Plucking Questions

PreciousAngelJS25

New member
Apr 7, 2011
27
1
Alabama
Parrots
3 Cockatiels: Simon, Daisy and Sweetpea
1 Umbrella Cockatoo: Chula
1 Triton Cockatoo: Bird
1 Blue Crown Conure: Kongo
1 Black Capped Conure: Midori
I know there are a ton of these threads, but I have some specific questions regarding my 'toos.

Bird, my triton, came to me in 2011 as a plucker, but never plucked while he was with me until recently. We did move in December but he didn't start plucking again until April-May.

Chula, my umbrella, also came to me with a plucking problem. She goes through phases of plucking. Her most recent bout has involved breaking her blood feathers on her chest. Her chest seems to be itchy; however, the issue with Chula is that she HATES baths, spray bottles, showers etc. Her previous owner said she used to love showering with him, then all of a sudden started became very afraid of water. She also seems extremely hormonal all the time - pants and gets into crouched-wings out mode almost every time we touch her. Any suggestions on how to help her not be so hormonal? I know that hormones can contribute to plucking.

They have both been to a certified vet and their bloodwork was normal and they are perfectly healthy other than the plucking. Any suggestions for something I can topically apply? Or add to their diet to help with dry skin? Has anyone tried coconut oil or aloe topically or added into the diet? Has anyone tried the Pluck-No-More by King's Cages? Has anyone tried the sock-buddy? Or the any of the feather protectors from Avian Fashions? (FeatherProtectors - Avian Fashions)

Thank you in advance. Any help is greatly appreciated!
 

U2gal

New member
May 20, 2013
218
0
Hi there!

Can you give us details on their diet? Age? Past history? And current housing and enrichment opportunities?
 
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PreciousAngelJS25

New member
Apr 7, 2011
27
1
Alabama
Parrots
3 Cockatiels: Simon, Daisy and Sweetpea
1 Umbrella Cockatoo: Chula
1 Triton Cockatoo: Bird
1 Blue Crown Conure: Kongo
1 Black Capped Conure: Midori
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  • #3
Chula is 16 years old and Bird is 18 years old.

They both eat ZuPreem Natural Premium pellets mixed with a small amount of Higgin's Sunburst food mix and organic arugula and spinach daily. They also get Lafeber's Nutri-Berries, Lafeber's with popcorn and almonds as treats occasionally. They get apples, bananas, and oranges as at least 2-3 times a week. They also get noodles stuffed with home-made almond butter as a treat monthly.

Chula came from a loving family that could no longer keep her due to the man's wife moving back in and the man getting a new job. The wife did not like "competing with the bird" and gave him an ultimatum :( Due to the fighting and the man being away for longer periods of time, she started plucking.

Bird came from a more abusive home. He belonged to an engaged couple that fell apart violently. The woman moved away with Bird and started working night shifts and couldn't handle him screaming during the day when she needed to sleep. She started covering him during the day and he started plucking.

They both have their own cage, but they are the same cage design: Petco Designer Mink Brown Standing Parrot Cage

They both have at least 2 rope and at least 3 wooden/bell toys. They have multiple food dishes scattered around the cage with different food in them. They have never really liked foraging toys unfortunately. I also put paper down on the grate for them to chew on and bury under.
 

U2gal

New member
May 20, 2013
218
0
How often do they spend time in those cages? Those cages linked above are not meant for cockatoos but for smaller species like conures. And when they're outside the cage, where do they spend it?
 
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PreciousAngelJS25

New member
Apr 7, 2011
27
1
Alabama
Parrots
3 Cockatiels: Simon, Daisy and Sweetpea
1 Umbrella Cockatoo: Chula
1 Triton Cockatoo: Bird
1 Blue Crown Conure: Kongo
1 Black Capped Conure: Midori
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I'll be honest, Bird used to live in a dog crate and Chula lived in a much smaller cage (probably 20" L X 18" W X 30" H) before they came to us. Not that it validates their cages now, it's just all we can afford right now and fit right now. We are in the process of building an aviary for them.

They are allowed out of their cages during lunch time for about 30-45 mins, as well as most of the evening. They spend time on their cages, on their stands or cuddling with us. Bird is not trusting with "step-up" but he climbs down and comes to you when he's ready to cuddle.

They also share a room with 3 cockatiels and 2 conures.
 

U2gal

New member
May 20, 2013
218
0
Thats understandable. I am also in a low-budget position and need to order a new large cage for one of my birds. Im trying to swing corners and try and fit the cage I want into my tight budget. It can be hard. But I am glad you are considering building them an aviary :)

But until then, you may want to consider allowing them more out of cage time in the mean time.

