Description

The Galah Cockatoo, or Rose-Breasted Cockatoo, is one of the most popular cockatoos, instantly recognizable by its beautiful rose-pink face and chest, grey wings, and a pinkish-white crest. They are known for their highly playful, comedic, and hardy temperament. Galahs are often independent, less prone to the severe separation anxiety of the white cockatoos, and are extremely good-natured and affectionate. They are highly intelligent, capable of learning to talk and perform tricks. While they can be loud, their vocalizations are generally less intense and more grating than the sharp scream of the white cockatoos, making them the most manageable cockatoo species in terms of volume.

Tamability and Maintenance: Galah Cockatoos are highly tamable and make fantastic, engaging family pets. They are a moderate to high maintenance bird. Their high energy and intelligence require 2-3 hours of out-of-cage time daily and a large cage with plenty of durable chew toys. Galahs are highly prone to obesity and lipomas (fatty tumours), meaning their diet requires strict management. Their commitment is long-term, with an average lifespan of 40-70 years.

Diet: A Galah’s diet must be extremely low in fat. The foundation should be a Galah-specific or low-fat cockatoo pellet formula. This must be supplemented generously with fresh, chopped vegetables (especially green beans, broccoli, and corn) and greens. Seeds and nuts, even healthy ones, must be severely restricted and used only as very occasional, measured rewards due to their high fat content.