My name is Mr. John, although many bird enthusiasts know me professionally as Mr. Parrot. I have been involved with raising and caring for parrots for many years, with my breeding journey beginning in 2009.
Working with cockatoos has taught me that these remarkable parrots require much more than basic daily care. They are intelligent, expressive, and highly individual birds. A cockatoo that is confident and curious may behave very differently from one that is naturally quiet or cautious. Because of this, I do not believe in treating every bird according to one fixed routine.
Over the years, I have learned that raising parrots successfully requires patience, observation, and consistency. Much of the work happens in the ordinary moments: preparing food, cleaning living areas, observing behavior, and spending time around the birds. Those everyday routines are where you begin to understand a bird’s personality.
For me, breeding cockatoos is about more than raising birds for new homes. It is about giving each bird a responsible start and helping prospective owners understand the commitment involved in welcoming a cockatoo into their family.
Our Cockatoos Are Raised in California
Our cockatoos are raised in California, where their daily environment is organized around regular care, cleanliness, and observation.
Each bird needs an environment that supports its natural behavior while also providing appropriate opportunities for rest, feeding, movement, and interaction. We pay attention to the condition of the birds’ living areas throughout the day rather than considering cleaning something that should only happen occasionally.
Fresh food and water, suitable perching areas, ventilation, and regular maintenance are all part of the routine.
I have always believed that a breeding environment should be judged by what happens every day. A place can look impressive for a photograph, but the real work is much less glamorous. It is cleaning. It is checking food and water. It is noticing when a bird behaves differently than usual.
That consistency is important.
Years of Hands-On Experience With Cockatoos
Since 2009, I have spent years learning from the birds I work with. Experience can teach you general patterns, but cockatoos still have a way of surprising you.
Some young cockatoos are immediately interested in people and activity around them. Others prefer to watch from a comfortable distance before they decide they are ready to interact. I have learned that forcing a bird to become social rarely creates the type of relationship people hope for.
Patience usually works better.
When a young cockatoo is comfortable, curious, and ready to explore, interaction can develop naturally. With more reserved birds, the process may take longer. I believe that allowing birds to progress at their own pace can help create more positive experiences with human contact.
Every bird develops differently, and that is one of the things that has kept my work interesting for so many years.
Sarah Helps Care for Our Cockatoos Every Day
My wife, Sarah, is also an important part of our daily bird care routine.
Caring for cockatoos involves many responsibilities, and having more than one person involved allows the birds to receive regular attention and observation. Sarah assists with daily tasks such as feeding, cleaning, organizing the birds’ areas, observing their behavior, and helping with general handling routines.
Sometimes another person notices something that you may have overlooked. A small change in behavior, appetite, activity, or routine can be easier to recognize when more than one experienced caregiver is paying attention.
We both understand that responsible bird care is an ongoing commitment. The work continues every day, whether or not a bird is preparing to move into a new home.
Raising Cockatoos Around Positive Human Interaction
One of the most rewarding parts of raising young cockatoos is watching their personalities gradually emerge.
We provide opportunities for the birds to become familiar with normal human activity, including voices, movement, gentle interaction, and appropriate handling. At the same time, we try to pay attention to the individual bird’s comfort level.
Not every cockatoo reacts in the same way.
Some birds seem ready to investigate everything almost immediately. Others are more thoughtful and may take time before approaching a person or unfamiliar object. Neither personality is necessarily better. They are simply different.
Our approach is to encourage calm and positive experiences without unnecessarily rushing the bird. I think patience is especially important with parrots because trust often develops gradually.
The goal is to help each cockatoo become accustomed to appropriate human interaction while allowing the bird’s natural personality to remain visible.
Preparing Our Cockatoos for Their New Homes
When a cockatoo is preparing to leave for a new home, there are several things that need to be considered before the actual departure date.
We review the travel or collection arrangements, confirm important customer information, and discuss the process with the new owner. If transportation is involved, we consider the travel conditions and make arrangements with the bird’s welfare in mind.
Preparation should not be left until the last minute.
Weather conditions, travel schedules, destination details, and the transportation method may all influence the final arrangements. If conditions are unsuitable, it may be necessary to postpone or adjust the journey.
I would rather take additional time to organize a trip properly than rush a bird through an arrangement that has not been carefully considered.
A new home is a major change for a cockatoo. Making that transition as organized and calm as possible is an important part of the responsibility.
What Mr. Parrot Believes About Responsible Cockatoo Care
My approach has remained fairly simple throughout the years: put the birds’ daily welfare first, communicate clearly with prospective owners, and encourage people to understand the long-term responsibility of cockatoo ownership.
Cockatoos are not ordinary pets that can be chosen casually. They are intelligent parrots with individual personalities and significant care requirements. Before bringing one home, prospective owners should take time to learn about the bird they are considering and the commitment involved.
At Buy Cockatiels, our goal is to provide helpful information while supporting responsible bird ownership. Although our brand name has its own history, my experience and work also extend to helping people understand and prepare for life with different parrot species, including cockatoos.
I am Mr. John, professionally known as Mr. Parrot, and my work with birds has continued to teach me something new year after year. Even after spending many years around parrots, I still believe there is always more to learn.
Perhaps that is one of the things I enjoy most about working with cockatoos. Every bird has its own habits, preferences, reactions, and personality. No matter how much experience you gain, the birds themselves continue to remind you to pay attention.
