Meet Derby, Our Bare Eyed Cockatoo

Derby is a 7.5-year-old male Bare Eyed Cockatoo who has been deeply loved by his family since he was just a year old. Handsome in his classic pink and white feathers, Derby is healthy, fully feathered, and DNA sexed male.

Derby is an active, playful bird who thrives on interaction and fun. He loves to dance, bob his head, and weave along to music. His favorite toys include toy tennis shoes, Crocs, wood toys, foraging activities, and even little plastic pacifiers and rings. Corn on the cob is one of his special treats, and he also enjoys a varied diet of high-quality pellets, Nutri-Berries, fruits, and veggies.

Like many cockatoos, Derby enjoys attention but on his own terms. He needs to build trust with his person before he is comfortable being handled, though he currently enjoys daily interaction with his caretaker. He has no preference for men or women but does have his favorites—he doesn’t warm up to everyone. Once you’re “his person,” you’ll have a loyal and entertaining companion.

Derby can be vocal, especially if he thinks he’s been left out or when he smells something cooking in the kitchen. He is used to being part of the daily rhythm of a home and enjoys being in the same room with his people. He does best with consistency and security, as long-distance travel has been stressful for him in the past.

This intelligent, affectionate, and sometimes opinionated cockatoo is looking for a forever home where he can feel safe, engaged, and loved. His current family adores him but wants to ensure his future is secure with someone who understands the commitment of living with a cockatoo.

If you’re ready to open your home and heart to Derby, he will reward you with laughter, energy, and plenty of cockatoo charm.

Age: 7.5

Sex: Male

Prefers: Either Males or Females

Other Bird Aggressive? Haven’t had him around other birds for their own safety.

Cage Aggressive? No.

Adoption Fee: $1500

Cage Available: Affordable used cages available to purchase starting at $100-to 250 up to 1000.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: None

***Information that is universal to every bird:

1) Birds are typically not family animals. They usually choose a favorite and at best you can expect them to tolerate everyone else.

2) Birds are not great with kids, dogs, other birds, and are not cuddly with everyone, nor can they really be trained to be. Birds are flock animals, who are social creatures that need to be in a communal area where they can see the rest of the family, or you may eperience serious vocalization and behavior problems. We’ve never met a bird who is great with kids, but we have met kids who are respectful of birds.

3) Birds bite. But, you shouldn’t “take the bite”. If you’re getting bit, you haven’t earned the trust of the bird, and are pushing the bird past his/her limits. You must figure out what the bird needs, and make what you’re asking of the bird more attractive than what they are already doing.

4) Birds are not “dominance” based creatures. Your only option for birds is to earn their trust. If they are, say…on top of a cage and don’t want to come down, that is where they feel safest, not a dominance thing. They are not trying to exert dominance, they just don’t want to come down. Your job as a parrot owner is to figure out what you can do to help them trust you, and whatever you are asking to be more attractive than what they are already doing.

5) NEVER send money over the internet for adoption with any individual or organization for the adoption of an animal you have not met in person. That is almost always a scam.