If you’re looking at purchasing a cockatoo, it’s vital that you get everything they need before you bring them home. But the last thing that you want is to spend a ton of money on a cage only to realize that it’s too small after the fact and you can’t return it.

That’s why we created this comprehensive guide to walk you through everything that you need to know to get the right-sized cage for your cockatoo. We also highlighted a few essential features that you should look into before purchasing any cage for your cockatoo.

Minimum Cockatoo Cage Size by Bird Size

Not all cockatoos are the same size, so it stands to reason that they don’t all need the same size cage. So, we broke down the cages into three different cockatoo size ranges. This way, you know exactly what you need for your bird.

Small Cockatoos

Small cockatoos stand between 12 and 14 inches tall, and they don’t need as large of a cage as other birds. The smallest acceptable cage for these birds should be 2 feet deep, 3 feet wide, and about 5 feet tall.

Just be sure your cockatoo can fully extend their wings inside, and keep in mind that they would appreciate extra space to move around.

Medium Cockatoos

Medium-sized cockatoos sit between 14 and 15 inches tall, and because of this, they’ll need a slightly larger cage than the smallest cockatoos. Cockatoos this size need a cage at least 30 inches deep, 4 feet wide, and 6 feet tall.

Large Cockatoos

Sometimes cockatoos have wingspans well over 2 feet, and if you have one with such a massive wingspan, they need an extremely large enclosure. At a minimum, these cages should be 3 feet deep, 4 feet wide, and 6 feet tall.

But even these massive dimensions can be a bit tight for these birds, so consider your bird’s particular needs before deciding on a cage.

Can You Have Too Large of a Cockatoo Cage?

The simple truth is the larger cage that you can supply, the better. In fact, if you can get a full aviary, that’s ideal! But since most people can’t afford that, a full-equipped cage that is much larger than what your bird needs and has extra features is the best thing to do.

If you’re opting for a minimum cage size now, that’s fine, but consider upgrading when you get an opportunity down the road. For a cockatoo, no cage is too large. The larger the cage is, the happier the bird is.