parrot, and stress weakens the immune system. This becomes more dangerous with an unweaned bird, who already has an undeveloped immune system.

In my experience, no, but I adopted mine from a shelter. It might differ if you're purchasing from a pet store, shelter, or private breeder. Also, the permits and qualification may differ from state to state. I suggest you consult the shelter, store, or breeder where you plan on buying.

No, and grit is not necessarily good for them.

They won't all learn to talk. Males are more likely to talk than females. If you want a bird that will almost certainly talk, get an African Grey or an Amazon.

In my experience, carrots and candy are both good treats.

Mine hates it as well. Our vet told us not to worry about it - he'll shed more dander than normal, but it won't harm him to not be showered. I do, when temperatures permit, put him on my arm and then wet him down with a wet washcloth, used as if I were petting him. Then I lightly pat him dry with a towel. I have also put a shallow pan of water in his play space in hopes he will bathe in it, but he has yet to do so. He simply hates water with a vengeance and will only stand for the washcloth baths. For some pre-owned animals, being sprayed with water was used as punishment, generally to shut them up. So they wind up hating showers.