Do they only pluck inside their cages?
 

Pajarita

Banned
Banned
Jul 11, 2013
446
1
Toos are naturally hormonal birds because they have two breeding seasons a year (spring and fall) so extra care needs to be given to their diet and light schedule (two of the three breeding triggers in nature -the third been weather but that's not 'adjustable' in captivity as it's always spring in a human home). You are feeding way too much protein, they need raw produce on a daily basis and they should never be free-fed any type of protein food (seeds, nuts, pellets). Have you heard of gloop, goop, chop or mash? I use gloop because it's the most convenient to me (different species) but chop or mash also works for them. The other trigger is light schedule, they need to be kept at a strict solar one, this way, when the days are short during the winter, you reduce the amount of protein and this stops them from producing sexual hormones. If you keep them at a human schedule or the 12D/12L one and feed high protein all year round, they will produce sexual hormones all the time and become sexually frustrated as well as physically uncomfortable (their sexual organs are small and dormant during the 'resting' season -winter- and grow and become active during breeding season and, when they produce them all the time, their organs become too large and would, sometimes, displace other organs which causes them pain).
 

U2gal

New member
May 20, 2013
218
0
Interesting post Pajarita!

My birds are at their most hormonal, in the winter and summer months. But winter is #1 hormone season here.

When I first got into large parrots. Cockatoos that is. I started off feeding high potency harrisons and then switched to adult lifetime. My cockatoos did so much better on the high potency (high fat and high protein) pellet (as well as fresh foods too). Their feces were too loose on the adult lifetime.

It has always been my understanding that cockatoos do best on high protien diet compared to most species.

If I want to deter sexual hormones, I change their papers daily and stop giving all fresh foods for a couple weeks and only offer pellets. I feed a huge variety of fresh foods, so I feel the big variety can make them more hormonal during hormone season as they feel food is in abundance.

But I don't think the OPs cockatoos are plucking due to hormones.
 
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PreciousAngelJS25

New member
Apr 7, 2011
27
1
Alabama
Parrots
3 Cockatiels: Simon, Daisy and Sweetpea
1 Umbrella Cockatoo: Chula
1 Triton Cockatoo: Bird
1 Blue Crown Conure: Kongo
1 Black Capped Conure: Midori
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
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Thanks for the insight both of you. You know, I have recently (as in since we moved) started keeping them covered 12 hours due to the fact that I can regulate the light in the room easier in our new place. My vet even said they should get 11-12 hours of sleep a "night". I'm guessing it depends on the time of year then huh? Honestly, their diet mostly consists of the ZuPreem Natural pellets. I have been reading more about Harrison's lately though and am considering changing.

To answer your question about plucking only on the inside, Bird yes because honestly he's a "home-body" and has been since I got him. He's VERY cuddly when he wants to be but will not come out of his cage unless he really wants to. Chula on the other hand is a people bird and would stay out all day if possible. She plucks inside or out of her cage.

Thank you both again for your insight. Before these two, I haven't had any big babies so this is a learning process.
 

U2gal

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May 20, 2013
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And you'll always be learning too. I learn something new almost everyday. Living with birds is a lifelong learning process, that's for sure!:)

Your boy who doesn't come out, have you ever just left his cage open?

And you mentioned building aviaries. What size? What materials? Or are you still researching? I'm not a handiwoman so I wouldnt know the first step in building one. I just buy premade. Lol
 
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PreciousAngelJS25

New member
Apr 7, 2011
27
1
Alabama
Parrots
3 Cockatiels: Simon, Daisy and Sweetpea
1 Umbrella Cockatoo: Chula
1 Triton Cockatoo: Bird
1 Blue Crown Conure: Kongo
1 Black Capped Conure: Midori
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
For sure. That's why I've always been intrigued by birds because they are constantly teaching us new things.

Yes. I leave his cage door open while I'm home. I used to leave his cage door open while I was away, but Chula is a stinker pants and if Bird happened to climb on her cage she would tear him up. Not to mention it wouldn't look very fair to Chula to have Bird's cage open and not hers.

We are still researching. My boyfriend is the handyman of the household so he and his dad are looking into everything. We are just trying to save up for materials. What premade aviaries have you found/bought??
 

U2gal

New member
May 20, 2013
218
0
Will this be an indoor aviary?

Perhaps you could use PVC piping for the frame? Its super cheap?
 

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