Questions that may seem silly

gnatnlucy

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Dec 10, 2014
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Lucy the Umbrella Cockatoo
I read a lot on the forums about different species and problems people have with health and behavior etc. I saw than an eclectus owner was concerned over the loss of a feather. I have never thought to be concerned about feather loss unless it was excessive. I find feathers all the time in Lucy's cage. She doesn't have any bald spots or seem Ill or unhappy... Should I be more aware of it? PS Lucy I is an umbrella. Also I would like to encourage more too silly behavior. She was showing off the other night and we laughed and praised her and I loved on her to show that is OK behavior. I know I should be thankful she is quiet but I enjoy her silly noises. She rarely even screams unless she can't see me or someone is in a room with me and she isn't. How can I encourage more fun silliness? I make her new toys everyday or swap around old ones to seem new and she forages, eats nuts and will try most anything but she is so silent majority bof the time! I want her theatrics! Also last one...I promise.... Earlier today I gave Lucy a shower and when she got out she regurgitated some of the water but seemed no worse for wear. Why would that occur? Thanks !
 

RainbowRose

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1. I just replied on that thread you spoke of about the feather. I will try to reiterate my answer. Basically, obviously, birds lose feathers for many reasons. Maybe one got overlapped a weird way (like how one of mines did when my dog startled him and he flapped too quick). Sometimes they break off from flapping too hard, crashing into stuff, preening, molting, etc. ONLY be worried if they are 1. Bleeding 2. Appear to be in pain 3. Plucking. Feather loss is a daily thing. Many little feathers on the floor and pin feathers growing in is usually molting and it will be a lot once a year but just keep an eye on things. If something doesn't seem right, odds are it's not, but you can always post a pic to be safe than sorry. Feathers falling out or breaking off literally is like the most common thing to happen to birds so, sometimes we may miss something that could be wrong! But most of the time things are fine. Don't over analyze every feather in the cage hehe

2. Just keep giving praise and attention. Give treats too to reinforce behaviors you want to see more of. Nothing is overnight so it may take time for the bird to pick up on the fact that you want more of such behaviors, especially if she is naturally quieter and calmer more of the time. So just try to positively reinforce :)

3. She may have swallowed a little water or breathed it in or something. Not too sure about this one but that's just my guess. Or maybe she was regurgitating for you out of love (that's Always great *sarcasm* lol) but it sounds fine. Like I said about the feathers; if something doesn't seem normal, then odds are it's probably not. But by this I just mean prolonged new behaviors. This being an isolated event is probably nothing to worry about. If it became a reoccurring thing id look into it and see when it happens to try to figure out why. But sounds like nothing to worry about in this case. Maybe she regurgitated and it honestly was just watery.
 

strudel

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2. Just keep giving praise and attention.
Yes, my galah is a real "ham". If I clap and make a big fuss, she does more.

I'm not sure why, but she will now even do her huge "song and dance" routine while with me. That's really something.
 

Anansi

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Earlier today I gave Lucy a shower and when she got out she regurgitated some of the water but seemed no worse for wear. Why would that occur? Thanks !

This happened with my female eclectus, Maya, as well. And like you, I was really worried something was wrong! So I called Wendy (JerseyWendy) who reassured me greatly. She pointed out that Maya had likely just ingested a good amount of water and was just getting rid of it. So long as she stopped relatively soon after, there was really nothing to worry about.

She also suggested that I get a shower-head with connected tubing so that I could better control where the water was hitting her.

Turned out to be great advice. The next time I showered Maya, with my new and improved shower-head, I noticed that she was deliberately attempting to catch the water in her mouth at every opportunity! Smh. So the new shower-head allowed me to adjust the direction of the water flow in response to every attempted gulp, thus keeping too much from getting into her mouth.

The water regurgitation hasn't happened since.
 
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gnatnlucy

gnatnlucy

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Awesome! Thanks everyone! With the feather loss I thought it was normal and then readnthatv post and was like huh....maybe it isn't.

I wasn't overly concerned about the water she did it once and it was only water and right after the shower. She has regurged for me though i was watching a movie she climbed offof her perch walked over and in my hand was like here pecans just for you! I have a detachable shower head so I will use that next time.

I just think she wasn't really encouraged to be a silly cockatoo. She has her fears but is doing fantastic with trusting me and doing new things. We are still new to each other but I think we are doing OK. Right now she is in time out for attempting to bite my son who walked past her from the bathroom. She is a jealous bird...silly girl. It is kinda nice to have something that dedicated to you though lol I am pretty sure she would seriously damage someone over me...we won't let that occur but its nice to know I'm loved even if its by my avian stalker.
 
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gnatnlucy

gnatnlucy

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Also I love eclectus! If I ever get another bird I would like an eclectus or a Congo. I know totally different right? Lol That won't be for a long time though.
 

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