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Cockatiel and Cockatoo dust management questions

Hi Dr. Speer - My question is regarding keeping cockatiels and cockatoos close to other parrot species. I have often heard that most parrots should not be kept close to any Cacatuidae species. This is because the dust from the cockatoo/tiel could give other species respiratory problems. How much truth is there in this and how often do you see birds with respiratory problems due to being kept close to cockatoos or cockatiels? I keep a Jenday Conure and a Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in separate cages in the same room. Is that safe without an air filter? Of course, I do keep the cages clean. Would a Hahn’s Macaw and a Cockatiel be okay to keep side-by-side in separate cages? I am thinking this would be okay but wanted to see an avian vet’s opinion. Many thanks for your time!

There is an allergic pneumonitis issue seen in Macaws (best documented in Blue and Golds) associated with feather dust and dander, often from cockatoos or grey parrots. This condition may certainly occur in other psittacine species, but is much less commonly encountered or documented. I am not aware of this condition being documented in Aratinga species - yet. Generally, a good management start, considering your concerns and concerns, would be to place a good quality air filter near the dusty species’s cage, which will functionally remove their dust, and protect your pulmonary health as well as your other pet bird’s health.

About Brian Speer, DVM

Avian veterinarian Dr. Brian Speer was raised in a small town on California’s coast. He received his BS in Biology from California Polytechnic State University in 1978, and his DVM degree from the University of California at Davis in 1983.

An active member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), Dr. Speer is a much sought after guest speaker and has presented at numerous conferences in the avicultural and zoological communities both within the United States and abroad. He is well published in the AAV annual proceedings, has served as guest editor for the journal Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, the Veterinary Clinics of North America, and authored chapters in several recent veterinary medical texts on pet bird, avicultural and ratite medical topics. In 1995 he co-authored the extensive avicultural reference, The Large Macaws, and helped to co-author Birds for Dummies in 1999.

Since 1989, Dr, Speer has run a “bird’s only” practice in the San Francisco Bay area and is the President and Director of The Medical Center for Birds. He is a consultant for The Veterinary Information Network (Avian Medical Boards) and the Maui Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. In 2003 he was the recipient of the Lafeber award for excellence in private practice of avian medicine and surgery and in 2006, was named Speaker of the Year for the North American Veterinary Conference.