PLACEMENT OF THE CAGEBefore you purchase the cage and cockatoo you should find a perfect place for the cage. A cockatoo likes to know its surroundings so avoid moving it a lot. The cage should be placed by a window. This way the cockatoo can see the world and the natural rhythm of the day. Cockatoos should get a chance to get some sun but they must always be able to retreat to a shady part of the cage. Cockatoos can get overheated quickly and need a place to sit and cool off. Cockatoos need to feel like part of a flock. So do not place the bird in its own room where it will feel isolated. Put the cage in a high traffic area of your home where the cockatoo can be part of all the daily activites.
THE BIRD CAGE
It is best to purchase the cage and supplies before the cockatoo. This way it can all be washed, set-up and ready for the new arrival. Cockatoos are large birds so the bigger the cage the better! The cage should not be smaller than 3' x 3' x 3'. The larger the cockatoo, the larger the cage! Also, get a cage with a grate on the bottom to prevent them from consuming their droppings. Make sure a lot of perches and toys can be easily placed and removed for cleaning.
PERCHESYou should give your cockatoo natural, untreated perches. The irregularities provide a kind of massage for the feet and they enjoy nibbling on the bark and wood. Make sure the perch width is the correct size for your cockatoo. A couple different types of perches is best. Cotton rope perches are soft for their feet. They are great to rest on. Calcium perches provide minerals, which are important to the cockatoo's health. There are new perches that help with wearing the nails down so you don't have to trim them as often. They are great, just make sure the cockatoo has other perches in the cage as well. Some are made from cement or sand products and can dry the cockatoo's feet out. Put the softest perch up in a high place. Cockatoos tend to sleep and sit there the longest. They like to sit high up in order to have a good view of their surroundings. Place the perches around the cage so that the cockatoo can move around easily. Allow enough room for the cockatoo to stretch out its wings and flap them without touching anything else. Also, position the perches so it will be easy for you to get in and out of the cage when cleaning or replacing food and water.
DISHES AND FEEDINGIt is important to give cockatoos fresh, clean water everyday. You may not see them drink water a lot but they need to have it available to them at all times. You should consider using bottled water for their drinking water. You will need a dish for both seeds and water. Another for fresh foods but that can only be left in the cage for as long as the food is still fresh. Wash the dishes with hot water and a little apple cidar vinegar often. Check the seed daily. It may look like the seeds are still fresh when they are actually eaten through. Dishes can be made from a number of things. It is important that they are easy to clean and that your cockatoo won't be able to destroy them. Also, the dishes need to be the correct size.
FOODSPellets contain the complete amounts of nutrients for a cockatoo but alone they are boring as they require no work. A mixture of seeds and pellets work best.
Offer your cockatoos fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn which ones they can have and give them some daily. Make sure they only receive unsprayed plants. Remember to take any fresh foods away when they are not so fresh. They can make the cockatoo sick. It may take your cockatoo a few times before it will eat any new fruits or vegetables. Give them a chance to learn what they like too. A cockatoo eating only seed will end up unhealthy or overweight.
Offer some of the following vegetables daily: asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, celery, corn on the cob, green beans, kale, peppers, romaine lettuce or spinach leaves(in moderation). Iceberg lettuce has little nutritional value. Make sure everything is thoroughly washed. When eating greens cockatoos may get diarrhea. Make sure they have a mixture of seed and pellets available so they do not over do it with the vegetables as too many can act as a laxative.
Fresh fruits you should also offer are apple, apricots, banana, cantaloupe, cherries, grapes, honeydew melon, kiwi, mango, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums and watermelon. The seeds from apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears and plums are toxic, do not offer them to the bird. Make sure everything is thoroughly washed. Cockatoos also benefit from well-cooked scrambled eggs, especially during breeding season.
Never give cockatoos the following: avocado, chocolate, coffee, lima bean sprouts, milk, soda, sugar or tea. They all may be toxic to your bird. Offer your cockatoo a cuttlebone. It provides calcium, which helps the cockatoo develop strong bones.
resource:
http://www.busybird.com/cockatooinfo2.html 
